1951 Snow White Mardi Gras Float

A Snow White float at Mardi Gras, February 6, 1951. It was sponsored by the Baton Rouge Elk's Club and won second prize that year.

Photo by Baton Rouge Police Department.

Snow White at the Adelaide Xmas Pageant

Occurring annually on the second Saturday of November, the Adelaide Christmas Pageant is a big televised event that draws crowds of more than 320,000 to the South Australian capital. It's a parade that first got it's start in 1933 when it was sponsored by John Martin's department store. Today it is known as the Credit Union Christmas Pageant.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs have been regulars in the parade for many years. While the Dwarfs typically don't look much like the characters from the Disney film, Snow always seems to wear a dress reminiscent in some way of her iconic movie image.

1950

Image via State Library of  South Australia.

1951

Image via State Library of South Australia.

1957

Screen Capture.

2004

Image via Alex Sims.

2008

Image via Sam Marto.

We're certain that there must be more Snow White Adelaide float pics out there from the 1960s-1990s; we just haven't found them yet.

Snow White Cast Members in Motion

Snow White in action during her many theme park parade and stage show appearances...

Parade of Dreams, Disneyland, 2006.

Photo courtesy of The Disney Camera Guy.

Once Upon A Dream Parade, Disneyland Paris, 2008.

Photo courtesy of Rene Smit.

Once Upon A Dream Parade, Disneyland Paris, 2008.

Photo courtesy of Rene Smit.

One Man's Dream II - The Magic Lives On, Tokyo Disneyland, 2010.

Photo courtesy of Jon Fiedler at PerterPanFan.

A Christmas Fantasy Parade, Disneyland, 2010.

Carlos at armadillo444. Creative Commons.

A Christmas Fantasy Parade, Disneyland, 2011.

Image via canhasal. Creative Commons.

Drawn to the Magic, Disney California Adventure, Disneyland Resort, 2010.

Photo courtesy of Disney-Grandpa.

Dream Along with Mickey, Walt Disney World, 2010...

Photo via Loren Javier. Creative Commons.

Dream Along with Mickey, Walt Disney World, 2011...

Photo courtesy of abelle2.

Mickey's Magical Celebration, Disneyland Paris, 2011.

Photo courtesy of ThatDisneyLover/Laura Knighton.

Mickey's Soundsational Parade, Disneyland, 2012.

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Wong at heytherejere.

Mickey's Soundsational Parade, Disneyland, 2012.

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Van Loon at snow1937white.

Alice and Snow out and about in then Disney-MGM Studios, Walt Disney World, 2007.

Photo courtesy of disneylori.

All images used with direct permission from the respective photographers or under Creative Commons licensing. Inspiration for this archive post came from the Disney Ladies in Motion flickr group.

Mardi Gras Float Sketch

A Snow White float sketch from 2007, images and text from designer Brent Amacker...

The first drawing is to establish composition and placement; Note that on the finished product the addition of the 'Castle' backdrop and the box which supposedly houses Snow White's heart. On the lower portion (skirt), The Magic Mirror is more defined, and another apple added for contrasting dramatic effect.

'Disneyana Collector' Newsletter, Summer 1987

Coverage of the 50th Anniversary 'Snow White Reunion' appeared on the front cover of The Disneyana Collector newsletter, Summer 1987. The two photos show Joann Killingsworth riding in a Disneyland parade, the first from Opening Day 1955, the second fifty years later.

Additional pages from the newsletter...

Disneyland artist Charles Boyer plus Matt Mew on the Disney Dollars...

The Disneyana Collector was a service of Grolier Enterprises.

Image scans courtesy of TokyoMagic! of Meet the World.

Snow White Parade (50th Anniversary - 1987)

Snow White's "Golden Anniversary Celebration" at Disneyland included a twice daily 12 minute royal parade that ran down Main Street USA from early summer until fall. The lineup began with banner-carriers on horseback followed by Donald Duck and a host of dancing lords and ladies.

