Woodland Café Dancing Couple Animation Drawing

Yesterday an animation drawing from Walt Disney's animated short "Woodland Café" (1937) was sold at Heritage Auctions. A caterpillar couple—or perhaps they're earwigs—is shown tearing up the dance floor. The art is from the lively opening of the Silly Symphony. The couple must be doing the jitterbug.

Sold!

Video still at 1:57

"Woodland Cafe" (1937)

Walt Disney Studios

 04645

Ray's Copy of The Gremlins by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl's wartime story The Gremlins was developed by Walt Disney but it never made it to the big screen. The tale was instead published in 1943 as a book with illustrations by Walt Disney studio artists from the unrealized production. A fan named Ray acquired an original drawing by Disney animator Bill Justice—along with a mock apology—in his copy of the book. 

Bill Justice
AbeBooks listing accessed July 5, 2022

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30606777562&searchurl=spo%3D30%26sortby%3D17%26kn%3D%2522Bill%2BJustice%2522%26p%3D2%26sp%3D1&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp2-_-image4

Note:  Scans or photographs of books with original drawings by Bill Justice and other Disney luminaries might make for welcome future posts here on Attempted Bloggery. See what you can do.

04008

Bill Justice: Chip 'n' Dale

A souvenir sketch by Disney animator Bill Justice shows us everybody's favorite cartoon chipmunks, conveniently labeled. It is dedicated to another Bill.

Bill Justice
AbeBooks listing accessed February 19, 2022

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Chip-Dale-Sketch-Signed-inch-card/31099621784/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&cm_ite=viewbook

03916

Bill Justice: Donald Duck and ...?

Schulson Autographs, Ltd., offers two signed sketches by animator Bill Justice, whom the Millburn dealer correctly identifies. But can the same be said for the two Disney characters Justice has drawn?

Bill Justice
AbeBooks listing accessed February 19, 2022

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30371492591&cm_sp=rec-_-o_3_ii-_-bdp&reftag=o_3_ii

03915

Doc, Sneezy, and Bashful: Snow White Courvoisier Production Cels

A Courvoisier Galleries cel from Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937) features Doc, Sneezy, and Bashful. It remains "in fine condition" more than eighty years after the film's release, with some separation of the paint noted on Doc's hat. The auction estimate of $3,000+ might be a tad optimistic, but it is a conceivable hammer price on a good day. Bidding on this piece rose to at least $1650 at RR Auction, but the item is not listed as sold, so most likely the reserve was not met. An overoptimistic auction estimate should not excuse an overoptimistic reserve price.

Walt Disney Studios
RR Auctions listing accessed January 23, 2021

https://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=514

Bidding as of February 10, 2021 at 9 a.m.

03547

Walt Disney Studios: "Ye Olden Days" Animation Drawing

A vintage animation drawing shows wandering minstrel Mickey Mouse, having won the hand of Princess Minnie, being carried aloft on his donkey at the victorious conclusion of Walt Disney's "Ye Olden Days" (1933). The prince who Mickey must defeat in combat is Goofy, then still called Dippy Dawg. Silly Symphonies were produced in color starting in 1932 with "Flowers and Trees," but Mickey Mouse was popular enough that his cartoons could remain in black and white until 1935 with "The Band Concert." Still, that doesn't mean a little color couldn't be added to an animation drawing every now and then.

Walt Disney Studios
RR Auction January 9, 2020

https://www.rrauction.com/PastAuctionItem/3422776

Film still at 8:00

"Ye Olden Days" (1933)

Walt Disney

03489

Puppy Love

The course of true love never did run smooth

A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Shakespeare

Even Mickey and Minnie Mouse have had their troubles. Just imagine Minnie's consternation. She has just received a box of chocolates from Mickey, only to find a dog bone inside of it. But is poor Mickey really to blame?

