1956 Mickey Mouse Club Magazine - The "Snow White's Adventures" Spread

October 3, 1955 marked the first episode of The Mickey Mouse Club on television. Shortly after came the inaugural issue of the Mickey Mouse Club Magazine (Winter 1956: Volume 1, Number 1) for which a year's subscription of four issues could be had for just $1.00 (USD).

This children's periodical featured in print similar subject matter to that which was being seen on the TV show: Mouseketeers, Mickey Mouse, Spin and Marty, etc. It also contained something special for fans of Snow White.

Included in this issue was a three page piece on Disneyland's "Snow White's Adventures". (The word "Scary" was not added to the attraction's title until many years later.) Specifically, the spread featured dramatic concept art for the ride by Disney Legend Ken Anderson. These illustrations and the accompanying text give us a glimpse into what that first ride was like. You the rider were Snow White and this was your adventure.








The Index:

Page 3

The 3-Page Spread:

Page 35

Page 36-37

Close-Up Detail:

Magazine copyright 1956 Walt Disney Productions. Images from personal collection.
Special thanks to Kurt Raymond for his tip about this MM Club issue.

The Scary Adventures on Video

Filming inside a moving, dimly lit dark ride is not an easy task. Yet, here's a few videos from people who tried. It's fascinating to me to note the numerous changes that have occurred to Snow White's Adventures over the years.

Disneyland Ride-Thru (pre-2010 updates); TRT: 3:14 minutes...

Video posted by ru42

Disneyland 2010 Technology Updates; TRT: 0:33 minutes......

Video posted by dlfreak

Disneyland Ride-Thru (post-2010 updates); TRT: 2:05 minutes...

Video posted by MintCrocodile

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One of the major changes that came to the WDW attraction was in the finale. The current ride ends with True Love Kiss and then Dopey waving goodbye above the exit doors. On the pre-1994 ride, the Witch is seen dislodging a giant jewel from above as the occupants of the mine car pass underneath. The very next scene is nothing but flashing lights. The implication is that all the riders have just been killed. Now that is a dark ride!

Walt Disney World Ride-Thru (pre 1994 updates); TRT: 5:10 minutes...

Video posted by widenyourworld

Walt Disney World Ride-Thru (pre 1994 updates with backward-facing camera); TRT: 2:26 minutes...

Video posted by widenyourworld

Walt Disney World Ride-Thru (post 1994 updates); TRT: 3:16 minutes...

Video posted by HV10N90

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Disneyland Paris Ride-Thru; TRT: 3:23 minutes...

Video posted by davey1986

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Tokyo Disneyland Ride-Thru; TRT: 2:27 minutes...

Video posted by MintCrocodile

Snow White's Ride at Walt Disney World

We don't know exactly when, but the day is coming at the Magic Kingdom when the final mine car will go through the Scary Adventures for the very last time. That's a difficult thought to take.

Walt Disney World:

WDW, SWSA Facade with Castle. Image courtesy of Javier Valkotur via javierdoren. Used with permission.

WDW, Front Facade Mirror. Image courtesy of Scott Smith. Creative Commons License.

WDW, SWSA Facade at Night. Photographer unknown. Image via Kurt Raymond.

WDW, Queue Area. Photographer unknown. Image via Kurt Raymond.

WDW, Witch Mural Close-Up. Image copyright wolves4moe.

WDW, Mine Car. Image copyright Matt Campbell via JediMasterMatt.

WDW, Queen in Window. Image copyright Tim Gerdes via Better Living Through Imagineering. Used with permission.

WDW, Snow on Steps. Image copyright Matt Campbell via JediMasterMatt.

WDW, Magic Mirror. Image copyright Tim Gerdes via Better Living Through Imagineering. Used with permission.

WDW, Transformation Spin. Image copyright Matt Campbell via JediMasterMatt.

WDW, Skeleton Dungeon. Image courtesy of mrchrisconwell photography. Used with permission.

WDW, Witch at Cauldron. Image courtesy of partyhare. Used with permission.

