Remarkable DS, twice signed at the conclusion, “Walter E. Disney,” four onionskin pages, 8.5 x 13, March 24, 1954. A “television agreement” between Walt Disney Productions (hereinafter referred to as Productions) and the American Broadcasting Company “for the broadcasting of certain television programs.” The contract goes on to provide a description of the fledgling Disneyland as a “California corporation with an issued and outstanding capital stock of 2500 shares without par value, of which 2400 shares have been issued to Walter E. Disney and 100 shares have been issues to W. E. D. Enterprises,” which “intends to open to the public a large exhibition park containing educational, scientific and amusement features…Productions is entering into an agreement with Disneyland under which Productions will pay to Disneyland a sum equal to 10% of the program basic rate for the filmed television programs, to be furnished by Productions to ABC, as a royalty for the use of the copyrights and format of Disneyland. In addition, Productions will pay Disneyland a sum equal to 5% of such basic rate as a prepaid location charge…If under the television agreement Productions shall receive a price for its filmed television programs in excess of the amount referred to in said agreement, the excess over such minimum price may be paid by ABC delivering to Productions first mortgage bonds of Disneyland at par. The minimum price under the television agreement is $50,000 per program for the first year; $60,000 per program for the second year, and $70,000 per program for the third year.” Also signed at the conclusion by Roy Disney, Lloyd Wright, and the vice president of ABC. In very good condition, with the top left corner of the first page missing, a crease to the bottom left corner of the last page, and the expected document staple marks, creasing, pencil notations, and edge chips.
Disney dreamed about opening a theme park for years, but only secured the necessary capital by collaborating with the television network ABC in 1954. He had created WED Enterprises to undertake the planning and production of the park, but difficulty in raising the necessary funds for the project brought him to look toward television as a revenue source. ABC—the newest and weakest of the television networks—leaped at the opportunity. Leonard Goldenson, ABC’s chairman, was desperate to forge an alliance with Disney for programming. Goldenson championed the deal, and ABC traded a stake in Disneyland the park for the one-hour television series Disneyland. ABC and Walt Disney Productions announced the agreement in a joint press release on April 2, 1954, promising “an entirely new concept in television programming.” Disney would later joke, “ABC needed the television show so damned bad, they bought the amusement park.” Both the show and the park were tremendously successful. An extraordinary document that made Disneyland possible and Disney into a television icon. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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