Over 1,000 rare Disneyland collectibles went to auction over the weekend in Sherman Oaks, California, fetching a total of over $1.7 million. Van Eaton Galleries reportedly obtained the items from a single buyer who spent over 30 years amassing the kid-friendly haul. In a press release, Van Eaton called “The Story of Disneyland” the largest and most historical collection of Disney goods ever to hit the auction circuit.
Several items exceeded pre-auction estimates, including an animatronic Tiki Bird, which hammered for $153,400, the record price for the two-day sale. The Enchanted Tiki Room, which opened at Disneyland in 1963, was the first attraction to use animatronic technology at the park.
Other high sellers included a skeleton prop from Pirates of the Caribbean. $129,800; Pirates of the Caribbean concept art by Marc Davis, $70,800; a cigar store Indian from the park’s Frontierland, $44,250; a Tiki Room boat, $44,250; a Mickey Mouse costume head, $29,500, and a Mark Twain riverboat life preserver prop, $29,500.
Vintage Tinkerbell air fresheners.
Photo: Van Eaton Galleries
If these seem like strange things to spend money on, the Observer reports that the auction actually boasted some even odder offerings, including popcorn buckets, signs, and ashtrays once used at the park, and even novelty vitamins and Tinkerbell air fresheners once sold on Main Street, the park’s retail strip.
The seller also amassed a collection of photographs of people at Disneyland with the various objects he owned by perusing garage sales. Many of the vintage images were also sold at the auction.
If you’re curious about the full roster of trappings from the Disneyland of yore, Van Eaton Galleries has a massive, 300-page auction catalog for your viewing pleasure on their website.