Life is about our passions. My passion for my family. My passion for skiing. My passion for the music of Bruce Springsteen and the Grateful Dead. These are the things that define who we are and where we’ve been. Disney elicits those passionate feelings in many of us, this writer included. The artistry, the detail, and the magic of Walt Disney World, Disneyland and the stable of animated treasures bring out feelings in each one of us. It’s a passion for sure. It takes us away and out of our busy lives and makes us remember that being human and being alive is really all about the things that we are passionate about.
If you’re blessed like I am, you have people to share those passions with. My wife is a great skier, loves Bruce and has been at my side through all of my magical Disney trips and experiences. I’ve turned my kids onto skiing. They hear my music playing in the car and in the house and I think it’s started to seep into their subconscious and they, of course, love Disney. My family shares my passions and for that I really am blessed.
And then there’s Robert, my dear friend, my partner in silliness, and someone who I was fortunate to share many passions with. Whether it was Rat Pack era movies and music, or the New York World’s Fairs, or vintage cameras, or the magic of Walt Disney World. Robert had a passion for things that was absolutely contagious. It’s fair to say that he provided me with my “Disney undergraduate degree” and inspired me to go on and earn my “Disney PhD,” a term his loving wife Paula so rightfully coined for me. Robert’s passions wore off on me and for that, once again, I really am blessed.
Just about a year ago, we lost Robert suddenly and shockingly, and all of our worlds came crashing down around us. The world lost a towering, brilliant and passionate soul that day. My life will never be the same without him. And yet, my life would never have been the same had I not met him. He helped shape the person that I am and along the way helped me discover things in life that would eventually become shared passions of ours, especially Disney.
That said, when I was bouncing future article ideas off of my wife recently, she had a great idea. “Why don’t you write and photograph Robert’s Disney collectibles for your next Disney Stuff piece. Robert was a collector and a packrat. He’s got lots of Disney stuff!” A touching and wonderful idea it was. It would be a nice way to remember him as this sad first year without him comes to a close. Thanks for the idea Diane. You’re the best.
I approached his wife Paula with this article and she too loved the idea. It must be stated here that Paula may be my number one MousePlanet fan. She reads and comments on all of my articles. Considering she writes for The New York Times, it’s fair to say that it’s not a good article until Paula sends me an email and says so.
We spent the day looking through Robert’s stuff, most of which is right where and how he left it. Some stuff was mixed in amongst his other collectibles. Others were subtly and tastefully placed around their home, always balancing the fine line between clutter and whimsy. Still more were displayed in Robert’s basement flanked by his World’s Fair memorabilia, his toy planes, and countless other pieces of “stuff” that he collected and accumulated over the years. There were items that I remember us finding together, and some I remember buying for him as gifts. All of it defining the man and the unique individual that he was and always will be in my heart and my head.
So, here for the first time in the almost two years I’ve been writing this column, is a look at someone else’s collection of Disney Stuff. And it’s not just anyone else’s stuff. It’s my dearest friend and inspiration’s stuff. So, keep your arms and legs in the vehicle at all times and please enjoy the ride.
Robert was a major fan of Jiminy Cricket, and who's not really? Many of his most treasured items are of everyone's favorite cricket and conscience:
Robert's Jiminy Cricket shelf. Photo by Chris Barry.
Here are some of my favorites up close. I'm not sure what the story is with these two large ceramic Jiminys. Obviously, they have drastically different coloring. They are hollow and ceramic. They have a Disney mark on the back, but I don't have an explanation for the color difference.
Two vintage ceramic Jiminy statues. Photo by Chris Barry.
I'm always a sucker for an old Matchbox car and Robert was as well:
A classic Matchbox car. Photo by Chris Barry.
Here's a nice Jiminy from the Walt Disney Classics Collection:
A WDCC Jiminy. Photo by Chris Barry.
I remember buying the following Jiminy at The Kunstarbeit In Kristall shop in Epcot's Germany pavilion. One of the greatest trips of my life was a trip to Austria with my wife, and Robert and his wife. A gift from Germany seemed like the perfect memento to bring home for him from one of my many trips to Walt Disney World:
A crystal Jiminy from Germany in Epcot. Photo by Chris Barry.
Who doesn't remember having one of these when they were a kid:
A Jiminy Mini-Puppet. Photo by Chris Barry.
We're not quite sure what this Goofy thing is. It seems to have a handle and is marked Mickey's Cookie Factory on the back. It doesn't appear to be a cookie cutter or stamper of any kind. Anyone out there have any thoughts?
A Goofy “thing.” Photo by Chris Barry.
As you walk around their house, you spot subtle little touches of Robert's love of all things Disney. Here's a Mickey hanging out with some of Robert's great old cameras and a special old friend in the case:
Mickey amongst the vintage cameras. Photo by Chris Barry.
On the desk, you'll spot some small hidden Mickeys clipped onto a pencil.
Some hidden Mickey pencil clips. Photo by Chris Barry.
Check out these great salt and pepper shakers on a kitchen shelf. I like the Pinocchio and Jiminy, of course, but the real treasures here are the pair of Kitchen Kabaret characters.
A few salt and pepper shakers. Photo by Chris Barry.
On a nearby shelf are some hidden Mickey drink stirrers surrounding a cool 1964 New York World's Fair glass.
Some hidden Mickey stirrers. Photo by Chris Barry.
Look above the pantry door and you'll spot a pair of very famous mice:
A not-so-hidden vintage looking Minnie and Mickey. Photo by Chris Barry.
Down in the basement there's a treasure trove of collectibles. Displayed alongside the various New York World's Fair stuff, the toy planes, lunch-boxes, Las Vegas memorabilia and those awesome talking Davey and Goliath stuffed toys are two of my favorite things, Robert's vintage puppets:
A nice old Goofy puppet. Photo by Chris Barry.
An even nicer Pinocchio puppet. Photo by Chris Barry.
Look over on the shelf and you'll spot a great old Mickey figurine and a die-cast Peter Pan's Flight ride vehicle.
Mickey, Peter Pan, The World's Fair and more. Photo By Chris Barry.
Hanging on the wall is a fantastic collection of pins and buttons. I'm especially fond of the Sea Base Alpha button.
A great collection of pins and buttons. Photo by Chris Barry.
Hanging on another wall is this wonderful framed Jiminy artwork and a Walt Disney stamp.
Walt and Jiminy. Photo by Chris Barry.
This is just a nice sampling of Rob's many collections and accumulated stuff. Walking around his house and seeing all of his things certainly made me miss him that much more, if that could be possible, but it also made me happy. Having Robert as such an important person in my life was a gift and we were all robbed of that gift way too soon. But the memories I have of walking through antique fairs and junk shops with him looking for that next great World's Fair or Disney find are some of my fondest. It's those moments in life that you bond with someone the most. Whether it's sliding down a mountain with my wife Diane, or screaming out the words to “Born to Run” at Madison Square Garden with Rob's wife, my great friend Paula, or laughing at The Magic Kingdom with my three kids, its sharing those passions with the people that matter in your life that make my life complete. I was blessed to share some of my passions with someone as wonderful as Robert for as long as I did. Revisiting those little Disney trinkets that meant so much to him and still mean so much to me is a fine way to honor and remember my old friend as I approach the year anniversary of his passing.
I miss you Rob. Thanks for sharing so much of your “stuff” with me. I'll always think of you when I hear that little cricket sing about dreams and wishes coming true and I promise you, I'll always let my conscience be my guide.
Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time with more of that great Disney Stuff.
