Walt Disney's �Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs�
70th Anniversary Event
November 16, 2007

Disney�s California Adventure Park
Report by Ken Pellman

Cinematic history was made when Walt Disney�s �Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs� premiered almost 70 years ago. It was a great leap forward in animation, kicking off Disney�s extremely lucrative feature animation business and inspiring others in their own productions.

While Friday, November 16 was not the actual anniversary � the film premiered December 21, 1937 - I found that this special event coincided interestingly with the release of another film seen as a milestone in animation � �Beowulf�. That�s not a Disney film, but director Robert Zemeckis is now working with Disney, bringing along his animation methods. While drawing characters with a pencil or a stylus is not the same thing as using sensors and cameras for motion capture, when you get down to it, all motion pictures are a form of animation in presentation if not production. The difference with something like �Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs� is that the film images are produced via a series of paintings.

Packages
There were two packages available to the public for this event. Both came with commemorative keepsakes.

Poisoned Apple Package - $150
This package provided the opportunity to pre-purchase event-themed merchandise via the Random Selection Process. It also provided this itinerary:
2:00 p.m. Entry to the Park
2:00-5:00 p.m. Merchandise Viewing and Pick-Up
3:00-5:00 p.m. Artist Signing
5:00-6:00 p.m. Snow White�s Soiree (Stage 17)
6:00-7:00 p.m. Panel Discussion (Stage 17)
7:00 p.m. Premiere Viewing �Fairest One of All Exhibit� in Animation Building
8:00 p.m. Reserved Seating in Hyperion Theater
8:30 p.m. Movie Introduction
8:45 p.m. Movie Screening

The Magic Mirror Package - $25
This package had this itinerary:
5:00 p.m. Entry to the Park
5:00-7:30 p.m. Opportunity to purchase whatever merchandise was left over
8:30 p.m. Movie Introduction
8:45 p.m. Movie Screening

The Merchandise
The main reason Disney conducts these events, of course, is to sell merchandise to collectors and to fans of the character, film, or attraction being featured.

Here is the design for the shot gl- er, uh, toothpick holder. I include this because this same logo was printed in gold on napkins used in the Soiree. The toothpick holder was priced at $8. The napkins were free. At least I hope they were, or I�m in trouble.

This event logo was pretty much the image that was used on much of the merchandise, including the $28 T-shirt, the $8.95 pin (500 made), the $10 mug, the $6.50 keychain, the $5.00 magnet, and the $250 artisan watch (limited to 70).

Lobby Card Set, six 8� x 10� lithographs, for $39.

24K Gold Tone Bronze Coin Set for $175, with an edition size of $1,957, which will also be available at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Robert Olszewski�s Heirloom Box, octagonal with all seven dwarf�s beds and various animals from the film depicted. It was $65 with an edition size of 1,937.

There were also some singular pieces made for the event.

The signing featured Dave Avanzino, David Bird, Elisabete Gomes, Robert Olszewski, and Yakovetic. Guests were limited to two items per artist, with no personal items.

The Mrs. and I, being �frugal� and concerned about the lack of space in our home, which is already full of Disneyana, didn�t buy any of this stuff.