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A once-forgotten piece of Disney history has just been uncovered, unlocking a new, never-before-seen look at the earliest days of Disneyland Park, and more importantly, a special glimpse of the man who began the magic: Walt Disney himself. With this year marking the milestone 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company, what better way to commemorate this momentous moment in history than getting a chance to revisit some of Walt’s special memories at the Happiest Place on Earth.
The reel, recently uncovered by a local Orange County couple, is part of a larger auction of rare vintage Disney memorabilia, hosted by Heritage Auctions. The details of the auction, recently shared by local news agency, KTLA, showcase the lost footage along with other highly sought after pieces of significance, such as a Main Street bench, concept art, blueprints, and a cabin from one of Disneyland’s earliest monorails.
The reel contains over 5 minutes of colorized footage, featuring moments of Walt Disney and his band of Mouseketeers welcoming the “Snow White Bus” to Disneyland Park in 1955, unlocking some of the world’s first looks at what looks like a long-forgotten ceremony, christening the very first Disneyland Express bus line from Los Angeles to Anaheim.
The “Snow White Bus” would help usher in a new era of public transportation, welcoming travelers of all ages to Walt Disney’s new theme park and acting as the founding of a fleet that is still in existence today through the LA Metro Line, operating daily out of Los Angeles to the very gates of Disneyland off of Harbor Blvd in Anaheim.
Directly from Disneyland’s own transit information page, guests can still board the Disneyland Express bus line through the LA Metro Line 460, which operates northbound on Figueroa St. and eastbound on 6th St., westbound on 5th St. and southbound on Flower St, enters and exits the I-110 (Harbor Transitway) at Adams Blvd. It then runs along the I-110 and I-105 to the Norwalk Green Line Station, making stops at 37th St., Slauson, and Manchester Stations.
It all connects to a truly incredible moment in Walt Disney’s story that adds to an already impressive history, giving a newfound appreciation for the La Metro, and creating a magical echo of the past through Line 460.
The reel will be on public display for the first time, along with other items from the auction’s catalog at the Beverly Hills Auction House from March 20th through 24th from 10 AM to 5 PM.
You can learn more about the piece through Heritage’s official auction listing!
