Partners Statue

[IMAGINE]

To my knowledge the Partners Statue was introduced in 93...Right? Wrong? Anybody know history or info about it?

[almandot]

Re: Partners Statue

I thought 95 or something. And it got rededicated in 2001 for the 100 years of magic promotion that disneyland didn't take part of but all the other resorts did.

[tom sawyer]

Re: Partners Statue

I am voting for November of 1993:
A few links of my findings...
http://www.finddisney.com/Linquist.htm
http://legends.disney.go.com/legends...=Blaine+Gibson

[IMAGINE]

Re: Partners Statue

Ok so it was in 93, just as I thought thanks...Now im looking for what was there before hand. A fellow cast member told me there used to be like give aways and sweepstakes kinda deals. There would be like a car on a revolving platform and that sort of deal...anybody here of stuff like this?

[GhostHostJeff]

Re: Partners Statue

There was a flower bed I believe for some time since Disneylands opening. I believe they may have had the 35 give away machine there.

[2DieFR]

Re: Partners Statue



For the curious, this is what the central hub looked like before the Partners statue took residence. Note the lack of fencing.

[kirbilicious]

Re: Partners Statue

For the curious, this is what the central hub looked like before the Partners statue took residence. Note the lack of fencing.

Wow - really cool picture! I'm surprised to see all of the trees blocking the castle

[MollyTrolly]

Re: Partners Statue

Wow - really cool picture! I'm surprised to see all of the trees blocking the castle

That was my first thought as well. I don't remember all the trees.

[almandot]

Re: Partners Statue

The hub area of main street and around the castle used to be full of them and it was like a castle in an enchanted forest look to it almost. Look up some old pictures, especially of areas like the walkways along the side of the castle. It's very grassy and full of trees.

[Opus1guy]

Re: Partners Statue

The concept (Walt and Mickey holding hands) and name ("Partners") of what would eventually become known as the Partners Statue, actually originated many years prior as a famous painting and limited edition lithograph...by Disney Legend and Disneyland Master Illustrator, Charles Boyer. It was actually one of the first limited edition lithos Disney ever did, and because of its very low edition size and the fact that it was sold only to Cast Members...its very hard to find today.

Because of its rarity and the fact that it was created so long ago, I think that many people just assume that "Partners" originated with the Blaine Gibson bronze sculpture. It did not. It originated with the popular Charles Boyer painting and that was what Blaine was asked to created the statue from.

It was such a landmark piece, that Charles Boyer's "Window On Main Street" even uses "Partners" as its fictional business tag.

Also contrary to popular belief...the Disneyland Credit Union was named the "Partners Credit Union" not after the sculpture, but after the Boyer painting. From their web site:

In 1987 we changed our name to Partners Federal Credit Union, based on a famous lithograph by Charles Boyer titled "Partners."

So while we all have the talents of Blaine Gibson to thank for the statue...let's not forget to give credit where credit is due to the originator of the work...Charles Boyer.

The hub area of main street and around the castle used to be full of them and it was like a castle in an enchanted forest look to it almost. Look up some old pictures, especially of areas like the walkways along the side of the castle. It's very grassy and full of trees.

Not to mention all the ivy that used to be allowed to grow on the Castle:

[MasterGracey]

Re: Partners Statue

The concept (Walt and Mickey holding hands) and name ("Partners") of what would eventually become known as the Partners Statue, actually originated many years prior as a famous painting and limited edition lithograph...by Disney Legend and Disneyland Master Illustrator, Charles Boyer. It was actually one of the first limited edition lithos Disney ever did, and because of its very low edition size and the fact that it was sold only to Cast Members...its very hard to find today.

Because of its rarity and the fact that it was created so long ago, I think that many people just assume that "Partners" originated with the Blaine Gibson bronze sculpture. It did not. It originated with the popular Charles Boyer painting and that was what Blaine was asked to created the statue from.

It was such a landmark piece, that Charles Boyer's "Window On Main Street" even uses "Partners" as its fictional business tag.

Also contrary to popular belief...the Disneyland Credit Union was named the "Partners Credit Union" not after the sculpture, but after the Boyer painting. From their web site:



So while we all have the talents of Blaine Gibson to thank for the statue...let's not forget to give credit where credit is due to the originator of the work...Charles Boyer.

Thanks for the info. Here's an image of the painting in case anybody was interested. Snagged it from an eBay auction - its not the best quality.

[Steve DeGaetano]

Re: Partners Statue

PragmaticIdealist is a great admirer of the statue...

[hollywood1939]

Re: Partners Statue

I like that ivy on the castle.

[MasterGracey]

Re: Partners Statue

Not to mention all the ivy that used to be allowed to grow on the Castle:

Ivy still grows on the Castle. I'm not sure when they started taking control of it though... but there is ivy growing up the side of the castle now - I saw it on my last trip on Friday.

I wonder, when did they start controlling how much ivy grew on the castle? Was it during the 90s? Was it before the 50th when they completely re-painted the entire castle? Any info?

[ROBONICS95]

Re: Partners Statue

PragmaticIdealist is a great admirer of the statue...

Ha! I soon as I saw the title, I thought to myself "Here we go again."

[DisneyIPresume]

Re: Partners Statue

Yah. You want to know whiy Walt and Mickey are really holding hands? :evil:

[brassplayer]

Re: Partners Statue

Anybody know history or info about it?

The "Walt's Little Buddy" trick works on the miniature versions of the statue as well as the original.

[Opus1guy]

Re: Partners Statue

Thanks for the info. Here's an image of the painting in case anybody was interested. Snagged it from an eBay auction - its not the best quality.

Thanks...yep...that's it. Although that one looks like some sort of much later reproduction. The original art-quality litho was very large...and didn't have any of the text or logo printing on it. Editioned, titled, and signed in pencil by Charles.

[FormerDiz]

Re: Partners Statue

The "Walt's Little Buddy" trick works on the miniature versions of the statue as well as the original.

Oh I love showing that trick to people. Just gotta position yourself in the right spot near the Frontierland enterance.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Re: Partners Statue

I don't like the lithograph. The statue is nicer IMO. The trompe l'oeil effect of Walt's little buddy is a funny thing that must naturally occur to the observant visitor with some regularity.