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Rare WED “Project X” document file.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Disneyana Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,500.00 USD
Rare WED “Project X” document file.
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This item SOLD at 2015 Mar 01 @ 15:31UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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(WED, 1965-67) Facinating group of documents from the desk of WED Enterprises President, Mel Melton. Perhaps no other Walt Disney project provides more mystery, speculation and simple fascination than the far-reaching plans of the mysterious, ”Project X’”. “The Florida Project” was the public working title of the development, which eventually became known as Walt Disney World. Even though the Magic Kingdom theme park grew to become the cornerstone, Walt’s original concept for the “Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow” was actually what the Florida land acquisition was all about. WED Enterprises in Glendale, California re-engaged their colleagues in project development, Economic Research Associates to study everything from market research, population growth, legislative opportunities, Government assistance, alternative financing and tourist projections. Just as they had done in 1953-4 for Disneyland, Harrison Price and William Lund worked in tandem with the execs at WED to find the best solutions to maximize their plans for “Project X”. This file, (55) pages in all, covers the engagement of E.R.A. and correspondence within and outside of WED Enterprises. The file begins in early 1965 and continues through 1967. Many of the now legendary names of the WED brain-trust are mentioned and/or are directly related to documents in this file. Filled with concepts, mission statements, budgets, invoices, status reports, inter-office memos and personal notes, the file gives a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes at WED Enterprises in this most exciting period of its history. Many key figures are represented here with signatures including, Mel Melton, Donn Tatum, Ken Moline, Joe Potter, William Lund, Larry Tryon, Willie Disbrow and Harrison Price. More names are mentioned and/or directly corresponded through including Walt’s brother, Roy. During the time period covered in this file, Walt ends his involvement with the New York World’s Fair, re-invigorates Disneyland and finally engages an ambitious plan for the future before his tragic death in late 1966. No project so encompasses the totality of Walt’s career than “Project X” and his plans for E.P.C.O.T. Documents such as this remind us that his venture in Central Florida was more than a cheesy tagline about “one man’s dream”, but rather a concrete vision of the future he fully intended to bring to reality.