Walt Disney's Horror Movie
by Stephen Schochet
In 1934, when Walt Disney called for a meeting among his artists, a rumor had spread that he was going to shut the studio down and they would all be left unemployed during the great depression. Instead he personally told them in his own spellbinding way the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which he intended to make into his first feature length film. It was a risk unlike any other he had taken before. The film would cost a million and a half dollars at a time Disney was spending anywhere from ten to thirty thousand on his short cartoons. Doubts came from his wife Lillian and his brother and business partner Roy, who were sure they would be in debt for most of the rest of the lives. Also nervous was Walt's backer Bank of America, who at one point interrupted the production by cutting off his credit. Then there were the heads of the other studios like MGM, Universal and Warner Brothers. They would gather for their weekly poker games at the Hillcrest Country Club and speculate that Walt, who they called "the Mickey Mouse Man", would never succeed, no one would sit still for an hour and a half to watch a cartoon. And the press referred to Snow White as "Disney's Folly".
Despite the doubters and his own health problems (he suffered from a thyroid condition), Walt pressed forward relentlessly for three years. The key to the film, as far as Disney was concerned was the evil queen/peddler woman. Snow White was sympathetic, the dwarfs were humorous, but the villain had to be horrifying to keep the audience interested. The vocals were performed by a renowned stage actress named Lucille Laverne. Her haughty voice was a great fit as the queen, but her playing of the character after she transformed into the old crone had some at the studio worried. "Wait, I have an idea", she said. She left the recording room for a few minutes then returned. "I'm ready". She delivered her lines in a way that chilled and thrilled the Disney staff. After she finished there was applause and she was asked what she did when she left. She smiled and said," I took my teeth out!"
Walt's calculations were correct, Snow White and Seven Dwarfs was a hit throughout the entire world in 1938 and for many years beyond, keeping audiences riveted. The only down side for Walt was that maybe the peddler woman was a little too horrifying, he was disturbed by reports from Radio City Music Hall in New York where the film was setting box office records. It turned out that every few days the theater management had to replace seats. . . due to excessive wetness.
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About The Author
Stephen Schochet is the author and narrator of the audiobooks "Fascinating Walt Disney" and "Tales Of Hollywood". The Saint Louis Post Dispatch says," these two elaborate productions are exceptionally entertaining." Hear realaudio samples of these great, unique gifts at www.hollywoodstories.com.
orgofhlly@aol.com
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Dear Santa: Christmas Sucks!
by Daggi Pulz
Christmas time is finally here, and most people during this holiday are happier than a fat kid eating a Krispy Kreme donut. Christmas brings so many great things to the table; the caroling, the NO SCHOOL, the snowmen and hour long snowball fights that ends with bloody noses, the eggnog and drunken relatives, the presents, holiday parties, and the drinking hot coco next to a roaring fire while cuddling up with your loved one. How could anybody not love this great holiday! It’s a hiatus from the dark sadness of reality and a time where you can be ridiculously happy! But maybe too happy…
In a recent poll, over 45 percent said that they dreaded the holiday altogether. Not everyone seems to see the light that Christmas brings, and if you look harder i 
Dear Santa: Christmas Sucks!
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Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June
by Lucy Huffenstuff
Great gift ideas for Dad on Father's Day.
Personalized crockery - plate, mug or bowl. This is perfect when the children are young
Why not get the kids to put together a time capsule, with some photos of them with their dad, some other personal items and bury it in the garden
There are gift experience companies, why not treat dad to drive a sports car or perhaps sky diving?
Why not get some printable iron on transfers which you can print using your computer and home printer.
How about baking a cake or some of his favorite biscuits?
What about a photo album of a frame of photos of dad and the kids
Name a star after the father - there are a number of online websites who offer this service
Cas Fathers Day is the 3rd Sunday in June
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Holiday Gifts Under $20 for Busy Families
by Thinkbin
HOLIDAY GIFTS UNDER $20: LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT GIFT FOR A BUSY FAMILY? THINKBIN HAS THE ANSWER
Do you know a family whose kitchen counters are cluttered with appointment reminders, school notices and sports schedules?
If so, the Thinkbin™ Wall Calendar enables families to get organized in five easy ways:
Cuts down on the number of “little slips of paper” with a large layout and plenty of room to write doctors appointments, after-school activities and weekend events
Helps with family communication by providing one place where the entire family can see where everyone is going
Lets you view your day chronologically by writing appointments in three sections – morning, afternoon and evening
Includes space to reco Holiday Gifts Under $20 for Busy Families
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Wife Smarter Than Husband?
by Jonathan Tan
Is it safe for a wife to be smarter than her husband?
Of course! Men who cannot afford social ornaments sometimes want inferior wives. Why? Often because they harbor a great sense of inferiority.
Therefore at all economic levels there are some men who want apparently weak and docile women whom they can dominate completely, who will not put up any arguments, and who will do as they are told without any "ifs," "ands," or "buts."
Likewise there are women who either want to be dominated, or who are so eager to marry that they will do so under such circumstances.
What about the "ordinary man" who has no serious feelings of inadequacy, and who cannot afford, and does not desire a social ornament? Does he demand that his wife not have t Wife Smarter Than Husband?
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