"Disneyland USA" Miniature License Plate

Made in Japan, this souvenir Snow White license plate dates from circa 1967.  It was one of six different styles produced by Louis Marx and Company (the others featured Mickey Mouse, et al.). Small in size, the metal "bicycle plate" measures 4" x 2.25". The original suggested retail price was just .29 cents each.

According to Disney license plate collector, Steve Garner, these bicycle plates tend to be pretty rare today and are hardly ever seen on ebay.  When they do show, most are in very poor, rusted condition.

 Plate images courtesy of the Lou Smith Collection via Steve Garner.

For the 1967 theatrical re-release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this plate was displayed (along with the other five in the set) on page 10 of the merchandise supplement that accompanied the film's promotional pressbook. It's believed that these were the first "license plates" to ever be sold by Disney.

1967 Snow White Pressbook Supplement, p.10

For more info and to see the other bicycle plates in this series, visit Steve's website at the Disney License Plate Catalog.

Closer Look at 25th Anniversary Sign from Tokyo Disneyland

As mentioned in the earlier mural post, Tokyo Disneyland celebrated it's 25th anniversary in 2008 and erected this commemorative Fantasyland sign. It shared short historical tidbits (in both English and Japanese characters) on the history of the original Fantasyland rides and the films that inspired them. The park had similar signage for every land and then also for those individual "E" ticket type attractions that were there on opening day.

[CLICK IMAGES TO SUPERSIZE]

Here's a nice look at the Disneyland mural artwork originally painted by imagineer Bill Justice back in 1976 for Snow White's Adventures...

More close-ups including concept art of the 1983 exterior of the Snow White attraction at Disneyland...

IMAGES AND INFO COURTESY OF TOKYOMAGIC! USED WITH PERMISSION.

'Beware of Witch' Signage from the "Scary Adventures"

This little gem comes to us from Snow White/Witch collector Kurt Raymond. It's the "Beware The Wicked Witch!" warning sign that hung out at the entrance to the original Disneyland "Snow White's Adventures" ride. It was installed during the summer season of 1978, and it remained there until December 20, 1981 when this version of the ride was closed and scheduled for demolition.

When Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs first premiered, it wasn't promoted as a little girl's princess movie. With a dark villain, emotional plot twists and attempted murder, it was a film that was probably enjoyed more by the parents who saw it than the frightened children who accompanied them. In the early 1950s, Walt Disney and his imagineers designed the Disneyland Snow White attraction to stay true to dark side of the film. It would be a ride where the Witch would dominate the show. Then a funny thing happened. Years passed, society changed. So did the promotion of the movie with leanings more and more toward a target audience of younger kids, little girls in particular.

Families visiting Disneyland with preschoolers would board the Snow White's Adventures ride expecting a fairytale experience with dwarfs and forest animals. Often enough, they'd exit terrified and traumatized. In his book, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World (different park but same idea), author Bob Sehlinger quotes a mother talking about her experience...

My daughter screamed the whole time and was shot for the day. Grandpa kept asking, "Where in the hell's Snow White?"

Hence, the appearance in 1978 of the "Beware The Wicked Witch" sign--twenty three years after the attraction first opened. Measuring approximately 17" X 21", the framed 'Witch with Apple' image is completely hand-painted.

Original DL "Beware" Sign. Image provided by The Raymond Collection via Disney News magazine, Fall 1987.

The sign is now housed at the Disney Archives in Burbank. Disney historian Dave Smith himself is the very individual who went through the Snow White attraction just before demolition and chose this sign to be saved for 'archival value'.

For many years up through the late 1990's, college students and "Disney Scholars" (as they were called by Disney employees) along with the general public were allowed into the archive rooms (by appointment only) for research on Disney material. Kurt had an opportunity back in 1986 and again in '87 to do this during his personal research on 'old Fantasyland' and specifically the Snow White attraction. It was at this time that he learned the sign was there. It was also during this period that the Disney News magazine (which Kurt was given a copy of while at the Archives) published the image of the sign.

After the Fantasyland renovation was completed and the new attraction opened in 1983, there doesn't seem to be evidence that a "warning" sign was in place, at least until about 1985. Here is the current sign that stands today at Disneyland's SWSA...

l

"Look Out for Wicked Witch" Sign, DL. Image via of Loren Javier. Creative Commons Licensing.

_____________

The "Beware The Wicked Witch" sign in front of SWSA Paris, installed about 2009...

_____________

Tokyo has something similar to the original, installed circa 2005...

Beware Sign, TDL. Image courtesy of disneyphilip. Used with permission.

_____________

Walt Disney World had a replica of the original for awhile. It first appeared in front of the attraction back in 1994 after the ride had been renovated. The sign lasted until circa 2004.

It was replaced by this sign which will be with us for just a little while longer...

"Look Out for Wicked Witch" Sign, WDW. Image courtesy of partyhare. Used with permission.

See more SWSA signage in this earlier post. Special thanks to Kurt Raymond for adding to the accuracy of this article.

Fantasmic Old Witch Signage

Lining the entire rear area of the Fantasmic amphitheater at WDW's Disney Hollywood Studios are a series of light poles. Each is adorned with an individual metal sign with the likeness of one of the characters that appears in the performance. After you enter the main open-air venue, the Old Witch from Snow White can be found all the way to the far right side on the very last light post. The same sign is also seen on a pole back along the walkway leading up to the amphitheater.

