Why it's there: Toys

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Thursday, August 07, 2008
Matt Hochberg

Many of the details that we explain in this column each week are often details that in plain sight of any guest but without an explanation, they go overlooked. This week's hidden detail is no different and it's been something that I had been looking for an answer for for years and I finally was able to find a Cast Member who had an answer for me as to why it's there. In the Carthay Circle Theatre store on Sunset Boulevard, you'll find a shop that has a theme of the original Carthay Circle Theater from Hollywood, California. Disney fans will recognize the name of the theater as the place where Walt Disney premiered Snow White for the first time. The premiere of the film was a very big deal as it was the first feature length animated film and Disney was taking a great risk in attempting such a feat.

Inside the store, you will find a number of vintage Disney toys including classic Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck dolls and toys and for literally years I had no idea why. Well, the obvious answer is they are classic Disney toys and perhaps Imagineers were looking for a place to put showcase these toys but the answer it turns out is not that simple.

Going back to that famous night in 1937 when Snow White debuted in the theater, Walt wanted to really put out all the stops and promote the film for the premier. This was a big night and Walt was all about making the most of it. So he brought his personal collection of Disney toys to the premier and displayed them throughout the theater as a means of synergy between the classic characters Walt had built up previously and the new Snow White film.

So just like the exterior of the building is themed after the Carthay Circle Theater, the interior has a number of classic Disney toys in there to mimic that historic night of the premier of Snow White. Not all of the toys are old enough to have been around from the days of the 1937 premier, but the general idea is there. Moreover, there's speculation that some of the toys were actually Walt's and others have been generously donated by collectors.

A special thanks to Derrick for assisting in this week's column.