"Puppy Love"

https://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=790

Colorized film still at 5:36

Walt Disney's "Puppy Love" (1933)
Colorized

03156

The Adventures of Mickey Mouse

The first appearance of Mickey Mouse in book form occurred in 1931. Presumably this was Minnie Mouse's first book appearance as well, and Donald Duck's too. The cover of The Adventures of Mickey Mouse, Book I shows the talented Mickey serenading Minnie with a one-stringed ukelele. Their tongues are far too prominent, but otherwise these are the classic pie-eyed Mickey and Minnie of the 1930's.

Walt Disney Studios, The Adventures of Mickey Mouse, Book I. Philadelphia:  David McKay, 1931

Walt Disney Studios, The Adventures of Mickey Mouse, Book I. Philadelphia:  David McKay, 1931

Swann Galleries, November 18, 2014, Lot 37

http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=2366++++++37+&refno=++696683&image=0

November 18, 2014 Update:  Sold!

Hammer Price $4,400

Note:  There are more Disney posts to be enjoyed.

01343

Friday the Thirteenth: Donald's Lucky Day

Take a look at the calendar. Today, Friday the 13th, is Donald Duck's lucky day according to the 1939 Disney short! Three of the five original illustrations of this cartoon short by Tom Wood for Good Housekeeping have survived. In general, the Disney illustrations for Good Housekeeping are among the most extraordinary illustrations the studio ever created.

Tom Wood, "Donald's Lucky Day," Good Housekeeping, February 1939

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=802&lotIdNo=16047#32473247011

http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=1956

http://coa.inducks.org/story.php?c=W+GH+3901-01

Walt Disney Productions, "Donald's Lucky Day" (1939) one-sheet

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=806&lotNo=4354#Photo

Walt Disney Productions, "Donald's Lucky Day" (1939) movie stills

http://movieposters.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=56104&lotNo=25054#Photo

Walt Disney Productions, "Donald's Lucky Day" (1939) movie still

http://movieposters.ha.com/c/lot-image.zx?saleNo=510024&lotNo=54109&lotIdNo=24007&inventoryNo=0&id=5353430

"Donald's Lucky Day" (1939)

Note:  An additional blog post about Friday the 13th may be seen here.

More Disney posts are here.

0980

Economy Shipping

Apparently some 16 mm prints of Walt Disney's short "The Mail Pilot" (1933) carry the title "The Dizzy Pilot." It's not close to a good alternate title, and it ignores the direct references to "The Mail Pilot" in the cartoon short's lyrics. So be it.

The eBay seller, supposedly endeavoring to learn more about it, has listed it with a shipping cost of $90,014.67. Why? Ostensibly "just to get your attention, to see if others have some input or information and to encourage a reasonable offer." How does an unreasonable shipping charge encourage a reasonable offer? We aren't told.

Apparently no reasonable offers came in, so the Buy It Now price was lowered from $500 to $100. But the economy shipping rate remains $90,014.67. OK, eBay seller gepetto3, you have my attention. This print is not unique. WorthPoint, which archives some old eBay sales for price research by its subscribers, has recorded several 8 mm and 16 mm print sales of this odd title.

eBay Listing Ended July 7, 2013

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-16mm-Films-Disney-Mickey-Mouse-in-DIZZY-PILOT-Old-SPANKY-OUR-GANG-Others-/251286875971?pt=US_Film&hash=item3a81dd6f43

eBay Listing Ending August 19, 2013

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251308094549

eBay Item Description

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-16mm-Films-Disney-Mickey-Mouse-in-DIZZY-PILOT-Old-SPANKY-OUR-GANG-Others-/251286875971?pt=US_Film&hash=item3a81dd6f43

Imaged added March 17, 2014

Walt Disney's

"The Mail Pilot" (1933)

September 3, 2013 Update:  The eBay seller has reduced the shipping cost to $6 and the item price to $49.80.

eBay Listing Ending September 7, 2013

://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-16mm-Films-Disney-Mickey-Mouse-in-DIZZY-PILOT-Old-SPANKY-OUR-GANG-Others/261278248661?

_trksid=p2047675.m1985&_trkparms=aid%3D444000%26algo%3DSOI.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D13%26meid%3D1024358760468708748%26pid%3D100012%26prg%3D1014%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D251308094549%26

Note:  Check out a few more Disney posts here.

0825