Geppi’s Entertainment Museum (GEM) represented our pop culture history and how it shaped the culture at large. It was also a gateway to childhood and path to imagination. A place where the most mature and refined could smile wistfully at a comic book or a toy from childhood that brought them hours of entertainment and joy. One exhibit that capitalized on that trip down the rabbit hole was The Alice in Wonderland Exhibit.

Collector Matt Crandall loaned his Alice in Wonderland collection to GEM for the exhibit, which featured over 200 items. Original pre-production art, animation cels, drawings, paintings, sketches, design storyboards, and model sheets adorned the walls of GEM from the vestibules to gallery rooms. Artwork also included Big Golden Book art, designs for Disney rides, and movie posters.

Along with the art, there were plenty of three-dimensional collectibles on display. Many sculptures, busts, ceramic figurines, and toys were enjoyed by guests of exhibit. There were games, dolls, records, dishes, photographs, toy kits, and coloring books that reminded attendees of childhood days. Additional items included advertising material, magazines, books, newspaper clippings, and even more.

Each display case was filled with an impressive volume of Alice memorabilia. In an interview with Scoop prior to the exhibit opening, Crandall shared that he had been collecting Alice in Wonderland material since March of 1989. At that point he didn’t know how many Alice items were in his collection.

Enhancing the imaginative experience, The Alice in Wonderland Exhibit was held in conjunction with The Artistry of Amanda Conner exhibit. The opening party for the exhibits was a fancy, fun affair with Crandall in attendance to talk about his passion for Alice and share his collection with friends of the museum. “I think it’s great, everybody is very enthusiastic. Everybody has been very supportive throughout the process and I think everybody is going to have a good time tonight,” Crandall said during the opening party.

GEM President Melissa Bowersox recently recalled her enjoyment that the exhibits opened together. “For me, the coolest part about the exhibit was watching the interaction between the fans of Alice in Wonderland as well as Conner. It was as if they were all kindred spirits, and it made for a truly delightful evening,” she said.

Kathryn Beaumont, the woman who provided the original voice of Alice in the 1951 Disney movie Alice in Wonderland, was also a guest at the party. Guests were enchanted by her charm and enthralled by the opportunity to speak with the real Alice. “I think the exhibit is beautiful. I’m really impressed with the wonderful things that you have that are displayed so beautifully. It really is nicely done,” Beaumont said about the exhibit.

“I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet the Crandalls,” Bowersox added. “I was so impressed with the dedication he had to his collection, which was clearly evident in the care he took with each piece. It was of course such a delight to meet Kathryn Beaumont, the voice behind not only Alice but also Wendy in Peter Pan, which has always been a particular favorite of mine.”

The Alice in Wonderland Exhibit illustrated the magic, imagination, and adventure of the beloved classic transporting museum attendees back to younger days and fanciful lands of Mad Hatters, temperamental queens, and all manner of bizarre creatures.

Editor’s Note: Over the next few months, we’ll have retrospectives of some of the great exhibits and events held at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum. Items from Steve Geppi’s gift to the nation will be on display at the Library of Congress beginning in Fall 2018.

Other Installments in our Retrospective Series
Geppi’s Entertainment Museum in Photos - Part I
Zombie Gras
Atlas At Last 
Artistry of Amanda Conner
Cosplay Masquerade
Little Heroes