Happy birthday to Disneyland, and to Tomorrowland’s forgotten pig

Today, Disneyland’s Tomorrowland is populated with characters from “Star Wars,� “Toy Story� and, increasingly, figures from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But long before there were meet-and-greet sessions with the likes of Captain America or Thor, Tomorrowland was home to a different sort of critter.

When the park opened 60 years ago today (July 17) in 1955, Tomorrowland was ready to welcome a friendly swine named KAP.

Not familiar? Well, that’s probably because you’re not up on your aluminum history. As KAP was representing the firm Kaiser Aluminum. His name, in fact, was short for “the Kaiser Aluminum Pig.�

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KAP, according to The Times’ archives, was the mascot for the relatively short-lived “Kaiser Aluminum-Land,� the home to the “delightfully true told story of how the sleeping giant of metals -- aluminum -- was awakened and has become your friendly servant.�

That doesn’t sound as exciting as the Jedi Training Academy or Space Mountain? Well, perhaps you’ll be more enticed after knowing that Kaiser Aluminum-Land, a small sponsorship area, was home to a giant telescope made out of aluminum.

And KAP had a few tricks up his porky sleeves.

“By pushing buttons or pulling handles, you can make KAP flat as a pancake, light as a feather, round as a pole, strong as an ox, twisted like yarn, colored like a rainbow,� reads The Times’ special Disneyland section from July 15, 1955, just a couple days before the park would welcome its first public visitors.

What’s more, KAP could “show you how he can get sizzling hot, dazzling bright� or “electrically shocking.�

Today, Tomorrowland lacks a fold-up pig, but you can build-your-own plastic Lightsaber. OK, fine, Space Mountain is pretty great, too.