Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic

How could we miss this, "Now on view at the Bowers Museum, the exhibition Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic celebrates The Walt Disney Company on the 50th anniversary of its archives, with behind-the-scenes access never before granted to the public (it's a 10,000-square-feet traveling exhibit)?"

A little about the historic museum that hosted this event... The Charles W. Bowers Memorial Museum first opened its doors in 1936 as a city-run museum devoted primarily to the history of Orange County. In 1987, the City of Santa Ana closed the museum with the understanding that after careful study and a great deal of input from the community, the museum would be reopened as a totally transformed museum, ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

In October of 1992, the Bowers Museum (some six times larger than the original museum) opened its doors to a crowd of over 17,000 people. Since this highly successful reopening, the museum has presented over 150 special exhibitions from all over the world, opened six permanent galleries, and watched its membership grow to nearly 8,000 members. Interestingly, for a brief time, I was a volunteer there, doing their corresponding. A perfect job for me which sadly ended when we moved to Temecula.

Now about Disney. How did this exhibit come to be? When Walt Disney passed away in 1966, the team he left behind continued to build on his creative visions. These included films, the further development of Disneyland and a new destination resort and community of the future he had planned for Central Florida, which was then to be called "Disney World". Walt's secretaries kept most everything in place just as Walt had left it and they spent a year indexing and cataloging his files for storage. When they finished their work, they closed up the office suite and locked the doors.

Enter the man who would share the archives with the world. In the late 1960s, a young librarian named Dave Smith visited the Walt Disney Studios to research their book holdings, for the first-ever attempt at a complete bibliography of Disney books and publications. Learning of the Company's historical needs, Dave also came up with a plan for a Disney Archives and Museum.

As he recalled, Roy O. Disney was very interested in the whole idea of the archives because he not only wanted to preserve the history of the Company but he wanted to make sure that his brother's history was preserved. The Walt Disney Archives officially began on June 22, 1970 (51 years ago, almost to the day). Dave would serve as the Company's Chief Archivist for over 40 years, and even continued his historical work into retirement serving as a trusted consultant and Chief Archivist Emeritus.

I can't tell you how cool it was to see the desk where all the magic happened.

These bookshelves are photographs of the actual shelves holding the books Dave was so interested in cataloging. WOW.

With more than 13,000 boxes of documents and merchandise items, a library of twenty million photographs, more than 12,000 catalogued books and several thousand historic props and costume pieces, from the first "Mickey Mouse Club" series to the latest feature films and park attractions, the Walt Disney Archives documents Disney history as it happens daily.

The Archives "Back Room" holds a sampling of original animation art, as well as art from live action films and television productions, along with a specially-curated collection of significant costume items, documents, merchandise, posters, props, and memorabilia. These treasures are kept close at hand, for security and easy access by staff as they represent important moments in Disney's nearly 100 year long history.

In the collection are priceless treasures. This is cast member #1's badge from opening day.

I wish this could have been more accurately photographed. It is a silver certificate inviting press to the Dedication of Disneyland. Oh man.

Key costumes and props include Davy Crockett's coonskin cap (1954), the ring that turned Tommy Kirk into a Shaggy Dog (1959), Mary Poppins signature carpet bag (1964), and the magic bed knob from Bed knobs and Broomsticks (1971). Prop storybooks that represent the classic fairytales are special treasures, from the relatively simple storybook that started it all: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) to the elaborately bejeweled Sleeping Beauty (1959).

This Sleeping Beauty prop, we were told, cost $1500 to create, in 1959 dollars!

For me, being at the Park is made the most fun by interacting with the characters. This is a very vintage Pinocchio costume.

We also learned about Disney Legends. Julie Andrews' hand prints are surrounded by several components of the award, "The Spiral ... stands for imagination, the power of an idea. The Hand... holds the gifts of skill, discipline and craftsmanship. The Wand and the Star... represent magic: the spark that is ignited when imagination and skill combine to create a new dream."

Talk about nostalgia, this is the sign that greeted us while we explored The Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. The Treehouse opened in Disneyland in November 1962, almost two years after the December 1960 release of Walt Disney’s hit adventure movie, Swiss Family Robinson, which was based on the 1812 novel of the same name by Johann David Wyss.

In early 1999, Disneyland evicted the Swiss Family from their Treehouse to make room for Tarzan. The giant artificial tree received a massive makeover, including thousands of replacement vinyl leaves and a new suspension bridge entrance from a new neighboring tree. In June 1999, Tarzan’s Treehouse began welcoming park guests, just as Disney’s animated Tarzan premiered in movie theaters.

Oh man, The Haunted Mansion.

Another memory evoker was this window display. A highlight, on Main St, was to discover what treasure was held in the windows of the Emporium. The movie models were magical.

Okay, the Costume Collection was pretty over the top awesome. New additions to the costume collection begins with an archivist viewing Disney produced movies and television shows, and creating a list of the most desired costume elements to add to the collection. Once the costume is deemed to be structurally sound and in good condition it will then be placed on display or shown for research. How about Julia Roberts' Pretty Woman dress? Oh my gosh!

While I haven't seen Mary Poppins Returns, I did like the costume Emily Blunt wore, while portraying the iconic role.

A huge delight was seeing Tom Hanks' best friend, Wilson, from the movie Castaway. WOW.

What About Bob? is a film I may have seen but since I don't remember it, I need to now since I am intrigued by these hand puppets.

Herbie: The Love Bug is another one of those fond memories from my childhood.

At the celebration of the Archives 40th anniversary it was said, "The pieces that reside in the Walt Disney Archives are not just Disney treasures, they are Americana. They are pieces of American history, of world history, of world culture." After seeing them, I'd have to add, "They are pieces of my childhood" and seeing them really evoked memories of so long ago.

We purchased a unique closing night package. We were allowed to enter the museum, after closing, for two hours of leisurely ogling. Then we stayed afterward, for a lecture in the Museum's garden.

Weird Disney: The Early Mickey Years, Inside the Walt Disney Archives Closing Lecture, was presented by the delightful Becky Cline, Walt Disney Archives Director (Dave Smith's successor).

Once the sun went down, the history of Mickey's evolution began.

The Mickey with Walt was actually a performer who tap danced on his hand. There were several traveling Mickey shows, with very unique 'stars', especially when created abroad.

In America, Mickey made his first real-world appearance on March 12th, 1931 in Los Angeles. It wasn't long after, that Walt decided Mickey was scary with teeth. Hysterical.

In 1933, Mister Mickey Mouse and Minnie got married. Jack Hylton & His Orchestra, with Pat O'Malley on vocals, actually released an album, celebrating the special event. Wild stuff.

"After the Pearl Harbor Attacks, the owner of Sun Rubber Company presented a sketch of a proposed Mickey Mouse gas mask to the Chief of Chemical Warfare Service (with Walt's approval). The mask was intended for children and was given the look of the famous Mickey Mouse vermin character to make the mask more child-friendly." Sun Rubber Company went on to produce a little over 1,000 of these, none of which was ever needed, thankfully.