A step in time to October 1st, 1971

The opening day of Walt Disney World, as told by the Orlando Sentinel

While I was waist-deep in some genealogical research a couple years ago, I stumbled across a handful of resources that deeply enhanced my understanding of time and place from a historical lens.

One of these resources was Newspapers.com, which is a massive, searchable newspaper archive with publications that date back to the eighteenth century and span across 12 different countries. If you’re interested in a specific topic, person, or moment in history, they’ve likely got an article (or ten) for it. It’s an invaluable resource for research but it’s also a dream for those who appreciate art and design, especially as it shifts and evolves across the decades.

Most readers have learned of my affinity for mid-century style on previous posts (here, here, and here, if you’re interested), and it’s likely no surprise that I can spend and have spent hours flipping through newspapers from the 1950s and 1960s. It’s so fun, and I love seeing how various design elements were incorporated into columns and advertisements.

But with today being Walt Disney World’s 53rd birthday, I thought it would be interesting to take a trip back in time to see what a Central Florida newspaper would’ve looked like on the resort’s highly-anticipated opening day. While the pages aren’t entirely mid-century, it’s certainly a time capsule for every Disney fan to feast their eyes upon because, well, this is how the East Coast park all began.

Oh, and if you’ve been keeping up with my series (here and here) that chronicles the planning and acquisition of the property that the resort sits on, you might even recognize some familiar names! Ain’t history fun? Let’s dive in.

In the event you’d like to view or save any of the pages featured in this post, I created a folder that contains all of them (and more) for your perusing.

Recognize the author of this column?

Between the language on the Rutland’s ad, the eye patch, and the televisions, this page is giving serious Mad Men vibes.

For the unfamiliar (raises hand), Dick Pope Sr. was the founder of Cypress Gardens, a botanical garden and theme park in Winter Haven, Florida which operated from 1936 to 2009. The botanical garden is preserved in what is now Legoland.

If you’re wondering, I’ve already scoured eBay for one of these book covers. No luck yet!

Remember when we had to read the newspaper to figure out what was going to be on tv?

Sorosis clubs were professional civic organizations that furthered social and educational activities for women. The word “sorosis” is a latinate word meaning “aggregation.”

This is citrus country, y’all.

Uh, congrats…Giants…?

Again, best believe I scoured eBay for a copy of this.

Well, that’s all folks! I hope that was a fun, lil’ blast to the past to see how that day was presented in the local media, whether it involved Disney or drive-in theater times or the number of corrugated cardboard containers the Florida citrus industry burned through during the previous growing season.

Nerding out about this stuff is the best, and it’s even more fun with you. Thanks so much for reading! If you like what you see and you’re not already subscribed, please consider doing so. I’d love to have you here.

See ya real soon,

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