1951 Studio Christmas Card
I wanted to be sure to let all of the Junior Gorillas know about a new book from GDB friends Chris Merritt and J. Eric Lynxwiler, Knott's Bear-y Tales: The Complete History of the Whimsical Attraction.
Most GDB readers are fans of theme parks and their history, and Knott's Bear-y Tales was (as the book's website says), a wild dark ride unlike anything seen (or smelled) before. This is the first book to ever tackle the subject, through the interviews and artwork of those who were there.
Anybody lucky enough to experience this ride remembers the scent of boysenberries and the wacky characters, such as bears Boysen and Girlsen, Crafty Coyote, Sarah Skunk, Zaz Owl, and the frogs of the Frog Forest.
I just got a copy of this book, and it is beautiful! There are hundreds of photos (many in full color, including some from Lou and Sue!), this thing is not a Xerox-and-stapled volume. It's a thoroughly-researched labor of love. It is truly amazing! Chris and Eric used their contacts with people such as Rolly Crump and his son Chris to tell the whole story of this beloved attraction. You won't be disappointed! Follow the link above to the website to order yours (limited to only 2000!). Chris's previous book, "Knott's Preserved" sold out, and even the updated second edition sold out, making that excellent book a real collector's item now.
ALSO: Chris and Eric will be giving two presentations in the SoCal area, one for the OC Historical Society on Thursday, January 9th, and another at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 26. I've attended a half-dozen of Chris's presentations, and they are always fun and full of amazing photos and information. If there is any way you can attend these, I encourage you to do so! I plan to be at one of them for sure, and possibly the other one too. HERE'S a link for complete info.
AND NOW, OUR REGULARLY-SCHEDULED POST!
The holidays are upon us, and I thought it might be fun to look at one of the classic Disney Studio Christmas cards. The Studio sent out cards going back to the 1930s, and many of them are beautifully designed and highly-collectible today. I only have a few (oh how I wish I'd bought them back when they were relatively inexpensive!), but I like the examples that I own.
Here's the mailing envelope - even in this "used" condition I'm happy to have it. Love the red ink stamp for "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", which would be rereleased in 1952.
Here's the cover, with Mickey, Minnie, and Donald signing carols, while two of Donald's nephews prepare to throw snowballs. "The Little House" is in the center of the picture, she was featured in an animated short that would be released in 1952.
Unfolding the card once, we see Robin Hood and Peter Pan; "The Story of Robin Hood", starring Richard Todd, would be released in June of 1952, while "Peter Pan" would not be released until February of 1953. I am reasonably sure that the artwork on this card was painted by Eyvind Earle, it just looks like his style. He painted non-Disney Christmas cards as a side gig for many years, some that are still in print.
Flipping the card over, we see a handy (?) calendar with many familiar characters, and a few less-familiar characters, such as Susie the Little Blue Coupe, Lambert the Sheepish Lion, and Lucifer the cat (from "Cinderella").
Let's just unfold the whole thing, OK?? I know it wasn't really intended to be looked at this way, but what the heck, now you know how it was laid out.
I hope you enjoyed this Studio Christmas card!
12 comments:
Major-
That's a pretty swell Christmas card. I like the anthropomorphic features of the buildings. (We need that style on real life buildings).
Thanks, Major.
The cover of the new book looks fantastic! Lots of color and lots of whimsical characters.
1) Interesting how Dopey gets his mug on the envelope, instead of sayyyy, I dunno... Snow White? Maybe they had several different stamps and rotated them periodically.
2) Besides the "Little House", I love the anthropomorphic buildings surrounding the house; they even have 'teeth' and 'hair'! [Edit: Hey! Nanook stole my big word! And said the same thing! (haha)]
3) I like how, in the Peter Pan/Robin Hood scene, the positive space becomes the negative space, and vice versa.
4) What a fun "Disney" way to include a calendar on the card. But again, we get Dwarfs, but no Snow White... I'm sensing a conspiracy here.
5) I wanna know if Donald's two nephews (what happened to the third one?) went ahead and lobbed those snowballs at the carolers! I'm sure they did. And I'm sure Donald went into an uncontrollable rage! And then, got even... x10. Or tried to. His schemes of retribution almost always end up coming back to bite him.
I enjoyed the Studio Card, Major. Thanks.
