Ilene Woods As Snow White, 1949 Recording

In memory of Ilene Woods who passed away on July 1st at the age of 81. Woods is best known for her lead role in Disney's 1950 Cinderella.

Image courtesy Fun4Sale 1952 Unusual Collectibles. Used with Permission.

Dated 1949, this Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs music and storybook album is an unusual recording in that the Snow White voice actor is not Adriana Caselotti from the original film. Rather it is Ilene Woods.

At the time of the recording, Miss Woods would have been working for the Disney Studio as the Cinderella project moved toward completion. By having her partake in this little side job, the studio was clearly looking for inexpensive ways to capitalized on her talents as well as building buzz for their upcoming film.

The album is a fully dramatized story narrated and sung by Dennis Day. Six of the eight songs from the film are included.* The music was arranged and conducted by Paul Smith, one of the original composers of the Snow White score, although not the actual original conductor (that would have been Frank Churchill).

The recording is on a two-disc 78rpm record set from RCA Victor, 1949 (in their Little Nipper Series, Y-33). Note: This would be the last year that Disney utilized third party companies such as RCA Victor to record and publish their music. In 1950, the Walt Disney Music Company was formed and Cinderella would be its first film soundtrack.

The set also includes a 22 page book.

Book image courtesy of Rosvita Burrows. Used with Permission.

* I'm Wishing, With a Smile and a Song, Whistle While You Work, Heigh-Ho, Some Day My Prince Will Come, One Song