Operation Disneyland #3 – Designing Disney – Mary Blair “It’s a Small Word”

When Disney’s Mary Blair was working to design “It’s a Small World” for the 1964/1965 World’s Fair in New York City, she was incredibly up to date with art and design of the era.  Below are photographs of the ride’s facade at Disneyland.

Below are concept sketches for the facade by Mary Blair, along with a video where she talks about the design process with Walt Disney prior to moving the ride to Disneyland from the World’s Fair.

Blair may have been influenced by the work of Charles & Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, and Stig Lindberg; all who were incredibly popular at the time and were working with stacked shapes. Other artists may have included glass artist Georges Briard and fine artist Louise Nevelson.

Artwork by Stig Lindberg which incorporated stacked shapes

Alexander and Susan Girard at the Herman Miller showroom with stacked shape artwork

Mr. Eames at home with stacked shapes

Glass tray by Georges Briard

Louise Nevelson's "Sky Cathedral"

Another of Louise Nevelson's wooden sculptures

The original World’s Fair ride also incorporated a kinetic sculpture titled “The Tower of the 4 Winds” designed by Rolly Crump. Unfortunately the tower was torn down when the fair ended.

Crump and Disney with a model of "The Tower of the 4 Winds"

Rolly Crump's "Tower of the 4 Winds" outside of "It's a Small World" at the New York World's Fair

Crump also may have been influenced by the work of Charles & Ray Eames and their solar powered “Do Nothing Machine”

Charles Eames with his solar powered toy

The solar powered toy designed by Charles and Ray Eames

Here are some more Mary Blair-isms that I found at Disneland:

Castle on top of a vendor

Great Mid-Century Danish Modern Sofa

Zenith Circle of Sound Record Player – 1965

I’m obsessed with this.

Steelcase Inc. Promotional Zippo Lighter – Early 1960’s

Steelcase Inc. advertisement from a 1963 issue of Forbes Magazine (Image: Flickr)

Back when smoking was allowed (and encouraged) in the workplace, Steelcase Inc. released this promotional Zippo lighter to advertise it’s modern office furniture.  I love the original Zippo box and the artwork on the lighter is phenomenal!  I found this on Ebay.

Mario Bellini’s Logos 55 Calculator for Olivetti – Late 1960’s

Mr. Mario Bellini (Image: www.vitra.com)

I’ve been on a huge Olivetti kick lately.  I found this amazing Logos 55 calculator which was designed by Mr. Mario Bellini in the late 1960’s for Olivetti on Ebay.  I love the wedge shape and the use of blue and orange color pops behind the keys.  This is space age design at it’s best.

The Valentine Typewriter – Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti 1960’s

Mr. Ettore Sottsass (Image: New York Times)

An amazing example of an aesthetically pleasing piece of office equipment from the “Pop Era”, the Valentine Typewriter was designed by Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti in the 1960’s.  The images below are from Ebay.

'Ettore Sottsass: Work in Progress', Design Museum, London.

Fiberglass Chair by Steen Ostergaard – Late 1960’s

I love this fiberglass chair by designer Steen Ostergaard from the 1960’s.

Image: www.designconnected.com

Image: www.designconnected.com

Kit-Cat Klock

The original Kit-Cat Klock has been manufactured in the USA ever since it’s creation in the mid 1930’s.  The clock with moving eyes and a wagging tail was designed to help take people’s minds off of the depression.  Below is an example from the 1950’s that was up on Ebay a few weeks ago.

The new version of the clock is still made in the USA and now it features a bow tie!  It’s available on Kit-Cat’s official website.

1962 Austin Enterprises Chess Set

This amazing modernist/Eames Era chess set by Austin Enterprises from 1962 is swell!  I’m dying to find a set. This one is on Ebay.

The set also comes with a storage window and can be hung on the wall as part of your decor!

Austin Enterprises 1962 is marked on each piece

Western Electric Telstar Phone

I’m obsessed with the Western Electric Telestar phone from the early 1970’s.  I saw one of these at the Brooklyn Flea a few months ago and I’m totally regretting not buying it.  I love that the lid flips back and the retractable cord is the best!