The special Disney100: The Exhibition from the Walt Disney Archives will open at the 35,000-square-foot Exhibition Hub Art Center (formerly known as the Windy City Fieldhouse) in Chicago on Nov. 18, 2023.
The date is significant because it is Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse’s birthday. The pair made their first on-screen appearance in “Steamboat Willie,” which premiered in New York City on Nov. 18, 1928.
Disney 100: The Exhibition in Chacgo consists of 10 immersive galleries with more than 250 unique and rarely seen works of art, artifacts, memorabilia, costumes, and props from the historical collections across the many realms of Disney, all on display as The Walt Disney Company celebrates its centennial anniversary on Oct. 16, 2023. (Here’s a look at 23 specal Disney artificats people will see.)
“Most of the artifacts are presented from the Walt Disney Archives collection with some additional treasures from Marvel Studios, the Pixar Living Archives, the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, and Walt Disney Imagineering, including some that will be displayed for the first time in Chicago.” said Christoph Scholz, Director, Semmel Exhibitions.
Chicago plays an important role in the Disney story. Walt Disney was born in Chicago’s Hermosa neighborhood, purchased his his first motion picture camera in Chicago and attended McKinley High School where he divided his attention between drawing and photography. He also attended night classes at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.
“We are incredibly excited to bring this fantastic exhibition to Chicago,” said Rebecca Cline, Director, Walt Disney Archives. “We can’t wait for guests to experience some of their favorite Disney stories, characters, and attractions in new and immersive ways as we celebrate all the wonderful worlds of Disney.”
Some of the items on display inlcude:
- Visual development drawings for Sleeping Beauty (1959) created by artist and Disney Legend Marc Davis.
- A very special piece of art from Mary Poppins (1964), which can also be seen in the opening titles of Mary Poppins Returns (2018), created by artist and Disney Legend Peter Ellenshaw.
- Iconic props from various films such as the Mad Hatter’s teapot from Alice in Wonderland (2010); the poisoned caramel apple from Enchanted (2007) used by Timothy Spall and Amy Adams; and the dinglehopper from The Little Mermaid (2023) used by Halle Bailey.
- Disneyland Park Employee Badge #1, issued to Walt Disney in 1955.
- An early photograph of Walt Disney’s birthplace in Chicago.
The waitlist for tickets is now open and ticket sales will go on sale on Sept. 14, 2023, at 10 a.m. CDT.
