Before Luke Skywalker and Captain Jack Sparrow, Disney fans had another major action hero to obsess over: Zorro. From 1957-1959, ABC ran a Zorro television series, which became overwhelmingly popular and a massive opportunity for Disney, who owned the rights. Walt saw another opportunity to entertain Zorro fans – right in his own park.
Disneyland ran Zorro Days for two years, with a unique twist. The actor portraying Zorro on television, Guy Williams, would also portray him in the park. Inside Disneyland, Zorro rode his horse through Frontierland, battled his nemesis Captain Monasterio on the Mark Twain Riverboat, and daringly climbed atop the Golden Horseshoe.
Zorro Days ran on the following dates, even outlasting the television series:
- 1958: April 26-27, May 30 – June 1, November 27-30
- 1959: November 26-29
- 1960: November 11-13
I can’t even imagine how cool it must have been for visitors to see the “real” Zorro in the park!
Source: Disneyland Alumni Club
Seriously, if I could go back in time, I would go to one of these days. Zorro is one of my absolute favorites! Guy Williams was simply dreamy!
xoxo
-Janey
Totally!