Walt Ruined the Career of Snow White's Voice Actress

[@tomklock568]

This was indeed a problem of the early years of the movie industry, not unique to Disney.

[@CerealGrrrl]

Yes!!! The lack of credits is notable in early Hollywood. Even epic big-budget movies like Gone With The Wind and Wizard of Oz have credits much shorter than everyone who actually contributed.

[@ggoodd32503]

Not so early. Disney still tries stuff like this

[@14ToeBeans]

Disney is a Deathstar of a company. They are always stealing whatever they can’t coerce.

[@Caterpillarjon]

$970 from then adjusted for inflation would be $17,500 today

[@rhynosouris710]

It was probably union scale at the time

[@chrismetzger8875]

She sounds like a princess.

[@forever7ag797]

She does

[@nicholasdruce5346]

@@forever7ag797 She is the voice of a princess, she was perfect, and always will be perfect.

[@brettsussin2833]

So glad that this rumor is put to rest.

[@14ToeBeans]

Is it though? No.

[@jerrygarcia3654]

I knew about how she became the voice but had never heard of what followed. Definitely not as nefarious as I was even imagining.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Yeah, well thats just the thing, people have tried to make it seem like she was blacklisted from Hollywood, and Walt ruining her career for laughs

[@smith9808]

@@AlextheHistorianyour literal title was “Walt ruined her career” People have these perceptions partly be because of you. Think of a less click baity title

[@AlextheHistorian]

@@smith9808 I'm sorry but no one would click on a video titled "Her Career Was Not Ruined". That's just how psychology works, people click on videos that they think have drama. I wish I didn't have to make clickbait titles, but this is the world we live in.

[@jaceyking5015]

I've heard people complaining about them not getting credited in the film, but it's like, it wasn't common practice back then for any voice actors in cartoons/radio shows really to get credited. I mean, Walt himself voiced Mickey Mouse back in the early days, and I don't remember once seeing a credit saying "Walt Disney as Mickey Mouse" so.....

[@AlextheHistorian]

Exactly! Thank you

[@nicholasdruce5346]

@@AlextheHistorian You should make a video about Howard Ashman, aka The man who gave a mermaid her voice, and a beast his soul.

[@susietorres8600]

Yeah, but Walt got the bucks.

[@alanashy3514]

So how do we know if they were not credited?

[@sekaiii]

The lady (Marge Champion) whose image and movement were used to create snow white just passed away😔 may her gentle soul RIP

[@loganw1232]

😢 She lived a long and well life.

[@throughthelookingglass5973]

Very well said! Thanks for defending Walt Disney. When you look into his life and beliefs, you can tell that he's a very decent person with a level head. Take, for instance, Lady and the Tramp was designed to raise animal rights awareness. But he's also a man of his generation with values and viewpoints very different from our own. Some people may accuse him of destroying Adriana Caselotti's career or being a racist for adding controversial scenes in Dumbo, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, or the Aristocats. But the truth is, people hardly had anything to complain about him back in his generation. These accusations are more current from people who didn't know him. He treated everyone with generosity as it was acceptable in his day. He was truly a good man!

[@djmutt2000]

Walt was not involved whatsoever in Aristocats

[@throughthelookingglass5973]

@@djmutt2000Okay, fair enough. I didn't see what date The Aristocats were made. All I know is that the current generation has a problem with the Chinese joke one of the cats made in the Everybody Wants To Be A Cat scene.

[@annien.1727]

I couldn't agree more! Walt was awesome!

[@Wubba2Write]

This is so interesting! I hadn't heard any of this before. I'm glad Disney included her as a "Disney Legend." I love happy endings! Thanks for sharing! 🍎

[@AlextheHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@garywidom]

I worked under contract at various jobs for the last 20 years. I was prohibited from working on camera/radio or publishing writing except for the company I was working for. However when a radio opportunity came about at another company, we modified the clause in my contract and I was allowed to work for the radio company. Your explanation of “preserving the magic” doesn’t hold water if Disney kept bringing her back and it didn’t matter if she was seen. Disney could have released her from the uncredited clause of her contract. He had the power to do that without her asking.

[@AlextheHistorian]

But that's what I was alluding to in this video, he kept bringing her back, which means he must have altered the terms in her contract. If you wanna know the gods honest truth, no one besides the Disney company has seen her contract, no KZbinr, not even me, has seen it. There's no telling what really happened here, I've always assumed just what you said, Walt altered her contract to let her work elsewhere, but then again I don't know. Historically, during the golden age of Hollywood, a studio often "owned" it's actors and actresses, and "loaned" them out to other studios. Look at Laurel and Hardy, they were contract employees who could only make pictures with other studios if their own studio allowed it. I'll give you the honest truth, NOBODY knows the circumstances of Adrianna's employment, but the reason I made this video was to let people know that Walt Disney did NOT ruin her career.

