Descriptive Summary
Biography
Scope and Content
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Walt Disney Productions Publicity Ephemera
Date (inclusive): 1938-198x
Collection number: 280
Creator: Walt Disney Productions
Extent: 8 boxes (4.0 linear ft.) and 3 flat oversize boxes (3 linear ft.)
Abstract:
Walt and Roy Disney founded the Walt Disney Company in ca. 1923. The Disney company starting producing feature-length animated
films in the 1930s and went on to become a leader in both animation film production and family entertainment. The collection
consists of photographs, press books, press kits, and other printed publicity ephemera related to Walt Disney Production film
projects (ca. 1938 into the 1980s).
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Performing Arts Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Performing
Arts Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Biography
Walt and Roy Disney founded the Walt Disney Company (ca. 1923). The studio's success started with the Mickey Mouse cartoon,
Steamboat Wille (ca. 1928), and it went on to become a leader in both animation film production and family entertainment. In the 1930s the
Disney company started producing feature-legnth animated films such as
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938) and
Fantasia (1940). During WWII they created films to educate the american public about the war effort. In the 1950s, the company garnered
more success with live action films such as
Treasure Island (1950) and
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1951); a nature documentary series entitled
True-Life Adventure. In 1955 Disney opened its first theme park Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. After Walt Disney's death in 1966, the company reputation
waned until the early 1980s when Ron Miller, Walt Disney's son-in-law, became chief executive and created Touch Tone Pictures.
After a power struggle with Roy Disney Jr., Miller was replaced by Michael Eisner. During the 1980s and 1990s despite changes
in management, the company restored its name in family entertainment via its cable television network, motion picture productions,
and theme parks.
Scope and Content
The collection is a mixture of printed publicity ephemera created for feature-length and short subject films (including animation
film projects) produced by Walt Disney Productions. The bulk of the collection is includes of press kits, press books, and
publicity stills. Additionally there are a small number of lobby cards, publicity biographies, and other unique printed ephemera
items. The collection contains items for over 150 Disney titles, mostly produced from 1950 to the 1980s, including
Big Red,
The Biscuit Eater,
Davy Crockett,
Emil and the Detectives,
Fighting Prince of Donegal,
Greyfriars Bobby,
Happiest Millionaire,
The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit,
In Search of the Castaways,
The Jungle Book,
Mary Poppins, O
ne and Only Genuine Original Family Band,
Son of Flubber,
Swiss Family Robinson,
That Darn Cat, and
Toby Tyler, among others.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Walt Disney Productions.
Advertising--Motion Pictures--Archival resources.
Genres and Forms of Material
Press kits.
Film stills.