Opening Day 1955, What was the "real" temperature.

[Trader Aaron]

Greetings Disneyland History Buffs,

I've read several recounts of opening day July 17th, 1955. Almost all of them tell similar stories about the temperature being unusually hot causing things like women's high heels to sink into the newly poured asphalt. I've heard 100, 101 and even 110 from various sources.

The weird thing is Wunderground's and the Farmer's Almanac's report the temperature in Fullerton (4.2 miles away) to be 83 °F or 80.1 F on opening day.

Can anyone offer insight into the temperature discrepancies? Was 101 the actual temperature or the "so much asphalt and concrete it feels like 101" temperature? Are the historical records just wrong for that day since data wasn't being collected in Anaheim at the time?

Thanks for any thoughts you all may have.

Wunderground
http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KFUL/1955/7/17/DailyHistory.html?MR=1

Farmer's Almanac
http://farmersalmanac.com/weather-history/92803/1955/07/17/

 

[lalasmama]

Interesting question! I remember reading that it was unusually hot, yes. But the reason the poor ladies lost their heels was that the concrete was still being poured less than 24hrs before opening. I don't recall hearing anything about it being so hot that it couldn't cure, just that it hadn't had the time to cure.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Myth busting:

*Farmers almanac is not a record of temps but a forecast for the future. I spent some time researching but no real quick answer to the temp factual.

* There was a heat wave over an extended period of time in the area.

* concrete cures faster in heat so if it happened it would be tar.

* Areas had to be paved long before the park open or the dust would be a problem. Smell would be a problem. Dribbles of tar would be a problem. For a man worried about gum, tar would be a bigger concern

*There was problems with unsettled sand in the ROA area, this would lead to isolated asphalt problem

* Found an interesting discussion on melting pavement on "Watts up with that?" Yes, there was a problem with 50s asphalt.

* Remember the plumbers strike. Ditches had to be dug into the already poured asphalt to lay pipe. This is dead line digging, so intense that water fountains were functional, but had no water. So these ditches had to be filled with non compacted asphalt, which will indeed not set correctly So the soft asphalt was in isolated areas and not park wide.

* Many photos of folks walking around with no problem.

*If you line up in the morning on Black Friday, you will participate in a fight. I have read it, seen it on TV but yet to meet anyone who was actually in a fight.

 

[Trader Aaron]

Thanks for the feedback and quick research. I know it doesn't seem like an important point, I was just surprised that the stated opening day temperature of 101 is actually pretty hard to verify especially when the only verification sources I know say it was in the 80's that day.

There go my hopes of saying it's "opening day" hot when it reaches 101 up here in NorCal.

 

[chickapin parterre]

So did some more research............very interesting.....the highest temp in July in 1955, in L. A. was 78 degrees. A very complex weather site. using the word Historical is the key to weather searches. Are they are enough apart for a difference in 20 degrees? couldn't find any internet record for Anaheim in my limited search

 

[TheLanes]

So did some more research............very interesting.....the highest temp in July in 1955, in L. A. was 78 degrees. A very complex weather site. using the word Historical is the key to weather searches. Are they are enough apart for a difference in 20 degrees? couldn't find any internet record for Anaheim in my limited search

I can't believe the high in July would be 78. For the whole month? I see the records for all the historical days, and each day has a different year

 

[chickapin parterre]

search historical lA weather 1955.

The write-up for that L A year is extensive. and they even give a brief write up the hottest day and period. July is not in the LA mix.

 

[Trader Aaron]

Great info on the site returned by your suggested search term. According to weatherspark:

"The hottest day of 1955 was September 1, with a high temperature of 107°F"

Like the 2 other weather sites I've checked weather spark has the temperature on Disneyland's opening day somewhere in the low to mid 80s. Not 100% sure, but it would seem the many write ups on Disneyland's opening day being 101 degrees are off by some 20 degrees.

Thanks again for the help sorting this out.

 

[Malcon10t]

One thing to remember, and it probably doesn't make a lot of difference, is in 1955, the nearest weather station was 10 miles away (in Los Alamitos), closer to the ocean. So, while it may have been 83+/- according to the Almanac, it could have been another 5-10 degrees warmer.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Take a look at the LA times photos of opening and day after.......do those people look like they are visiting in 100 degree weather.......do the horses look like they are sinking in the asphalt.......At 1:30 I do not see anyone fanning themselves from the heat, but actually enjoying the weather. And the park is not surrounded by tons of concrete that make a 100 degree in 2015 more noticeable. The heel may have happened, but it was a very isolated incident away from the crush of folks photographed. Guest probably didn't follow CM direction and moved the construction barrier to snap a better photo

 

[bcwife76]

Myth busting:

*Farmers almanac is not a record of temps but a forecast for the future. I spent some time researching but no real quick answer to the temp factual.

* There was a heat wave over an extended period of time in the area.

* concrete cures faster in heat so if it happened it would be tar.

* Areas had to be paved long before the park open or the dust would be a problem. Smell would be a problem. Dribbles of tar would be a problem. For a man worried about gum, tar would be a bigger concern

*There was problems with unsettled sand in the ROA area, this would lead to isolated asphalt problem

* Found an interesting discussion on melting pavement on "Watts up with that?" Yes, there was a problem with 50s asphalt.

* Remember the plumbers strike. Ditches had to be dug into the already poured asphalt to lay pipe. This is dead line digging, so intense that water fountains were functional, but had no water. So these ditches had to be filled with non compacted asphalt, which will indeed not set correctly So the soft asphalt was in isolated areas and not park wide.

* Many photos of folks walking around with no problem.

*If you line up in the morning on Black Friday, you will participate in a fight. I have read it, seen it on TV but yet to meet anyone who was actually in a fight.

This is an awesome list!