[@OfMiceAndTrains]

I remember in the 70’s and early 80’s going to see her at meet and greets at the Howard Lowery Gallery or at a Disney club event. She would were her Snow White dress and talk and sing just like Snow White. She was a lovely lady to talk to. Thanks for another great video.

[@everettfryman1024]

Thank you Alex for this fantastic presentation. I truly appreciate your magnificent efforts to illuminate the people of the world, about the truth behind the life and times of one of the greatest Americans to have ever existed. I’m especially grateful of the vintage footage of Ms. Caselotti and her wonderful contribution to this groundbreaking motion picture experience. Thank you again for this wonderful presentation.

[@IDontWantThisStupidHandle]

Also (when detailing her pay -- since the tone and wording seem to imply it was a low figure) $20 USD back in 1934 (when she would have started recording) was $390 and change. I'm sure anyone, especially a teenager, living through the middle of the Great Despression would have died to make $390 USD per day of work!!

[@LL-bl8hd]

Very interesting story. It shows how Walt was very protective of the Disney image even back at the start of the company. He didn't want Snow White starring in a cheap B-movie. It could be considered controlling, but it's also part of what helped build the company's reputation. There's always more than one side to any story.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Indeed, plus many movie studios exercised control over actors at the time, it was quite common.

[@nicholasdruce5346]

At 7:48, as I subscribed. I started to cry a bit.

[@dizzydevil547]

@@AlextheHistorian Ah yes the OLD studio system ALSO a LOT of Musical films back then the main actors were dubbed with the singing even up to West side story by the likes of Marni Nixon etc who NEVER got the recognition till a lot later on when it all came out! (IT still makes me laugh with Singing in the Rain as it was used as the plot of the film but folks didn't realize that was what was actually happening in real life and Debbie Reynolds' singing in two songs was dubbed by Betty Noyes in the film!😉🤣 ) ....in some ways, I'm glad it's gone and actors and actresses are not tied to 1 studio anymore and can pick and choose their roles and work for different film companies ...BUT on the other hand, even though the studios were controlling they did look after their actors/ actresses well and made sure they went through all the things like voice training, etiquette and so on and so on that actors, these days won't get that sort of experience so its a bit of a double-edged sword tbh BUT you do have TO ADMIT some great and classic films came out of those bygone times! i mean in 50yrs time will things like the Marvel movies, titanic, etc be remembered in the same way as films like Gone with the Wind, Cleopatra, meet me in st Louis, wizard of oz to name a few ..Im not sure they will be!

[@AlextheHistorian]

Well Titanic will be for sure, you cannot compare Titanic to Marvel movies. Titanic is considered a modern classic and is up there on the shelf with Cleopatra. In fact, when I tell most people that I enjoy the movie Cleopatra...they have no idea what movie I'm talking about because they've never seen it, nor have the patience to sit through it.

[@Caterpillarjon]

This reminds me of Herbert Sorrell threatening that he'd smear Walt if he didn't give in to strike demands. He started a smear campaign against Walt, that is still going strong. Sorrell's smear campaign led to the claims Walt was a racist and anti-semite.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Its quite sad what people will say when they're angry.

[@Lancefer66]

I think it is wonderful how you not only tell a story in an informative way, but you also taught a lesson. You have a heart of gold, Alex.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thank you! 😊

[@jillliankp]

Ugh as always you killed this. I dont know how you create the best content all the time.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Lol! Thank you!

[@conradvirant3130]

Most all of life is “more complex than simple emotions.” People would do well to keep that in mind when making all decisions. I never knew about this controversy. Nice to hear it explained. I’m always impressed by your research Alex and enjoy the presentation.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks Conrad!

[@ThereIsAlwaysaWay2]

AMAZING video, congratulation for giving and HONEST perspective. ♥♥♥

[@MsDisneylandlover]

I never heard the story or the actress but she is pretty.

