David Hall Story Art Stills - Alice Meets the Puppy

This sequence of the original Alice story did not make the cut in the Disney film, and story-wise should immediately precede her encounter with the Caterpillar.  Nevertheless, this watercolor shows the puppy in rapt attention as Alice brandishes a stick whilst balancing on a blade of grass across a trickle of a stream.  Unfortunately this image is not reproduced in the David Hall book, so no color image of it exists at present.  Labeled '90A'.  Presumably this is a closeup of a larger image.

What fun, let's play chase!  The puppy bounds after Alice.  Labeled '91' and is reproduced in the David Hall book.

Ah, but the tables have turned as the Cheshire Cat (partially) appears and frightens the poor puppy away.  Labeled '92' this is reproduced in the David Hall book.

David Hall Story Art Stills - Alice Encounters a Centipede

Ok, so now Alice is bug-sized again, and meets a Centipede riding a Spider (?!).  Yeah, I got nothing.  This watercolor is labeled '89',

and is reproduced slightly cropped in full color in the David Hall book.

We see a closeup of the front of Centipede, looking very impressive in his dress military uniform and brandishing a sword.  Seriously?  Labeled '89A'.

It must be hard to keep track of all those legs, and apparently one set just can't stay in step.  Interesting to see a gag like this in an otherwise straight story image.  Labeled '89B'.

David Hall Story Art Stills - Bowery Birds Attack Alice

Well, Alice has certainly upset the Bowery Birds, Tippi Hedren herself would have nightmares after seeing this image.  Labeled '87' and is reproduced in the David Hall book.

Fear not, Sailor-Boy Bird to the rescue.  He pops the uneaten mushroom into Alice's mouth.  I think we all know what happens next.  Labeled '88'.

David Hall Story Art Stills - Junior Bird Lends a Helping Wing

So sailor-suited bird, I'm assuming the offspring of Mom and Dad, appears to be very happy in this drawing, looking up at Alice.  Labeled '84'.

Looks like he's volunteered to retrieve the uneaten mushroom fragment for Alice.  Labeled '85' and reproduced in the David Hall book.

 "Is this what you're looking for?".  Labeled '86'.

David Hall Story Art Stills - Alice Goes from No Neck to All Neck

You just knew that mushroom was not to be trusted.  This watercolor of Alice, now having gone from no neck to all neck, shows her head bursting through the forest canopy, much to the shock of a family of nesting birds.  This watercolor is reproduced slightly cropped but in full color in the David Hall book, and is labeled here '82'.  Dad bird looks ready for a night on the town, while mother bird looks like she does nothing but sweep out the nest, even with two eggs in it.

I really can't tell what's going on here, mom and dad are not to be seen, and instead seem to have been replaced by a group of Bowery birds picking on a little bird in a sailor suit.  Guess there are bullies everywhere.  Labeled '83'.

David Hall Story Art Stills - Alice Gets a Big Head

Ew.  These drawings creep me out.  Alice now experiences the full impact of her rash mushroom consumption by shrinking down to just a head and feet.  Looks like she's having a little trouble breathing too.  Labeled '81'.

 Realizing the enormity of her problem, she stretches her tiny T-Rex arms trying to reach the unconsumed bit of mushroom.  Labeled '81A' and is reproduced in the David Hall book.

 Amazingly she manages to grasp the mushroom and eats it.  Goodness knows what will happen next!.  Labeled '81B'

David Hall Story Art Stills - Alice and the Mushroom

Nothing good can come of this.  Alice is pulling bits off the underside of the mushroom.  This image is labeled, but it is too blurry to read.  This image is reproduced in the David Hall book.

Which one to eat first?  Just say 'no', Alice.  Labeled '78' and is reproduced in a cropped form in the David Hall book.

Oh dear, she ate the one in her left hand...this is bad.  Labeled '79'

David Hall Story Art Stills - Alice Encounters the Caterpillar

Ah, the post I've been waiting for, Alice meets the Caterpillar.  Alice peers over the mushroom cap at the turban-ed Caterpillar.  Signed upper left and labeled '73'

We all know and love this watercolor, which is reproduced in the David Hall book in color, and more importantly lives on my wall.

Next we get a close up view of the Caterpillar with his hooka, he seems quite the jolly fellow.  This image is reproduced in the David Hall book.

Now a cropped detail view of the above watercolor, labeled '75'.

This is very close to how the image appears in Surprise Package and in the David Hall book, .

David Hall Story Art Stills - The Cheshire Cat Keeps his Eye on Alice

Back after a long break - sorry about that - here we have a truly bizarre drawing of the Cheshire Cat's giant disembodied eye watching Alice.  Signature in lower left, labeled '70'.

 I'd look just as shocked as Alice does here if an eye the size of my head was looking at me...

 Well, at least we've seen the grin before, so that's not too startling.  Label looks like '77' but could be '72' based on what's coming next...

