First Disneyland map sells for £555,000

by Dramelin 2:30 AM 0 comments

An original map of the first Disneyland park has fetched £555,838 ($708,000) at an auction in California.
The 1953 drawing was used by Walt Disney to secure funding, after his own studio refused to fund the site.
The artist`s impression was given to an employee, and remained out of public view for more than 60 years.
The map was personally annotated by the creator of Mickey Mouse, and reveals a picture of Walt Disney`s vision for the theme park, built in 1955.
The hand-coloured map was drawn in two days with input from Disney and artist Herb Ryman.
Disney`s brother Roy took the map to meet investors at the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 1953.
Mark Eaton of auctioneers Van Eaton Galleries in Los Angeles said: "After some pretty exciting bidding the map sold for $708,000, making it the most expensive Disneyland map ever sold.
"We are beyond thrilled that the map will continue to be appreciated and cherished.
" The map was given by Disney to production assistant Grenade Curran, who drove guests around the park in "autopia" vehicles when it opened.
He said: "I kept it for history`s sake, I kept it for Walt`s artistic stake, I kept it because it was the first thing to show and display.
what a theme park would look like.
" The first Disneyland Resort was built in Anaheim, California, on a 100-acre car park site.
Since opening more than 60 years ago, it has greeted 650 million visitors, and it was the third most-visited theme park in the world in 2015.