[@HappiAcrossCultures]

Thank you so much for doing this with such grace and understanding of the cultural and historical context of the time. It’s very easy for us of modern time to just throw everything of the past under the bus and talk bad about it as if we don’t have our own unique problems now that future generations will look down on. I hope more people can look more at the historical context to understand the bigger picture like you so beautifully did here! Thank you again and this was an absolute joy to watch with my grandparents who remember the excitement surrounding Snow White and these early Disney movies as it was an industry changing time! 💕💕 my grandparents proudly display a portrait of a painted frame used in making Pinocchio!! I respect the discipline and perseverance of the creators of that time so much!!! There’s so much we can learn from other time periods!

[@rachelberrythegleequeen.3221]

I do feel bad that she didn’t do anything else after that though and the little part she had in the Wizard of Oz she should’ve gotten credit for that

[@AlextheHistorian]

It wasn't commonplace to have the amount of credits like we see today. Filmmakers didn't think people would sit through several minutes of credits, now you have things like WandaVision which has 7 minutes of credits at the end, naming everyone and their mother.

[@InteractiveRealm]

Another great video Alex.. I was actually never heard of any of this before.

[@AlextheHistorian]

It's strange, it seems a lot of people haven't.

[@Nightfall69]

Thank you, Alex, for providing a complete telling of this circumstance. You have provided scope to an often told single perspective. Your research provides a more complete understanding. Bless you.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thank you!

[@Alverland]

Hi Alex. Sad to hear about your departure från the podcast, you're a real asset there. Hopefully we'll hear more from you here though. Keep up the good work. :-)

[@Alexz5040]

Thankyou for giving FULL context and information

[@tikitorchgamin1842]

So sad because she is my favorite Disney Princess, and the actress could've made it so far in the cartoon industry.

[@AlextheHistorian]

But that wasn't her wish, it wasn't her goal. She wanted to be an opera singer, but more than that, she liked being a stay at home wife.

[@tclark101]

I'm going to go a little against the grain of most comments here -- I think you let Walt off the hook a bit too easy on the contractual thing. He had the authority to release her from the stipulations of the contract that prevented her from doing credited work. I do agree that in general she seemed treated fairly well and didn't harbor any ill will, but just throwing hands up and saying "well that's what was in the contract!" doesn't account for the fact that Walt absolutely could have released her from it.

[@AlextheHistorian]

But what nobody knows is if she asked him to release her from the stipulations. Maybe she did and maybe he did.

[@Fattiapples]

I’m thinking if she did and he did release her she would have her name be credited in her work. I also think you let him off the hook too easy

[@AlextheHistorian]

Well first, I didn't let Walt off the hook, I stated in the video that she knew what she signed, when she signed it. And how do you know if or more importantly, WHEN she asked him to release the stipulations of the contact, she could have asked in the 1960's...which means her work prior to that would have still gone uncredited. The matter I cover in this video is not an opinion piece, it is not a defense for anyone. Its what happened historically speaking. She signed off her rights to not being credited, and Walt was unaware she would be interested in acting 3 years later. Its history, history doesn't take sides.

[@Fattiapples]

Alex the Historian the way it comes across in the video sounds a bit opinionated. It sounds as though you were defending Walt to a degree. Which is fine that’s your view. At the end of the day we don’t know what walt or her were thinking at the time even if she never said she was mad about the situation or Walt. If it didn’t sound a little opinionated I don’t think the original poster or I would have had our opinion of how the info was conveyed.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Well I assure you it wasn't the intention. What I was trying to convey in the video was that there was more to the story than the "Walt is a villain" version that everyone sticks to for clicks. And not every story has a hero and a villain. Thats all.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

I recently saw SuperCarlinBrothers talk about this, but I'm glad you did too and dove deeper into the topic

[@AlextheHistorian]

Yeah I saw you in their comments section. After I saw their video, I really felt tired of journalists and KZbinrs picking and choosing the parts of the story that fit their narrative.

[@nicoleflores2054]

I also watched it but this video had more information that changed SuperCarlinBrothers's one

[@brucemarshall5110]

When I watch your videos I don't feel like I'm watching KZbin. You've gotten so damn good, I feel like I'm watching PBS! 😋 This episode was no exception! Great content and production quality, top notch as always. Thanks Alex!

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks Bruce! Thats a huge compliment!

[@brianwisdom6826]

Thank you for this video, Alex! It was a great insight into how things worked at the time the movie was made. During that time, it was the studios, not the stars that had the power. You signed a studio contract and you were essentially owned by that studio. Doesn’t sound like Walt acted with any malice, it was just the practice for the time. Hollywood is filled with tales of stars who were “flashes in the pan” so no guarantees that she would have become a huge star if things were different.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Well put!

