The inscription on the front cover appears to read, "With Best Wishes, Walt Disney." Although the signature's authenticity has yet to be established, the record was listed at £223.31. Unfortunately, I have been unable to determine the final selling price. My own copy, regrettably, is unsigned!
Richard Todd visited the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest in 1951 as part of his preparation for the role of Robin Hood in Walt Disney's The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men. While the film was ultimately shot at Burnham Beeches and Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire, Todd's visit to the legendary tree was featured in the promotional film The Riddle of Robin Hood, which shows him climbing into its ancient branches.
After the euphoria of England’s football victory yesterday, it came as a real shock to wake up to the news this morning of the death of England’s heart of oak. The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, believed to be around 1,200 years old, has reportedly succumbed to the pressures of excessive tourism, according to the Woodland Trust.
I have always loved Sherwood. It is a truly beautiful forest, rich not only in legendary tales but also in wildlife and natural beauty. So, with a heavy heart, I say goodbye to an old friend—one I have had the privilege of visiting several times over the years.
The loss of such an iconic and ancient tree feels like the end of a remarkable chapter in England’s natural heritage. May it continue to inspire future generations through its legacy, stories, and memories.
Yes, it's been spotted again!
Regular readers will be familiar with our ongoing search for the distinctive Robin Hood chairs designed by Carmen Dillon and her art department for Walt Disney's 1952 film The Story of Robin Hood. Over the years, these remarkable props have turned up in a surprising number of productions.
Thanks to a sharp-eyed blog reader, one of the chairs has now been identified in a scene from Without a Clue (1988), shown above.
Below is the latest updated list of productions in which these famous chairs have been spotted. If you recognise them in any other films or television programmes, please do get in touch.
The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952)
The Men of Sherwood Forest (Film, 1954)
The Black Knight (Film, 1954)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (TV, 1955–1958)
The Dark Avenger (Film, 1955)
Ivanhoe (TV, 1958) – Episode: The Night Raiders (featuring Joan Rice, who would have remembered these chairs from her time filming at Denham Studios)
Sword of Sherwood Forest (Film, 1960)
Richard the Lionheart (TV, 1962-1963)
Robin of Sherwood (TV, 1984–1986)
The Mission – Stay With Me (Official Music Video, 1986)
Without A Clue (Film, 1988)
Horrible Histories (TV, 2013–2015)
Did you know that Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men was also adapted into a radio series? I was just as surprised as you might be! Thanks to another fantastic contribution from our regular contributor, Neil Vessey, we now have images of the Radio Times listings from 1952 that reveal this little-known production.
Beginning on Monday, 28 April 1952, the BBC broadcast The Adventures of Robin Hood on the Light Programme in five daily half-hour episodes, concluding on 1 May 1952. The series aired around the time of the general release of Disney’s live-action film The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men and featured many members of the film’s original cast.
Listeners heard Richard Todd as Robin Hood, Joan Rice as Maid Marian, Patrick Barr as King Richard, Elton Hayes as Alan-a-Dale, Hubert Gregg as Prince John, Peter Finch as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Reginald Tate as Hugh Fitzooth, Louise Hampton as Tyb, and Hal Osmond as Midge the Miller.
Several other roles were recast for the radio series. Anthony Forwood’s character, Will Scarlet, was played by Andrew Faulds (1923–2000), while John Turnbull (1880–1956) replaced Anthony Eustrel as the Archbishop of Canterbury. The role of Stutely, portrayed in the film by Bill Owen, was taken by Jack Shaw.
The series was written by Desmond Carrington and produced by Thurston Holland. Interestingly, the radio adaptation introduced several characters from the Robin Hood legend who did not appear in the Disney film, including Gilbert of the White Hand, the Sheriff’s henchman Troughton, and Arthur à Bland.
One curious detail in the Radio Times listing is the reference to Disney's forthcoming film as The Adventures of Robin Hood. This must surely be an error, as Disney's motion picture, The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men had already premiered in London on 13 March 1952 and would soon be on general release.
Don't forget to visit Neil's fantastic website: Films of the Fifties
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| The image shared by Neil |
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| Laurence's Stamp Book image |
It's a wonderful discovery. Not only are the distinctive pollarded trees of Burnham Beeches clearly visible around them, but in the background there also appears to be Upper Pond. This strongly suggests that the scene was originally filmed on location rather than in the studio setting seen in the final cut.
This week, Neil, another regular contributor, shared a second image from the same scene (top image). This time it shows Marian, Allan-a-Dale and Midge the Miller. Interestingly, there is no sign of the pond in the background. This raises the possibility that the two images were taken from different angles, or perhaps at different stages during the filming of the sequence.
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| Neil's image enhanced |
A special thanks to Neil and Laurence.
One stamp (above) shows a scene where Alan-a-Dale, Marian, and Midge the Miller are deep in Sherwood. This was not used in the finished film, for as we know, that scene was shot in the studio.
I think it is interesting in that you can see quite clearly what appears to be the Upper Pond in Burnham Beeches in the background! Wouldn't it be absolutely wonderful to see those edited scenes?
I will be showing more in my next post.
Walt with Richard Todd (Robin Hood) and Joan Rice (Maid Marian) during filming The Story of Robin Hood (1952).
Robin and Marian want to give a special thanks to all our regular readers. Welcome to the greenwood!
Rupert Evans (1911–1995) puts Friar Tuck — portrayed by James Hayter (1907–1985) — through his paces!
“I was Disney’s first Maid Marian,” Joan Rice would often proudly tell friends at her local pub in Maidenhead. Through my research into the life of this often-overlooked actress, her contribution to the Robin Hood legacy on the silver screen is finally receiving the recognition it deserves. And on this day, celebrating Maid Marian, I also want to honour the young girl from a fractured family, raised in an orphanage in Nottingham, who played in Sherwood Forest, worked as a waitress in a coffee shop, and was personally chosen by Walt Disney to bring Maid Marian to life.
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| Elspeth Gill and Richard Todd |
To find out how many times “Robin Hood’s Chair” has been used in various historical productions, click the link titled “Robin Hood’s Chair.”
In 1952, Barratt & Co. issued a series of black-and-white collectable cards packed with their popular sweet cigarettes, bringing Walt Disney Productions’ live-action film The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men to young audiences in an engaging, collectable form. Serving as a promotional tie-in, the cards allowed children to collect, trade, and relive the story through Barratt’s sweet cigarette packs. Below is part of regular contributor Laurence’s collection.
We recently came across some of Neil’s rare puzzles that were used to promote Disney’s Story of Robin Hood. More recently, Laurence shared his Jigsaw No. 1—it’s astonishing to think these pieces are around 74 years old!
Laurence has generously shared images from his remarkable collection of Barratt & Co trading cards, created to promote The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men by The Walt Disney Company in the 1950s.
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| James Hayter as Friar Tuck |
“There was a lover and his lass,
Sat ’neath a spreading oak,
And fearing lest his heart might break,
The devoted lover spoke…”
“Come Sing Low, Come Sing High,” written by Elton Hayes (Alan-a-Dale) and Lawrence Edward Watkin (as L.E. Watkin) for Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, reimagines William Shakespeare’s “There Was a Lover and His Lass” from As You Like It as a more lively and characterful piece. While Shakespeare’s original offers a gentle, pastoral celebration of spring and young love, the Disney version—later performed by Friar Tuck (James Hayter)—leans into humour and homely pleasures, highlighting warmth and entertainment over poetic elegance.
