No. 0046: Walt Disney Archives at the Bowers Museum
This month on Dispodopolis, we discuss my recent trip to the Bowers Museum to review the "Inside the Walt Disney Archives Exhibit." The exhibit was initially viewed at the D23 Expo Japan in 2018 before finding a temporary home at the Bowers Museum. The Bowers Museum is located in Santa Ana, California, 10 minutes South of Disneyland along the I-5 freeway. The Bowers Museum is a Spanish-influenced oasis in the middle of suburban Orange County. The Walt Disney Archives exhibit inhabited most of the bottom floor near the main entrance. At the main entrance, you turn left and head down the long hallway with trellis beams above and a flying Dumbo that looks like he is the moment of flight when you are about to descend and land. In the doorway hangs a well-known picture of Walt in his home's doorway with a shadow of Mickey Mouse on the wall. This photo was shot at Walt's home on Woking Way in Los Angeles. This home is where Sharon and Diane, Walt's daughters, grew up with a replica of Snow White's cottage in the backyard. I love this picture and the simplistic appeal of its imagery. This picture is the jumping point for you to experience close to one hundred years of the Walt Disney Studio's history. There is truly something for every film and theme park enthusiast. Recorded to release on August 30th, 2021.