Q : What was the first Disney-based merchandise on the market?
Daniel, Pevely, Missouri
A: There was an Oswald stencil set, a candy bar, and a pin-back button, all licensed through Universal, who owned and distributed the Disney Oswald cartoons. The first Mickey Mouse item was a writing tablet.  Supposedly Walt was walking though a hotel lobby in New York and a man offered him $300 if he would allow Mickey to be used on the tablets. Walt needed the $300, so he said okay.
Q : I have three Walt Disney cartoons on three-inch reel movies. They are #1525-A, 1566-A, and, I believe, 1755-A. They appear to be old. How do I find out?
Carla, Stoutsville, Ohio
A: These are shortened, retitled versions of Disney cartoons, which were released as home-movie versions by Hollywood Film Enterprises in the 1940s and 1950s. 1566A was titled Mickey Performs, but we are unsure which cartoon it is from. 1525A is Jealous Mickey, taken from The Whoopee Party (1932), and 1755A is Mickey’s Giant Rabbit, taken from Mickey’s Kangaroo (1935).
Q : I have a large collection of Disney character alphabet blocks in different sizes and colors, with two colors on a block. Is there any record of what sizes and type of characters/letters and colors were produced together on a block? Some characters/letters seem to come in only two colors and others in four colors.
Bill, Mission Viejo, California
A: The primary Disney licensee for alphabet blocks was Halsam Products of Chicago, which was first licensed in 1934; they were purchased by Playskool in 1962 and Playskool continued doing the blocks at least through the 1970s (when they were sold in large cans). The Disney blocks were sold throughout these decades, with the packaging changing from time to time, but the blocks remaining pretty much the same (other than new characters being added). They were advertised as “safety blocks,” with smoothly finished sides, rounded corners and edges, and harmless lacquers. The pictures I saw of them were all two-colors.
Q : I recently came across an old item from Disneyland kept by my grandmother. On the packaging it says to be “A Disneyland Tray Gift” by Houze Art. The tray depicts Sleeping Beauty’s Castle with Disneyland written across the bottom. I was wondering if this tray is unique in anyway or just an old souvenir my grandmother kept from a trip to Disneyland?
Brett, Phillipsburg, New Jersey
A: Because of the large amount of Disneyland souvenir merchandise, I cannot identify your particular tray. While the early Disneyland souvenirs are fun to find, most do not have great monetary value.