Thursday, July 6, 2023

The Joel Magee Disneyland Collection Review!

 The Von Eaton Galleries have produced some impressive memorabilia auctions that preview to the public! In this case, the Joel Magee Disneyland Collection, the auctions are due to start on July 17th, so it is free to wander through the collection until that day. The previous auction gallery was That’s From Disneyland! which was in 2018. This is at the Burbank Town Center Mall right next to World Market. Check out more information at: https://vegalleries.com/releases/the-joel-magee-disneyland-collection. The Joel Magee collection has about 6,000 items and this exhibit has around a quarter of it! The first item is a Herb Ryman Disneyland Concept Plot Plan, a brown line copy of the original concept art. There are a number of Disneyland souvenir maps that lead to the gift shop. Next to it is the light blue Original Global Van Lines Moving Truck, I remember this one from That’s From Disneyland! A few items from that auction are in this collection.  

Matterhorn model at the Joel Magee Disneyland Collection, author’s photo.


To the right is a cabinet of cast member name tags. I know as a former cast member that they easily brown and get smudged even if you are careful. There is a “Welcome to Disneyland” Cast Member Guide, valued at $100-200 and a “Disneyland & You” Cast Member Orientation Booklet, also $100-200. I have both! There are a number of Disneyland admission ticket books. I saw a number of attraction posters and a Disneyland after Dark 1962 poster with Louis Armstrong! On the wall is the Official Flag of Disneyland, a light blue flag with “Disneyland” in yellow letters, and Cinderella’s castle in dark blue behind it. Above it all is the Official Large Size Mickey Mouse Disneyland Flag, hand made, it was red with Mickey Mouse’s face. It is great to talk to Von Eaton Galleries employees, some of whom is their first work for the gallery!, and to share stories about Disneyland and Walt Disney World. 


There is the Original Main Street City Hall Doors with various costumes and the Babes in Toyland Village Toy Soldier Prop. It was great to see cast member costumes that of course very memorable to me. I like seeing the Kiss-O-Meter Arcade Machine that was at the Penny Arcade. One of the highlights was the Original Tiki Room Birds with Custom Animated Display, the three Avian Actors including Jose who seeing the Enchanted Tiki Room song. It is stunning to see animatronics up close. Note that the employees warn visitors of crossing the ropes surrounding displays and signs not to touch certain items. I love seeing the Tahitian Terrace Mickey Child’s Menu, valued at $100-200, you punch out King Kamickey Mickey and I had to clean up many of them after shows! Now they are valuable! Also fun was seeing the Big Thunder Mountain Boiler & Reconstructed Train, I.M. Loco. 


Jose and the Tiki Birds from Enchanted Tiki Room, photo by the author. 


There were other props, the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Bat Prop and Dynamite Prop! One of the signs was of Big Thunder Ranch, I miss the animals, and later the barbeque. One of the ride vehicles was of the Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, which looked like a snail, but is like a honeycomb. There is some artwork and props from Splash Mountain. There were three of the Haunted Mansion Stretching Portraits. Plus the Doom Buggy Attraction Vehicle and the Pop-Up Ghoul Head of Master Gracey, the owner of the mansion! The trio of Hitchhiking Ghosts Animatronic Display is from Walt Disney World and I saw them at the Von Eaton Galleries booth at D23 Expo. 


The Fantasyland vehicles include the Peter Pan’s Flight, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and Dumbo vehicles. Tinker Bell Figure Prop that was removed during the New Fantasyland remodel. The Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride Devil Prop was from the That’s From Disneyland! auction. There was a door from the Disneyland Chicken of the Sea Restaurant, this was next to Skull Rock, and Monstro from Storybook Boats. Another crowd pleasing display was the Hawaiian and Egyptian dolls from It’s A Small World. An orange Skyway Original Bucket Vehicle has a signature by Bob Gurr! I also loved seeing the Model of New Tomorrowland with Peoplemover and the beautiful Mary Blair murals. 


There was the Rocket Jet Original Attraction Vehicle and what stunned me was the Adventures Through Inner Space Atomobile Prop and Display! A feature is the blue Midget Autopia Car from 1957! I recognize the Submarine Voyage Animatronic Mermaid from That’s From Disneyland! There was also several Static Fish and Viper Fish Props! The Tower of Terror Lobby Elevator brought memories to visitors who had fond memories of the attraction. From Walt Disney World, there is the Figment Audio-Animatronic figure from EPCOT. This played the original audio. I recognize the Busby Berkeley Dancer Figure that was part of the Great Movie Ride, there were three circular platforms with many of the women around it and a waterfall-like curtain in front so you couldn’t really see them. This all exits to a gift shop. There are so many memories and discoveries to be found at the Joel Magee Disneyland Collection! 


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