D23 Expo | 2017 | Disney and Pixar Did That | Advertisements and Animated Commercials | Full Panel | Pixar Archives | Disney Archives | Donald Duck

If I said it once, I’ve said it 1,000 times, The Walt Disney Archives Stage is my favorite part of the D23 Expo. The Archive Stage is loaded with presentations filled with information a Disney Nerd just can’t get enough of.  Granted, some of the sessions can be a little dry… I’m looking at you, “Walking with Giants: A Virtual Visit to Walt Disney’s Hyperion Studio”.  Fortunately, for every snoozer, you’ll find an amazing breakout packed full of information from the Disney Archives.  This is after all, the D23 Archive Stage.

From breakouts that I covered on previous blogs/videos like Marc Davis Goes to WED – The Amazing Artistry and Designs of the Legendary Disney Imagineer or Disney’s Product Legacy and the Road Ahead, the details are wonderful.  If you haven’t seen/listened to those, they are worth the click.

I know, the D23 Expo 2017 was 2 years ago…why are you bringing it up now in 2019?   Well, recently I remembered an image of Snow White driving a car with Happy in the passenger seat.  It sounds silly, I know.  I remember seeing it, but where?  So, I did what we all do; I went to google and googled…  I found lots of images of white cars driving in snow, not exactly what I was after.  I dug a little further and couldn’t find anything; so, I dug out my D23 agendas (yep, the paper one), and I found the “Disney and Pixar Did That” Archive Stage session from D23 2017.  I wonder if that’s it?  So, I googled that… nothing.  It turns out, that session happened in the Archive Stage while all eyes were on Hall D23 for a “Parks and Resorts” presentation; and apparently, every camera at the conference was in the Parks and Resorts presentation – except yours truly – me!!!   I was at the Archives Stage, and with a description like the one below, why wouldn’t I be?   Plus, the Parks and Resorts presentation was being broadcast live by DisneyParks.  I’ll watch the live stream before that is over.

Disney and Pixar Did That? Advertisements and Animated Commercials –– Join archivists and research specialists from across The Walt Disney Company who help to oversee Disney and Pixar historical collections as they share with you rarely seen advertising campaigns and animated commercials spanning from the 1930s to Pixar’s efforts of the 1990s. Through artwork, film clips, and stories behind some of the familiar, yet no-so familiar projects, learn about a little-known aspect of the creative history of Disney and Pixar while gaining new perspectives on the productions and products themselves.

The panelists included:

• Elizabeth Spatz, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media Archives
• Kevin M. Kern, Walt Disney Archives
• Fox Carney, Animation Research Library (ARL)
• Christine Freeman, Pixar Living Archives

Each bringing wonderful insight directly from the Archive they represent.  Along with interesting trivia like:  Tinker Bell advertised the first commercially available glass jar with a screw top lid?  It’s true, Tinker Bell was featured in the Peter Pan Peanut Butter commercials.  Did you know Timothy Mouse and Dumbo touted the comfort and easy ride of the Hudson Hornet v8, new for 1956?  Turns out, those Hudson Hornet ads also featured an image of Snow-White driving with Happy in the passenger seat – FOUND IT!!!

That breakout session is SamsDisneydiary Episode #113.  I love this type of content, and I know this video may not be for everyone; but if you’re into Disney history from official sources, this is for you! From print ads, merchandising, marketing, logos, TV commercials, shorts, military insignias and yes… even political ads – could you imagine that today?  It’s an amazing look at Disney and Pixar when the studios needed the extra cash to support the classic films we know and love today.  If you don’t remember the clips or print ads from the 30s, 40s and 50^th, stick around for Pixar they were doing commercials in the late 80s and 90s that you may remember.   Tropicana or Life Savers Holes, remember those?  You will when you see them.

Thanks for watching and listening – From the D23 Expo 2017 Archives Stage, Disney and Pixar Did That?

Check out these other videos from the D23 Expo Archives Stage:  60 Years of the Jungle Cruise,  Great Moments with Walt Disney,  Digging Deeper Disney History,  Making Walls Talk, A conversation with Bill Farmer, Kevin Rafferty, Star Wars Music, Disneyland 1959, Haunted Mansion at 50, Disney and Pixar did That?, Legacy of Disney Products, Disney Park Maps, Marc Davis goes to WED, Legends of Imagineering, Voices of the Parks or 50 Years of Pirates! and a Kiss Goodnight with Richard Sherman