1938 French Snow White Pressbook

Here's a few pages from the 1938 Notice Publicitaire ("Leaflet Advertising"). This pressbook for Blanche Neige et les Sept Nains would have been sent out to theatre owners in France. The book was designed by the French RKO Advertising Director Jean Mounier.

Newspaper Ads and Posters.

Setting up the theatre facade. The Marignan in Paris is pictured at the bottom of page.

Advertising suggestions: One of the promotional activities listed for the week leading up to the film has store merchants setting up singing competitions for children. Great stuff!

Images courtesy of Jacqueline Dana / Jean Mounier Collection. All right reserved. Used with permission.

Promotional Materials from RKO Executive Jean Mounier

These images of Snow White ephemera come from the personal belongings of Jean Mounier. Mounier was the Advertising Director of RKO in France during the 1938 publicity campaign for Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains. He oversaw the promotion of the film not only in Paris but throughout Europe as well.

Learn more about Mounier at Cinéma Jean Mounier, a site overseen by his daughter Jacqueline Dana.



























Promotional booklet/manuals...

This page from the promotional manual displays Dwarf masks. Made from decorated pasteboard or cardboard, these were meant for lining the hall of the movie theater. They could also be worn by "sandwich men" behind the counter...

An announcement for the release of the RKO advertising manual, Bravo Mounier!...

A correspondence written on Snow White letterhead...

Images courtesy of Jacqueline Dana / Jean Mounier Collection. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Special thanks to Greg Philip at A Lost Film for additional info.

Also see the movie program from the Paris premiere of Snow White at the Marignan Theatre.

Blanche-Neige Marignan Programme

Built in 1933, the French Marignan was a grand 1,800-seat Art Deco movie palace. It is where Parisians, beginning on May 6, 1938, first glimpsed Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains. The theater had an exclusive contract to screen the movie, and for seven weeks, over 150,000 people filled the Marignan to witness Walt Disney's first animated feature.

At the time, Jean Mounier was the RKO head of advertising for all of France. He was good at his job if the looks of the theater facade are any indication. It was thoroughly dressed up for this special engagement.

Marignan image courtesy of  the Jacqueline Dana / Jean Mounier Collection. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

The following images are from the program that was handed out to those lucky patrons of the Marignan. In addition to text about the making of the film, some of the vintage ads are rather interesting too. A Snow White charm bracelet from 1938 would be an excellent find today.

Program image scans and additional info courtesy of Greg Philip via A Lost Film. Used with permission.