9 rarely seen photos of Walt Disney in the 1950s
The 1950s was a busy time for Walt Disney.
A number of movies were released, a new movie distribution arm, Buena Vista Distribution was formed and he ventured into television for the first time in 1950 and eventually launched his first regular television series in 1954.
The biggest part of the decade was the opening of Disneyland in 1955.
Here’s a look at Walt during the 1950s.
Embed from Getty Images1. One of the first visitors Disneyland sneaked in one day early and got some special treatment from the big bossman. She’s Elaine Long, 3, and her host for an old-fashioned ice cream delight in Carnation’s Gay Nineties ice cream parlor was no other than Walt Disney himself, the man behind the $17-million entertainment park.
Embed from Getty Images2. Walt Disney in a 1954 portrait.
Embed from Getty Images3. Walt Disney laughs while struggling to hold four Oscar statuettes simultaneously, backstage at the Academy Awards in 1954.
Embed from Getty Images4. Walt Disney and his wife, Lillian, smile while posing outdoors in front of shrubs at their home. Lillian holds a red rose.
Embed from Getty Images5. Walt Disney sings and plays a ukulele for a group of children during a luau-style picnic in front of a tropical backdrop in 1955.
Embed from Getty Images6. Walt Disney sits in the front of a red, horsedrawn fire wagon, holding the reins at Disneyland in 1955.
Embed from Getty Images7. Disney, using a toy revolver, smiles while pretending to hold up children in a stagecoach at Disneyland in 1955.
Embed from Getty Images
8. Disney drives a red bumper car with his daughter and grandson as passengers at Disneyland in 1958
9. Disney (right) listens to animators talk through storyboards for the film “Sleeping Beauty,” due out in 1959. Animator Les Clark plays a record.
