Saturday, June 2, 2018

Rare Disneyland Swiss Robinson Tree, Main Street U.S.A Artworks


Here above is a very rare 1955 artwork for Disneyland Swiss Robinson Tree that i’ve found in a 2016 auction catalog of Profiles in History. In the auction description they said it was done "most certainly the work of Wolfgang Reitherman, one of the “Nine Old Men of Disney”, who was responsible for designing the Treehouse for the movie and the Disneyland attraction. The designs for the movie were also used to create the “Swiss Family Treehouse” attraction. Accomplished in graphite, pen and ink and gouache on artist board measuring 20 x 30 in" but i've checked with some friends Imagineers and they say that "the artwork looks more like one from Bruce Bushman than Reitherman, who did not work on the park or live action films". It's such a gorgeous descriptive and atmospheric piece anyway.

In the same catalog was also another artwork of an early concept done in 1953 by Dale Hennessy for Disneyland Main Street USA. The facade of the Newspaper office is the one on which Walt placed his father's name on... with a first concept for a Haunted Mansion too ( at the end of the street on the right )


...and the artwork also include the very first concept for a Haunted Mansion ( at the end of the street on the right ), rumored to have inspired DLP Phantom Manor exterior look. Click on all these renderings to see them in big size.


Pictures: copyright WED Enterprises

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