1938 Australian Trade Ads

Here's a 1938 Australian trade ad for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which cites the film's record-breaking 5-week run at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. The centerfold was originally published in Everyone's Trade magazine which was released in small quantities only to Australian cinema owners in the 1920s and 30s. Ad measures 12" x 19" folded once. Printed on high quality paper with a unique artwork layout not used elsewhere.

A centerfold advertisement from another edition of Everyone's Trade, this one pictures the Plaza Theatre in Sydney.

A third centerfold ad highlights the film's success in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.

Image and info via John Reid Vintage Movie Memorabilia.

1979 Radio City Music Hall - Snow White Record

In 1979, Buena Vista Records released a 33¹⁄₃ rpm 12" vinyl disc featuring the original cast from the Snow White Live stage performance at Radio City Music Hall. Catalog No. 5009. Black rainbow labels. Snow White was played by Mary Jo Salerno.

1979 Radio City Music Hall - Snow White Songbook

A songbook was published in 1979 featuring the musical numbers from the successful Snow White Live stage performance at Radio City Music Hall. Included are not only the original motion picture songs by Larry Morey and Frank Churchill but also two new tunes by Joe Cook and Jay Blackton.

Photos of the stars, Mary Jo Salerno and Richard Bowne.

The songs.

Sample pages including the new numbers, Will I Ever See Her Again and Welcome to the Kingdom.

Rear endpaper.

Image scans courtesy of the Michael Filippello Collection.

1979 Radio City Music Hall - Snow White Program

An official Snow White program was issued for the 1979 Radio City Music Hall stage show. It contains a total of 36 pages (including both sides of the front and back covers). Here's a few samples...

The front cover features a charming illustration of the Dwarfs peeking their noses over the top with a city skyline behind.

The Snow White story.

The making of the movie.

The making of the stage production.

Mary Jo Salerno and Richard Bowne

The cast and musical numbers.

1979 Radio City Music Hall - Snow White on Video

In 1980, Snow White Live at Radio City Music Hall was taped and aired on HBO. Then on June 26, 1981, Walt Disney Home Video released the performance on VHS and Betamax cassette. The program's total running time is 90 minutes.

A disclaimer on the back of the box reads: "FOR SALE ONLY. Not intended for rental."

VHS images courtesy of The Wonderful Wolrd of Movies. Used with permission.

Apparently, after the video's release, legal issues arose when Richard Bowne (Prince Charming) filed a lawsuit against Disney over royalty payments to the cast. As a result, the show hasn't been reissued since. The original VHS cassettes have become rarities and command a high price. DVDs of the show were never officially produced, though a few bootlegs can be found online.

In 1987, six years after the VHS release, the performance was broadcasted on the Disney Channel. Short sample clips from the video have been seen on youtube from time to time.

1979 Radio City Music Hall - Snow White Newspaper Clippings

The 1979 Snow White musical at Radio City Music Hall was well-received by audiences and considered a success by the critics. Here's a few newspaper clippings from the time period.

This first article appeared in the October 11, 1979 New York Times, one week before the the show opened. A positive anticipation for the show is evident.

[CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE]

October 19, 1979 - New York Times. The article gives the performance a very favorable review.

October 20, 1979 - The Blade. Another positive review.

November 18, 1979 - Family Weekly. A nice piece on Mary Jo Salemo.

Pieces are copyrighted by their respective newspapers.
Special thanks to Colin Cameron for his assistance in locating the articles.

1979 Snow White Live at Radio City Music Hall

It was 35 years ago today, on October 18, 1979, that the musical stage production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs opened at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. The show starred Mary Jo Salerno as the Princess and Richard Bowne was the Prince. Well-known stage performer Anne Francine played the Queen, and Charles Hall the Witch (plus the voice of the Magic Mirror).

The production was scheduled to run for 38 performances in four weeks with an end date of November 18, 1979, at which time it would make way for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. But Snow White didn't stop there. The show continued on for a national tour including a special performance in Washington DC for president Jimmy Carter. On January 11, 1980, it was brought back to the Music Hall by popular demand, where it ran for another 68 performances until finally closing on March 9, 1980.

Images via the Snow White Live facebook page.

The musical numbers included the original songs from the animated film plus several new arrangements. "Will I Ever See Her Again" and "Welcome to the Kingdom" are two original songs written specifically for the show.

•     Overture
•     "Welcome To The Kingdom" - Company
•     "Queen's Presentation" - Company
•     "I'm Wishing" - Snow White, Greta, Villagers
•     "One Song" - Prince Charming
•     "With a Smile and a Song" - Snow White, Animals
•     "Whistle While You Work" - Snow White, Animals
•     "Heigh-Ho" - Seven Dwarfs
•     "Bluddle-Uddle-Um-Dum (The Washing Song)" - Seven Dwarfs
•     "Will I Ever See Her Again" - Prince Charming
•     "The Dwarfs' Yodel Song (The Silly Song)" - Snow White, Seven Dwarfs, Animals
•     "Some Day My Prince Will Come" - Snow White
•     "Heigh-Ho (Reprise)" - Seven Dwarfs
•     "Here's The Happy Ending" - Company

Frank Wagner directed and choreographed the show. It was produced by Robert F. Jani, former Creative Director of Walt Disney Productions. The rest of the cast included Don Potter (Doc), Benny Freigh (Grumpy), Richard Day (Happy), Jay Edward Allen (Bashful), Louis Carry (Sneezy), Jerry Riley (Sleepy), Michael E. King (Dopey), Bruce Sherman (Huntsman), Charles Hall (Magic Mirror), Thomas Ruisinger (King), Yolande Bavan (Luna), Heidi Coe (Greta), Lauren Lipson (Mother), and David Pursley (Chamberlain).

