Charles Boyer Window on Main Street
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Once again Cynthia Harriss stood before the crowd and reminded Charles, “your day isn’t over quite yet.”  Disneyland asked Charles as his last official master Illustrator duty to create one more piece of artwork for them. 

Boyer's final piece as Official Master Illustrator is unveiled.

Charles and Mickey revealed the painting which depicts a young Walt Disney on a California hillside, hand in hand with Mickey Mouse, accompanied also by Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto. Their gazes veer skyward, where amongst the clouds, a cloud itself, sits Sleeping Beauty Castle, the dream of the Disneyland yet to come. It seems almost slightly ironic somehow that his last official piece for Disneyland elucidates the dream of a beginning.

 

A portion of Boyer's farewell artwork

Charles later told LaughingPlace.com his personal thoughts on creating the piece:  “Well, they asked me to do something as a presentation to the employees as a gift, towards Disneyland. I thought Walt and the characters expressed Disneyland the most, and his [Walt’s] feelings of pride. And the characters kind of represent the Disney people, and he’s sharing this with them. Also, I kind of emulated the California artist style…so much like the dream of Disney, old California with all the beautiful flowers and colors.”  

Cynthia again thanked Charles “for just continuing Walt Disney’s dream – this world famous dream, Disneyland”. Once more the Dapper Dans were called upon, this time this time singing “A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes”, dedicated to Charles Boyer. More than one set of misty eyes were spotted among the crowd. 

A Disneyland Celebration

When we asked Charles what Disney art, in regards to Disneyland, has meant to him, he replied, “Well, Disneyland is an extension of Disney art. I feel really, really honored to be among those artists who are so much the creative geniuses – even to be considered in the same breath as them, and being a part of Disneyland …so it’s been great.”

It’s been great for us too, Charles. We will miss you and your work terribly, and remember you fondly.

 

 

-- Story by Kaszandra Liput
-- Pictures by John Frost