Dave Smith - Disney Trivia from the Vault: Secrets Revealed and Questions Answered

Copyright 2012 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

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Editorial Director: Wendy Lefkon

Associate Editor: Jessica Ward

ISBN 978-1-4231-7857-6

Beginning with the July 1983 issue of DisneyChannel Magazine, I began answering Disney trivia questions from Disney Channel viewers. My column, called Exploring the Archives and later simply Archives, continued until January 1994. When Disney Magazine began, the column moved to that publication with the new title of Ask Dave. After Disney Magazine ended, the column moved to the online Disney Insider and, most recently, the D23 (Disneys community for Disney fans) Web site. So for almost thirty years, I have been answering Disney trivia questions in print from Disney enthusiasts the world over. Throughout this period, many readers have told me that the Ask Dave column was the first thing they turned to.

After over 1,100 Ask Dave questionsmany bringing up interesting information that had not been published elsewhereI felt that it would be a fun idea to compile some of the questions in a book, divided by topic. Readers can open to any page and find some interesting facts relating to Disney history. Some of the answers have been edited and enhanced to bring them up to date. I hope you find as much joy in perusing this book as I did in digging up answers to the questions in the first place.

Dave Smith

Chief Archivist Emeritus

Walt Disney Archives

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many people deserve thanks for helping me with this book, especially Walt Disney Archives staff members Becky Cline, Robert Tieman, Alesha Reyes, Mike Buckhoff, Edward Ovalle, Rob Klein, Shelly Graham, and Yvette Khalafian. Special thanks go to my good friend and colleague Steven Vagnini, whose layout talents and advice helped me get the book started, and who then provided continuing advice along the way. Nate Tarampi and Max Lark provided digital files of the Ask Dave questions from Disney Insider and D23, and John Johnson and Alex Williams helped me compile the Disney ChannelMagazine questions. Additional thanks go to friends and colleagues, including Bruce Aguilar, Tony Anselmo, Justin Arthur, Keith Burrell, Steven Clark, Rob and Zinnia Cress, Tyson Ervin, Ruston Harker, Lenny Larsen, Ryan Letts, Paula Sigman Lowery, Julian Lowy, Michael Maney, Brainard Miller, Martin Munoz, Trevor Nelson, Matt Pilla, Russell Schroeder, Clay Shoemaker, Moises Torres, Michael Vagnini, and James Wilson. Family members Jean Marana, Kathy Eastman, and Gil and Val Eastman provided welcome support. I also extend my gratitude to Wendy Lefkon at Disney Editions. And above all, thank you to the Disney fans who took the time to write in their questions.

Dave Ask Dave Smith

Burbank, CA

In the movie WALLE, the directive not to return to Earth was called A113. In Toy Story 3, the license plate on a van is shown as A113. What is the significance of this number? John, Windsor, CT

The number, which can be found in many Pixar films, is the room number of the animation classroom at CalArts (California Institute of the Arts) where some Pixar students studied.

In the early fifties, I owned a record (a 45 rpm on colored vinyl if I remember correctly) of a song called Never Smile at a Crocodile by comedian Jerry Lewis. Having discovered PeterPan at about the same time, I always associated the record with Tick Tock from the animated film. Do you know if there was any connection, or was it just coincidence and early marketing strategy? Marcus, Corona Del Mar, CA

The 45 rpm record of Never Smile at a Crocodile, as sung by Jerry Lewis, was released by Capitol Records in 1953. Following the Leader was on the flip side. While Never Smile at a Crocodile was written for Peter Pan, it is not sung in the filmthere are only portions of the tune used in the background score. After the film was released, the song was recorded by several different singers, including the Paulette Sisters and Sterling Holloway. It was also released on sheet music.

Was Fantasia the first movie to have stereophonic sound? Justin, Appling, GA

While there were stereophonic sound recordings in the 1930s, Fantasia was the first commercial motion picture to be exhibited in stereo, in 1940. Leopold Stokowski, who did the stereo recording for Fantasia, had in 1937 recorded