Never Disney Land

Count the KC Matchgirl as a member of the "I never went to Disneyland" club.  While cousins and neighbors made the trek across America to the No. 1 vacation spot, I had to console my childhood dream by latching onto the postcards they sent in the mail and their cast-off souvenirs.

So when I had the chance to purchase a Disneyland matchbook for a mere 25 cents, it was just like wishing upon a star.  Finally, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy would be joining my collection, all decked out in their Bicentennial costumery.

It was only later that I noticed the small detail on the back- "Tobacco Shop".
Wait, a tobacco shop at Disneyland?

The Tobacconist was once located located on Main Street, wedged between the Magic Shop and the Cinema.  One of the original shops that opened in 1955, the Tobacconist carried hand-crafted pipes and fine tobacco from around the world.  A traditional wooden "Cigar Store Indian" stood sentry out front.  While the tobacco shop closed in 1991, the wooden Indian has remained in the same spot.  The shop is now called 20th Century Music Co.

Epilog:  The KC Matchgirl knows it's never too late for a trip to Disneyland, but she would have rather gone in 1969- which IS no longer possible.

And she also hopes that everyone knows that the American Bicentennial was back in 1976.