Disney and Eaton's Hidden History Unveiled at Forest Lawn Museum

The Forest Lawn Museum in Glendale, California will be hosting an exhibition called 'California Visionaries: The Lives and Legacies of Walt Disney and Hubert Eaton' this fall. This show marks the first time that the personal and creative relationship between Disney and Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks founder Hubert Eaton has been explored.

The exhibition will highlight the parallels between Disney's work on Disneyland and Eaton's vision for Forest Lawn, which both men drew inspiration from medieval castles and cathedrals. They also shared an appreciation for Americana, celebrating historical and literary figures through attractions and artistic works.

Disney and Eaton maintained a decades-long friendship, meeting in the 1930s and staying in touch until Disney's death in 1966. The exhibition will feature newly discovered archival photographs, sculptures, illustrations, animatronic figures, maps, and other artifacts documenting their connections.