Wex Rex Presents Disney Legend Collection in Oct. 26 Pop Culture Auction
Oceanside, NY, October 17, 2008 --(PR.com)-- This sale is highlighted by material from the collection of Disney Art Director and Disney Legend Ralph Kent, featuring many lots of Original Disney Artwork including drawings, stat sheets, productions cels and more. Ralph recently passed away after 50 years working for he Walt Disney company. There will also be a large offering of Disney memorabilia including collectible figurines, dolls, games, magazines, books and other Disney Memorabilia including Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Snow White, Merlin the Magician, Jungle Book and many others.
The collection of Ralph Kent is being handled by Gary Sohmers of Wex Rex Collectibles who was a friend and fan of Ralph's for over 25 years.
Oct. 26 - Philip Weiss Auctions, Oceanside NY
www.prwauctions.com
Disney Legend
Ralph Kent (Imagineering & Attractions) 1939-2007
http://legends.disney.go.com/legends/detail?key=Ralph+Kent
While growing up in New York, Imagineer Ralph Kent fell "hopefully" under the spell of Disney animated motion pictures, particularly "Pinocchio," he said, because he identified with the puppet's sense of awe, wonder, and magic, an attitude Ralph still holds today.
By age 10, he transformed the basement walls of his home into a giant mural of Disney characters ranging from Alice in Wonderland to Cinderella. Fixated on working for Disney, young Ralph decided to send a letter to Walt Disney, receiving a courteous reply.
In 1963, Ralph's dream came true when he arrived at Disneyland as a marketing production artist. One day, Ralph gained the courage to personally ask Walt if he remembered receiving a letter from a kid in Buffalo.
"I had changed my name legally because nobody could pronounce it - Kwiatkowski," Ralph recalled. And "Walt said, 'That was a Polish kid with a long last name.' I said, 'I know; I changed it.' The eyebrow went up and he said, 'Well, why didn't you tell me [sooner]?' I said, 'I was just in awe of you, and still am.'"
Born January 28, 1939, Ralph attended the University of Buffalo Albright Art School. In 1960, he joined the U.S. Army, illustrating military training aids and films.
Upon discharge, Ralph headed to Disney, where he was hired to develop marketing materials for the Jungle Cruise, Enchanted Tiki Room, and more. He worked with fellow Legends Van Arsdale France and Dick Nunis, creators of Disney University, developing training materials for the Company's four attractions featured at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, including It's A Small World. He also served as art director to Celebrity Sports Center in Denver, which Walt co-owned with celebrities including Art Linkletter and Jack Benny.
In 1965, Ralph designed the first limited-edition Mickey Mouse watch for adults, which Walt presented to 25 of his top executives. A timely invention, word quickly spread about the unique Mickey Mouse time piece and today, more than 100 adult watch designs are manufactured each year.
Ralph arrived in Florida in 1971, to design souvenirs such as license plates, bumper stickers, and more for Walt Disney World. Eight years later, he became Director of Walt Disney Imagineering East, overseeing Florida staff support for EPCOT Center and Tokyo Disneyland.
In 1990, he joined the Disney Design Group as a Corporate Trainer, mentoring new artists and creating an extensive reference collection of character model sheets.
After 41 years dedicated to The Walt Disney Company, he retired in May 2004, and continued to consult on special projects.
He's also enjoying woodworking: "I always wanted to be Geppetto," he said. And so, Ralph Kent continued to make his Disney-inspired dreams come true.
Ralph Kent passed away in Florida in September 2007.
Also included in the Rock and Roll section of the auction will be The Beatles Mono “Yesterday and Today” 1st State “Butcher” Cover, a Leather Motorcycle Jacket signed by the Ramones, a guitar signed by Duane Allman and Eric Clapton during the Derek and the Dominoes era, a “Blackie” Stratocaster Guitar Signed by Eric Clapton in 1994, Grateful Dead Stanley Mouse Artwork, 1967 Program signed by Pete Townshend of The Who and Eric Clapton of Cream, 1968, large lots of promotional “Swag,” a signed Rolling Stones Picture and a Buddy Holly concert program.
From the world of Hollywood there will be the Three Stooges Original Costumes, Movie Props from “Back to the Future,” “Die Hard,” and a “Ghost Busters” Ecto 1 License Plate. Celebrity Personal items including Joan Crawford Jewelry, Jean Harlow Smoking Set, Costumes from the Movie Zulu. A fantastic Archive of Hollywood Photos to be sold in lots.
Any auction weekend at Phil Weiss Auctions would not be complete without offering Two Original Charles Schulz Dailies.