[@sunlord6167]

I'm just gonna say it, that was an extremely shitty thing to do to someone. I get that that may have been an problem of the time but its still a problem and should be called as such.

[@eulyc.959]

I'm no expert, so if someone could explain to me why, I'd appreciate it. Why not just terminate her contract? It became successful, years later she's still happy to make appearances and holds a good relationship with walt and the company. Once he didn't care about the illusion of things, why not terminate the contract in order for her to fully follow her own career and dreams? Or instead of altogether cutting short the career of someone at 18, add a clause that the contract can be renegotiated in a few years depending on the success of the movie? Whoever was in charge of writing the contract could have added a some terms along those lines from the beginning

[@taylordowning2533]

💯

[@bigdeal6852]

I wonder if Walt Disney would be rolling in his grave if he knew how bad things got at Disney ? ☹️

[@michaeltaylor1603]

The way I see it. Walt often times DID repay loyalty with either other "deals" or repeat performances, like Lucille Ball did. Examples, Ward Kimble, Fess Parker, Art Linkletter (hosted DL opening as MC but was NOT paid) Art did get a photo concession stand where he made wayyyy more than the (scale pay to host the show)

[@Wubba2Write]

Hi Alex, I was just at the end of watching your Disneyland ghost stories part 1 when it disappeared from my phone. It said the video had gone to private. I was like, "Oh, no." Anyhow, I enjoy your ghost stories and I hope we'll get to see part one again, and also part two. Thanks for sharing! And hope you have a nice October. 👻

[@linette0105]

Thank you for the explanation. Honestly, I was sad for her when I heard this story, but now I understand better the reasons.

[@purefoldnz3070]

and now the new Snow White actress is trying to ruin the new film. Ironic.

[@lakojake4215]

That's funny, because the next Snow White is about to have her career ruined as well. Although she has herself to blame.

[@tylerfrederick246]

I never heard of this rumor. I haven't seen Snow White in years! Years! If the actress never spoke ill of Walt, nobody should either. Gossip is just that, Gossip. I love Walt Disney

[@mollycblaeser]

I don't blame him at all for ensuring that Adriana would be synonymous with Snow White. It wasn't uncommon back then, but it gave her voice a somewhat more magical quality. She is **only** Snow White.

[@statisticallysound]

An agreement made between two unequal powers is almost always subject to exploitation. Clearly Disney exploited Adriana by enforcing the contract she signed when she had no name recognition, representation, or erstwhile relevance. No doubt after the film’s success she would’ve had more leverage in compensation negotiations. An unfortunate dark mark on a man so clearly influential in the innovation of entertainment

[@AlextheHistorian]

First, it was standard for ALL studios to do this, so Walt was no different, its not like he was "that one guy" -so to speak. Second, Adrianna was not originally interested in a movie-acting career, she was interested in Stage Opera. And third, theres technically no proof she ever signed such a contract, its just widely believed she must have. Walt was not at fault, even Adrianna never blamed him or held a grudge, in fact she always spoke highly of him.

[@statisticallysound]

@@AlextheHistorian yeah absolutely, I have no doubt this was standard for the time. I’m glad you emphasized that Walt was not inherently bad, but just a cog in the machine and did what was expected for the time. Clearly he even felt guilty about it later, which is commendable! Just an unfortunate artifact of history really and one that even Walt struggled with, even if it was only after the fact

[@statisticallysound]

@@AlextheHistorian I respect your perspective on this by the way, even if we may not eventually agree on the conclusions. I think it’s actually more interesting that there were clearly many laudable things about the man Walt Disney, but he was not without fault. That makes him both human and relatable. I don’t wish to say he was a bad person, just to highlight that even universally recognized “good people” can find themselves wielding their power in ways we, or even they, would not expect. Sure, this hurt Adriana, as her financial success in no way matched her professional success, but we can’t prove that this was because of Disney’s greed, it’s actually just much more likely that she signed a contract that made sense for her at the time and only later we realize was probably unfair.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Exactly. And I'm the first to admit, Walt had many faults, he weilded his power with absolution, he could be short with people, he said regrettable things (which evidence later showed his positive change of character with age). But he gets accused of things that aren't true, he wasn't misogynistic, he wasn't an anti-semite, he wasn't racist, and he wasn't homophobic. But people somehow assume that if he could cuss someone out, then he must have been any number of other things. My goal is to show people his real flaws, and debunk the outlandish ones that have been plaguing him after his death.

[@rosie2525]

interesting o: thanks for clearing everything up, alex!!

[@AlextheHistorian]

No problem Rosie! Thanks for watching!

