Mary Poppins Collectibles – Book and Record

This post for Saturday’s With Nick originally appeared on the Disney Musings Blog on December 20, 2013.  I continue to be in awe of Nick’s Disneyana collection and these particular items make me Goofy-Hat-Green with envy since Mary Poppins is so near and dear to my heart.  Enjoy!

Mary Poppins Collectibles – Book and Record

By: NickToday, Disney releases the film, Saving Mr. Banks, and to say I am excited to see this is an understatement.  Both Barbie and I have grown up with Mary Poppins.The film centers on the life of P. L. Travers, creator of Mary Poppins, shifting between her childhood, and the negotiations with Walt Disney in the making of the motion picture, Mary Poppins, in 1961

If you haven’t seen the trailer, it looks absolutely amazing. I just re-watched it, and have goosebumps, and, okay, a tear in my eye.

As much as we both love Mary Poppins, we actually only have 2 items from Mary Poppins, if you don’t include a VHS, DVD, and the just released Blu-ray copy of the film!

One is this record album Barbie has had since childhood.

It includes a very brief synopsis of the movie, and even a brief telling of how Disney came to discover Mary Poppins and produce this masterpiece.

And what more can I say about the music by the Sherman Brothers other than it is absolutely brilliant?

This 1964 Mary Poppins movie book from Golden Press was bought just a few months ago at our local flea market.

Originally priced at $.69, I paid $2.

Not in the best of shape, but, having just seen the trailer for the first time the day before, I felt it was fate that I came upon it, and had to buy it!

It tells a bit about the production, and the 2 primary stars, Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, on the inside cover, before going on to tell the story of the motion picture, with photos from the film.

Disney Vintage Vinyl – Cinderella

IMG_2518Dipping once again into Joseph’s vast collection of Disneyana, today I’ve chosen another album.  This delightful treasure from 1959 is the “Music from the Original Motion Picture Sound Track” for Walt Disney’s Cinderella.  “Featuring members of the original cast including Ilene Woods, Don Barclay, and Verna Felton.  Songs by Mack David, Al Hoffman, and Jerry Livingston.  Background music by Oliver Wallace and Paul J. Smith”.

Nine songs make up this LP – including my two favorite Cinderella songs:  “The Work Song”  (Jaq and Gus and the Mice) and “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo” sung by Verna Felton as Fairy God Mother.

Let’s talk about Verna Felton (July 20, 1890 – December 14, 1966 – yes – that is one day before the date Walt Disney passed away) for a minute.  Mrs. Felton enjoyed a long career (began performing publically at age 10) – first on stage and radio- before moving on to film.  She was well known (and in demand) for her distinctive voice and no-nonsense attitude.

IMG_2519You may have known this already, but I was surprised to find out just how many other Disney roles that Verna Felton also voiced beside Fairy Godmother in 1951:  Dumbo – 1941 (Elephant Matriarch),  Alice in Wonderland – 1951 (Voice of Queen of Hearts.  Sings “Who’s Been Painting My Roses Red”),  Lady and the Tramp – 1955 (Voice of Aunt Sarah.  Sings “Rock-a-Bye Baby”), Sleeping Beauty -1959 (voices of Flora and Queen Leah), and The Jungle Book – released after Mrs. Felton passed away, 1967 (Winifred the Elephant, sings “Colonel Hathi’s March”).

Okay – back to the record.  From the album cover’s reverse side:  “…Walt Disney has brought to life the beautiful Cinderella, her wicked step-mother and sisters plus that very funny and forgetful Good Fairy.  It is with the Good Fairy’s magical words “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo”, plus the talented brushes of the Disney artists, that we are able to travel at last into the dream world of Cinderella…”

Song List (Side One, songs 1-5 / Side Two, songs 6-9):

  1. Cinderella
  2. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Ilene Woods)
  3. Oh Sing Sweet Nightingale (Ilene Woods)
  4. The Work Song (Jaq and Gus)
  5. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Mouse Chorus)
  6. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo (Verna Felton)
  7. Cinderella Arrives at the Ball (Orchestra)
  8. So This is Love (Ilene Woods)
  9. Finale (Orchestra and Chorus)

If you just have to have a copy of your very own – try eBay and Etsy.  Prices range from $5-$17.