Rare memorabilia from Disneyland’s early days will go on exhibit Saturday in advance of an auction beginning at the end of the month, a Sherman Oaks gallery announced.
The “Story of Disneyland Collection” took 30 years to amass, and it represents more than 1,000 vintage items from 1950 through the 1980s, providing an “unprecedented narrative” into the theme park’s history, according to Van Eaton Galleries.
Walt Disney broke ground on the Anaheim amusement park in 1954, but some considered the endeavor “Walt’s folly.” But before the end of the park’s first year, more than 1 million visitors had come to Disneyland, according to the gallery.
A pre-opening supplement that’s up for auction shows Disney standing with a map of the planned park.
“This collection is beyond extraordinary,” said gallery founder Mike Van Eaton in a news release. “It tells the story of Disneyland from the beginning like we have never seen before and I am sure we won’t ever see again.”
A rare early concept drawing of Tomorrowland from designer Bruce Bushman is also in the collection, and it was expected to fetch $50,000 to $75,000.
Also available will be a miniature pot-bellied stove that was hand-crafted and hand-painted by Disney himself.
The original cigar store Indian that stood in front of Frontierland in the 1960s was expected to go for between $15,000 and $20,000, while a skeleton prop from the original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction wet estimated to bring in $60,000 to $90,000.
The exhibition will take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Feb. 7 to Feb. 27 at the gallery at 13613 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. The live and online auction will take place at 11 a.m. Feb. 28, and 11 a.m. March 1.
More information is on the gallery’s website.