One of my best girlfriends was here in November, cleaning out her Mom's place now that she's moved into a care home. It was interesting going through her things because some of her possessions dated back a long way. The most intriguing items we discovered were all her original illustrations of Disney characters that date back to 1946. These illustrations were individually mounted in matching black and gold frames on a pale blue wall in her hallway. When I saw them, I exclaimed, "Oh! These are very valuable!" It was then that my friend told me the story of how her mother came to have them.D's mother and her friend had been in the Canadian Armed Forces during the war and in 1946 they decided to go to Los Angeles for some swinging good times. The war had put Walt Disney's plans for his magic theme park on hold, but these two attractive women met a couple of men (illustrators) who worked for the big man himself and were taken on a tour of the Disney Studios where plans were in the works. It wouldn't be until 1955 that Walt Disney's magic kingdom would become reality.
In the meantime, the young men probably wanted to impress the young ladies so, with nary a thought to possible future fame, blithely gave them their scraps of paper. A couple of them are autographed and dated so you can tell they're definitely originals. They'd been tucked away in an old scrapbook for many years until D's brother found them and had them framed. I imagine they're worth a fortune today!
Can you just picture two young Canadian women giggling flirtatiously as they were given nine illustrations of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto! They were too busy flirting with those American illustrators to even think about those pieces of paper. Today, those illustrations are priceless! And I sure wish they were mine!
This is what I call the "Disney Wall of Fame."
Sketches of Donald Duck
more Donald Duck
Goofy boxing - signed by Don T, Disney Studios, Hollywood on Jan. 24/46
Mickey Mouse sketches
Mickey and Donald Duck together on one page.
Pluto and a sleeping kitten autographed by Duff Tweed at Disney Studios, Hollywood Jan. 24/46
Mickey and Pluto together on one page.
To see more ABC Wednesday posts, see Mrs. Nesbitt's blog here.
55 comments:
What a find hey? those are great....
I am stumped as to an " I " still.....
let's see what tomorrow brings....if anything.
What a great story. Amazing what can turn up.
Amazing set with the sketches, splendid the comment but also post with letter `' I `'
Oh how very fabulous to have these! Wonderful post for I. Have a great week...
These are really great!
Leslie, these are amazing. I never knew you had these. I love the one of Pluto and the sleeping kitten!
My elementary art teacher was a Disney cartoonist. This WAS in 1955-56. In spring of 1956--Holy Saturday, in fact--he took four or five of us to Los Angeles to appear on a local kids TV show. I drew a little Spanish church at sunrise on Easter. (Someone told me that I put the wall too close to the church. Too bad!) We then went to Disneyland, ate lunch in the commissary there, and had the run of the place while Mr. McIntire did his shift drawing cartoons for the tourists.
My uncle is a writer and was friends with Walt Disney. Walt sent my sister who was very ill a big picture of donald duck riding a choo choo train and he signed it! One of his illustrators Roy we think he's Walt's brother, drew drawings for my sister and me. we love them!
What a wonderful treasure to have. I always like anything Disney.
What a great post! The story is amazing. Thanks for sharing it.
Those are amazing, Great I post
I love Disney! This is awesome...what a find.....
Great story! It's wonderful that she has held onto them for all these years.
Wow..I am amazed at the find. Yes these are more than valuable. I'm glad these were preserved. My husband and I collect Disney memorbilia and drool over things like this.
Terrific I post.
Charming drawings.
Great! :)
Wow! Leslie, this is a gem!
I love these illustrations, & the wonderful story behind them!
It would seem male egos never change!!
Very impressive! :)
Now that is impressive! Wow, I'm awed.
These would be worth a small fortune. I hope someone knows that.
Abraham Lincoln
Brookville, Ohio
Yes Leslie ,
Those are impressive and interesting Illustrations ( I like your profile pic!) thanks for your comment on my ABC wednesday,and your kind words for IOS..
JoAnn Holland + IOS!
thanks for sharing. :)
Sorry about that .. my error .. I wanted to say that I read an article about lost cels being found in a janitor's closet in Japan which were returned this week .. great 'i'!
Wow. Those are incredible and invaluable. Great story. I'm sure those would be worth no small fortune, indeed a very large fortune.
Fantastic photos!
We love, here in Brazil, all about Disney!!
I'm inviting you to visit GOD READING
Luiz
Walt Disney is one of my heroes and this is a remarkable post. I'm definitely impressed!
The Rocky Mountain Retreat
What a fantastic story!
Excellent idea for the theme Leslie. And you are right - they are indeed worth quite a bit. What a wonderful treasure to find.
WOW!!!
Wonder what your friend will do with them.
what a treasure trove...
Great post. Yes, those are worth a fortune.
What a great post...
Two years ago, I saw an interesting show at Paris (au grand palais) about the art of Disney, and the painters who influenced him :wonderful !
Miss Yves
What a great post:D
Wow!! I am glad they are still in such great shape. What a find!!
I wish I could find a hidden treasure trove like this, they are beautiful sketches.
Oh....these are good. Very talented work here.
Back to our childhood owing to you and Disney !
Thanks
That is a wonderful story. Those sketches are great, she is very lucky to have them.
Those are so great!! What a special heirloom and discovery. I love pieces of history and these definitely are. As a side note, I grew up in Southern California. I remember going to Disneyland just after the opening, but over the years I only returned maybe four time, none of which have been in the last 25 years. Goes to show, if it is in your own backyard places often get overlooked. Thanks for visiting my icy post. - Margy
Gosh, those are wonderful!
What an interesting post! Amazing to see thoses historic drawings.
Kathy b
Those are fantastic!
Wow, what an interesting story and great find. Those illustrations do look like they are priceless. The things we find if we dig far enough. Glad to hear your friend's daughter knew the history of where the drawings came from.
What a great find; they certainly deserve to be framed and on show.
What a wonderful story! Yes, am sure those are valuable. Goofy has always been my favorite! I would love that sketch of him BUT I am sure I could not afford to buy it!
Goofy's my absolute favourite of all time - it's the laugh as well as the cartoon that does it for me!
Those sketches are amazing, as usual your post was very Interesting.
I have an original Duff Tweed wood carving entitled "Sue the Bastards". I can't find anything on the internet about it's value. Can anybody help???
I have an original Duff Tweed wood carving entitled "Sue the Bastards". I can't find anything about it's value. Anybody care to help? Thanks.
I have an original Duff Tweed wood carving entitled "Sue the Bastards". Can anybody help with the potential value???
Thanks.
I have that Duff tweed that you are talking about. I paid 100.00 for it on ebay. I would list it for a 100.00 and see where it goes.
Summertote@aol.com
I have a roughly 8 1/2 X 11 art paper sheet drawing of "Ecos Bill" autographed to my sister and me, signed by Duff Tweed. Does anyone have an idea of what its value would be?
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