And now some fiery shots from the performance...

Snow White's Scary Adventures Signage

Scary Adventures, DLR. Image via of Andy Castro. Creative Commons License.

Scary Adventures Close-Up, DLR. Image courtesy of apl684. Used with permission.

Wait Time 30 Minutes, WDW. Image courtesy of Joe Shlabotnik. Used with permission.

Adventures, TDL. Image via of disneyphilip. Used with permission.

Seven Dwarfs' Mine, WDW. Image via of Moose Collector. Used with permission.

Blanche Neige Close-Up, DLP. Image courtesy of starberryshyne. Used with permission.

Blanche Neige Entrance, DLP. Image via piscatortje.

Bashful Mine Cart, WDW. Image courtesy of christine.pingel. Used with permission.

Board a Mine Cart, DLR. Image courtesy of starberryshyne. Used with permission.

Board a Mine Cart Close-Up, WDW. Image via of Moose Collector. Used with permission.

Beware, DLR. Image courtesy of Loren Javier. Creative Commons License.

Scary Adventures at Night, WDW. Image via of JediMasterMatt.

Scary Adventures Close-Up, WDW. Image courtesy of Samantha Decker. Creative Commons License.

Smaller Guests, DLR. Image courtesy of ATIS547. Creative Commons License.

In an Emergency, TDL. Image via of disneyphilip. Used with permission.

Temporarily Closed, DLR. Image courtesy of starberryshyne. Used with permission.

Snow White - An Enchanting Musical (part IV)

Continued from previous post...

When Snow White: An Enchanting Musical opened in 2004, it received mixed reviews. Many guests thoroughly enjoyed the presentation, while others, hoping for a Broadway caliber production claimed it fell a little short. Yet, for a theme park performance, it was certainly a cut above the norm. From sets and costumes to action and effects, Disney spared no expense and it showed.

The musical [went] on hiatus for 2005 but returned for...its last season in 2006. It's final performance was the Labor Day weekend of (September 4) 2006. Source: filmfreak11

SNOW WHITE CURTAIN CALL, Photo by Ken Howard, 2.7.2004. 
High Res images via Disney and More. Copyright Disney.

The story concludes with Part IV: The Evil Queen transforms into the Old Witch and concocts the poison apple. She slips away to the Dwarfs cottage where Snow White succumbs to her deception. The forest animals alert the Dwarfs and they give chase after the Witch until she comes to a dramatic end. Finally, the Prince finds Snow White asleep and awakens her with love's first kiss.

... (more info)  

Video posted by filmfreak11

On September 15, 2007, Disneyland held what they called the "Dream Sale". Unused items from the park were sold off to collectors and fans. One of those items (pictured below) was the sign from the Snow White: An Enchanting Musical that once hung above the entrance to the Fantasyland Theatre.

Image copyright Ablirien. Used with permission.

Snow White's Ride - Vintage Shield Signage

These two vintage Snow White images come from Patrick over at the Stuff from The Park blog. They feature the shield signage at the front entrance to Disneyland's Snow White's Adventures Ride. The 1966 photo below predates the addition of the word "Scary" to the title of the ride--added later as a way making parents aware of the potential frightening nature of the attraction for small children.

1966 image courtesy of Matterhorn1959 via Stuff From The Park. Used with permission.

All courtyard Fantasyland rides carried a sign at the entrance which displayed the character's "insignia" in shield form. Snow White's contained the face of the princess inside a green circle in front of a blue castle. Two doves sit on the top left of the castle, a heart floats above to the right and a rose is centered below. 

1960 image courtesy of Matterhorn1959 via Stuff From The Park. Used with permission.

This 1960 large size positive slide (above) taken by a park employee shows that...

the old style Fantasyland was a very festive and colorful place. The buildings were not much to look at, but the imagineers did try to conceal them with bright painting, wonderful attraction designs and drapery. The concept was that the castle was decorated for a jousting tournament. The shield designs on each of the attractions helped to further the concept. And the murals by the load area were the best renditions of the characters.  Stuff From The Park

_____________

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Disneyland Park back in 2005, a Limited Edition of 1500 tin shield signs were produced. The screen-printed metal shields were patterned after the original artwork. Replica size: 9.875" x 8.25".

Sold in a set of 4, the other signs included Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Peter Pan's Flight, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Original retail price $79.95.





The set of replica signs appeared in the Holiday 2005 Disney Catalog...

Catalog scan courtesy of Dan Alexander Dizmentia.

_____________

Also released (October 2005) in honor of the 50th anniversary of the park were two very similar Limited Edition shield pins in lot sizes of 1000 (#42489) and 1500 (#42873).

Pin #42489 and Pin #42873

The first sold as a set with three other pins. It's back was gold and stamped with 17, © Disney and China. The second pin was part of Fantasyland boxed set (below). Slightly larger, it was silver and backstamped with the castle icon and Disneyland 50th, LE 1500, ©Disney, CHINA. The set was designed by artists Jody Daily and Kevin Kidney.

Pin #42873 is from Set #41986. Images courtesy of PinPics.

Snow White Collector Note: Be advised that there are unauthorized versions or "scrapers" of Pin #42489 being sold from China. Thus the authenticity of this pin cannot be guaranteed unless purchased directly from Disney.

_____________

Bonus pic: D Ticket sign for Snow White...

1966 image courtesy of Matterhorn1959 via Stuff From The Park. Used with permission.