Description:

Disney Walt

Walt Disney TWICE SIGNED, Pre-IPO Stock Cert, Only 1 of 6 in Existence probably this is the only one ever sold. It certainly is the only one we know of to hit the market. This sold at Smythe Auctions in 2002 for $26,800!

 

Pre-IPO Stock certificate for Walt Disney Incorporated, issued to "Walter Disney", for "One Hundred, Forty-wo and one-half" shares of Capital Stock of "Wed Enterprises, Inc formerly Walt Disney Incorporated. Signed by Walter Disney TWICE, once in the lower right as President using his very rare full signature "Walter Disney", and once on the verso again in full signature "Walter Disney". 14" x 6.5", and dated "December 29, 1955" (the year Disney opened Disneyland). Issued as "Certificate No. 5". In fine condition with a piece of supportive tape along the verso of the fold line wrapping slightly to the front of the document. Two punch holes in the left border. The signatures are boldly executed.

 

An extraordinary twice signed stock certificate which Disney issued to himself for 142 1/2 shares as "Remainder of Certificate No.1" . There were only 20 certificates in the original stock book. Nine were un-issued, and only six were signed by Disney as President. This certificate is one of those 6.

 

Disney's first production was Steamboat Willie (who became Mickey Mouse), Disney's first movie, Snow White, appeared in 1937. In 1953, Walt Disney decided to build Disneyland fashioned after the Tivoli gardens in Copenhagen. His brother Roy determined that the shareholders of the Disney Company would not want to back such a speculative adventure, so Walt took creative measure to raise the necessary capital:

 

1. Walt took a loan from his life insurance policy:

 

Though his life insurance policy was intended to support his family and friends after he passed away, Walt was so desperate to make Disneyland a reality that he borrowed money from it to fund a private company created for the purpose of paying for the development of the first Disney amusement park.

 

It's hard to think of Walt Disney as hard-pressed for cash, but there were a number of instances when the founder of one of the biggest entertainment companies of all time needed outside help to fund his ambitious, grandiose ideas.

 

Disneyland, at the time of conception, was considered a massive financial risk, and Walt couldn't get The Walt Disney Company, which he didn't own himself, to pay for it all. Because of their disinterest, Walt turned to some unorthodox ways to generate revenue so that he could build "The Happiest Place on Earth" which has, over time, led to Disney's dominating theme park empire. Here are four ways Walt raised the money that brought the very first Disney park to life.

 

Though his life insurance policy was intended to support his family and friends after he passed away, Walt was so desperate to make Disneyland a reality that he borrowed money from it to fund a private company created for the purpose of paying for the development of the first Disney amusement park. It was a bold move, but Walt Disney was certainly never known to be timid. It obvious paid off in dividends, and is an excellent demonstration of just how far Walt was willing to go to make his dreams come true.

 

2. Walt utilized the merchandising rights to his name.

 

Walt created yet another company with just the money that could be made off of having his name and likeness attached to a product or service. It says everything about the man that his sign of approval alone was worth millions, because that's how much people trusted him to consistently deliver quality entertainment. The company created was originally called Walt Disney, Inc., but would later change its name to WED Enterprises to avoid confusion with The Walt Disney Company.

 

Though it was initially funded by Walt's name and likeness, the mogul would go on to transfer more assets to WED Enterprises. Those included outright ownership of some of the early Disneyland attractions like the Disneyland Railroad, the Disneyland Monorail, the streetcars found on Main Street and the Viewliner. Because of this, the cast members who managed those attraction were actually employed by WED, not The Walt Disney Company. Walt also added to WED Enterprises licensing rights that netted him between 5% and 10% of the revenue from Disney products, like the ones that still sell in bundles at the Disney parks today. The rights to the iconic Zorro property were even transferred to Walt's new company.

 

The Walt Disney Company ended up having to buy WED Enterprises after Walt's death for a reported $46.2 million in shares in 1981. The company named after Walt Disney could have saved a huge sum of money if it had only believed in its founder in the first place.

 

3. Walt created the Disneyland TV Show for ABC:

 

The television network ABC Studios, which would later come under the ownership the Walt Disney Company, was crucial to making Disneyland a reality. At the time ABC was struggling in a big way, so, when Walt offered to create a television program for a network in exchange for it investing in the park, they jumped at the chance. He sold 1/3 of Disney Inc to ABC for $500,000 plus a loan guarantee of $4.5 million. ABC also got the TV rights to the Disneyland show soon to be renamed to the Mickey Mouse Club show.

 

The original title for the anthology series created by Walt, Disneyland, was fitting, considering that its very existence was driven by the desire to make the park of the same name happen. However, the television program would go through a number of name changes during its historic 29-season run. It was known as Disneyland from its debut in 1954 until 1958.

 

4. Walt and his brother found a number of big-name sponsors:

 

Walt and his brother Roy O. Disney teamed up to collect money from some big businesses in exchange for a presence of those companies at Disneyland. Here are some of the deals they made:

 

  • $50,000 from the Santa Fe Railroad, which in return got to sponsor the Disneyland railway
  • $45,000 from American Motors, which sponsored Circarama, the first of several 360-degree movie attractions that would be featured at Disney parks
  • $88,000 from a Swift meatpacking company for the Red Wagon Inn and Red Wagon grocery store on Main Street

 

Those sponsorships definitely paid off considering the fact that theme park history fans are still talking about them today. It's interesting to see how, little by little, with tiny compromises to Walt's vision, the Disney brothers were able to fund the most elaborate theme park ever built at the time of its construction. The entire effort to make Disneyland happen is a huge testament to the hard work and perseverance of its creator, Walt Disney, as well as his financially astute brother Roy.

 

Shortly after opening Disneyland, Walt sold attractively priced shares to his family in a 1955 capitalization. With the success of Disneyland, Walt Disney Inc, was merged into The Disney Company prior to its New York Stock Exchange listing in 1957.

 

This extremely scarce certificate last transferred ownership in 2002 for $26,800!

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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