Adriana Caselotti's Snow White Dress

Adriana Caselotti was no stranger to the Snow White dress. She wore it on countless occasions, usually out on public appearance tours to publicize the latest Disney re-release of film. She also posed for numerous in-studio photo sessions.

Chicago Herald-Examiner, April 22, 1938.

Clipping from Adriana Caselotti estate via Heritage Auctions.

Adriana in her 1958 dress promoting the re-release of the movie that year.

B&W image copyright Disney.

Additional public engagements included fan conventions, school groups, and other affairs. This pink and yellow version--Adriana's last--belonged to her. She greets a group of school children in 1988 at her southern California home.

She was pictured wearing it for a write-up in the September 21, 1993 edition of the supermarket tabloid, Globe.

Pink dress images via Heritage Auctions.

Though the dress design had changed through the years, Adriana's joyful personality did not. When she wore it, she truly did so with a smile and a song. See a few more examples of Adriana with a Snow White dress in a recent Archive entry.

Adriana Caselotti - Public Appearance Photos & Clippings

In a recent series of offerings at Heritage Auctions, numerous items from the Adriana Caselotti estate were made available. Several were related to the public appearances she made for Disney. Adriana partook in a myriad of promotional events over the years--visiting schools, hospitals, and shopping centers. She appeared on radio, in television specials, and was written up in periodicals and newspapers. Here's a few of the photographic items that were available at auction.

Images via Heritage Auctions.

Snow White stage performance.

Signing autographs for fans.

Visiting hospitals.

Newspaper clippings filled two scrapbooks in Adriana's personal collection. These pictured below date from 1938.

More photos from promotional tours.

Singing on stage at an event for the 1952 re-release.

Heading out on tour again, possibly for the 1958 re-release of Snow White (or maybe the 1957 Cinderella reissue). Adriana poses in a Snow White dress. To our right is Roy Williams (Disney artist and "Big Roy" from the Mickey Mouse Club), and Clarence Nash (the voice of Donald Duck). We're not sure who the man is to the left, although one guess might be Dickie Jones (voice of Pinocchio).

Special thanks to Nunziante Valoroso and François Monferran for their assistance with this post.

The fortunate collectors who took home these winning auctions now possess a gold mine of Adriana Caselotti photographic memorabilia, some of which is rarely seen on the market today.

Walt Disney Photo & Inscription to Adriana Caselotti's Father

A black & white photograph of Walt Disney was recently sold at auction. The photographer was Clarence Sinclair Bull. An inscription along the lower third is written from Walt to Guido Caselotti.

Images via Heritage Auctions.

From the Heritage Auctions description:

Adriana Caselotti's father was Guido Caselotti, a music and vocal coach. It is said that Walt Disney had asked Mr Caselotti for a recommendation for a voice for Snow White and upon hearing this, his daughter, Adriana asked to audition for the role. This is a stunning Clarence Sinclair Bull photo of Walt Disney that is boldly inscribed in black ink as follows: "Best Wishes to Maestro Caselotti, the teacher of Adriana -- the voice of Snow White, Walt Disney."

Clarence Sinclair Bull, a noted Hollywood Glamour photographer of the 1930s and 40s, embossed the photo in the lower left. The significance of this signed photo and relationship between Walt Disney and Mr. Caselotti makes this one of the most important Walt Disney-signed pieces to come to market. From the Estate of Miss Adriana Caselotti.

Guido Caselotti was known for his vocal instruction. He is pictured on this technique record, The Bel Canto Method As Taught and Performed by Maestro Guido Caselotti. Custom Fidelity Records label. No. CF-1415.

From the Adriana Caselotti Estate.

Adriana Caselotti - 1983 Public Appearance Tour Itinerary

Snow White was re-released to North American theatres in 1983. To promote the event, Disney hired Adriana Caselotti to headline a major public appearance tour to 13 cities. She would also be a guest on several national television shows. Numerous ephemera items from this trip were recently listed at Heritage Auctions.

The promotional tour ran from June 20 to July 13, 1983. City stops included in this order: Boston, Montreal, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Kansas City, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles.

Itinerary of city stops on the tour.

The Philadelphia itinerary for June 27, 1983 (the date was bumped a day from what's listed above).

Signed television contracts for the Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, plus the dressing room name plate from the latter.

Images via Heritage Auctions.

The auction included 32 pages of travel plans and an insider look at how the Disney marketing division gets the word out.

Rare Adriana Caselotti Photos (part 2)

Early 8x10 headshots and publicity photos of Adriana Caselotti. These were discovered at a recent estate sale for a close friend of Adriana.

Images via sweetpickensvenice.

See more Adriana publicity shots in the previous post.

Rare Adriana Caselotti Photos (part 1)

The voice of Snow White, Adriana Caselotti, had professional headshots and publicity photos taken at various stages in her life to help futher her career.

Images via sweetpickensvenice.

Special thanks to William Stillman for letting us know about these photos.

During the later theatrical re-releases of the motion picture, Disney invited Adriana to be a part of the promotional campaigns. These were taken in her southern California home along with costumed cast members.

See even earlier Adriana publicity photos in the next Archive entry.