1937 Snow White Figures at Magic Forest Park

Magic Forest is a quaint little amusement park from a bygone era. And yet, it's still open to the public today. Located in Lake George, NY,  it has kiddie rides, animal tricks, magic shows, and unusual exhibits. A "castle" display building in particular caught our attention. It houses an animated Snow White exhibit which, according to the posted information, "was made by Disney for the 1939 New York World's Fair."

Over a dozen display cases inside feature Snow White dioramas with figures that move. Each figure is hand-painted and clothed. Originally made from papier-mâché, they have undergone many repairs over the years. The animation is simple yet charming, incorporating pulleys and rods.

Dining table.

Dwarfs' bedroom.

Witch's cauldron.

Musical instruments.

Wash tub.

Wedding.

More scenes.

Truth be told, these figures were not made by Disney for the World's Fair. According to Mark Goldhaber at Mouse Planet...

It turns out that the set is actually a department store display piece manufactured under license from Disney by the Old King Cole Papier-Mâché Company of Canton, Ohio. The company—perhaps best-known for its papier-mâché figures of Nipper, the RCA dog listening to "His Master's Voice" on an RCA Victrola—was licensed by Disney to create window and interior displays using Disney characters, primarily for department stores, from 1935 to 1942.

A Kay Kamen catalog from 1937 with an Old King Cole Snow White window display which was available for purchase by department stores.

Special thanks to blogger Alexandra of The Only Living Girl in New York for allowing us to repost her photos. Additional images and info via Mouse Planet.

1938 Old King Cole 'Snow White' Displays

A complete set of Snow White composition displays is currently up for auction at Hakes (Auction #215; Item 1867). They're copyrighted 1938 by Old King Cole Inc., the premiere manufacturer of Disney store displays in the day. The collection includes Snow and the dwarfs plus two fiberboard-backed painted cottages.

Each of the figures is two-dimensional with the original wood framework and Old King Cole label attached on the back. Intended for store windows or wall display, small braces could be easily added for floor display as well. The character name for each is recessed into design. Snow White measures 39.625" tall x 13.5" wide. The dwarfs are approximately 24" x 20.5".

The two cottages match in style to the Old King Cole displays but are unmarked. The larger measures 53" x 39.75", the smaller is 39.625" x 39.5".

Old King Cole images and information via Hakes.

Disney Old King Cole displays are among the most sought after Disneyana of any era. According to Hakes, this is the only complete Snow White set in this style known to exist. There is another display set, but it features totally different designs for the characters.

Pictured in the 1987 Brian Sibley and Richard Hollis Snow White book: The Making of a Classic Film, p.73, these Old King Cole figures are shown in a 1938 theatre display. Note also the papier mâché head on top.

Page 73, copyright 1987 Brian Sibley and Richard Hollis.

The figures were also on display, along with the papier mâché heads, in the courtyard of the Cathay Circle Theatre during the 1937 world premiere. (See earlier Archive entry for more pics.)

Art Exhibit photo courtesy of the David Lesjak Collection via Vintage Disney Collectibles.

Special thanks to William Stillman for his generous assistance with this post.

1938 Snow White and Seven Dwarfs Standees

A set of standees featuring just the Dwarfs was sold by Hakes on July 25, 2013 (with a winning bid of $1,265.00). Heavy cardboard with easel-backs, measuring between 35" to 36.25" high. These date from 1938 and are shown in the Kay Kamen marketing brochures from that year. Designed for use in movie theatres and/or retail stores to promote the film and its flood of merchandise. Old King Cole stamp on back.

Images via Hakes.

UPDATE: On July 19, 2014, a similar set of standees was sold by Heritage Auctions. The collection included the same Seven Dwarfs designs as above, but it also featured a Snow White standee. The final auction bid was for $4,481.25.

Additional images via essexestateservices.

Also see the 1938 UK standee set.