Disney Legend Sam McKim will be honored with a unique 100th birthday celebration on Nov. 10, 2024, at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, Calif. The Centennial Celebration will feature a panel of guest speakers and a curated exhibit featuring Sam’s work, some never-before-seen by the public. This is a rare opportunity to learn more about the life and work of a Disney Legend.
The Sam McKim Centennial Celebration is a one-day event on Nov. 10, .2024, with panel presentations at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Each presentation will have different guest speakers, including Disney artists and Imagineers who worked closely with Sam at Disney and will share personal stories and memories about the brilliant illustrator and “idea man” who worked at Walt Disney Imagineering for 32 years – 12 years directly with Walt Disney.
The Sam McKim Centennial is a celebration of what would have been Disney Legend Sam McKim’s 100th birthday on Dec. 20, 2024. This special event will inspire a new generation of artists, designers, and would-be Imagineers of Sam’s creativity- a legacy continued by his family. This occasion will also be a “thank you” to the community of Disney fans, theme park aficionados, and guests who have enjoyed the work of Sam McKim in Disney parks throughout the years.
The experience is approximately 2.5 hours, which includes time to view the temporary gallery exhibit and make purchases at a pop-up store offering a limited amount of Sam McKim Centennial merchandise.
Getting To Know Sam McKim
The actor-turned-artist is probably best known to Disney fans as the creator of the Disneyland souvenir maps, issued between 1958 and 1964. Even today, his maps remain among the most coveted pieces of Disney memorabilia and fetch top dollar at Disney auctions.
Born on Dec. 20, 1924, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sam moved to L.A. with his family. At age 10, he was discovered by a casting director while visiting MGM and became a child actor appearing alongside Hollywood legends, including Spencer Tracy, John Wayne, Rita Hayworth, and Gene Autry.
Always an artist, Sam submitted some of his drawings to The Walt Disney Studios when he was still in high school – and was offered a job in the traffic department – but he enlisted with the United States Army instead. In 1953, Sam had to choose whether to accept a role in John Ford’s film “The Long Gray Line” or make story sketches for 20th Century Fox. He happily decided to work for Fox because “working behind the camera was what I really wanted to do.”
In 1954, Sam finally joined Disney to create “inspirational sketches” for Disneyland – one of his first sketches was Slue Foot Sue’s Golden Horseshoe Revue in Frontierland. He later contributed to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Carousel of Progress, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion. Eventually, Sam’s work touched every land in the park.
One thing that sets him apart, aside from his amazing prolific artwork, was that Sam McKim is on the original roster – the very first group of Imagineers working for Walt at the Studios, before Imagineering grew and moved to the Glendale facilities.
Sam also contributed to Walt Disney World, including The Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom, Universe of Energy in Epcot Center, and created inspirational sketches for the Disney-MGM Studios.
Sam McKim passed away on Jul. 9, 2004, in Burbank, California.
In 1996, Sam was named a Disney Legend, in 1975, he was honored with a window at Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and in 2006, he received a window at Plaza Point on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland – all honors only bestowed on those who have made significant contributions to the Walt Disney Company.
You can read more about Sam’s Main Street window here:
Hidden Tributes: Disneyland’s Main Street Windows Revealed (Part Two)
Centennial Celebration Panelists
Among the panelists scheduled to share their fond memories of Sam are two Disney Legends: Imagineer Bob Gurr and Disney Animator Floyd Norman as well as Disney animator Willie Ito (“Lady and the Tramp”) and the daughter of Disney Legend Leota Toombs (AKA Madame Leota) and Imagineer, Kim Irvine (AKA Haunted Mansion Holiday Madame Leota).
Plus, you’ll see many other famous Disney faces at the event.
Sam McKim Exhibit
Sam contributed to many iconic Disney Park projects and the highly sought-after Disneyland poster-sized Fun Map souvenir. In addition to special entertainment, the exclusive event will include a pop-up gallery exhibit on the night of the event showcasing some of Sam’s original artwork and concepts for Disney theme park attractions and Walt Disney Production movies.
Also on display will be unique objects, film clips, photos, and autographs from the “Golden Age of Hollywood” from the personal collection of the young “Sammy” McKim when he worked as a child actor.
Sam McKim Centennial Celebration Tickets
The Sam McKim Centennial Celebration is a one-day event on Nov. 10, .2024, with panel presentations at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- General Admission (
$100$50 with the MiceChat Discount below) – Includes entrance to view the exhibit before the theater presentation, entrance to one session of the theater presentation of guest speakers (3:30 p.m. or 5:45 p.m.), and an opportunity to shop the pop-up event store. - VIP Admission ($200) – Includes early entry (up to 45 minutes) to the exhibit, early access to the store, entrance to one theater presentation, and a meet and greet opportunity with the panel after the show.
Children ages three and older need to have a ticket.
Don’t miss the chance to attend this exclusive event and save $50!
MiceChat is offering a very limited number of special discounted tickets for each of the two shows on Nov. 10, 2024:
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- Use code MC501 for the 3:30 p.m. show
- Use code MC502 for the 5:30 p.m. show
Tickets for the celebration at the Bowers Museum are only available online through Eventzilla (HERE) and cannot be purchased at the event.
The Sam McKim Centennial is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or related businesses (e.g., The Disneyland Resort, D23, or Imagineering). This special celebration is being produced independently by the Sam McKim Family Gallery LLC.