It is uncertain if Carl Barks on Thursday the 3rd of January, 1952, made the long, 100 mile car trip from his home in San Jacinto, California, to his publisher's branch office in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, to deliver yet another Donald Duck 10-pager personally, as he had frequently done in the past. It is certain, however, that - although accepted and paid for, originally - the story was later vetoed by story editor Chase Craig, and that it has been since lost to the chagrin of all his fans, who missed the chance for another great story from their Good Artist!
The story was supposed to be included in the September issue of
WDCS144, and it has since been known among Barksists as 'The Golden Apples Story'. It was loosely based on the Greek myth of The Apples of the Hesperides, and took place during Duckburg's annual apple festival at which Daisy appeared as a jealous and crusty battleaxe - and that got it rejected.

In 1969 a dedicated, young fan by the name of Robert E. Klein (see more HERE) visited Barks in his home and they got to talking about the story. In the following years Barks told additional details of what he could remember from the plot, and Klein took upon himself to make his own story version based on what little Barks had contributed. Klein then finished the new script and made sketches for a 10-pager. Despite the frustration of Barks' entire story being lost, this account of Barks comments, and faithful attempt to capture the spirit of his original story provides a glimpse of what it might have been like.
Due to the Disney Corporation's publishing rules it is not possible for this website to publish the entire story, so you are confined to a synopsis plus a sketch of page 1.

 

The editor of this website wishes to express sincere gratitude to Klein for his willingness to share his material and for allowing the publishing of some of his version of The Lost Story.

 

 

 

Here follows Klein's own account of his firsthand experience with Barks' story
(excerpt from The Meetings):

We also talked about “The Golden Apple Story”, which Malcolm had already told me had been rejected by Barks’ editors. He said that it was not only never printed, but the original art was lost. It had been planned for Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories No. 144, in 1952.

Carl told me that the story was about Daisy’s jealousy over Donald’s falling for a beautiful Queen of Duckburg’s Apple Festival. He said that his editor (Chase Craig) thought that Daisy’s “fit of anger” against Donald, in which she threw “everything at him but the kitchen sink”, was too “unladylike”.
He also told me that there was a traditional race through the woods, in which Duckburg’s men chased after the Apple Queen (as in the Greek myth of Atalanta). She had a basket of golden apples. “Every time she threw down an apple, Donald would grab for it, and when he looked up, she was gone, as if she vanished into thin air. Every time she ran behind a tree, Donald would follow, but she would disappear.”
It can be assumed that the winner of the race, in catching the Apple Queen, would gain the honor of being “Apple King”, and also win the right to be her date for the Apple Festival’s concluding dance, which could be appropriately named, “The Apple Pickers’ Ball”.

He added a few different details each time I asked him about it. But he apologized for not remembering much of the plot. However, he did tell me several more details than were printed in his published interviews. Knowing that, a few years ago, I wrote and storyboarded a new story, based on all he told me, and logical assumptions based on Barks’ typical storytelling methods. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been bought by a Disney publisher, to this point.

 

The Apples of the Hesperides

The Greek myth tells about Hera who received the golden apples - which secures immortality - as a wedding gift from Zeus. The nymph Atalanta, a strong athlete, was immensely popular among the young men for her good looks, but she vowed that she would forever maintain her independence. Thus she challenged all the lovesick youngsters to races in which the losers were to be killed.
Atalanta won easily every time until one day when Hippomenes dropped the golden apples in the track during the race. The nymph stopped to collect the fruits resulting in her defeat.

 

Synopsis for Queen of the Apple Festival

Donald and the nephews participate in Duckburg's annual apple festival, where Donald is in charge of making candy apples using a large machine. At the same time Daisy expects Donald to accompany her to the Apple Pickers Ball that same night. Before she leaves she asks Donald to place the fireworks for the event in a safe place.
Donald manages the big processor capable of coating 100,000 apples in one go, when a lady comes running by. She is Sarah Swiftstride, a famous runner, and the contestant who can win over her in the race will be her escort to the ball. Donald immediately runs off to sign up!
Daisy gets into a fit when she hears about Donald's decision, but he takes off nevertheless. Sarah - dropping golden apples for the contestants to collect - runs through the woods chased by the contestants, while Daisy repeatedly tries to hinder Donald. Still, he succeeds in collecting the required three golden apples and is crowned Apple King.
Daisy is furious and she manages to break the processor causing all the molasses to flood the King and Queen, and at the same time the fireworks - which had been stored under the hot machinery - explode.
The story ends with Donald being chased by Daisy, Sarah, and the festival guests.

 

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http://www.cbarks.dk/THELOSTSTORY.htm   Date 2008-08-23