WDW, Dark Forest Scream (close-up). Image courtesy of Kevin Kness via Kness Design. Used with permission.

WDW, Dark Forest Scream (wide-shot). Image courtesy of mrchrisconwell photography. Used with permission.

WDW, Haunted Tree. Image courtesy of mrchrisconwell photography. Used with permission.

WDW, Dwarf Cottage. Image copyright MOOSE COLLECTOR. Used with permission.

WDW, Snow and Witch at Window. Image copyright Matt Campbell via JediMasterMatt.

WDW, Vultures. Image copyright Matt Campbell via JediMasterMatt.

WDW, Warning in the Mine. Image courtesy of partyhare. Used with permission.

WDW, Kiss. Image copyright Tim Gerdes via Better Living Through Imagineering. Used with permission.

WDW, Happily Ever After. Image courtesy of cheukiecfu. Used with permission.

The Scary Adventures at Disneyland

The original Snow White's Adventures was, of course, a 1955 opening-day attraction at Disneyland. It went through a major overhaul during the 1981-83 Fantasyland renovation and this is how it looks today.

Disneyland Resort:

DLR, Queen in Window. Image courtesy of Robert Miller via FrogMiller. Used with permission.

DLR, Queen in Window. Image courtesy of Joe Penniston via Express Monorail. Creative Commons License.

DLR, Front Facade. Image courtesy of ATIS547. Creative Commons License. (Photo from 1984 or '85)

DLR, Raven/Skull Detail. Image courtesy of Barry Wallis.  Used with permission.

DLR, Raven/Skull Detail. Image courtesy of ATIS547. Creative Commons License. (Photo from 1984 or '85)

DLR, Entrance. Image courtesy of Andy Castro. Creative Commons License.

DLR, Fairytale Book. Image courtesy of DisneyDan. Used with permission.

DLR, Queue. Image courtesy of Andy Castro. Creative Commons License.

DLR, Overhead Lights. Image courtesy of Anna1227. Used with permission.

DLR, Overhead Lights. Image courtesy of Amyr_81. Used with permission.

DLR, Spell Book Room. Image courtesy of Sarah Costa via sarahecosta.

DLR, Queue Gargoyle. Upper left courtesy of Anna1227. Used with permission. Upper right and above copyright disneyspeak.com. Creative Commons License.

DLR, Spell Book. Image courtesy of christine.pingel. Used with permission.

DLR, Spell Book. Image courtesy of Amyr_81. Used with permission.

DLR, Tabletop Skull. Image courtesy of disneyspeak.com. Creative Commons License.

DLR, Dwarfs Cottage. Image courtesy of DisneyDan. Used with permission.

DLR, Snow on Stairs. Image courtesy of Loren Javier. Creative Commons License.

DLR, Dwarf Dance. Image courtesy of Loren Javier. Creative Commons License.

DLR, Queen at Cottage. Image courtesy of John Fiedler via PeterPanFan. Used with permission.

DLR, Dwarfs' Mine. Image courtesy of Loren Javier. Creative Commons License.

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

DLR, Queen's Throne. Image courtesy of Loren Javier. Creative Commons License.

DLR, Evil Queen in Mirror. Image courtesy of John Fiedler via PeterPanFan. Used with permission.

DLR, Witch at Mirror. Image courtesy of Joe Penniston via Express Monorail. Creative Commons License.

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

DLR, Skeleton in Dungeon. Image courtesy of Hieronymus Josh via The Maggot Prince. Used with permission.

DLR, Witch at Cauldron. Image courtesy of Joe Penniston via Express Monorail. Creative Commons License.

DLR, Witch in Boat. Image courtesy of Loren Javier. Creative Commons License.

DLR, Witch at Door. Image copyright Bret Chesman via Bretman Photos.

DLR, Dwarf Chase. Image courtesy of Loren Xavier. Creative Commons License.

DLR, Witch Boulder. Image courtesy of Loren Xavier. Creative Commons License.

The Scary Adventures at the Magic Kingdom next.