The E-Ticket Magazine

As many fans of Walt Disney and Disneyland know, The E-Ticket was a magazine devoted to "collecting theme park memories".   While the magazine is no longer published, it lives on in the hearts of its many devoted fans.  Now, thanks to Diane Disney Miller, her family and the staff of the Museum, you have the chance to own a piece of this amazing history. 

But first, a bit of the back story:

Leon and Jack Janzen grew up in Southern California during the golden era of the 1950s and 1960s.  Back then, Southern California was awash in various theme parks from the mountains to the sea.  The two brothers made a habit of visiting various parks as they were growing up, and as they got older the love they had for those salad days of boyhood and escapism moved them to create The E-Ticket, a fanzine devoted to their favorite childhood destination, Disneyland.  In the winter of 1986, the first issue was published.  Their intent was to provide not only a detailed history of their favorite park but to also spotlight the “artists, Imagineers and other creative individuals who helped design and build Disneyland”. 

In the days before the Internet, Google, and the ability to discover history with the stroke of key, The E-Ticket provided a magical behind-the scenes peek into the Disneyland that Walt had imagined. 

The magazine was a mix of drawings, photos, and images, some of which hadn’t been seen since those early years of the park.  The brothers were quickly befriended by retired artists and Imagineers.  With each issue being devoted to a particular land or ride.  Jack and Leon researched each article and provided memories of their own from their childhood adventures at the “Happiest Place on Earth.”

They conducted audio interviews with well-known craftsmen and those not-so-well-known, preserving in some cases the stories and memories of a generation of craftsmen who had helped Walt Disney realize his dream.  Early issues of  The E-Ticket were not just devoted to the early history of Disneyland, but Jack and Leon also wrote about other Southern California landmarks such as Marineland, Pacific Ocean Park, Corriganville, and others that have long since vanished from our landscape.  These early issues quickly went out of print and became collectors’ items. The E-Ticket was published two to three times a year for the next 17 years.   

As the membership grew, the small newsletter-like quality of the original issues evolved into a color, glossy publication but the brothers never lost the quality of the stories and the histories they were telling.  Bob Gurr, Yale Gracey,  Marc Davis, and many other Imagineers and behind-the-scenes personalities all contributed to the magazine.

The love Leon and Jack felt for the Disneyland of their childhood came through in each issue. According to the Internet Archive, the magazine went online in the mid-1990s and the website was upgraded every few years.  In addition, the website offered a gallery of poster images and other rare images such as the postcard book from Adventure in Inner Space, as well as a complete index of all the issues they had published.

Due to demand for the out-of-print early issues, they created a CD-Rom highlighting those early issues and the two annuals they produced in the early days of the magazine.  Over the years, it would grow into a three CD-Rom collection.  Unfortunately, in 2003 Leon Janzen died. The loss hit Jack Janzen hard, and it was almost a year before another issue was released.

In 2008, Jack Janzen announced that the “end of the line for the magazine was in sight”.  In the summer of 2009 he published the final issue, #46, highlighting the Indiana Jones ride.  On August 7, 2009, Jack invited his readers to join him and special guests Bob Gurr, Alice Davis, Ed Squair, Dave Smith, Tony Baxter and others for “one last ride”.  The gathering was held at the carousel at Griffith Park where guests got to ride the “horses” all evening long and sit on one of the benches that Walt had sat on while watching his daughters go round and round.  It was there, legend has it, that Walt began to think about Disneyland.

On December 31, 2009, Jack announced that he was retiring and that the end had indeed arrived for his magazine.  He said goodbye to his readers but left them with good news: The Walt Disney Family Museum had acquired all the assets of the magazine.

So, come visit us at the Museum and be sure to stop in at our Store to check out the colorful display for The E-Ticket. It's a golden opportunity to begin collecting or to add to your already existing collection.  In addition to the single issues, The Store also carries all three CD-Roms chronicling the first 24 issues, all in mint condition.

                     

All photos courtesy of Walt Disney Family Foundation.

Comments

[dave1021]

Great news! I loved this magazine and it was always VERY hard to find...

[Krista]

I have a few issue of E-Ticket. I would pick up an issue whenever I ran across a new issues at disneyland. It was such a great magazine. I am so glad to hear it continues to live on at the Museum.

[Todd & Doug]

We have several issues and are very happy to hear that you have them at the museum. Any thoughts about putting your store on-line for sales? Would love to buy your products but we live in Ohio and have little opportunity to visit the museum in person. Please consider this option.

[Eric Scales]

Which issues are still available? Does this mean that previously out of print issues are being reprinted?

[John Rozum]

I too will be unable to visit the museum in person for the forseeable future. I'm glad you are making back issues and the CD-ROMs available, and hope he can be purshased by those of us living out of state.

[Frank Teurlay]

"The E Ticket" magazine was truly a labor of love by Leon and Jack, both of whom I had the pleasure of meeting 20+ years ago. The first issues were literally Xerox pages, done in the days before the nice home printers we have today. It grew into a first class slick magazine and I eagerly anticipated each upcoming issue. I loved the magazine and, while at the convention in the 80s, bought up a copy of all of their back issues available at the time (6 or 8). I was a subscriber ever since. So, I am fortunate have a copy of every issue. I can think of no other publication that has brought to life vintage Disneyland as well as the "The E Ticket" magazine. The photos and interviews rekindled so many fond memories and gave insight into the creation of each attraction. If you love vintage Disneyland, this is the magazine for you. Since they are no longer published, get them while you can...they are a treasure.

[Bob Swedberg]

I grew up with Leon, Jack, and Bonnie Janzen. I am so sorry to hear that Leon has passed away. He, Jack, my brother Rick and I grew up at Vanowen Baptist Church in North Hollywood. We had a gospel quartet for several years, with Leon and Jack also playing guitar, and making incredible music. If anyone knows how I can be in touch with Jack, please let me know, or let him know I am looking for him. Bob Swedberg - 407-538-8768 (swedberg@umich.edu.)

[Eric Henwood-Greer]

Living in Canada, our family only managed to go to Disneyland every 5 years (three trips total) when I was growing up, although I was obsessed even before that in the early 80s thanks to my neighbours, who went every year, bringing me back souvenir guidebooks each time. Even after my first trip I became obsessed with trying to find out about attractions that had closed, or earlier versions of favorite rides like Mr Toad's. Anyway, when I discovered an issue of E Ticket at a local comic book store, with issue 13 the Snow White Adventure original version ride, I was amazed, and quickly subscribed and tracked down all of the back issues.

I recently realized I'm missing about 10 or so issues, mainly to the end when it became hard to keep up, due to travelling for my school and work--and would LOVE to be able to fill my missing issues. Is there ANY WAY to buy these online--since I won't be able to visit the museum any time soon. Anyone who can help, please email me at mp989@hotmail.com

Specifically I'm missing issues 28, The Mr Toad's Special issue, 33, 36, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, and 46. If anyone can help me track down these issues, or has any pointers to finding any of them, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm at mp989@hotmail.com

[Diane]

Ditto to Krista's July 2010 comment.

[david winfrey]

I can't seem to find the location of the E-ticket back issues and CD-Rom sales. Could you post a link or URL, please?

[The Walt Disney Family Museum]

E Ticket merchandise is only available in the Museum Store If you would like to order by phone, call 415.345.6859.