Robin Hood Autographs

 

A big thank you goes out to John Nelson, who kindly sent in images of this autograph collection. The book must have been signed during the making of Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men in 1951. Whoever gathered these signatures was possibly at Denham Studios or with the 2nd unit in Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire. An experience fans of the film can only dream about!

What a wonderful collection! Six members of the cast including Richard Todd (Robin Hood), James Robertson Justice (Little John), Elton Hayes (Allan a Dale), Peter Finch (Sheriff of Nottingham), Hubert Gregg (Prince John) and Joan Rice (Maid Marian). 

This blog has a large collection of autographs amongst over 91 pages of memorabilia. Just click on the label, 'Memorabilia.'

Disney's Merchandise Division 1952

Matt Crandall has sent me many interesting items over the last few years. His latest contribution to this blog is a page from Walt Disney Merchandising News about the release of The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men. This was the second edition of 1952 and also includes information on the advertising of his upcoming animation Peter Pan.

Merchandising News

We have seen many times on this blog the phenomenal amount of advertising Disney used to promote its films. Below is another example, as they prepare for the release of The Story of Robin Hood:

"WALT DISNEY'S STORY OF ROBIN HOOD will be advertised with colorful ads like this one. A heavy schedule includes consumer and leading movie fan magazines.

ROBIN HOOD merchandise includes a beautiful 20-page record reader in full color by Capitol. Simon and Schuster plan one Big Golden Record and two Little Golden Records featuring songs from ROBIN HOOD--"Come Sing High," "Riddle Dee Dee and "The Ballads of Robin Hood."

Beginning July 13, a 25-instalment series on Walt Disney's STORY OF ROBIN HOOD will be distributed by King Features to leading Sunday comics. A Dell Comic, Whitman Classic and several advertising tie-in campaigns will round out the great promotion behind ROBIN HOOD."

Regular readers of this blog will have seen images of the various records and comic strips among the many pages labelled 'Film Promotion' and 'Memorabilia.'

Below are just some of the huge collection of promotional material from this blog:

Jigsaw Puzzles

Record and 20-page Storybook Capitol US 1952

Record and 20-page Storybook Capitol US 1952

Comic Strip

Click on the labels below to see the vast amount of promotional material for Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood on this blog.

The Nobleman of the Woods

We have seen hundreds of promotional items for Walt Disney's live-action film The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). Many of them are on this blog and can be seen by clicking on the label  'Film Promotion' and 'Memorabilia.' 

When a new Disney film was released, every form of advertising was used. Toys, books, clothing, games, sweets, records etc. Above is unusual stationery from Portugal, which I presume you would describe as a letterheading.  Below Maid Marian (Joan Rice) and Robin Hood (Richard Todd) is O Fidalgo Dos Bosques, ' The Nobleman of the Woods'.

Robin Hood Model

 

Laurence has made many valuable contributions to this website over the years. Who can forget the popular comic strip he created using images from the film and the of course the amazing banner for this blog!

 Last week he sent me an email:

"Hi, I don't think I have shown you these before. It's a model I made in the 1970s. It was a conversion from a 1/32 scale Airfix (remember them!!) World War 2 soldier. Then another which is a 1/12 scale conversion from an Airfix, if I remember correctly, Bengal Lancer which I did about ten years later. 

Anyhow, just thought I would show them to you.

Best regards,

Laurence."

 

I think my readers will agree with me when I say Laurence has an amazing talent.

The detail of these models is truly amazing and would enhance any collection. Many thanks, Laurence for sharing these with us.

Robin Hood Game

 

Laurence has been busy sorting through his collection of film memorabilia and sent me images of this game. He says:

"It is a Chad Valley game from 1952 called "Sherwood Forest" which

features our Robin Hood movie [Disney's Story of Robin Hood]. I acquired it some time back but

apparently, it didn't come in a presentation box but just as you see it

here as two separate parts.

Anyway, just wanted to share it with you and the merrie band!"

This must be a very rare example of Disneyana (Disney collectables). And thanks to Laurence we are fortunate enough to see it.

If you have any memorabilia from Walt Disney's live-action film The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952), please get in touch.

