90 years, that’s a milestone by anyone’s reckoning. And Bill Justice has lived them with humor, talent and passion. What better way to celebrate the life of a Disney Legend than by throwing a legendary party?

Auctions Items

"Bill Justice 90th Birthday Celebration, Original Sculpture by Alex Maher

An amazing original sculpture donated by famed Disney artist, Alex Maher. This sculpt was designed and created, by Alex, especially for the "Bill Justice 90th Birthday Celebration". It features a stunning image of Mickey Mouse as he appeared as the bandleader in the Mickey Mouse Revue. Bill Justice was the creative genius for this vintage attraction that can still be seen today in Tokyo Disneyland. The medium is sculpey, it is handpainted by the artist, and mounted on a cherrywood base. The sculpt stands 9.25 inches tall and is an edition size of 1.

Personal Copy of the Disney Legends Book

This is a virtually unobtainable item donated by Kim and Bill Justice. It is the personal copy of the Disney Legends book that was presented to Mr. Justice when he was inducted as a Disney Legend. It has been signed by the following Disney Legends:

Richard M. Sherman, Roy E. Disney, Andrea Favilli (the sculptor of the famed Disney Legend bronze), Joe Grant, Frank Thomas, Irving Ludwig, Jack Lindquist, Bill Martin, Wally Boag, X Atencio, Bill Justice, Sam McKim, Kathryn Beaumont, Don Escen, Stormy Palmer, Harriet Burns, Ron Dominguez, Becky Fallberg, Dick Jones, Dodie Roberts, Ruthie Thompson, Bob Broughton, Marty Sklar, Tyrus Wong, Ken Annakin, and Blaine Gibson!!! This priceless book comes in a lovely blue linen presentation case.
 

"Palms", Original Acrylic Painting by Joshua Meador

This Joshua Meador original oil painting "Palms" was donated by Libby Meador, widow of the famed Disney artist. This gorgeous painting was commissioned by Walt Disney for his personal collection, and it hung at Walt's famed desert retreat, Smoketree Ranch. Mr. Meador was a special effects animator and painter who worked for the studio from 1936 until his death in 1965. He was the creative genius behind such extraordinary Disney animation scenes as the water effects in Bambi, and the fire and bubbling mud scenes, in the "Rite of Spring" segment of Fantasia. Please read the letter written by Mrs. Meador which further explains this fabulous piece.

To Whom It May Concern:

This Oil Painting, "Palms" of Taquitz Canyon in Palm Springs, California, was painted and signed by Joshua Meador. It is one of many paintings by Josh that were purchased by Walt Disney. This particular painting is one of those that Walt asked my husband to do for the Smoke Tree Ranch located near Palm Springs. Josh and I were his guests at the ranch. We stayed at one of the guesthouses with its own bowling green, 3-hole pitch and putt golf course and restaurant.

Joshua, a well-known California landscape and seascape artist, painted at a variety of locations on and off the ranch properties in the Palm Springs area. He used a unique palette knife technique where he would sketch in his subject in the broadest sense using brush and thinner on stretched fine-linen canvas, then would switch to the palette knife to complete the painting. Then later on in his studio in La Crescenta he would finalize and sign his work.

After completing all of the canvasses for the project Josh showed them to Walt at the Studio expecting that Walt would select maybe five to eight of them. Walt surprised him by taking all of the completed oil paintings. Then Walt asked, "What is your favorite whiskey?" Josh replied, "Jack Daniels." (At that time Jack Daniels was very scarce on the West Coast). About a week after the conversation Walt asked Josh to come up to his office and presented Josh with a letter thanking him for the paintings and an entire case of Jack Daniels. Walt sure knew how to keep an artist happy.

Recently, and after the Disney family members had chosen their particular favorites of the Joshua Meador paintings to keep as their very own, "Palms" and other paintings were returned to the Meador heirs. With Diane Disney Miller’s knowledge and blessings we have donated this unique painting to benefit The Bill Justice Foundation.
 

"Bill Justice and Friend", Original Acrylic painting, Sam McKim

Disney artist Sam McKim has graciously donated this beautiful, original acrylic painting. It was created specifically for the Bill Justice Foundation, and features wonderful images of Bill Justice and Walt Disney. Titled "Bill Justice and Friend" this exceptional painting would be a welcome addition to any Disney collection. Artist Sam McKim joined Disney in 1955 and is responsible for the conceptual art for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, The Haunted Mansion, It's a Small World, The Monorail, and Carousel of Progress, and many others. Also, Mr. McKim has created many of the maps for the Disney themeparks.
 

"Three for Breakfast", Acrylic painting, Don "Ducky" Williams

Don "Ducky" Williams, Disney artist extraordinaire, has generously donated this piece to the Bill Justice Foundation. It was created to pay homage to Mr. Justice's 90th birthday, and it is representational of one of the 23 cartoons animated by Bill. It features the characters from the classic cartoon, "Three for Breakfast". Chip and Dale are ready to dig into a stack of Donald Duck's freshly made pancakes, as a frustrated Donald looks on!! The pencil art, as well as, the acrylic painting are included in the auction.

--Posted January 14, 2004
Source: Bill Justice Foundation