Walt Disney July 1956 Visit to Marceline PHOTO Initials 2nd Grade School Desk

Description

Walt Disney July 1956 Visit to Marceline PHOTO Initials 2nd Grade School Desk
Walt Disney July 1956 Visit to Marceline PHOTO Initials 2nd Grade School Desk
Historic Walt Disney Memorabilit by Saturday's Toys presents...
an original 8" x 10" glossy black and white photograph featuring Walt and Roy Disney as they visit Park School in Marceline, Missouri.
Their visit to the school occurred on July 4, 1956.  While inspecting the rows of the old antique desks... Walt and Lillian Disney... along with Roy and Edna Disney... stopped to observe the initials "W.D." carved into the top of one desk.  Photographers from the Walt Disney Studio in Burbank were present as the occasion was documented for possible presentation on a future "Mickey Mouse Club" newsreel.
The Park School was demolished only four years later in 1960.  However, the original desk has been preserved and is typically on display at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum (closed on Mondays; and closed for the winter season from Nov. 1 thru March 31 each year).  The Museum now inhabits what was once the Burlington-Northern and Santa Fe Railroad depot.  The red brick structure was built in 1913 and restored by the museum for its dedication and grand opening in 2001.
A modern recreation of the desk is also on display at Walt Disney World's "One Man's Dream" exhibit at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  Many guests mistake that desk for the original on display in Marceline.
The vintage photo is 8" x 10" and was previously stapled at all four corners.  Noted with Disney photo archive reference #WDX-10.  Stamped on reverse as "Copyrighted Walt Disney Productions - World Rights Reserved."  Photo appears to have been slightly darkened when it was created.  It is noted that the photo was taken with natural lighting and can be lightened when scanned if additional detail is desired for future displays of the photo.  We used a flash when capturing the image for this listing and it effectively lightened the image, as shown.  The close-up of Walt pointing to the initials is taken without our additional flash.
Also of note, Walt was unable to state definitively that this was his desk, but the myth has so completely surrounded this iconic piece of furniture that the story has taken on a life of its own. The desk was also displayed at Disneyland in the 1970's when the former Wurlitzer music store was transformed into a  "Disney Showcase" around the same time as the Walt Disney Story was added to the Opera House / "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln."
A classic and rarely offered vintage photograph of Walt and Roy Disney as they pause for this exceptional childhood memory.
About Us
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Saturday’s Toys and Disneyana Auctions
was founded in 1994 by Southern California author and Disney historian, Dave Mason. Soon after eBay's launch the following year, Saturday's Toys was among the first Disneyana specialists to strategize in embracing this rapidly developing technology. Having delivered over 10,000 coveted Disney treasures since then, Saturday's Toys is pleased to partner with researchers, collectors and friends throughout the world with a shared interest in the preservation of authentic and accurate Disney history.
Today, online offerings of archival Disneyana keepsakes are presented in celebration of the extended times that allow for family, friends and neighbors to join in memorable gatherings that nurture the strong connections that bind a community together. These treasures are affectionately known as "Saturday's Toys." In that light we present our adopted motto (with a tip of the cap to the Sherman Brothers):
"Oh, let's go fly a kite!"
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