Rare Robin Hood Scoper and Film Strips

 

Over the years, we have discovered many items connected in some way to Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood (1952). Under the Memorabilia link on this blog, there is a collection of letterheads, tins, records, bows and arrows, cards, posters, books, jigsaw puzzles and much more!

There are plenty more. The Disney Organisation had - and still has an incredible marketing system.

Matt Crandall has recently sent me images of this very rare toy from the 1950s. When I was young, I would have loved something like this. Before the days of videos and DVDs, this was one of the only ways to remember your favourite film. 

If you know of any other memorabilia connected to this Walt Disney live action film, please get in touch.

Joan Rice as Marian

Joan Rice as Maid Marian

 

This beautiful movie still of Joan Rice as Maid Marian has recently appeared on an auction site. I have never seen this before. Regular contributor John Nelson has also made me aware of this.

Joan appeared as Maid Marian in Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

Doesn't she look so beautiful and happy?

Recently I featured the design by Michael Whitaker for Joan's costume, which has also been up for auction. 

John has now purchased Whitaker's original drawing and displays it in a quality frame under fade-resistant glass. 

Michael Whitaker's design

Joan's Maid Marian Costume

 

This site is dedicated to the memory of Joan Rice (1930-1997), so I don't need much of an excuse to write another article about our beautiful Maid Marian. In my last blog post, I featured a costume design for her, created by Michael Whittaker, that has been auctioned recently.

As you can see, Whittaker even tried to capture Joan's features in his illustration. 

John Nelson, a regular contributor to this site, has sent me some images of Joan wearing the finished costume. And doesn't she look stunning!

Joan Rice's Maid Marian Costume

I am continually surprised by items appearing on auction sites connected to my favourite movie. There have been many, including the script from the film! And they have all been featured on this blog.

Here is another discovery:

These are images of the costume designed by Michael Whittaker (1918-1995) for Joan Rice in her role as Maid Marian. He has even attempted to paint her face. 

His artwork, depicting an outfit in violet and lime green with a white veil, was later created by the costume department for Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men- a live-action movie released in 1952. 

Joan wearing the costume designed by Whittaker

After a short-acting career, Michael Whittaker was nominated for an Academy Award for his costume design for the movie, The Black Rose in 1950. He later worked on Men of Sherwood Forest in 1954, but he is probably best remembered for designing the iconic black leather look for Honor Blackman in her role as Cathy in The Avengers TV series.

Robin Hood Artwork

The quality of the image isn't good. But this is another item that was up for auction recently and sent in by Matt Crandall. It is the original artwork for a page from the Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood 20 page colour story book released by Capitol US in 1952. 

Included with the book were two 78 RPM discs - an adaption of the movie by Alan Livingston.

The Billboard from August 1952 announced: 

"This is certain to be treasured by the many youngsters who will be lucky recipients of the album. What is etched on the two discs is just part of attraction. Bound into the album is a superbly illustrated 20 page book telling the Robin Hood story as it is given on the records. It is an excellent adaption of the Walt Disney pic by Capitol exec Alan Livingston. Nester Paiva is the narrator and songs are contributed by Eddie Pola, George Wyle, Elton Hayes and Lawrence E. Watkins with Billy May conducting the work. All do fine jobs. Dealers who tie in with the runs of the movie should move plenty of copies; also the set is capable of doing well enough on its own".

The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men had been released in New York on 26th June 1952 and the Billboard chart (above) was based on reports received for August 6th, 7th and 8th 1952. The records listed were those records selling best in American retail stores at the time. 

To read more about the many LP's and movie soundtracks connected to the film please click on the "Memorabilia" label.

Very Rare Robin Hood Promo Cards

 

I am constantly surprised by the various memorabilia that appears from Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood. After 15 years of blogging about this wonderful film, my readers still make me aware of items I have never seen that are up for auction.

John Nelson has sent me images of a series of extremely rare promotional cards.

As we have seen, the Walt Disney organisation backed their films with a huge promotional campaign - and still do.

Do you know which character was illustrated on the missing card, (number 8)? Or if you have seen this set of cards before please let me know.

