Snow White's 75th Anniversary Hollywood Screening

Recently, it was announced that the TCM (Turner Classic Movies) Classic Film Festival along with the D23 Disney Fan Club will present a 75th anniversary big screen showing of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The public screening will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday April 14, 2012 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

In addition, on the day before, legendary actor Kirk Douglas will be on hand at the theatre for the first public screening of the newly restored 1954 Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. That will be Friday April 13th at 2:45 pm.

The four-day festival runs April 12-15 and will play a wide variety of motion picture gems as they were originally meant to be seen--on the big screen, in some of the world's most iconic venues, with the people who made them. For the classic film lover, this looks to be quite the prodigious weekend.

Bradford Exchange - 75th Anniversary Wall Print

This past February, the Bradford Exchange listed this "Snow White 75th Anniversary Commemorative Print Wall Decor" on their website. The description simply reads:

You're among the first to see this brand-new item from The Bradford Exchange Online. Quantities are limited, so hurry to reserve yours today!

The same artwork seen here was used in the 2001 collectors plate from the Ever After series.

Item no: 114732001

Retail price is $149.95 (USD) + $15.99 shipping/handling. Can be purchased in 4 installments of $37.49 each.

Bradford Exchange - 75th Anniversary Snow White Plate

At the start of the new year, I noticed that the Bradford Exchange had released a brand new plate celebrating the 75th anniversary of Snow White. It appeared on their website retailing for $49.99 (USD).

Bradford Exchange Plate (Image from January 2012).
Original Item No. 903087

The listing inferred that there might be a "series" of plates, so I phoned the BE customer service to learn more. The operator said that currently, this was the only one available, but the possibility for two more did exist. For sure, it would depend upon sales. That was about six weeks ago.

Just before creating this post, I did a quick check back on their site. To my surprise, the plate was gone! Did it sell out? Did they pull it?

I called customer service again. This agent said the Snow White plate was definitely deleted from their system with no reason given. He speculated that they might be reconfiguring the series and that it could return in the future...but of this, he was not certain. As of right now, this 75th Anniversary piece has simply vanished from the internet.

75 Years of Disney Features - D23 Magazine

The spring 2012 issue of Disney twenty-three magazine features Snow White and the "Tenggren boys" on the front cover. Set to hit newsstands around mid-February, the periodical celebrates "75 Years of Disney Animation," which of course includes "the one that started it all."

Gold-level members of the D23 fan club will receive a special edition of the periodical in the mail. It will have a cover that incorporates a removable replica animation cel from Snow White.

Didier Ghez on his Disney History shares that some of the best Disney historians are contributing to this issue. Didier was asked to write a piece about Kay Kamen. For more info on the magazine, visit the official D23 page. Cover price $15.95 (USD).

The Year of the Diamond!

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2012

____________________________

75th DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY

of

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS!

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Image via Snow White...An Art in Its Making 1994, p.137.

It's still nearly a year away, but on December 21, 2012, Walt Disney's first feature-length film will be 75 years old! As the months tick off, we might be experiencing a stream of commemorative events, promotions, and collectibles in honor of Miss White. We've already seen the very first items in the special edition wall calendar released back on August 1, 2011. Then there was the It's Off To Sleep We Go baby doll collection made available this past Fall.

If Snow's 75th is anything like her 50th, then Disney will have a number of anniversary events in the works. At least one has already been announced. According to Steven Clark, head of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club...

In the summer, D23 will offer an all-new “Destination D” event, Destination D: 75 Years Of Disney Animation, held over the course of two days at the Disneyland Resort in California (August 11-12). As Disney marks the 75th anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, D23 marks the occasion by gathering many renowned Disney animation legends along with top Disney animators, voice talent (past and present), and composers—plus interesting demonstrations, fascinating presentations, autograph sessions, and the chance to see entertaining animation rarities from the Disney vaults—all in celebration of 75 years of Disney feature animation. Source: D23 webpage

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It's also no coincidence that several live-action movies featuring the Snow White character are being released in 2012. The two productions getting the most hype include Mirror, Mirror starring Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen and Lily Collins as Snow White, and Snow White and the Huntsman with Kristen Stewart as the Princess, Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman, and Charlize Theron as the Queen. More on these as their release dates approach.

  The Brothers Grimm: Snow White

Snow White and the Huntsman

Lily Collins and Kristen Stewart backstage 2011 MTV Movie Awards

Film Comparison Chart via The Hollywood Reporter, p.10, August 5, 2011.

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As we wait to see what all unfolds for this year's Diamond Jubilee, it seems only fitting to continue our examination of the other anniversary commemorations. Not long ago we took a look back at the Golden Anniversary of Snow White. Over this next month we'll do the same for the 60th, 65th and 70th.

We've already had a glimpse of a few collectibles that were produced:

• 60th Radko and Hallmark ornamnets.
• 65th Radko ornament, Marie Osmond doll and Jody Daily snow globe
• 70th lobby card lithographs

But there's lots more where that came from. Sit back and enjoy the new year as we explore all-month-long the anniversaries of Snow White's past.

75th Anniversary Baby Dolls

Prepare yourself. With the coming 75th anniversary in 2012 of Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, it's a certainty that we'll be seeing loads of commemorative items. Here's a look at the first dolls to be created for this milestone.

The Ashton-Drake Galleries has produced the It's Off To Sleep We Go collection. Honoring the 75th anniversary, this set features Snow White and the Dwarfs as...uh...baby dolls. A bit odd, but I have to admit, the facial expressions on some of these are quite good. Created by artist Cheryl Hill, the miniature figures are handcrafted in resin, and each measures about 6" tall (15.2 cm).

[CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE]

Through a subscription plan, each doll is sold separately starting with the first issue, Happy. A new figure is then shipped to you about every month or two. Price per doll is $39.99 (USD) + $7.99 shipping. A Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each one.

All images copyright Ashton-Drake Galleries and Disney

75th Anniversary Calendar, 2012

It starts! Here's the very first item to be issued commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The actual date of this milestone is still well over a year away on December 21, 2012, but it doesn't hurt to get a jump on things.

75th Anniversary "Apple" in lower left corner.

Manufactured by Mead, this twelve-month 2012 calender was released just about two weeks ago around August 1st. It's a good size at 13" x 15" (33 cm x 38.1 cm) and is made of a vinyl-like material. Comes in a protective envelope with front and back graphics matching that of the calendar. Suggested retail price of $17.99 (USD). ISBN: 1423813162.

Images copyright Disney.

Except for the "forest framing" and maybe some of the background images, no actual "new" drawings seem to have been created for this calendar. Most of the Snow White illustrations are recycled from previous publications. Yet, it still makes for an appealing wall hanging and a nice beginning to the 75th anniversary commemorations. I do hope, however, that we see some fresh and original artwork come out of this once-in-a-lifetime Diamond Jubilee.