The auction will be at the auction gallery at 1 Neil Court in Oceanside, Long Island, New York Bidding is accepted in person in the audience, on the phone, on ebaylive and LiveAuctioneers.com.
Go to the website www.prwauctions.com and click on Upcoming Events for information about this auction.
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The collection of Ralph Kent is being handled by Gary Sohmers of Wex Rex Collectibles who was a friend and fan of Ralph's for over 25 years.
Oct. 26 - Philip Weiss Auctions, Oceanside NY
www.prwauctions.com
Disney Legend
Ralph Kent (Imagineering & Attractions) 1939-2007
http://legends.disney.go.com/legends/detail?key=Ralph+Kent
While growing up in New York, Imagineer Ralph Kent fell "hopefully" under the spell of Disney animated motion pictures, particularly "Pinocchio," he said, because he identified with the puppet's sense of awe, wonder, and magic, an attitude Ralph still holds today.
By age 10, he transformed the basement walls of his home into a giant mural of Disney characters ranging from Alice in Wonderland to Cinderella. Fixated on working for Disney, young Ralph decided to send a letter to Walt Disney, receiving a courteous reply.
In 1963, Ralph's dream came true when he arrived at Disneyland as a marketing production artist. One day, Ralph gained the courage to personally ask Walt if he remembered receiving a letter from a kid in Buffalo.
"I had changed my name legally because nobody could pronounce it - Kwiatkowski," Ralph recalled. And "Walt said, 'That was a Polish kid with a long last name.' I said, 'I know; I changed it.' The eyebrow went up and he said, 'Well, why didn't you tell me [sooner]?' I said, 'I was just in awe of you, and still am.'"
Born January 28, 1939, Ralph attended the University of Buffalo Albright Art School. In 1960, he joined the U.S. Army, illustrating military training aids and films.
Upon discharge, Ralph headed to Disney, where he was hired to develop marketing materials for the Jungle Cruise, Enchanted Tiki Room, and more. He worked with fellow Legends Van Arsdale France and Dick Nunis, creators of Disney University, developing training materials for the Company's four attractions featured at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, including It's A Small World. He also served as art director to Celebrity Sports Center in Denver, which Walt co-owned with celebrities including Art Linkletter and Jack Benny.
In 1965, Ralph designed the first limited-edition Mickey Mouse watch for adults, which Walt presented to 25 of his top executives. A timely invention, word quickly spread about the unique Mickey Mouse time piece and today, more than 100 adult watch designs are manufactured each year.
Ralph arrived in Florida in 1971, to design souvenirs such as license plates, bumper stickers, and more for Walt Disney World. Eight years later, he became Director of Walt Disney Imagineering East, overseeing Florida staff support for EPCOT Center and Tokyo Disneyland.
In 1990, he joined the Disney Design Group as a Corporate Trainer, mentoring new artists and creating an extensive reference collection of character model sheets.
After 41 years dedicated to The Walt Disney Company, he retired in May 2004, and continued to consult on special projects.
He's also enjoying woodworking: "I always wanted to be Geppetto," he said. And so, Ralph Kent continued to make his Disney-inspired dreams come true.
Ralph Kent passed away in Florida in September 2007.
Also included in the Rock and Roll section of the auction will be The Beatles Mono “Yesterday and Today” 1st State “Butcher” Cover, a Leather Motorcycle Jacket signed by the Ramones, a guitar signed by Duane Allman and Eric Clapton during the Derek and the Dominoes era, a “Blackie” Stratocaster Guitar Signed by Eric Clapton in 1994, Grateful Dead Stanley Mouse Artwork, 1967 Program signed by Pete Townshend of The Who and Eric Clapton of Cream, 1968, large lots of promotional “Swag,” a signed Rolling Stones Picture and a Buddy Holly concert program.
From the world of Hollywood there will be the Three Stooges Original Costumes, Movie Props from “Back to the Future,” “Die Hard,” and a “Ghost Busters” Ecto 1 License Plate. Celebrity Personal items including Joan Crawford Jewelry, Jean Harlow Smoking Set, Costumes from the Movie Zulu. A fantastic Archive of Hollywood Photos to be sold in lots.
Any auction weekend at Phil Weiss Auctions would not be complete without offering Two Original Charles Schulz Dailies.
The auction will be at the auction gallery at 1 Neil Court in Oceanside, Long Island, New York Bidding is accepted in person in the audience, on the phone, on ebaylive and LiveAuctioneers.com.
Go to the website www.prwauctions.com and click on Upcoming Events for information about this auction.
###
Contact
Wex Rex Collectibles
Gary Sohmers
508-788-5474
www.allcollectors.com
Gary Sohmers
508-788-5474
www.allcollectors.com
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