There are over 81 pages on this blog showing the memorabilia connected to Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood. Just click on the 'Memorabilia' label.

Robin Hood Flour

                       

Janet VanMeter a Robin Hood fan and regular reader of this blog has recently shared pictures of her complete cookie cutter collection and poster that promoted Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and Robin Hood Flour.

Janet's cookie cutter collection

Also included in the promotion of the film were three giveaway small comic books, 7.25 inches tall x 5 inches wide and printed by Western Publishing. The first free comic was ‘The Miller’s Ransom,’ followed by the ‘Ghosts of Waylea Castle', the third is sadly unknown. The comics were written by Don Christensen and illustrated by Tony Sgroi and Russ Manning.

Robin Hood Flour was founded in 1900 by Donald Mclean in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, in western Canada. In 1909 the mill was taken over by Francis Atherton Bean of Minneapolis and within two years it was producing over 1,600 barrels of flour a day.

Using the green and red archer emblem as a sign of good value and respectability, Robin Hood Flour and its recipes have remained popular for over a century. In the late 50’s and early 1960’s the company even used a jingle made from the theme tune of the classic TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood which starred Richard Greene.

Thank you Janet for sharing your collection.

Robin Hood Postcard

This postcard (above) was one of the first pieces of memorabilia I ever bought. It is taken from a publicity still of Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952) and shows Richard Todd as Robin Hood and Joan Rice as Maid Marian. Do you have any postcards from this wonderful film?

Hal Osmond & Clement McCallin

We have seen several collections of memorabilia from Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men, owned by fans of the movie. The images below, have been kindly sent in by regular contributor John Nelson. They show the signatures of two stars of Disney’s wonderful live-action movie.

The Signature of Hal Osmond

Above is the signature of Hal Osmond (1903-1959) in 1946. Hal played the role of mischievous Midge the Miller for Disney in Robin Hood.

Hal as Midge the Miller

Below are a few more photographs from John's collection. These  show Clement McCallin (1913-1977) in a production of The Maid of the Mountains. This was performed at the Globe Theatre, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, from November 12th to 17th 1951. 

The filming of Disney’s Robin Hood had by this time finished at Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire. Clement McCallin had starred as Maid Marian’s father, the Earl of Huntingdon. Now, Clement was appearing on stage as Baldasarre in The Maid of the Mountains.

Clement as Baldasarre

Clement as the Earl of Huntingdon 

To learn more about these two wonderful actors, just click on the labels below or in the task bar.

Production Memorabilia 3

Prop and Set-Dressing List

These are the final images available of the production notes for Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men, made in England in 1951. The folder, containing many pages of fascinating detail has recently been sold at auction.

Above is a page from the Prop and Set-Dressing List, showing details from what appears to be the scene of King Richard’s departure for the Holy Land. Included with the main characters are 20 foresters, 15 bill or axe men, 2 acolytes with sensors, 15 crossbowmen etc.

Prop and set-dressing list

The next image (above) appears to be a continuation of the list, which includes, 21 bows for the bowmen, 15 crossbows, 15 quivers, a charger for King Richard and the Earl of Huntingdon, and the banner of England on a staff.

Patrick Barr (King Richard I) with some of the props

Robin Hood’s Costume

Above are details of Robin Hood’s costume, worn by Richard Todd who starred as the outlaw hero. Richard would have reached his 100th birthday last June.

Richard Todd as Robin Hood

Listed is his legendary bugle horn, green cloth hood, green cloth kirtle, short boots of soft brown basel and quiver and bow.

Short Bio on Richard Todd

On this page, we can view the short bio on Richard Todd. It describes how three years before his selection for the role by Disney, he had been an unknown repertory player. He had founded the Dundee Repertory Company and after his demobilisation from the Parachute Regiment he had been discovered in London by a director of Association British and given a contract. His first film was “ For Them That Trespass,” which so impressed the executives of the production company he was given the key role in “ The Hasty Heart,” alongside Ronald Reagan and Patricia Neal.

These glimpses of the production notes from the making of this wonderful film, have been a real treat. Many thanks to John Nelson for sending them in.