Chandra Blackwell // Fall 2014
You know how the song lyrics go: “When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are.”
So begins the story of Kansas City-native Walt Disney, who ended up as the name behind the childhood soundtrack for generations of people across the globe.
Today, a large portion of Disney’s legacy lives in the UMKC Library’s Marr Sound Archives, thanks to a generous gift from a Seattle record collector, who donated Disney-related items to UMKC’s collection.
“We don’t usually see these kinds of records in such good shape,” says Chuck Haddix, Marr Sound Archives director. “Because they were made for kids, there’s usually a lot more wear and tear.”
Haddix says that the collection is part of a “bigger picture” for the archives, which boast a huge collection of records for young people.
Bambi Soundtrack, 1963
Track you know: “Little April Shower”
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, 1964
Fun fact: Premiered at the 1964 New York World’s Fair
Alice in Wonderland, 1959
Track you know: “I’m Late”
Mary Poppins, 1981 picture disc reissue
Track you know: “A Spoonful of Sugar”
Snow White, 1963
Track you know: “Heigh-ho”
The Golden Horseshoe Saloon unofficially opened on July 13, 1955, when Walt and Lillian Disney celebrated their 30th anniversary with a private party and the premiere showing of the original Golden Horseshoe Revue.
A Nature Guide about Birds, Beeds, Beavers and Bears, 1966
Fun fact: Five tracks are from an episode of “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color”
These stories are narrated by Sterling Holloway, best known as the original voice of Walt Disney’s Winne the Pooh.
Mickey Mouse Disco, 1979
Track you know: “Macho Duck”
Fun fact: Disney’s decision to start a full-time record production company was based on high sales of 45 rpm copies of “The Ballad of Davy Crockett.”
In Disney’s adaptation of the 1936 musical composition by Sergei Prokofiev, each character is represented musically by a different instrument.
On Sept. 4, 1961, Hayley Mills charted her first Billboard Hot 100 hit record, “Let’s Get Together,” from the movie The Parent Trap.