Disneyland: The First 65 Years – Day 1

Two years before the release of Sleeping Beauty (1959), Walt Disney was already preparing for an attraction dedicated to the animated movie at Disneyland. One of Disney’s main concerns with what would become the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough was the empty space inside. To solve this, he asked animator Eyvind Earle, who was also working on the film, to produce dioramas that visitors could look at while walking through the castle. A concept painting for those dioramas by Earle is among the highlighted lots in day one of the upcoming Disneyland: The First 65 Years auction, presented by Van Eaton Galleries.

The event will offer over 500 pieces of memorabilia from Disneyland and other Disney parks. This includes a 1967 original attraction poster for Disneyland’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride. “Sail with the wildest crew that ever sacked the Spanish Main,” invites the poster. Also representing Disneyland is the original entrance sign for Don DeFore’s Silver Banjo Barbecue. From 1957 to 1962, the restaurant offered Disneyland visitors barbecue spare ribs, fish and chips, and other dishes. It was named after actor Don DeFore, notable for his role as the neighbor “Thorny” on the television series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Interested collectors can learn more about the featured lots in this Auction Daily article and register to bid on LiveAuctioneers.