1967 US 'Seven Dwarfs Diamond Mine' Read-Along Record LLP-314 (Robie Lester)

The Record:

In the previous post, we took a look at Disneyland Record no. DL-1297, Walt Disney's Story of the Seven Dwarfs and their Diamond Mine. It was released in 1966 as a 33⅓ LP 12" disc. The following year in 1967, album no. LLP-314 was introduced with the same title but as part of the Read-Along (See, Hear, Read) series. It was issued as a 7" LP and included a 24-page book (Western Publishing Company).

This American See, Hear, Read edition contained the same narrative recording (by "Disneyland Story Reader" Robie Lester) as the 1966 version but in an abbreviated, edited form. It also introduced the Tinker Bell chime to let young readers know when it was time to turn the page in their book. The two deleted songs from the film, "Music in Your Soup" and "You're Never Too Old To Be Young" were also here but no longer integrated into the story. Side 1 narrative; Side 2 songs.

Original release on green disc labels; later pressings used the "yellow rainbow" labels.

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The Hobbit:

What was the See, Hear, Read story? The Seven Dwarfs set out from their cottage and end up following clues along the way until they make a marvelous discovery. It's merely coincidental that Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit were both first released in 1937. What might not be so accidental is the fact that this Diamond Mine story has a number of similar plot elements that can also be found in Tolkien's novel. His book was fresh off a re-printing in 1966, the same year this Disney audio story first came out. Let's look a little closer.

One of the motivating forces in The Hobbit is the idea that at the end of the dwarves' long journey to the Lonely Mountain, there is a hidden doorway that will lead them to a mysterious passage and the treasure. The secrets of this magical doorway are revealed (with the help of Gandalf and Elrond) by way of notations on a map and letters that can only be read by light of the midsummer moon. After many trials, the dwarves finally reach the appointed spot. It's the autumnal equinox, and here they wait until the last rays of sunlight hit the stone wall behind them. At that precise moment, a door appears and a key must be used to open it before the moment passes. They go in, and (after more trials and the climax of the book) those that remain finally get their treasure.

The Seven Dwarfs and Their Diamond Mine takes place after the film, and Snow White has been happily married for two years. Comparing a complex and intricate story like The Hobbit to a simple See, Hear, Read tale seems rather silly; nonetheless, it's fun! So our Seven Dwarfs do indeed discover a mysterious note and a gold key. Clues about midnight, moonlight, and a secret door are provided. When the grandfather clock in their mine strikes twelve, "a moonbeam came through the cave roof and shone on a door that had never been there before." Grumpy quickly puts the key in and opens the door to reveal a secret passage...to a royal ballroom where Snow White awaits their arrival.

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Listen to the entire tale at MouseVinyl.

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The Book (sample pages):

Page 1

Page 5-6

Page 12-13

Page 16-17

Page 20

Page 22-23

Illustrations and text copyright Disney. Posted here for historical documentation purposes only.

Also see the 1968 French and British versions of this album.

1966 'Seven Dwarfs Diamond Mine' Storyteller Record DQ-1297 (Robie Lester)

Walt Disney's Story of the Seven Dwarfs and Their Diamond Mine, issued in 1966. Vinyl 12" 33⅓ LP. Disneyland Record label. Catalog no. DQ-1297. Narrated by Robie Lester. The album features a story with two songs integrated into it, one on each side--Music in Your Soup and You're Never Too Old To Be Young" (with the singing talents of Bill Lee, Bill Kanaday and Thurl Ravenscroft). Both were deleted from the final cut of the movie back in 1937.

Images courtesy of Walt's Music.

Side 1 runs 13:36 minutes in length. Side 2 is 10:49. Listen to the entire album online at Walt's Music. This record was repackaged and reissued in 1967 as catalog no. LLP 314 (see it in next post). Also check out the Robie Lester-narrated Snow White "read-along" no. LLP 310 (earlier post).

1966/1968 UK 'Snow White' Read-Along Record LLP 310 (Jean Aubrey)

In a previous Archive entry, we saw the 1966 US-released Snow White "read-along" record narrated by Robie Lester (Disneyland Record no. LLP 310). The same cover artwork, story, and 24-page book were issued in the United Kingdom. However, a new recording was made featuring native speaker Jean Aubrey. We don't have this disc in our collection, however, so the details here are not as clear as we'd like.

In the US version, Robie Lester was credited on the disc labels but not on the album covers. When we look at the back cover of the 1966 UK counterpart, Lester is mentioned (not Aubrey) as the Disneyland Story Reader. Was her recording issued in the United Kingdom? Without having yet heard the record, we aren't quite sure.

The first UK edition included a 1966 copyright on both front and back. The album cover and book were printed in Holland.

The title page does not mention the name of the Story Reader.

The blue disc labels with silver lettering were printed in Great Britain. Different variations have been found. This set is dated 1966 but does not credit the narrator.

