#21: The Gang’s All Here
Mickey Mouse and his animated group of friends soared in popularity during the 1930s. With Disney’s increased popularity came the demand for toys and other merchandise. This photo shows early toy versions of Mickey, Minnie, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, and Pluto. Today, these toys are valuable collector’s items.
The stuffed animals Mickey and Minnie are particularly interesting. The original stuffed animals were created by Los Angeles seamstress Charlotte Clark in 1930, who sought out approval from Walt Disney himself. Disney loved the dolls and began selling them in limited quantities. According to D23, the demand was so large that they eventually collaborated with McCalls to create a sewing pattern. The McCall Printed Pattern No. 91 let home sewers create their own Mickey and Minnie dolls between 1932 and 1939.