[@sparkleypegs8350]

Walt is everyone's favourite Uncle. :)

[@officialmichaelcarrasco]

Just watched this again! SO amazing - especially with all the false information out there on this subject! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@CerealGrrrl]

I think you should do one of these videos on Bobby Driscoll. He's been "trending", so to speak, since the Rescue Rangers movie's villain felt too close to comfort for many. His story is extremely tragic and depressing, yet there also are some conspiracy theories and knee-jerk reactions about it, so I'd like this kind of nuanced perspective about it.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

She handal that with class a disneyland at end of day God honor her in made a way to get what she rightfully deserve in the disneyland company. I missed disneyland.

[@thefouranimationproduction]

I couldn't found her grave because she got cremated but if I saw her tombstone ill pay respect for her

[@Attmay]

Many of the attacks on Walt make me understand why people used to take Freudian psychology seriously. But as for your point about Disney being a publicly-traded company, that is only partially true. Yes, it is on the NYSE now, but at the time of this film's release, it was still privately held.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Yes, but I meant that when people asked why Walt didn't give her more money later in life, it was a publicly traded company. Besides, the point still stands, after the movie release you dont just go around handing actors bonuses...there was a previously agreed upon contract

[@ericnelson8422]

Another excellent piece! Your work has so much heart in it, that's what makes it better than the rest! Rock on Alex!! ❤ & 🔬❄👁🙏🤞🏻

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks!

[@jetsons101]

Hi Alex, just passing time before dinner and watch this video. Really enjoyed it as I never heard of the story. I read a fair amount of the comments and they seem allover in deferring opinions. This would be a tuff subject to cover but you did a fine job. I looked up her house on google earth, she was somewhat close to "Pinks Hot Dogs." Thanks and take care....

[@gabiocampo6639]

The singer who played snow white in Spanish was never payed,AND her name was never showed on the titles,actually none of d artists who for Spanish version

[@captainayaaya28]

More people need to see this video! Great job!!!

[@colleencrane4843]

#Truth Alex that was so interesting, thank you Doll !

[@Kenwithin]

Great video!

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Rip Walt he was only you human still love u father of Disneyland.

[@KendrickHarrisKenfinity]

The never-changing pipes of our sweet performer/singing official's daughter is the best along with the facts between her, the man and the studio that brought Snow White to life.🎯✏🎥🎶🙏🏾🌅 Stay safe and keep it up!

[@cliffl2406]

Well done.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks!

[@The_momur]

I wish I could find the episode of The Tonight Show where Carson interviewed her. She was adorable.

[@lauri-jeancarlson8476]

happy early halloween alex

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thank you, Lauri! You too!

[@princepeterwolf]

What happened 4 months ago on KZbin? There's at least five different channels that released videos on this subject.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Its one of those things where it falls in and out of popularity. 4 months ago I got tired of seeing the same old misguided information so I went and created my own video on the subject.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

I met snow white so many time all the princesses and they all respect I loved the fact how big of tiana fan I am. My last 2019 bday I met snow her outside the entrance of Disneyland n she rave so much on my tiana outfit I had on. Lol. Fun memory.

[@melodyspalace]

she literally only had one single line in the wizard of oz..

[@forever7ag797]

She’s really pretty 😊

[@wrybreadspread]

Good on you, Alex. Splendidly done. A plague on the habitual naysayers who delight in blackening reputations on a seeming whim.

[@moonlightpathfinder1380]

the problem with walt disney is that his name is the same as the name of the company so if i say she signed a contract for disney we unintentionally attatch evry good and bad thing to the real person

[@dodgeymike]

It's kinda dispicable that she was never allowed to be credited in any movie she appeared in.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Times were different back then, an actor didn't just do movies willy nilly like today. They were often contracted (owned) to a specific studio, working on various films with no say in which films they appeared in. If that actor decided to do a movie for another studio (which they usually were not allowed to, but Walt didn't mind sharing), they had to accept certain terms, such as not being credited for those roles. This was normal for the entire film industry back then, its not like Walt targeted her.

