Finding Snow White at the Walt Disney Studios

Back in May, I had the opportunity to tour the Walt Disney Studios.  When Walt Disney found success with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, one of the things he did was use the new income to build the studio of his dreams.  The lot was designed with the process in mind.  Buildings designed based the animators request to get the most natural light possible.  There were places for animators to relax and get some exercise, the lot looking more like a university than a studio.
When touring the lot today, there are obvious changes, but the heart of the studio remains the same.  So, where can you see the influence of Snow White?  There are quite a few around the lot.  The first example is Dopey Drive.  In 1941 the Disney Studio released a movie explaining the process of animation by taking comedian Robert Benchly on a wild tour of the studio lot.  The film ended with the animated short: The Reluctant Dragon.  There is still a prop created for that film on the studio lot:

 In true Hollywood stlye, the prop street sign did not point to places in their correct location.  None of those buildings were or are in that location.

Continuing on the tour, we were taken  into the old Animation building (it does not house the animators anymore).  In the long hallway is a variety of pieces of art including an example of the Queen by Art Babbit.  Unfortunately there are no pictures inside the building.

Seven Dwarfs in the window over a stage

One of Disney's very recognizable building is the TEAM building (the Michael D. Eisner Building) where the seven dwarfs are seen to be literally holding up the building.  And in a way they are, the building features the dwarfs because the success of their film, built the studio.  This Micheal Graves building was built in the 1990's and features 19 foot tall dwarfs.  According to our tour guide, Dopey weighs 30,000 pounds!

Notice the bird nest by Dopey's ear

 The reason I finally got around to paying for the D23 tour of the lot was the announcement that the archives had Snow White featured in the lobby of the Frank G Wells building where the archives is actually located.  I'm so glad I did go.  The tour itself was very interesting but it was exciting to see so many things all about Snow White.

The lobby of the Frank G. Wells building

The display cases are changed out periodically featuring different things.  Snow White is currently featured to celebrate her 75th anniversary.

 Here are some close ups from the case:

 I have to admit, I was very excited to find that I had some of the items displayed.  It was a mix of merchandise from the thirty's up to current things.  There were also things on display not available for purchase, like a grumpy from Snow White's Scary Adventure.

While we were waiting to go into the archives we looked around the lobby, the picture below is a Snow White marking the women's restroom.

There are three original Mulitplane Cameras left.  One is in the lobby of the Frank G Wells building (the others are at the Walt Disney Family Museum and the studios in Paris).

 Once inside the archives lobby, there were a variety of things on display including quite a bit from Snow White.

This is a toothbrush featuring Snow White and the seven dwarfs

 All in all, the tour was great!  I will definitely go again.  I have many more pictures and stories from the studio lot tour, so look for another post soon!

WEDWay Radio Celebrates Snow White

Wow!  Has it really been that long since I posted?!
As is always the story...I've been distracted by other things and have fallen behind in my posting.  So for today a quick post.

Just as I've fallen behind in my posting, I have also been neglecting my Disney podcast listening.  Today I was listening to WEDWay Radio.  They have a three part podcast dedicated to Snow White's 75th.  I have a lot of catching up to do!  I also saw that they have some exclusive T-shirts, including a Snow White series. Check this out:

I can't wait to wear it to the upcoming D23 Expo!  Snow White Geek Tee!

Walt Disney Family Museum Animate Your Night

Last month I had the opportunity to attend the Walt Disney Family Museum's Animate Your Night event.  The theme of this evening event was Snow White's Hollywood Premiere   The event featured a playing of Snow White in the theater, music and dance entertainment  several cocktail bars, a photo opportunity, art activities  and a scavenger hunt.  The entrance to the museum was quite packed with the band playing and dancing in full swing.  Cocktail bars were around the lobby and downstairs with signature cocktails to purchase.  There was also appetizers, but I never saw a full tray, they were cleaned off before they even made it up the stairs.  The art activities included drawing lessons and making a holiday ornament   For five dollars, you could have your picture taken with props in a classic black and white Hollywood feel.
The event was fairly busy, with lots of locals.  I enjoyed it, but was a little disappointed that there wasn't more to actually do with Snow White.  If you completed the scavenger hunt you got a bag of buttons, but that was the only exclusive thing available that day.  There was a wide variety of guests there, some in full themed period outfits, and others in jeans and tee-shirts.  The museum was available to explore, but the exhibit was not part of the event.  Overall, the event was fun, and if you're visiting the museum when they offer another Animate Your Night event, go!  Just make sure you have dinner first.

Walt Disney Family Museum Mercandise

There really is not much special merchandised offered at the museum to go along with the Snow White exhibit, that are specifically for the exhibit.  The museum does have some collectibles that are only available at the museum that are Snow White related.

There are 3 posters that are specific for the exhibit.  There is also a red one featuring a close up of Snow White and a purple one featuring the Hag.  These three posters are the only things to actually feature the exhibit.

Front Side

Back Side

Closed

Open

Member's monthly button program featured Snow White art in December.  Postcard was free to anyone at museum with a trivia section to fill in for members.

This is displayed in the exhibit.

While not special for the exhibit, this is one of the few merchandise pieces with Snow White and the Walt Disney Family  Museum Logo.  They also had a small trinket box that features Snow White and the logo.

Golden Horseshoe Review

Howdy Strangers!  I'm taking a tangent from our usual topic to take a look at a special event:

This year as part of Disney's Limited Time Magic celebration, the Gold Horseshoe Review was brought back to Disneyland.  Kind-of.  The park is running a tribute show for a few weeks that include an evening dinner showing for annual passholders.

Cake given to all guests featuring the Disney Family at Walt and Lilly's anniversary party.

I attended the first evening event and had a fun time.  The show itself was very short - about 20 minuets and featured 4 songs.  The performers did a wonderful job, but many of us wished it would have been longer.  The dinner was a prepacked meal and included a souvenir plastic GH boot mug. (I could not find a copyright anywhere one it) and as a surprise, a Disneyland CD of  Slue-Foot Sue's Golden Horseshoe Review.  The annual passholder event was a little pricey for what you got, but it was a fun evening.  For more information check out the Disneyland website.