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1953 Disneyland Prospectus WED File Copy.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Disneyana Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
1953 Disneyland Prospectus WED File Copy.
All items are sold as is. Contact Van Eaton Galleries for condition reports and shipping information. 21% Buyer's Premium for all lots.
(Disneyland, 1950s-60s) In 1953, Walt Disney's dream to build a theme park was met by opposition and difficulty at almost every turn. Unable to get financing from his own studio, and even after mortgaging his own home, Disney was still millions of dollars away from being able to break ground on his park.

In September of 1953, Roy Disney was able to arrange a series of meetings with potential investors in New York City, including the major TV Studios and several banks. Walt knew that he would need more than just words to describe his park, he would need visual aids and a detailed explanation of exactly what his "Theme Park" would be.

Walt called on artist Herb Ryman to create the first large map of what Disneyland would be, based on his own descriptions. Drawn on a translucent paper called vellum, the map was made into a presentation piece for investors. At the same time, a 10-page prospectus was created describing the various lands and attractions of the park. A smaller hand-colored version of Ryman's presentation map was produced photographically and attached to each prospectus. Also included was a reproduction of Imagineer Marvin Davis' detailed plot plan for the park.

It is not known how few of these prospectus were made, but they remain among the most rare of Disney Artifacts, with only one surfacing for public auction in the last 20 years. The prospectus offered here was used as a WED File Copy, and was discovered in a group of WED documents from Marty Sklar that date from the early 1960s. As such, it is unknown how many of the materials in this prospectus date from 1953, or if some of the materials were added a few years later to complete the File Copy for WED Imagineering reference.

Archived within the standard blue folder used by WED in the 1960s and marked "Disneyland" on the cover, the prospectus opens to the fold-out copy of Herb Ryman's original concept. Measuring 18"x31" unfolded, the concept was hand-colored using ink and colored pencils.

Even in this early concept, Main Street, The Hub, and Tomorrowland are easily recognizable, as are such landmarks as the Rivers of America and the Jungle Cruise, although not in their final locations. Within the 10 page description we get a better idea of Walt's vision for the first Disney Theme Park.

The prospectus describes 10 key areas of the park, all of which made it to the final Disneyland in one form or another:

The Railroad: Always intended to surround the park, Disney describes the railroad as the first stop for any visitor. A chance to get a skyline view of the park before exploring it.

Main Street: A turn of the century Main Street U.S.A., Disney describes this land as the Shopping District of Disneyland. Three blocks long, it includes the Disneyland Emporium, "where you can buy almost anything and everything unusual", meant to be paired with a mail-order catalog for those that cannot visit the park.

True-Life Adventureland: Here you may see magnificently plumed birds and fantastic fish from all over the world, and which may be purchased and shipped anywhere in the U.S. Where you embark in a colorful Explorer's boat with a native guide for a cruise down the river of romance. Glide through the Everglades past birds and animals living in their natural habitat. Alligators lurk along the banks, and otters and turtles play in the water about you.

The World of Tomorrow: Where fascinating exhibits and the miracles of science and industry are displayed among the exhibits; A Diving Bell, A Monorail Train, The Little Parkway system where children drive scale model motorcars.. the Magic House of Tomorrow, and the gigantic Rocket Space Ship to The Moon.

Lilliputian Land: A Miniature American village inhabited by mechanical people nine inches high who sing and dance and talk to you.

Fantasy Land: A wonderful land of Fairy Tales come true within the walls of a great medieval castle whose towers loom seventy feet in the air

Recreation Land: A shady park set aside for reservations by clubs, schools, or other groups.

Frontier Country: Where the Stagecoach meets the train and the Riverboat for its trip down the river to New Orleans. Along Frontier Street is a Harness Shop, a Blacksmith shop, Livery stable, Assayers Office, Sheriff's office and jail.

Mickey Mouse Club: The best known club in America has its headquarters in Disneyland.

Holiday Land: A showplace of special attractions that change with the seasons.

The prospectus ends by unfolding an 11"x11" Marvin Davis plot plan. It is within this folder that we can see what Walt Disney's original vision and purpose for the park was, "A Place for people to find happiness and knowledge." The prospectus gives us an unprecedented and rarely seen look into the mind of Walt Disney and his hopes and dreams for his park. Truly a museum quality piece, this prospectus is the very beginning of what would become Disneyland.