Ho Ho Ho - Christmas is Coming!

In preparation for Christmas, I have posted a whole bunch of stuff to eBay, buy my stuff and add to your collection or the collection of a loved one.  I also take requests :-)  The David Hall series will resume shortly.

David Hall Story Art Stills - The Cheshire Cat Gets Loopy

Alice has been chatting with the Cheshire Cat for some time now, and he is getting a little loopy - quite literally.  Not exactly sure what is going on here, but there it is.  Labeled '69'.

 And now for a grin.  And a big one at that.  My what lovely teeth you have Mr Cheshire Cat.  Labeled '69A'.

Happy Halloween! Playthings Advertisement for Alice Costumes by Ben Cooper

Happy Halloween to all, and Happy Birthday to me!  Tis the season for costumes, and in 1951 the king of costumes was Ben Cooper.  Wouldn't you know it, they made costumes based on Alice, and were pushing them hard months before the film was released, and even more months before Halloween.

This ad comes from the greatest of all toy industry magazines Playthings, and features bright red printing for the Alice in Wonderland masquerade costumes to be released by Ben Cooper.  It's just too bad there isn't any art of Alice and company in this ad, but there is a stock image of Donald, so that's something.

This ad was published in the March issue of Playthings, the Toy Fair issue.  As with all other Playthings issues from the 1930s through the mid/late 1950s, it features a Disney cover, and this cover features Mickey dancing about with the Mad Hatter and March Hare, welcoming all to the 1951 Toy Fair.  This particular issue is chock full of Alice stuff, but those pages are for other posts.  Save some candy for me!

David Hall Story Art Stills - Alice Encounters the Cheshire Cat

I'm missing at least 15 still in the series between last post and this one.  At long last Alice encounters the Cheshire Cat, at first only his head as depicted in this detailed drawing.  Difficult to read here, but this is labeled '66' and is reproduced in the David Hall book.

Alice gazes up at her strange companion in his equally strange environs in this watercolor, labeled '67'.  Unfortunately this is not reproduced, I would love to see this one in color.

Alice appears to be receiving advice from her cat companion here, as he begins to disappear.  Labeled '68', this is reproduced in the David Hall book.

David Hall Story Art Stills - The Caucus Race

This first drawing depicts the Gryphon and Mock Turtle, again completely out of sequence, but what else is new?

 One assumes this is the caucus race, with all the various critters from the Pool of Tears in attendance, as well as the Gryphon and Mock Turtle, and of course Alice.  There is a label, but I cannot make it out, presumably it is '49' based on the label on the next image..

 The next still is a detail of the previous one, focusing on Alice, the Mock Turtle and the Dodo, with various other denizens on the periphery, labeled '49A'.

David Hall Story Art Stills - Alice and Company Come Ashore

Alice and her new-found friends make their way to shore in this watercolor, labeled '47'.

 This detail focuses on Alice and the Dodo, labeled '47A'.  There is a lot of detail in this image, you can see the pigeon, the fish, the mouse, the hedgehog, and on the shore you can see an array of beach cabanas with snails making their way towards the beach.  And in the full image you get a first glimpse of the Gryphon and Mock Turtle.

This watercolor was reproduced in color in the David Hall book, severely cropped to focus on the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle, which sequentially is much later in the story.

David Hall Story Art Stills - Alice Encounters Many Curious Creatures

As Alice struggles to stay afloat in the Pool of Tears, she encounters many curious creatures besides the Mouse including what looks like a Beaver and a hedgehog.  Labeled '46A'.

 And a plethora of birds including this very fancy pidgeon, followed by an equally dapper parrot.  Labeled '46B'.

 And last but certainly not least, the Dodo and his fishing partner an Owl, with a Fish looking on as well.  Labeled '46C'.

David Hall Story Art Stills - Alice Hitches a Ride on the Mouse

As Alice struggles to stay afloat, the Mouse swims by.

Alice jumps astride the Mouse, much to his consternation, labeled '44A'

and unceremoniously tosses Alice back in the drink, labeled '45'.

David Hall Story Art Stills - Alice and the Mouse in the Pool of Tears

Alice flounders around in the Pool of Tears with the Mouse seen at the extreme upper left.  The pool is surprisingly stormy.  This watercolor is signed in the lower left and labeled '43' also in the lower left.

This detail of the watercolor focuses on Alice and is labeled '43A'.

This detail of the watercolor focuses on the Mouse - who did not make it into the final 1951 version of the film - and is labeled '43B'.

Fortunately, this water color is partially reproduced in the David Hall book, and appears to be not so much a Pool of Tears, but a Pool of Orange Crush (or perhaps marmalade).  It is a double-page spread, so there is a gutter in the middle, and they only produced the to 3/4 of the image, but at least we get a feel for the colors of the piece!