Pop-Up Disneyland Exhibit Brings Magic Kingdom To The Valley

SHERMAN OAKS, CA — Valley Disneyphiles don’t have to trek to Anaheim this week to get their fix of the magic Kingdom.

It’s in Sherman Oaks, or, at least significant pieces of Disney history are on display free for all visitors, thanks to a collector willing to share his love of Disneyland at a pop-up gallery featuring Disney-themed events.
The exhibit called “That’s from Disneyland!” occupies a former Sports Authority store, and it represents 25 years of devoted collecting by Richard Kraft, theLos Angeles Daily News reported.

Kraft told the newspaper Disneyland was his family’s haven, the place they went annually when his brother, who suffered from Crohn’s disease, was feeling well enough. It’s where Kraft went when his brother passed at 35.

“Disneyland was where we went growing up whenever he was feeling well. So (I have) nothing but pleasant Disneyland memories of childhood,” Kraft told the Daily News. “When he passed away, I went back to Disneyland to smell the smells, to taste the tastes and hear the sounds.”

Kraft’s collection includes posters from disneyland, art and props from rides, a Dumbo a cart from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, even a trash can from the theme park. Among his prized collection are:

• DUMBO THE FLYING ELEPHANT
• PETER PAN’S FLIGHT SHIP
• HAUNTED MANSION “DOOM BUGGY"
• MR. TOAD’S WILD RIDE CAR
• FANTASYLAND SKYWAY BUCKET
• TOMORROWLAND PEOPLE MOVER
• MATTERHORN BOBSLED
• SPACE MOUNTAIN VEHICLE
• ALL 4 ORIGINAL HAUNTED MANSION STRETCHING ROOM PAINTINGS
• 6 IT’S A SMALL WORLD ANIMATRONIC DOLLS
• DISNEYLAND TICKET BOOTH
• SUBMARINE VOYAGE SEA SERPENT & MERMAID
• JOSÉ AUDIO-ANIMATRONIC™ TIKI BIRD
• ORIGINAL CONCEPT ART
• ORIGINAL ATTRACTION POSTER
• RARE PARK SOUVENIRS, VINTAGE TICKET BOOKS, PROGRAMS AND POSTCARDS

Kraft will auction his collection over the weekend, but in the meantime, the display is free and open to the public.

For the full Los Angeles Daily News article, click here.

The gallery will be open through Aug. 24 at 13730 Riverside Drive in Sherman Oaks.

Photo courtesy of Van Eaton Galleries