2013 Year in Review

This year was a sporadic one for the blog, but we covered some interesting topics.  The majority of the year was spent on animation art, in particular animation drawings. I even tried my hand at a little animation myself :-)

We also looked at a variety of Italian movie posters

A new Zaccagnini discovery

Some David Hall storyboards

A few cels

And who could forget the Vinyl Aprons!

A variety of trading cards from around the world

Some really cool dolls

And some early attraction tickets

And last but not least, some really big leaves!

I wish every one of my faithful readers a safe and prosperous new year.  See you in 2014!

David Hall Story Drawing - Alice Encounters the Fish Footman

Last in the series, this very fun drawing of Alice watching the Fish Footman delivering the invitation to croquet to the Duchess.  I very much like the bubbles.

Same size, same residue.  There was another drawing with this set, of the Cheshire Cat's grin, but that had been sold prior my receiving this collection.

This image appears in the first edition of Surprise Package on page 51.

David Hall Story Drawing - Alice's Giant Hand in the White Rabbit's House

Next in the series, this beautifully rendered image of Alice's enlarged hand rummaging around the White Rabbit's house.  I particularly like the portrait of two rabbits on the wall.

As with yesterday's drawing, this too is on the same material and size, and was also at one point glued to something.

This image appears in Surprise Package on page 48.

David Hall Story Drawing - Alice Falls Down the Rabbit Hole

Next up is this cute little drawing of Alice as she tumbles down the rabbit hole.

Again this is on some sort of tissue or velum, and was originally glued down to something as evident from the stained residue on the edges.

This drawing is much smaller than all the previous one, image size being only 3¼  x 2½.  This image also appears in Surprise Package, on page 44.  Interestingly, later editions of Surprise Package do not have this image.  I have a 1948 printing that not only has half the number of illustrations for Alice - 15 vs. 30 in the 1944 first printing - but also has the stories in a different order, and leaves out three entire stories, having only 9 stories as opposed to 12 in the first printing.

David Hall Story Drawing - Alice with the Flamingo

Beginning the final series of David Hall posts, these drawings are slightly different from the others in that they appear to be on some sort of tissue or velum.

First up, Alice holding a flamingo on the croquet grounds.

This drawing has been glued to a sheet of animation paper, and although there has been some damage to the bottom corners, it survives nicely.  This drawing appears in Surprise Package on page 57.

David Hall Storyboard - Alice in the White Rabbit's House

Taking some time out from my frantic attempts to prepare for the Dayton Disneyana Show (you should all come!) to post this storyboard by David Hall.

Similar to the previous 'boards posted here and here, this is executed on a very heavy board material, with peg holes along the bottom edge (5 holes), with a pasted on caption.  At some point someone tried to peel up the left edge of the caption to reveal the signature, and in the process tore the caption and lost a segment. The caption should read "The magic takes effect, and in a flash Alice shrinks to her normal size."  The segment "in a fl" is missing.

Like the Bill the Lizard 'board previously posted, this is very nicely inked.

Studio notations on the back identify this as sketch #446 for feature 1017 by David Hall, filed on Dec. 14, 1939.  If you look at the previous studio notations on the two other 'boards, you get an idea of exactly how many drawing David Hall did; it is an amazing number.  Consider that this particular scene is pretty early in the film.  The scene with Alice playing with Dinah is identified as sketch #10, and this is sketch #446, and we're barely 1/3 of the way through the story!

Also like the previous two drawings, this was selected for inclusion in Surprise Package, and the notations on the bottom of the 'board confirm that.  But there is a new notation not present on the first two, "4 color wash", and if you look at page 47 from Surprise Package, indeed it has had a color wash applied to it.  You can tell it is not a watercolor by the quality of the color, very flat and even compared to David Hall's beautiful watercolors.

There appear to be several instances of a color wash having been applied throughout the story, but this is the only concrete example of a side by side comparison that I have.

David Hall Story Art Stills - All Cards Lead Away from the Castle

Our journey is finally at its end, this is the last of the stills of David Hall story art.  Here we see Alice on a path of cards looking at a castle in the distance.  The supporting structure of the castle appears to be disintegrating, one assumes this is from the sequence where Alice is beginning to wake up.  This watercolor is unfortunately not reproduced in the David Hall book, nor have I been able to locate it anywhere else in color.  Labeled 'VIII'

So that's it, 114 stills later, we've come to the end of our story.  I hope you've enjoyed this journey through Disney's Alice in Wonderland of 1939 as seen through the eyes of David Hall.  I know I have.  It is hard to imagine what a film based on these concepts would have looked like, but it sure would have been fun to see.

David Hall Story Art Stills - Off With Her Head

Looks like things didn't go too well at Alice's trial.  This watercolor shows the Queen's gallows in all their glory.   Labeled 'VII'

This watercolor is reproduced in the David Hall book as a double page spread, so you can really look closely at all the detail.

The first detail focuses on the blade itself and the assorted assistant headsmen working on it.  Gotta make sure nothing goes wrong after all... Labeled 'VII A'

 Next is an extreme closeup of the assistant headsman at the very top of the gallows, straddling the blade.  I certainly wouldn't want to be him.  Labeled 'VII B'

 And finally we see Alice being led up the stairs to meet her fate.  Labeled 'VII C'

I think you'll all agree with me that this is perhaps the most macabre of all the story art we've seen so far.  Can you imagine if they actually filmed this?  

Goodbye 2012 - The Year in Review

It's been quite the topsy-turvy year for us here at the Vintage Disney Alice blog.  The real world made itself know in several ways.  There was work, travel, illness, and of course new acquisition!  Here is a sampling of what we saw this year.

Mickey Mouse Weekly issues from England

Zaccagnini figures from Italy

The Final Four Goebel figures

and lots of David Hall story art (just a little more to come)

and a few other odds and ends.  I hope to be a little more regular in my posting in 2013.  Wishing all my faithful readers a prosperous new year.

David Hall Story Art Stills - Alice Before the Bar

Her day of reckoning has finally come, Alice stands before the bar, pleading her case before the court.  This watercolor has so much going on in it, there are four details!  And again, I've not seen this reproduced anywhere else.  Labeled 'VI'.

The Jury looks on drearily.  I particularly like the stork with is pince nez.  Labeled 'VI A'.

The King and Queen of Hearts look quite somber as the White Rabbit reads the list of charges.  Labeled 'VI B'.

 Alice pleads her case from the witness box.  Labeled 'VI C'.

 And the Mad Hatter and March Hare appear to be looking up legal precedents.  Labeled 'VI D'. 

David Hall Story Art Stills - The Queen's Procession

This is a pretty fabulous watercolor, I wish I had a color image of it somewhere.  I swear I've seen it somewhere, but I just can't place it.  The royal procession approaches, with a huge retinue in tow.  Labeled 'V'.

Including the Queen's headsman (how creepy is that), with his even creepier assistant headsman/train bearer (do headsmen really need someone to hold their train?).  Labeled 'V A'.

And of course, every court needs a jester, this one complete with porcine steed.  Labeled 'V B'