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Monday, February 28, 2011

WDW Transportation Trading Card

Introduced at Walt Disney World in June of 2006, Transportation Cards are a set of free trading cards that are only available from Disney transportation operators. The set consists of a total of 18 cards–-12 monorails, 3 watercraft, and 3 buses. On the front of each card is an image of the transportation vehicle and a Disney character. On the back are trivia facts about both.

Only cast members who work for the Disney Transportation Department have access to these cards, and not all choose to carry (or even know about) them. But for those who do, only monorail operators can hand out monorail cards, boat operators boat cards, and bus operators bus cards. To get one, all a Disney guest has to do is ask.

The Snow White card in the collection is #14, the pink Mark VI Monorail...


Images from the Filmic Light Collection.



The complete set of 18 in order...

1. GILLIG BUS -
Mickey 
2. NOVA BUS - Minnie
3. ATS BUS - Goofy
4. FERRYBOAT - Woody
5. MOTOR CRUISER - Tinkerbell
6. MOTOR LAUNCH - Chip
7. SILVER MONORAIL - Buzz Lightyear
8. BLACK MONORAIL - Figment
9. CORAL MONORAIL - Jasmine
10. BLUE MONORAIL - Jiminy Cricket
11. GREEN MONORAIL - Sulley
12. ORANGE MONORAIL - Simba
13. PURPLE MONORAIL - Donald Duck
14. PINK MONORAIL - Snow White
15. LIME MONORAIL - Mike Wazowski
16. YELLOW MONORAIL - Cinderella
17. RED MONORAIL - Daisy Duck
18. GOLD MONORAIL - Goofy

Apparently, cards #1, 2 and 3 are nearly impossible to get a hold of as only cast members with the longest seniority are allowed to distribute these. Word is there's a new series of 23 cards which will also include the Downtown Disney transportation.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Walt Disney's Academy Award Revue Poster

This rare poster was a promotion for a compilation of five Academy Award-winning Disney cartoon shorts. They were re-released together on May 19, 1937 to help promote the upcoming premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The cartoons were: Three Orphan Kittens, The Country Cousin, Flowers and Trees, Three Little Pigs, and The Tortoise and the Hare.

It's interesting to note that this poster is an advertisement for a United Artist release of these films. Since 1932, all Disney shorts had been owned by the Walt Disney Company but were distributed through United Artists. However, it was at about the time of this Academy Award Revue that distribution of Disney films would switch to RKO. With the huge success of Snow White just a few months later, RKO found itself in the right place at the right time.
[CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE]

Walt Disney's Academy Award Revue (United Artists, 1937). One Sheet (27" X 41"). Image via Heritage Auction Galleries.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

1946 Mickey Mouse Library of Games Playing Cards

"Book Case" image via ryder.

This "Mickey Mouse Library of Games" was a set of six card games produced by Russell Mfg. Company in 1946-1948. The card boxes and case holder is made to look like a set of small books: Donald Duck (Vol. 1), Pinocchio (Vol. 2), Mickey Mouse (Vol. 3), Bambi (Vol. 4), The Three Little Pigs (Vol. 5), and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Vol. 6).

The individual boxes are tiny, measuring approximately 2.75" x 1.75" x 1". Case length is 5.75". In each box of cards is a set of instructions on how to play the individual game. On the bottom of each instruction sheet is "1946 Russell Mfg. Co." Printed on the back of each box is "Made in U.S.A., Russell Mfg. Company, Leicester, Mass."



The set is seen here still in an original "bus" box.


Above three images copyright Heritage Auction Galleries.


The set is listed in a print ad from the September 1948 Playthings trade magazine.

Image via gdawg.

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The Snow White box...



Simulated page edging shown along side of box.



The deck consists of four suits, 48 playing cards.







The card backs on this deck feature Dopey printed in gray ink. Other sets have been found with red ink. The Rules: Earn points for consecutive cards in the same suit or the same numbered cards from different suits. Taking a trick deducts points. Player with the highest score at the end of the game wins.



Over the years, the same Snow White card game (or some variation of it) was reissued by Russell many times. This "duet" package features The Three Little Pigs game along with Snow, both in their first edition boxes.



See later editions of the game in another Archive entry.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Snow White Atari Video Game

All images via the AtariAge website


Snow White is not usually the first film that comes to mind when one thinks of video game spin offs. Yet back in 2002 at the Classic Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, Atari unveiled a number of games for their 2600 system. Showing up among the titles was an older "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" prototype from 1982.

This unreleased prototype was developed by Atari, using the licensed Disney Snow White property. The proto was about 50% complete...
so it's not terribly enjoyable as a game, but interesting from a historical perspective. A version of this game with box, manual, and cartridge was sold at the 2002 Classic Gaming Expo. Source: AtariAge

At atariprotos.com, you can see details of the game designed by programmer Greg Easter.

The first couple pages (below) from the user's manual explaining how "Snow White needs your help!"


Saturday, February 19, 2011

Disney Character Central - The Fan Photography of Jon Fiedler and Disney Dan

Dan and Jon meet Snow White at the Magic Kingdom, WDW, June 2008.


Fan photographers Jon Fiedler (aka PerterPanFan) and Dan (aka DisneyDan) like to travel to Disney parks...a lot! And when they go, it's always with a camera at the ready.

Jon Fiedler...

Jon meets his favorite character Peter Pan with Wendy, and then he meets my favorite character.


Disney Dan...

Dan with his favorite character Stitch and then again with Snow.

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They are the creators of the Disney Character Central website which spotlights thousands of their best character photos shot over the years. Here's a very small sampling...




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Dwarfs...

Dwarfs getting ready for parade, TDL, 2010 (DD)

Dwarfs, Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, WDW, 2009 (JF)

Dopey, WDW, 2008 (JF)

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Queen/Witch...

Queen (with Disney Dan), DLR, 2009 (DD)

Queen, One Man's Dream II - The Magic Lives On, TDL, 2010 (DD)

Queen, SpectroMagic Parade, 2009, WDW (DD)

Witch, Not-So-Scary Cars Cavalcade, DLP, 2009 (JF)

Witch (Jon Fiedler), DLP, 2009 (DD)

Witch, Fantasmic, DLR 2009 (JF)

Witch, One Man's Dream II - The Magic Lives On, TDL, 2010 (DD)

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Snow White...

Snow White, WDW, 2008 (DD)

Snow White (and Prince), Enchanted Adventures Parade, WDW, 2008, (JF)

Snow White, NYC World of Disney store, 2008, (JF)

Snow White (and Prince), Once Upon a Dream Parade, DLP, 2010 (DD)

Snow White, Grotto, DLR, 2010 (JF)

Snow White, SpectroMagic Parade, 2008, WDW (JF)

Snow White, Once Upon a Dream Parade, DLP, 2009 (JF)

Snow White, Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, WDW, 2008 (JF)

Snow White, Fantasmic. DLR, 2010 (DD)

Snow White, DLP, 2010, (DD)

Snow White, Not-So-Scary Cars Cavalcade, DLP, 2009 (JF)

Snow White, One Man's Dream II - The Magic Lives On, TDL, 2010 (DD)

 Snow White (and Dopey), DLP, 2010 (DD)
All images copyright Jon Fiedler and Disney Dan. Used with permission.


In addition to Disney Charactr Central, see thousands more images from Dan and Jon on their flickr photostreams: Disney Dan and PeterPanFan.