Disneyland 1963 PHOTO Illinois Gov Otto Kerner Walt Disney Fire Engine Rose Bowl

Description

Disneyland 1963 PHOTO Illinois Gov Otto Kerner Walt Disney Fire Engine Rose Bowl
Disneyland 1963 PHOTO Illinois Gov Otto Kerner Walt Disney Fire Engine Rose Bowl
Vintage Disneyland Memorabilia by Saturday's Toys presents...
a rarely seen photograph of Illinois Governor Otto Kerner and family at Disneyland in 1963.  This was assumed to be a positive personal appearance as Walt was knee-deep in preparing to honor the 16th President of the United States in "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" when it debuted at the 1964 New York World's Fair.
Captured in this photo on Monday, December 30, 1963 as the Kerner family visited Disneyland only one month after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas.  Governor Kerner was in Southern California to represent his state as the University of Illinois (Fighting Illini) and the University of Washington (Huskies) met at the Rose Bowl for the traditional football match-up on New Year's Day.  Illinois beat Washington that day, 17-7, led by the one and only Dick Butkus.
Here, Gov. Kerner is shown shaking hands with Mickey Mouse... aboard Walt Disney's personal Main Street Fire Engine. With him are his wife, Helene Cermak Kerner and his children Tony (15 yrs) and Helena (14  yrs).  Modeled after a 1916 fire engine... Walt's fire engine was designed by Bob Gurr and is still in operation today.  The siren (shown adjacent to the headlight) is no longer on the vehicle... but it has been faithfully restored and still is used on Main Street, U.S.A.
The original photo measured 7" x 9"; though the right edge previously containing the press caption, has been trimmed and adhered to the back of the photo.  The photo was originally cataloged on January 2, 1964 (the day after the Rose Bowl); and was pulled from the files upon Kerner's death in 1976.  He had served on the United States Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, from 1968 - 1974.  He was convicted on charges of mail fraud and he is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
Good condition; trimmed on right edge; with caption preserved and adheredto reverse, as shown.
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Saturday’s Toys and Disneyana Auctions
was founded in 1994 by Southern California author and Disney historian, Dave Mason. Soon after eBay's launch the following year, Saturday's Toys was among the first Disneyana specialists to strategize in embracing this rapidly developing technology. Having delivered over 10,000 coveted Disney treasures since then, Saturday's Toys is pleased to partner with researchers, collectors and friends throughout the world with a shared interest in the preservation of authentic and accurate Disney history.
Today, online offerings of archival Disneyana keepsakes are presented in celebration of the extended times that allow for family, friends and neighbors to join in memorable gatherings that nurture the strong connections that bind a community together. These treasures are affectionately known as "Saturday's Toys." In that light we present our adopted motto (with a tip of the cap to the Sherman Brothers):
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