You can't really beat the "mid century" vibe of this card! I remember Suzie, and I'm impressed that she has enough pulling power to tow all of those characters!
This might have been around "peak creativity" time for the studios, with the park in full planning phase, and movies and shorts coming out regularly. It was the early predawn of a whole lot of dreams coming true! That makes this card all the more exciting!
Nanook, I’ve seen the occasiional photo of a house or building that appears to have a facial expression thanks to half-closed blinds or something like that!
JB, Snow White might have been the star of the movie, but Dopey was always a fan favorite. Those other buildings next to The Little House look much as they do in the short film, only they are smiling and nice here! The way Eyvind Earle paints figures is one of the dead giveaways that this card is his work. That Robin Hood looks much like his Prince Charming from “Sleeping Beauty” in a famous piece. You can be pretty sure that the nephews threw their snowballs!
Stu29573, you are right, in 1952 the studio would be in the middle of many post-WWII projects, Walt was delving into live-action movies, TV was coming, and a certain park was in the earliest stages of design!
In the cartoon short "The Little House" I believe the house was moved out to the countryside and a newlywed couple moved in, thus starting a new life for the little house.
Like Scrooge from "A Christmas Carol", I love to watch all the various Robin Hood movies which there are a lot of. The 1950's Disney British production was quite enjoyable. Of course, my favorite has always been "The Adventures of Robin Hood" with Erroll Flynn and Olivia DeHavilland.
From January to December, I see Susie the Little Blue Coupe, Dale, Chip, Louie, Donald, Huey (no Dewey), Lambert the Sheepish Lion, Goofy, Minnie, Mickey, Pluto, Flower, Bambi, Thumper, Pinocchio, all Seven Dwarfs, Lucifer, Jacque, Gus and three Disney birds.
Have always loved the Walt Disney Studio vintage Christmas cards. Thanks, Major.
I did pre-order the Knott's Bear-y Tales book and it has shipped, but not in my hands yet. I'm so looking forward to this publication.
Congratulations Chris Merritt on the new book, I hope he sells a million copies!
And to Lou and Sue for their photographic contributions!
Major, what a beautiful card. Art like this doesn’t seem to exist any more. I love the faces of the houses, there but not obvious. These sketches seem to resemble the backgrounds of the later Looney Tunes cartoons. Tilted, off, odd and completely engaging.
Thank you!
JG
I have Knott's Preserved--it's a wonderful book.
It's been so long, I can't remember: There was an amazing mural of 1920s Los Angeles in the loading area of Bear-y Tales--or was that for Kingdom on the Dinosaurs? Seems like it would have been more appropriate for KOTD. A good picture of that mural would be worth the price of admission for me!
K. Martinez, yes, the Little House is moved to the countryside, where she has a happy ending! I’ve only seen the Errol Flynn and Disney “Robin Hood” movies, not even the Kevin Costner version, which I’m sure is the best of all! I’m a little sad that Jiminy Cricket did not make the cut for the Christmas Card, but there was only so much room.
K. Martinez, I think you’re going to be very impressed by that book!
JG, well for now anyway, the book is limited to 2,000 copies, but hopefully it will sell well enough for a second edition at least! I do love these Disney Studio Christmas Cards, and truly regret not buying some of the rarer examples back when they could be had for a reasonable price. Some of the cards from the 1940s are really hard to come by.
Steve DeGaetano, somebody offered a pretty good sum of money to me for my copy of “Knott’s Preserved”, but mine is autographed to me, so… it isn’t for sale! There was definitely a mural at the load for Bear-y Tales, but I’ll need the book (which is not at hand currently) to see what it showed.
On the front of the card, Huey and Dewey are absolutely adorable.
"I wanna know if Donald's two nephews (what happened to the third one?) went ahead and lobbed those snowballs at the carolers! "
JB, Louie was probably taking the picture. ;oP
BTW, I got my copy of the new book - it IS amazing!
Thanks, Major.
One more thing....I noticed that Doc must've misplaced his eye glasses. Poor guy.
Hi Steve - that mural is in the background on page 275 in the new book - it was done by Tom and Laurie Gilleon for Kingdom of the Dinosaurs and replaced the Bear-y Tales one by Susie McLean. I'd attach an image here if I could!
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