Given the situation you describe, I wonder if someone thought they were mis-directed proofs. Which leads me to ask, have there ever been any "error" posters?

I've seen two on eBay that were printed upside-down...

Rare Upside Down Attraction Poster

Hmm, it doesn't look upside down if I turn my monitor upside down...

Yes Roy, Disney Attraction Poster blog is mine!

The DISNEYLAND CK Holiday locomotive is featured on all the standard "Railroad 1977 posters" Even though that special design is located at only Disneyland. It was decided that that cost was too great to change the locomotives for posters for the other parks. The main locomotive artwork of the CK Holiday was done for the first GENERATION TWO posters in 1976 --The Disneyland Railroad Bicentennial Special (only used at Disneyland) The same screens were used on the standard version of the poster which debuted at Disneyland & Walt Disney World.

The poster is first done as a "generic" --the generic poster includes everything in the poster except for station call outs or any wording that specifies a specific park. So then they can be screened with specific details on lands, park names, sponsors, etc. Even the EURO DISNEYLAND RAILROAD POSTER of 1992 features alterations screened directly atop original 1977 "Railroad" Generics. For Euro, new coach artwork and details such as the headlamp antlers were added --

These are the versions of the "1976/1977 Railroad" attraction poster:

1976 -The Disneyland Railroad Bicentennial Special"
1977- The Disneyland Railroad -w/ DLRR insignia
1977- The Walt Disney World Railroad with AUTO-TRAIN SPONSOR logo
1977- The Walt Disney World Railroad -w/WDW Insignia (1978)
1977- The Walt Disney World Railroad -with Mickey's Start land added (this is NOT a actual silk screened poster --the changes were done photo-mechanicaly and then lithographed for the posters used on display) (1991)
1977- Western River Railroad 'Tomy' sponsor added to pilot flags (1983)
1977- Euro Disneyland Railroad -new coaches added, antlers to headlamp, and larger EDLRR medallion insignia screened over original space for DL/WDW insignias. (1992)

These were the last of the actual silkscreen standard Railroad posters. Today the posters at the parks are all digital prints.

Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland used a digitally revised poster created from altering some elements from the 1977 version --including changing the original blue font of "Railroad" to a new extended font done in red.

I'm thinking of any known MISTAKE posters. There are things that appear on posters that used artwork from previous posters that were not changed. An example--the 1971 WDW SKYWAY poster used the round cabin buckets which were never used at WDW --and hadn't been in use at DL since 1965! The 1956 SKYWAY attraction poster shows the Tomorrowland Airboats in the Tomorrowland-scape below--an attraction that never even opened!! There's Any examples of situations like that, but usually it was a cost -cutting measure. Like The Space Mountain poster of the 70's uses WDW's Space Mountain building, but DL's rocket sleds. DL's 'pink" 1983 Dumbo poster is a design really done for Tokyo Disneyland and shows the canopy top and design to TDLs Cinderella's Golden Carousel below........etc.

One thing that that almost appears to be a mistake is the TDL WESTERN RIVER RAILROAD poster: the plain generic poster features all the layout artwork and the graphics 'THE RAILROAD" --(again--so the Disneyland or Walt Disney World wording could be added as needed) On the Western River poster however, "WESTERN" part is screened partially OVER the "THE". I always thought maybe they just couldn't squeeze all the letters for "Western River" --but on the EURO DISNEYLAND they were able to fit that and show "THE"!!

-Mike

hmmm--as to the new Grand Canyon Diorama 1992 posters being mistaken as proofs--probably not. Many posters were "absconded" with before they were able to be put on display --they were probably stolen. When art collections began cataloging all original type artwork in the parks in 1998 --they were stunned at how many people had REAL attraction posters in their offices. These were removed and replaced with copies.

I keep thinking I'm missing something in regards to ERROR posters, and I came up with two other examples--(sorry they are not railroad related)

the first editions of the 1967 PEOPLEMOVER poster featured three guys and a girl in the first PeopleMover car --the one with the passenger waving. The Tomorrowland manager thought it "uncomfortable" that two guys were sitting together--and decided to make everyone BOY-GIRL-BOY-GIRL.....etc. So the next run featured a guy with lady elements screened over--sunglasses, a frilly bow and collar and a new 60's hairdo. "SHE" is the manly looking "GIRL" in the front car with "HER" arm resting over the side!!

The 1962 "STOUFFER"S THREE ADVENTURES IN EATING" attraction poster showcases The Plaza Pavilion.......The Tahitian Terrace............and the Enchanted Tiki Room..........RESTAURANTS!!

"Tiki talk say better go!! --Wondrous food and wondrous show!!"

-Mike

Wow, thanks for all the neat info, Mike! Were the Tokyo WRRR pilot flags originally without Tomy on them, or was that just on the early posters?

Mike,

Is your book only available at the Parks or can it be got from Amazon or Borders?

Ok that was dumb of me. You own the blog Danny did the book. I just got my edition of Disney News. Available in the Parks late May.

you can pre-order the book on Amazon now...

I didn't write the book, but I was interviewed and gave some input as it was being developed. The book is available for preorder on Amazon and will be for sale in the parks very soon. I understand it is already in the receiving warehouse at Disneyland.