Walt Disney ALICE COMEDIES Ub Iwerks Original 1924 Art

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Up for auction is an Original Production Artwork by UB IWERKS for WALT DISNEY COMICS "ALICE COMEDIES" 1924 This is an exceptionally rare original production drawing for a Lobby Card & Publicity Stills for Walt Disney's "Alice Comedies". The Alice Comedies were a series of cartoons which mixed live action with a little girl named Alice (originally played by Virginia Davis) and an animated cat named Julius, who have adventures in an animated landscape. Fifty-six Alice Comedies were produced between 1923 and 1927. This piece was done by disney's animator, Ub Iwerks. It is dated 1924, as can be seen under Iwerks signature in the left corner. The top of the piece reads "Combine Alice Still #108 -Holding Pups By Tails For Lobby Card/Publicity Stills". There is "#17" in a circle off to the left side of the description. I believe this art was for the Alice Comedies titled "Alice And The Dog Catcher", which was released July 1st, 1924. Winkler Pictures was the distrubutor for the Alice Comedies. The name Walt Disney is known by young and old alike. Ub Iwerks, for those new to collecting Disneyana from this early time, was considered by many to be Disney's oldest friend and he spent most of his career with Disney. They met in 1918 while working for the Kansas City Art Studio, and then they found work as illustrators for the Kansas City Film Ad Company. When Disney decided to take up work in animation, Ub Iwerks soon joined him. Iwerks was responsible for the distinctive style of the earliest Disney animated cartoons, and was also responsible for creating one of the most famous of all animated characters, Mickey Mouse! In 1923, Iwerks followed Disney to Los Angeles to work on the "Alice Comedies". In early 1927, when Disney had spent several years producing the Alice Comedies, the Distributor Charles Mintz, contracted with Universal Pictures for Disney to provide an all-animated series, and Disney asked Iwerks to come up with a new character which was the creation of 'Oswald The Lucky Rabbit' (see my other auctions for an original Iwerks "Oswald" piece). When Walt Disney formally disassociated himself from Oswald after the series' first season, and left Universal Pictures. Iwerks remained loyal and stayed on with Disney, and he created a new character for Disney, who we all know so well, Mickey Mouse. The first few Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies cartoons were animated almost entirely by Iwerks (be sure to view my other auctions for an original piece of Mickey Mouse artwork by Ub Iwerks to be listed). This Walt Disney Comics & Ub Iwerks piece measures 10" wide x 9" high. I am presenting it as it was when I received it. The artwork is over a thin foamboard, and is matted between a white and black matt board. It does not look to have been professionally done at all. As you should be able to see in the photographs, the boards are not lined up well with each other. There is a bubble on the left side of the artwork, likely simply due to the twist of the matt boards. There are a couple of spots on the right side of the matt board, which I would think inconsequential as this fabulous piece of artwork would surely benefit from being professionally and properly matted and framed.This piece will be shipped to you flat, well protected, securely packaged, and properly insured. The Alice Comedies are an enormous part in the very early history of Walt Disney. This amazing rare piece of artwork will surely become a centerpiece for any collection! I am in no way an expert on Disney collectibles, and have done my best to research this piece, and to describe it to the best of my ability. If you have any questions, please ask them in advance of bidding, and I will most certainly do my best to answer them. This incredible find comes from a large estate collection of original Disney artwork. Please be sure to view my other auctions for more pieces from this collection, and more to come............as well as other great collectibles... read more

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