Video screen capture of Anne Francine.

The production was immensely popular. A commemorative piano songbook was published by the Bourne Co. and a full-cast 33¹⁄₃ rpm album was issued by Buena Vista Records. In addition, one of the performances was filmed and aired on HBO. It would then be released on home video in 1981.

In 2009, an excellent documentary was produced by filmmaker Michael Sanchez. Magic Mirror - A Look Back at Snow White Live at Radio City Music Hall features interviews with the cast and crew, plus clips from the show. Here it is in two parts...

Part 1

Part 2

Also see in the next posts:

• Newspaper clippings from the show's 1979 opening
• The program book from RCMH.

Further reading:

• Facebook page by Michael Sanchez for Snow White Live.
• Article by Michael Baroto, puppet designer of the Queen's raven.

1938 Programs from Radio City Music Hall (Weeks 1-5)

During its initial release, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ran for five weeks at Radio City Music Hall. For each of those weeks, a new "Special Souvenir Edition" playbill was issued. The softbound program had articles on the film and images from its making. Also included were some people pics and plenty of vintage ads from the era. (Measures approximately 6.75" x 9".)

While the five booklets are pretty much all the same, the first does have an extra four pages, and in each the content is ever so slightly different. Just to be overly thorough, below is a look at all five Snow White editions of Showplace: The Magazine of Radio City Music Hall.

#1 - Showplace Vol. 2, No. 2 (20 pages). For the week beginning Thursday, January 13, 1938...

Front Cover.

Page 2...The Saks Fifth Avenue doll ad only appears in this first issue. Movie goers are encouraged to come see their Snow White window displays. Page 3...A "Curtain Calls" article on Walt with speculation that Dopey will be featured in a series of shorts.

Page 4...A "Previews" page features Having Wonderful Time (Ginger Rogers, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Page 5..."The Center Piece" is a selection of short blurbs that include mention of the Hindenburg but nothing with Snow White. Neither of  these pages appeared in the later editions.

Page 6...The "Showplace Fashion Guide" article discusses Snow White's dress and makeup. Plus there's a "Magic Mirror" fur ad. Page 7...A Walt Disney "Snow White" write-up on why he made the film.

Pages 8-9...The "Inside Story" on the making of the film.

Pages 10-11...The "Program" includes the date for which it was published.

Page 12..."The Cast" of Snow White with ad for the Cartier bracelet. Page 13...Grumpy and the dwarfs in a Roger Peet tuxedo ad.

Page 14..."Backstage Celebration" article on the Music Hall New Years party. Page 15...Continuation of the "Showplace Fashion Guide".

Page 16..."Who's Who" article from the Music Hall glee club. Page 17... Ad for Jack Dempsey's Restaurant.

Page 18...RCMH production credits. Page 19...The Seven Dwarfs ice skating ad for the Rockefeller Center pond.

Back Cover...RCA advertisement.

Image scans courtesy of Greg Philip of A Lost Film.

____

#2 - Showplace Vol. 2, No. 3 (16 pages). For the week beginning Thursday, January 20, 1938...

Front and Back Covers both remain the same.

2-3. The skating dwarfs and "Who's Who" article have been moved here in the booklet.

4-5. Photos from the Snow White premiere.

6-9. A new ad for "Snow White Make-Up" at Helena Rubinstein's Make-Up Bar.

10-13.

14-15. Ad for the Victor Records Snow White soundtrack. Three record set for $2.25.

Image scans courtesy of Brian Sibley.

____

#3 - Showplace Vol. 2, No. 4 (16 pages). For the week beginning Thursday, January 27, 1938...

Still searching for the page images on this one.

____

#4 - Showplace Vol. 2, No. 5 (16 pages). For the week beginning Thursday, February 3, 1938...

Front and Back Covers.

2-5. Photo of Roy Disney with secretary of the Music Hall G.S. Eyssell and RKO V.P. Ned E. Depinet.

6-9.

10-13.

14-15.

Image scans courtesy of Rick Payne via dadric's attic.

____

#5 - Showplace Vol. 2, No. 6 (16 pages). For the week beginning Thursday, February 10, 1938...

Front and Back Covers. Ad for the Rockefeller Center Skating Pond now appears on the rear cover.

2-5.

6-9.

10-13. "From The Mailbag" letter on the courtesy of the Music Hall ushers during Snow White.

14-15.

Image scans courtesy of legendsandmoreinc.