Disney Archives Exhibit at Ronald Reagan Museum
Mrs. Ronald Reagan and Bob Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company, officially opened D23 PRESENTS TREASURES OF THE WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum Thursday. It is stated to be the largest Disney archives exhibit in the world, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.
“This is a rather historic day for Disney – the first time we’ve ever opened our archives to the world on such a grand scale,” said Bob Iger.
Joining Mr. Iger and Mrs. Reagan at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States; Fredrick J. Ryan, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation; and Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
[ Also Read: New Library Devoted to George Washington ]“The making of this incredible exhibition actually began 57 years ago this month when, in July 1955, a young actor named Ronald Reagan was invited by his movie producer friend, Walt Disney, to the vast orange groves of Anaheim, California, to emcee the opening of what was being described as a ‘new amusement park,’” said Mr. Ryan.
“When the opportunity arose to have this spectacular collection of Disney treasures open for the public, we knew there would be no more appropriate place then here at the Reagan Presidential Library.”
[ Also Read: Bush Institute Launches Freedom Collection ]The 12,000-square-foot exhibition, which opens to the public today, July 6, showcases more than 500 Disney artifacts, many publicly displayed for the first time, from more than 100 years of Disney history.
The collection includes early drawings of Walt Disney’s first cartoon, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit; the first ticket ever issued for Disneyland; Walt Disney’s formal office; Disney theme park attraction pieces and ride vehicles; and props, set pieces and costumes from Disney films including Mary Poppins, 101 Dalmatians, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, TRON and TRON: Legacy, and Marvel’s The Avengers.