Another set of blue labels clearly notes Jean Aubrey as the Disneyland Story Reader. Yet no copy right date is given.

This third example included both Jean Aubrey's name and a 1966 date.

The record was reissued in 1968. The front cover still included the same 1966 imprint, but the rear now had a '68 copyright. Printed in England by Upton Printing Group.

Jean Aubrey is named on the title page.

Both blue and purple labels with silver lettering have been seen. Jean Aubrey credit with 1966 copyright.

Images via 45cat.com + discogs.com..

1977 US 'Snow White' Read-Along Record 310 (Robie Lester)

The 1966 Snow White "read-along" record and 24-page book with Robie Lester (seen in earlier post) was reissued in 1977 (catalog no. 310). Vinyl 7" disc, 33¹⁄3rpm. The recording was the same except for the addition of a new introduction, plus background music underneath the narration--something that did not occur in the previous version.Total run time: 12:30 minutes including the two songs at the end, Heigh-Ho and Whistle While You Work.

The record would continue to be reissued for the next decade. You can listen to this 1977 version at mousevinyl.com: http://www.mousevinyl.com/content/walt-disneys-story-snow-white-and-seven-dwarfs-disneyland-records

'Snow White' Classroom Read-Along Kit (Robie Lester)

The 1966 Snow White "read-along" record and book (previous post) featured Robie Letser as the Disneyland Story Reader. The album was part of the SEE, HEAR, READ series. It was also packaged by Disney as teaching tool for grade school classrooms.

A Walt Disney Read-Along Kit. Catalog no. RA-9. Boxed set included a teacher's guide book, eight student books, and one 7" record, 33⅓ rpm. Box measures 11.5" x 7,75" x 1.5".

1966 US 'Snow White' Read-Along Record LLP 310 (Robie Lester)

The Disneyland Storyteller series were LPs that featured a single narrator along with the dialog, sound effects, music, and songs from the movie, all integrated to help to tell the tale. The attached storybooks were usually 10 or more pages in length, though the text did not follow the recorded audio. Disc size 12",  33¹⁄3 rpm. The original 1957 Snow White storyteller album--catalog no. ST 3906--featured Annette Funicello (see it in a future post).

The Disneyland Read-Along ("See, Hear, Read") series also featured a lone "story-reader". However, no other dialog, sound effects or music were incorporated into the recording. An attached 24-page book follows along with the audio recording, and a musical tone lets young readers know to turn the page. A song or two is included but only at the end, not as part of the story. Disc size 7", 33¹⁄3 rpm.

For a detailed comparison between the Storyteller and Read-Along series, see the excellent Kennetti Database by Kenneth Sundberg.

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In 1966, the first Snow White "read-along" was released in the States. "Little LP" catalog no. LLP 310. The program was narrated by Robie Lester. Two songs were included on the second side--Heigh-Ho and Whistle While You Work. Here's Kenneth's synopsis of the recording...

The story concentrated too much on explaining the princess’ earlier years – which were told very briefly or just hinted at in the 1937 animated masterpiece. Towards the end of the record, the pacing got significantly faster, and yet the story managed also to include the famous deleted bed-building scene! Even though the evil Queen's deadly jealousy was explained thoroughly in the beginning, the story's more dramatic elements – the frightening forest, the Queen's transformation into the Witch, the poisoning of the apple, and the Witch's encounter with Snow White – were dealt with in very few words. The Witch's death was taken from the early rejected concepts of the movie, in which she just ran away from the Dwarfs' cottage, fell from a cliff, and "was never seen again".

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Album Covers

Pictured on the green album cover is Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs, and the Prince. Hold on! Disney tried to pull a fast one on us. That looks much more like Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty than the Prince from Snow White.

This record was reprinted many times. The front cover artwork remained the same, though later printings added, "A Disneyland Record and Book" across the top. Printings in the mid 1970s dropped the "LLP" from the catalog number. And still another at this time switched the 1966 copyright along the bottom to Roman numerals.

Additional images via 45cat.com + discogs.com.

The first rear cover design (left) did not mention Robie Lester by name. In another printing (right), she is credited.

A later rear cover design picturing the record disc became the standard for most printings. Some had no copyright markings. Others included the year of issue or manufacturer fine print.

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Disc Labels

There were many variations in the disc labels too--usually green with dark lettering. Robie Lester is credited as the Disneyland Story Reader.

1969

1970

1974

The rainbow reprint label has also been seen.

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Storybook

The illustrations were taken from the Snow White Little Golden Book published in 1948 by Simon and Schuster (printed by Western Printing and Lithographing Company). Hence the reason for 1948 copyright at the beginning of this storybook.

Some editions had numbered pages, others did not.

Illustrations and text copyright Disney. Posted here for historical documentation purposes only.

Listen to the entire story...

This record and book were repackaged with new album cover artwork in 1977 (seen in an upcoming post). Robie Lester also narrated the 1966 Seven Dwarfs and Their Diamond Mine record (another Archive entry).