In February of 1928, 26 year old Walt Disney left the New York
City offices of Charles Mintz and returned to Hollywood, a
desolate man on the verge of bankruptcy. Disney had gone to the
distributor of his successful Oswald the Rabbit cartoon series,
looking for a raise. Instead, he was told that Mintz owned all
rights to Oswald.
Over the years,
the story of how Mickey Mouse was created on Walt’s return train ride from New
York to Hollywood has been scrutinized and embellished. It appears, however, as
though Mickey was born from the imaginations of Walt Disney and his key
animator, Ub Iwerks and subsequently named by Walt’s wife Lilly. On November 18,
1928, Mickey Mouse made his first appearance in the 7 ½ minute cartoon,
Steamboat Willie. It was the first sound cartoon to be shown in theaters, with
the voices of Mickey, Minnie and a parrot all supplied by Walt Disney himself.
The short feature delighted critics and fans alike. By 1940, over 100 Mickey
Mouse cartoons would be released, with many more to follow.
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Courtesy of
Robert & Debra Helton of Ogee’s Antiques [www.goantiques.com] Walt Disney
Productions “California Originals” Mickey Mouse, mint with original box, 1960’s,
$595. |
Although his features were considerably more rodent-like, early
Mickey strongly resembled his predecessor, Oswald the Rabbit.
Over time, Mickey underwent some cosmetic surgery, or at least
some physical alterations. His ears became further apart and his
eyes, originally dark circles, narrowed, with white ovals
featuring black ellipses. His nose was rounded out and
shortened, his skin tone enhanced, his feet enlarged and he
began to wear gloves. In short, Mickey began to look more like a
human than a mouse.
Certainly Walt
Disney and Ub Iwerks could not have envisioned the lasting popularity of their
cartoon creation, or known that 75 years later, children and adults would still
be growing up with Mickey. Yet from the beginning, manufacturers around the
world embraced Mickey Mouse. In 1930, Charlotte Clark delighted Walt and his
brother Roy with her prototype Mickey Mouse doll. Charlotte soon began stuffing
and sewing the dolls as a full-time venture, wholesaling them for $30 a dozen.
|
Courtesy of
Tom Dawson, President, 52 Plus Joker [www.52plusjoker.org]. Minnie loves Mickey
playing card, Whitman Publishing Company, 1935. |
In 1932, Disney hired Herman (Kay) Kamen to handle the licensing
issues for Walt Disney Enterprises. Kamen’s responsibility was
to ensure that the image of Mickey and his friends remained
pure. For example, Mickey was not allowed to represent or
advertise cigarettes, laxatives or alcoholic beverages, although
for some reason Mickey Mouse ashtrays were considered
acceptable.
Manufacturers
eagerly paid royalties of 2½ to 10% for a license to use the image of Mickey
Mouse. The Ingersoll-Waterbury Clock Company was saved from bankruptcy when they
began to produce the first Mickey Mouse clocks and watches in 1933. Alarm clocks
retailed from $1.39 and a watch and fob in gift box retailed for $1.50. In spite
of the Great Depression, 11,000 Mickey Mouse wristwatches, priced at $2.98, were
sold the first day of their release at Macy’s in New York.
Patricia and
Doug Wengel have been collecting Disney and Mickey Mouse memorabilia for over 25
years. Doug Wengel says “Throughout the years, the Walt Disney organization has
had many licensees producing a vast array of products. Many of these licenses
were of short duration and the products varied in their success. The scarcity
and desirability of these items, as evaluated by today’s collectors, is
reflected in the current market price. The original Ingersoll-Waterbury watch,
for example, can command up to $600. Mechanical tin toys, produced in Spain and
Germany from 1929-1934, are difficult to find and when found, cost in the
thousands of dollars. Other desirable items include banks, children’s hankie
sets and sand toys made by the Ohio Art Co.”
|
Courtesy of
Skinner, Inc. [WWW.SKINNERINC.COM]. Pair of Mickey and Minnie Mouse Toys by
Knickerbocker, Sold at Skinner Auction December 2002 $6,815. |
Pat Wengel adds that the dolls produced by Charlotte Clark and
Knickerbocker of the U.S., Deans’s Rag Book of Great Britain and
Margarite Steiff of Germany are also very collectible, saying
“Costumed dolls are especially popular with collectors, such as
Mickey in a cowboy outfit or a bandmaster’s uniform. This type
of item falls under the category of cross-over collecting, where
the same piece would be sought after by both Disney collectors
and doll collectors. As a general rule, items with cross-over
appeal command higher prices.”
