Back to School - On a Very Famous Yellow Bus

If there would ever be a Disney Products Hall of Fame, this particular item would likely be one of the most revered and honored inductees.

The classic Walt Disney School Bus lunchbox is a pop culture icon to a generation of baby boomers. Some nine million units of this bright yellow metal lithographed schoolyard accessory were produced over a span of twenty years. Aladdin Industries introduced the lunchbox in 1956 at a then somewhat pricey $2.69. An original in good condition can currently fetch into the hundreds of dollars at collectors markets and online auctions.

This classic piece of Disneyana was the brainchild of Disney Legend Al Konetzni. Self-described as a salesman with a pencil, Konetzni brought his artistic and creative skills to Disney in 1953 when he was hired as an idea man for the character merchandise division, then based out of New York City. He would spend the next 28 years creating Disney character merchandise that included toys, clothing, jewelry, watches and countless other products. He had a hand in everything from Pez candy dispensers to the toothbrushes they necessitated.

Sure, it was just a lunchbox. It carried its share of apples, Twinkies and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And if swung with enough force, it was a formidable deterrent to even the most intimidating bullies. But more than anything, it was a true triumph of consumer product design. Every surface was authentic--including the bottom, which displayed the vehicle’s tires and undercarriage. Sixteen Disney characters were represented--Mickey, Pluto, Donald and Bambi waved on passengers that included Dopey, Thumper, Huey, Dewie, Louie, Morty, Ferdie, Alice, Pinocchio, Dumbo, and Jiminy Cricket, with Goofy at the wheel.

Two wonderful details--Bambi carries an edition of the lunchbox in his mouth, and the Emergency Door on the rear of the bus warns “OPEN FOR LUNCH ONLY.”