Finding (Jim at) Kraftland
 

On Sunday, I've been invited to a party at Kraftland. A friend of mine works with the woman who is responsible for creating order from the chaos that was Richard Kraft's collection of 60's advertising ephemera and all things Disney. My friend invited me up last Saturday while they prepared the house for Richard's son's visit home.

Yes, I took pictures. No, I can't post them, I'd like to be invited back! However, the link above gives you the general gist of things.

Those ShAg posters? Original paintings.

One thing the link doesn't show, is the Rocket Rod taking up one third of the three car garage!

It's really just amazing.

On Sunday, I hope to be able to take some "authorized" pictures, and share them with you. In a week or so, I hope to be able to share some fun news about a bit of matchmaking I'm engineering that might bring a little Kraftland into your living room!

Theresa, have you thought any more about re-creating any of those centerpieces as table lamps? Hint, hint. BTW, are there pictures of them online? I don't remember, and I think he'd get a kick out of seeing them.

I'll post just one picture that was taken outside -

(picture removed)

It's good to be a geek!

Wow! Even stretching room pictures and Mr.Toads car. That is just so cool.

^^ I so agree with Betty, SO COOL!

May I also say, so jealous?

What a great opportunity! I remember seeing the Sambo's murals at the restaurant. I think I remember reading an article on Kraft in one of the E-ticket magazines.

I just had a forgotten memory of character bubble bath flood over me. Nice collection of Bauer as well!

Wow. Now I want to see the movie.


:eek: Ok, now I really am jealous, even if it's just the version that was sold and not from the movie itself....man.


Here are my pics of the centerpieces from the wedding.

Me too! There was an original on ebay some years back, I bid with no real hope and it sold for over 1k. Happy Fingers! Practice Makes Perfect!

Oh my gods, I want this man's collection. *drool*

Oooh! I would have never thought to convert them into lamps. Some of them would be quite easy to convert, or duplicate onto a lamp base. That's a brilliant idea. :snap:

I'll publish some of the professional shots of them on my website this weekend and give you the web address, since I've been meaning to do an online portfolio of them anyway. :D

And thanks for sharing your shots, CP. :)

What an awesome collection! *droooool*

That was like a blast from the past! I love the wall of masks and I remember a lot of them.

CP- beautiful pictures, those are some amazing centerpieces!

Boy, some of those images really make me feel ooooold;) Its weird to be able to say I remember a bunch of that stuff when it was new...

Sorry, Jim ... but miceage has ya scooped.

Weird, how this article and Jim's visit happened at the same time... :confused:

They are in the middle of a press junket sort of thing for the films release, so it would surprise me that more media covereage will happen.
Whats wierd is how he got in at the same time they were working on getting the movie (documentary) out.

Richard Kraft has been flogging the movie hard for quite a while now so you'll find various things out there over the last year or so. Looks like it is ramping up again.

According to the webiste the film has a limited run at the City Walk in September, so I would imagine thats why the sudden media flurry.

So yes I think they are ramping it up again.

I think my head just asploded.

Tomorrow after work, I'll post about the party, which wasn't, in fact, related to the movie.

Cool! I'd love to see the film, if I can't visit they way you did- you lucky dawg you! ;)

Thanks Jim for sharing your trip too KraftLand.:) :cool: Sooo very cool.

Some time later...

My friend's employer was none too happy with me for posting the picture formerly in the OP, so, per her request, it has been removed.

When I arrived at the party, one of the guys I know was out in front of the house and gave me a heads up - through the magic of the Google news alert, my picture had shown up on Richard's computer the night before. "Who's this guy with my stuff," was the gist of the conversation. The first 20 minutes of the party were spent apologizing. The remaining 90 were spent feeling embarrassed. Needless to say, I didn't take any more pictures.

The party was fun, my friends had spent a lot of time on the fabulous lighting that all went on at dusk. All of the props and memorabilia were displayed to their best advantage. As an ex-sweeper, my favorite things were the Disneyland trashcans. I didn't really get a chance to talk with Richard beyond the initial "Hi, I'm the guy in your computer" apology. He had a lot of guests and was busy with hosting duties.

Just so you don't think I spent the whole night with my tail between my legs, the evening had one wonderful "Disney Magic" bonus. Working the buffet line, and, I must say, doing a spectacular job despite the limited resources at hand, was our friend Cat (Kat?) from the Disneyana shop on Main Street. We had one of those moments where she asked if I used to work at Disneyland, and I had to cop to being an AP. The circumstances that put her at this event were pure fortuosity. She'd gotten a call from the staffing agency that afternoon asking if she was available to work a house party. It wasn't until she arrived at Kraftland that she realized she was at the home of the man who was probably the Disneyana store's best customer! Chatting with Cat, truly was the highlight of my evening. I invited her to the Lounge, I hope she finds the time to join us.

And that's my story. I have to say, I was completely gobsmacked by the Miceage article coming out on the heels of my experience - didn't seem quite fair. Oh well, the Internet is a cruel mistress. TV, however, TV is my friend. As I said in the OP, I hope to have helped bring Some Kraftland into your living room. Stay tuned!

My opinion of Mr. Kraft has not been helped by his apparent displeasure that an aritfact from that backwater of unpopularity known as Disneyland which is prominently displayed OUTDOORS, albeit on his property, somehow made it - - oh my goodness, in the 21st century - - on to the internet!!!! Heaven help him from the outrageous intrusiveness of modern life.

Sheesh.

To be fair, I don't think Richard was all that bothered by it. The designer, who asked me not to put the pictures on the internet in the first place (which I wrongly interpreted as meaning from inside the house), is who asked that the picture be taken down.

Ken and I got to see the film yesterday, due to a MiceAge contest that I entered early last month.

Richard and his son, Nicky are two of the nicest people around. They both introduced themselves to us, welcoming us to the screening. Richard has that childlike personality that can charm a smile even if someone were having the worst day of their life. They're just amazing people.

The film was incredible, and I encourage everyone to see it - watch the official website for film festival schedules. It not only showcases the most awesome geek collection imaginable, but it really gives insight about the important things in life - family, small and large pleasures, and living life to its fullest. I give it a five Mickey head rating. ;)

We're invited over for a BBQ at Kraftland at a later date, and we both can't wait! :snap:

Were you able to slip him some pictures of your centerpieces?

I didn't enter the contest, the reasons would be fairly obvious. Anyone else get to go?

Nah. It was an evening all about Richard and Nicky, and I wanted to honor that. If the occasion arises later down the road, and he has time and desire to see something fun, then I'll show him.

Yep, a couple of our regular swankers. Hopefully, they'll chime in soon. :)

Me!


As Disneyphile said, it was truly memorable event and film. She (or FrodoPotter?) was kind enough to take that picture of us, since I did not bring my camera.

Both Richard and Nicky (oh, and Stacey!) made everyone feel so welcome and talked Disney stuff with us and even promised to show up at a Mice Chat Meet one Sunday.

Richard is a guy who has earned lots of $$ in his lifetime but came from a Thrift Store background. Nicky lives 2/3 of the time in some small town in Oregon. The point I try to make is, they really are just decent folks with no pretensions or delusions of grandeur. Richard approached our little pre-movie cluster and talked about each one of our writing entries like it was the best story he ever heard.

I think the biggest thing I've learned from Richard is to ignore anyone who says that I should have a yard sale and get rid of at least part of my collection. (And, yes, I've had more than one person say that.) :rolleyes: Even my mom will sometimes say that I should get rid of some games and such, just because I'm "too old for them". Whatever. They're still just as enjoyable as when I was a kid. (Like Ants in the Pants, which also makes a fun drinking game. ;) )