Certainly the
diversity of Mickey Mouse products has created a huge cross-over market,
especially in the area of children’s toys, books and games. Since collections
are often built on the nostalgia and recognition of items from one’s own
childhood, Mickey has the advantage of being there from the earliest moments.
|
Courtesy of Skinner, Inc.
[WWW.SKINNERINC.COM]. Lionel Mickey Mouse Hand Car, with composition Mickey and
Minnie, red car with spring motor and track, in original box. Sold at Skinner
Auction December 2001 $2,585. |
1930’s Mickey Mouse baby toys included celluloid rattles,
metal-litho spinning tops, inflatable bouncing balls and
hand-painted wooden pull and push toys. Before long,
manufacturers such as William Rogers & Son of International
Silver and the Salem China Company got into the act by making
baby’s first utensils, cups, bowls, mugs and plates. By the mid
1930’s, Mickey’s image could literally be found on everything
for baby, from baby bedding to rockers, latex panties, bibs,
towels and wash cloths.
As the
Depression continued, parents were able to reward well-behaved children with a
variety of cheaply priced items. There were Mickey Mouse toothbrushes, soaps,
hair combs, clothes and books, along with such back-to-school necessities as
pencil sharpeners, pencil boxes, stamp pads and rulers. For young girls, Cohn &
Rosenberg, Inc. created a line of Mickey Mouse Kiddie bakelite jewelry, which
retailed for 10 cents at the local five and dime store. The sale of over 253,000
wind-up metal and composition handcars, many featuring Minnie as well as Mickey,
saved the Lionel Corporation from bankruptcy in 1934. The toys retailed for $1,
with more elaborate train sets selling for $2 in 1935.
Mickey Mouse
remained a popular icon through the 1940’s until present day. Pat Wengel says
that “while the number of items produced in the early years is far less than the
current output of new items, many people love the modern collectibles. However,
it will likely be several years before an after-market exists for most of the
newer releases. Maintaining fine condition and original packaging cannot be
overemphasized, as this will certainly be the number one criteria for
determining future value.”
|
Courtesy of
Alan Stem, Alans Antiques, Lascassas, TN. [www.rubylance.com/shops/alansantiques]
1950’s Marx Mickey and Friends Children’s Tea Set. $350. |
Time lines are also important in Disney collecting. The earliest
items, dating from 1929-1933, were signed Walt Disney, Walt E.
Disney, Walter Disney and just W.D. From 1934 to 1938, items
were marked W.D. Ent. and Walt Disney Enterprises. In 1938 the
signature was changed to Walt Disney Productions, which remained
in effect until 1984. In 1985, the company went into the modern
signatures.
If you love
Mickey Mouse, the most difficult decision may be deciding what to collect. The
easiest will be passing on your love and knowledge of Mickey to future
generations. Andrew and Laura Gladwish are collectors of Disney movies and
artwork, including posters, pictures and original cels. “Every morning my
daughter, Reesa Victoria and I say hello to her stuffed Mickey Mouse doll,” says
Laura, who by her own admission is Mickey Mouse crazy. “Andrew and I even got
married in the Disney World Wedding Pavilion. Of course, I wore white Mickey
Mouse ears to match my gown.”
To
many collectors, Mickey Mouse represents the essence of Disney. Walt may never
have envisioned the phenomenal success of his simple cartoon character, but for
75 years, children of all ages have enjoyed growing up with Mickey.
|
Courtesy of
Pat & Doug Wengel. Children’s room thermometer, made by Character Art Co. of
Brooklyn, NY. Early 1930’s. |
