Mickey Mouse Pioneer Days Colored Lantern Slides

5C From Walt Disney’s Studios. Glass Colored Slides. Mid 1900s

Notes

Magic lantern slides were an early form of visual entertainment popular from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. These slides were created for use with a magic lantern, an early projector that illuminated images on a glass slide and projected them onto a screen or wall. Artists painted the images directly onto glass plates using transparent or semi-transparent paints, allowing the light to pass through the artwork when projected. The fine details were carefully painted by hand, often with layers of color to achieve the desired effect.

The process of creating these slides involved painting intricate scenes, portraits, or illustrations on the glass surface. Some slides were entirely painted, while others combined photographic images with hand-painted details for a more colorful result. Once completed, the slides were mounted in a frame to fit into a magic lantern, which was typically powered by a candle or oil lamp, later replaced by gas or electric lights. The projector would shine light through the slide, and a lens would enlarge and project the image onto a screen or wall.

Mickey's Pioneer Days (1938) is a short film in the Mickey Mouse series, where Mickey and his friends—Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto—take on roles as pioneers in the Old West. The story follows Mickey as he leads a wagon train through the frontier, encountering challenges like wild animals and rough terrain. The film combines humor and action as Mickey and his friends navigate their way through the wilderness, with Goofy providing comic relief. The animation is typical of Disney’s late-1930s style, blending vibrant backgrounds with slapstick humor and adventurous moments.

Description

Twelve colored slides in two glass slides with red seal around the edges. Each slide is 1 1/2in x 5 1/4in painted in vibrant colors. Missing original box. General wear to the seal.