WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES RESTORES WALT DISNEY'S OFFICE SUITE AS PERMANENT EXHIBIT SPACE

WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES RESTORES WALT DISNEY’S OFFICE SUITE AS PERMANENT EXHIBIT SPACE

DISNEY CHAIRMAN AND CEO BOB IGER AND MEMBERS OF THE DISNEY FAMILY DEDICATE THE SUITE, WHICH FEATURES WALT’S ORIGINAL FURNISHINGS AND MEMORABILIA.

BURBANK, Calif. – December 7, 2015 – The Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, joined by members of the Disney family, dedicated Walt Disney’s newly restored office suite on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank today. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Burbank studio, the Walt Disney Archives restored the space, located in the original Animation Building, to include Walt’s formal and working offices, along with original furnishings, some items from his collection of miniatures, awards, and his piano.

“We put this permanent exhibit together to serve as a source of inspiration,” said Iger during the ceremony, “a reminder to have great ambition, to take bold creative risks, to constantly innovate and push the limits of possibility, to relentlessly pursue perfection, and to tell fantastic stories that touch peoples’ hearts. That was Walt Disney.”

Walt Disney’s granddaughters Joanna Miller, Jennifer Goff, and Michelle Lund were on hand for the event, along with special guests including Richard Sherman (composer of Mary Poppins, “It’s a Small World,” and many Disney classics), Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Alice from Alice in Wonderland and Wendy in Peter Pan), and former head of Walt Disney Imagineering Marty Sklar.

In 1970, when Disney Legend Dave Smith founded the Walt Disney Archives, Walt’s furnishings from his offices were removed, and, for the last 45 years, they were safely cared for by the staff of the Walt Disney Archives. Through exhibitions and loans from the Archives, millions of guests have seen special displays of items from the office at Disney’s theme parks in California and Florida and in museums around the country.

This new, permanent exhibit is dedicated to the creative genius of Walt Disney and presents the history of the man and the company he founded through artifacts and images. There will also be rotating exhibits on various Disney subjects to celebrate anniversaries, films, and events throughout the Company’s history from 1923 to the present day. The first exhibit is dedicated to Kem Weber, the architect who designed the look and feel of the Studio lot, which opened in 1940. Weber also designed furniture for the Studio, and his designs, along with concept artwork, will be showcased for a limited time.

Walt Disney’s office will be open to Disney employees, cast members, and studio visitors. In 2016 it will be added to tours of the Studio lot and Archives that D23: The Official Disney Fan Club regularly offers to its Gold Members.

About the Walt Disney Archives

For more than four decades, the Walt Disney Archives has carefully safeguarded the most treasured items from The Walt Disney Company’s history, including original scripts, movie props and costumes, Walt Disney’s correspondence and script notes, theme park artifacts, merchandise, millions of archival photographs, and many of Walt’s personal effects. Founded by Disney Legend Dave Smith in 1970, the Walt Disney Archives is a vital resource for every part of Disney, as well as an important research center for Disney scholars, researchers, and writers. The Archives also shares its countless pieces with Disney fans everywhere through its exhibitions and close association with D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.

About D23

The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year. Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($74.99), Gold Family Membership ($99.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.

1964 New York World's Fair Souvenir Map Signed by Disney Legends!

On April 22, 2014 we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 New York World's Fair. I thought it would be cool to share with you my signed 1964 New York World's Fair Souvenir Map.

The Disney Legends that signed this book are as follows, starting at the top:

Robert Henry (Bob) Gurr - designer who worked on all four Disney produced World's Fair shows including working on the ride systems for both Small World and Ford's Magic Skyway as well as the internal mechanisms for the Lincoln figure

Richard Sherman - songwriter who along with his brother Robert wrote the iconic song "it's a small world" but also my personal favorite, "It's A Great Big, Beautiful Tomorrow" for the Carousel of Progress which was part of Progressland

Rolly Crump - best known for creating the stunning Tower of The Four Winds in front of the "it's a small world" at the World's Fair but was the designer for Ford's Magic Skyway and also the art director for it's a small world

Alice Davis - costume designer who created all the costumes for the figures for "it's a small world."

Blaine Gibson - sculpted all four shows including his most famous creation, Abraham Lincoln for the Illinois Pavilion.

Marty Sklar - writer of concepts, narrations and publications for the Ford, G.E. and Small World shows

At a Legend of Walt Disney Imagineering event at The Walt Disney Studios, I decided to bring this and a 1964 World's Fair map to have them sign it if they would be so kind. Not only did all of the above Imagineers sign it but Marty Sklar picked this guide book up and the map and showed it to all of his friends and fellow Disney Legends and asked them when was the last time they saw something like this? They all replied probably not since the world's fair.

1964 New York World's Fair Guidebook Signed by Disney Legends

As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The 1964 New York World's Fair on April 22, 2014, I wanted to show part of my 1964 World's Fair Collection. While I wasn't born yet, this is one of my favorite things in Disney history. Walt not only got to showcase what his team could do to those who lived on the East coast but got to bring back additions to Disneyland that still exist in some shape or form to this day. The work done for this fair changed the way Disney did things and brought several new innovations that would forever change Disneyland and the parks that came after it.

The four Disney produced shows were as follows:

Pepsi Pavilion for UNICEF (it's a small world)

Illinois Pavilion (Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln)

General Electric's Progressland (the most famous part being the Carousel of Progress)

Ford's Magic Skyway (created an innovative ride system that would one day help create the Peoplemover and similar ride systems)

The Disney Legends that signed this book are as follows, starting at the top:

Robert Henry (Bob) Gurr - designer who worked on all four Disney produced World's Fair shows including working on the ride systems for both Small World and Ford's Magic Skyway as well as the internal mechanisms for the Lincoln figure

Richard Sherman - songwriter who along with his brother Robert wrote the iconic song "it's a small world" but also my personal favorite, "It's A Great Big, Beautiful Tomorrow" for the Carousel of Progress which was part of Progressland

Rolly Crump - best known for creating the stunning Tower of The Four Winds in front of the "it's a small world" at the World's Fair but was the designer for Ford's Magic Skyway and also the art director for it's a small world

Alice Davis - costume designer who created all the costumes for the figures for "it's a small world."

Blaine Gibson - sculpted all four shows including his most famous creation, Abraham Lincoln for the Illinois Pavilion.

Marty Sklar - writer of concepts, narrations and publications for the Ford, G.E. and Small World shows

At a Legend of Walt Disney Imagineering event at The Walt Disney Studios, I decided to bring this and a 1964 World's Fair map to have them sign it if they would be so kind. Not only did all of the above Imagineers sign it but Marty Sklar picked this guide book up and the map and showed it to all of his friends and fellow Disney Legends and asked them when was the last time they saw something like this? They all replied probably not since the world's fair.