Evening star., 1940-03-03
From Disney
Films Come
Art Gems
Snow White Scenes
In Collections
= And Galleries

A phenomenon Of the American
art market is the distribution of a
limited number of original cellu-
loids from Walt Disney's produc-
tions to the public through the
country's leading art galleries.
These celluloids are the pictures
which are photographed by the
color camera to make up what the
filmgoes sees on the screen. The
subjects are mainly from his SEN
sationally successful production Of
last season, "Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs." and from his cur
rent feature, "Pinocchio."
Over q period Of several years the
studio has been deluged with re-
quests from all over the world to
release these original paintings.
However, Walt Disney was always
somewhat loath to do this, partly
because he is reticent about ex-
plotting past achievements and
partly because he would not do it
until he could be convinced there
was some way the celluloids could
be offered as fully representative
of the studios work. The celluloids
without their accompanying back
grounds, he felt, were incomplete.
And naturally it was impossible to
release original backgrounds, as
there were only few of these to
each production.
The Disney mixing and painting
department started experimenting
with some Of the celluloids from
Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs," however, and worked out
new but simple backgrounds in
water color for the painted action
scenes.
Then Guthrie Courvoiser. a prom
inent art dealer in San Francisco,
happened to see several Of the
sample units and instantly felt that
here was something to appeal, not
only to the average Disney fans, but
to art collectors as well.
Mr.. Courvoiser offered to take
charge Of acquainting art galleries
all over the country with such Disney
originals.
An outstanding art gallery in every
key city was contacted. The re-
sponse was very favorable, with each
gallery anxious to display some Of
the Disney originals. Snow White"
originals were put on the market
and the first exhibit opened Sep.
tember IS. 1888, in the Julien Levy
Galleries in New York City. The
sales for the first day alone totaled
So celluloids at total price Of al
most $4,000. The exhibition ran for
almost six weeks, during which time
the gallery reordered four times, as
many rs $50 at time.
The response In the other galleries
all over the country was revolution
ary. Every gallery reported attend
ance records broken.
AS the news Of the availability
Of the Disney originals filtered
throughout the country through the
news and advertising channels OF
newspapers and magazines, and by
word Of mouth, the foremost art
critics Of the country were doing
their part by heralding the little
gems" Is q new modern art form.
Harry Wehle, curator Of painting
at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art
In New York City, calls Disney q
great historical figure In the de-
velopment Of American Art"
Such well-known art collectors as
Lord Duveen and Nelson Rockefeller
openly announced the acquisition Of
Disney originals for their own col.
lections. Although the Disney orig
inals carry the name Of the master
Of animation, they are, Of course.
not done by Walt Disney himself.
He Is insistent In saying that his
artists can draw and paint vastly
better than he ever could. The Dis
ney genius, according to his fellow
workers, Is expressed In the brilliant
and rapid workings Of his mind.
rather than in anything he puts
on paper. Walt Disney himself has
not drawn for almost q decade.
Many people wonder why there u
(eee DISNEY, Page F-Sy