Banner-Carriers (Screen capture via home video shot by haborhouse55)

Banner Float followed closely by Donald Duck

Banner Float close-up. Image courtesy of the Raymond Collection. Used with permission.

Riding alone atop a float of topiaries with a "Once upon a time" banner behind him, Goofy read the proclamation handbill from the previous post. In another video, Mickey and Minnie are on this float with Goofy. This addition to the lineup may have occurred later in the year. It appears that Mickey and Minnie were originally located near the end of the parade in their own horse-drawn carriage.


No mice...

Goofy.

Mice...

Goofy, Mickey, Minnie.

Dancing mirror-carriers proceeded the Evil Queen's float where she conversed with the Magic Mirror. Dopey followed in a giant washtub.

Dancing Mirrors

Evil Queen Float

Dopey Float

More dancers led the way for Chip and Dale with Daisy Duck who were busy cleaning a "cottage" float.

Cottage Float

Three dancing wheelbarrow pushers came next, followed by the rest of the Dwarfs--either on or marching in front of a diamond mine float.

Wheelbarrows

Dwarf Mine Float. Image courtesy of the Raymond Collection.

It's interesting that this section also included six dancing and spinning diamonds. However, after a couple of weeks, they were removed from the parade. Have not heard the reason why.

Dancing Diamonds

Accompanied by the Pinocchio gang, two cast members pulled a diamond cart behind the Dwarfs' float.

Diamond Cart

Heel-Kicking Good Times

Dancing crows pranced in front of the Old Witch and her smoking cauldron float.

Dancing Crows

Witch's Cauldron Float

If Mickey and Minnie weren't at the front of the parade with Goofy, they would be here in a horse-draw carriage. In close pursuit were additional dancing characters including Alice. Then more lords and ladies.

Mickey and Minnie

Dancing Alice

Lords and Ladies

This was of course way before the time of Jasmine, Tiana, and Rapunzel, and it even predates Ariel and Belle. So for the finale, the only other Disney princesses, Aurora and Cinderella, danced with their princes in front of Snow White and the Prince who waved from their float.

The Other Royal Couples (Photo copyright ThemeFabrication. Used with permission.)

Snow White Float

Prince and Snow close-up

Parade in two parts...

Parade in three parts. Features the Dancing Diamonds that were taken out of parade after only a couple weeks...

_____________

While most of the Snow White hoopla seemed to occur at Disneyland, the first princess was included in some Florida celebrations too. Themed paper plates and cups were used at many of the food stops, and she and dwarfs did appear in the Walt Disney World 15 Years of Magic parade.

15 Years of Magic Parade

Commemorating the theme park's Crystal Anniversary milestone, the parade began in October 1986 and continued until September 1987. In the new year, to kill two birds with one stone so to speak, Snow White was inserted near the front of the lineup as a way to commemorate the 50th year of the film too.

A blurb in the July/August 1987 issue of Tampa Bay Magazine mentions the new parade sequence and tells of a Wishing Well float that they would be riding on.

July/August 1987 Tampa Bay Magazine, p.14

In my online search, I was able to locate video clips from both the 1986 pre-Snow White parade and also the 1987 version with the princess and dwarfs. However, there's no sign of the Wishing Well float. It's pictured in the publicity shot above, so it did exist at some point, but nothing has surfaced on video so far.

In the 1986 parade, you will see Mickey and Minnie start it off followed by a group of dancers. Next comes a giant birthday present, then a character float with Pluto, Chip and Dale and others. No Snow White.
 

Excerpt from video originally posted by mcrtnyfan.

In this April 1987 clip, Snow White and the Dwarfs have been inserted into the parade between the first Mickey/Minnie and the Pluto/Chip and Dale floats. But the princess and her seven friends are walking the route without a vehicle of their own...

Excerpt from video originally posted by drummerboy74.

Another short 1987 clip shows Snow White and the Dwarfs still walking "floatless" behind Mickey and Minnie...

Excerpt from video originally posted by awesoman.

So Snow White did make an appearance in the WDW parade, but it really felt like more of an afterthought. Without question, the Disneyland parade commemorated the 50th anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in a much more authentic way.