Spencer Tracy and Walt Disney visit between chukkers at a Motion Picture Relief Fund Polo Match fund raiser, ca. 1945.
One of the very best designs from the Disney Studio Christmas cards comes from 1938. Pinocchio was still over a year away from release when this snowy scene foreshadowed its coming.
Fireworks at Disneyland was the centerpiece of the Studio’s 1959 Christmas card.
The studio Christmas card from 1942 is a real window to the past. Mickey, Donald, Minnie and Pluto are all active in the war effort, while Santa himself promotes Disney’s heavily propaganda-themed feature Victory Through Air Power.
They told the story of Walt Disney’s Christmas Carol, a slightly different take on the Dickens’ classic. Its main character was a mouse.
Just not Mickey.
The story opens like this:
It was Christmas Eve, and up in the garret in a cozy corner back of the chimney, ten little mice were gathered round a candlestick, their ears all set to hear a Christmas story.
“Now, quiet as a mouse, everyone,” said their father as he opened a very small book with a worn and faded cover and adjusted his tiny spectacles. “It’s a very old story,” he said, “and it’s called A Christmas Carol.
In this version, Bob Cratchet has been replaced by the character of Cedric Mouse. Cedric works for Ebenezer Scrooge as a clock and watch repairman in Scrooge’s Clock Shop. Not unlike Bob, Cedric struggles to care for his family on the mere two pence per week wage that Scrooge pays him.
Gone are Jacob Marley and the Christmas ghosts. Instead, Scrooge’s old grandfather clock comes to life and turns himself years ahead to demonstrate to Scrooge the future consequences of his miserly ways.
Cedric and his fellow mice are clearly distant cousins to both Cinderella’s loyal friends and Amos from Ben and Me. I especially like the story’s final illustration where Cedric and his family all dance around a Christmas tree—made of watch gears!
And the last two paragraphs pay sly homage to the story’s original author:
One of the little mice sitting around the candlestick piped up. “Daddy, that sounds very much like a Christmas story I once overheard the people downstairs reading. Their story was by Charles Dickens.”
“Dickens?” said the father with a sly little smile. “The dickens you say!” And he snuffed out the candle with his nightcap. “Now off to bed, everyone, quick like a mouse, and a Merry Christmas to all!”
One of the few Studio cards not to include Mickey and the gang, this holiday greeting from 1977 features Elliott from Pete’s Dragon.
Okay, this one from 1967 is just a little bit weird. Is Mickey going to cut down the tree? Or has he decided to spare it the hatchet? Or has the deed already been done and he’s admiring his handiwork?
December 1941 wasn’t exactly the happiest of times. Mickey and the gang, with the help of Dumbo and Timothy Mouse, attempt to wrap the world up in some holiday cheer.
Okay, this one has Mickey, Donald and Ludwig Von Drake. They’re hanging out in Disneyland. It’s fun and festive. But the best part? Without a doubt, the horse.
The characters from the animated feature Robin Hood are featured on the Studio Christmas card from 1973. I especially like the wanted poster on the tree with Robin wearing a Santa hat.
