Mickey Saves Lionel

In the depths of the depression, many American companies were on the ropes. If you cannot afford food, you probably aren't worried about buying toys or other items. You certainly wouldn't be buying toy trains. Lionel Train Company was falling victim to the financial collapse and in dire straits. Things looked very bleak.

Enter a plucky mouse named Mickey. Lionel decided to license Mickey and Minnie for a novelty handcar that ran around a circular track. The toy was a smash success, selling out nationwide. Lionel was saved.

Mint condition handcars, complete with the circular track can sell for $5000 today. Any surviving handcars can fetch at least $750 regardless of condition.

Donald Duck Orange Juice

In 1940, a struggling Florida orange juice cooperative approached Walt Disney Productions with a bizarre proposal- they wanted to put Donald Duck on their line of canned, frozen orange juice. 

Donald Duck had never been associated with orange juice in any of his movies or comic books. The company itself had no ties to Florida at the time. The cooperative was promising to provide free product to the troops, however, so an agreement was struck. A legendary product was born.

75 years later, Donald Duck Orange Juice is still a staple of the juice aisle. It has become the longest selling item licensed by The Walt Disney Company, though it is strangely not the official Orange Juice of Disney Theme Parks- that's Minute Maid orange juice.

"May the Fourth" Week: Vintage Star Wars Costumes

"May the Fourth" Week concludes today with the final Star Wars article. The Story of DISNEYLAND will return next Friday.

With the recent explosion of Halloween spending, costumes for children have become more elaborate. In the 1970's and 1980's, costumes were simple affairs. Scary plastic masks and smocks that rarely resembled the character they were supposed to look like. The Star Wars costumes were no exception.

Chances are, tons of doors were opened to reveal this costume during many Halloweens in the late 70's, early 80's:

Practically every character was featured in a costume- even Boba Fett and Yoda.

Apparently Farrah Fawcett masks were repurposed as Luke Skywalker:

It could be worse, however. Imagine if your parents bought your costume at the last minute? And they were out of Star Wars costumes?

"They didn't have any more costumes from the space film! Don't you like that Kotter show with the stinkpigs or whatever?"