[@7LouNar]

I'm sorry but did you deliberately left out the part that both Adriana and Harry Stockwell (voice of the Prince) filed a lawsuit against Disney studios for soundtrack rights..although they lost (it is theorised that there was a backroom deal struck between them, and that is why she didn't denounce the company) The fact remains that after all the success the movie received (both in recognition and in cashflow) , Walt should have (and definitely could have-now that there was no "flop risk") give a better cut to the stars that built the foundation of his empire. She was only acknowledged when the film was re-released decades later, when she had already been struggling to land any roles in the industry (and those that she did, as you mentioned, we're only uncredited short parts).. So her carrier, whichever that may had been was basically ruined and the recognition of her tremendous contribution came in the form of a tribute title.. As a "Disney Legend", so late as in 1994...when she was well past her 70s(with no further carrier prospects).. 3 years before her death.. 🙄

[@AlextheHistorian]

Yes she filed a lawsuit for soundtrack rights, that didn't mean Walt Disney did something wrong. She sued the company, not the man. Walt may have been president but he was always battling with board members who held nearly equal power to him, and they often chewed him out for business dealings decided by his gut. They preferred to run a business by the book. A judge decides who is wrong in a lawsuit case. The judge threw out her case because she had previously signed over her rights to the music. She did that voluntarily. And she was only suing because the music was being transferred to phonograph to be sold on records. I dont blame her for wanting to collect royalties, but in the 1930s it was unheard of for contracted actors to collect royalties. There's a reason it's called "contracted acting" the studio pays you for your time, like any other job, and when your contract is over, you go separate ways. Hollywood has pretty much done away with that type of deal by now, but Walt was not a bad person for following normal studio practices. It's best not to theorize about how she felt, because the fact of the matter is, all we know is what she has told us. And from what she has told us, she never held anything against him. If people say "she was given hush money for trying to sue" or "she secretly despised Walt"...the poor woman is dead, she can't set the story straight and defend or denounce Walt. Now, denouncing the company, that's more believable, since after Walt's death they basically ignored her outright.

[@RobertK1993]

Disney a shrewd businessman.

[@moniquemc4553]

I love all of your videos. 💖

[@14ToeBeans]

Stop it. A rich corporation took full advantage of a teenager. Disney broke the contract when he had her act instead of just sing & used her likeness for the entire character w/out crediting her! Then it was set up as “impolite” for her to ever ask for more $$? There are so many things that Disney could have done to help bring her success instead of hindering it even w/out paying residuals. All of the men on the Disney Board of Directors made business decisions w/out fear of being completely cut off & considered “impolite” if discussing money. No 18 yr old knows what they are doing when signing a contract. Listen to Dave Chappelle’s story. “The lesson to learn here,” is that you have to fight to get paid what you are worth & if anyone decides you aren’t a “nice” when you’re discussing $$, they don’t have your best interests at heart.

[@AlextheHistorian]

You're speaking entirely from your heart and forcing a "big company bad 😠" narrative. Accusing Walt Disney of taking advantage of a teenager and using her likeness without permission is unfounded and completely false. You're making up something that doesn't exist. The fact of the matter, directly from her lips, was that she didn't feel cheated about anything, she held no grudge, and she didn't blame Walt Disney. She expressed that in hindsight, she wished she got more money, but so does EVERY actor from a movie that becomes a hit. Snow White was predicted to be Walt's folly, no one could have known how hugely successful it would be. They paid her what she was worth in 1936. With today's SAG-AFTRA agreements, it's easy to get angry when you hear that an actor isn't getting their residuals. But you CANNOT apply the conventions of modern day to history. At the time, it was unheard of for ANY actor to receive residuals. If she did, she would have probably been the first actor to get residuals. The conventional method was to sign actors under studio contract and while they worked for the studio, the studio retained all rights to the actors name, voice, and likeness. That wasn't just Disney it was ALL movie studios. That doesn't make Walt or Disney bad.

[@2uitdoesntmatter]

Great content

[@isabelle8836]

She should have gotten more money.

[@MsLilly200]

The thing about her never speaking badly about Walt and the Disney company though... She couldn't exactly do that if they were like, the main people willing to hire her. Like yeah she could once she retired maybe, but during her whole career it would be a fairly big risk I think. Like, Disney probably wouldn't want to hire her anymore, and other companies might see a girl who'd speak out about the treatment she got as a little risky when there were already other girls lining up for work who'd kept quiet about similar stuff.

[@AlextheHistorian]

I watched several of her interviews, each done as an elderly woman who hadn't been hired by Disney in decades. She had only the deepest gratitude for Walt Disney and her role as Snow White. And spoke about Walt as a great friend. Not everyone wants to follow the path we see them going. And not everyone considers themselves a victim.

[@MsLilly200]

@@AlextheHistorian That's fair. I was just thinking that could have had some part her PR. Since you know... A girl has to eat lol. Sorry if you mentioned those interviews in the video and I didn't notice.

[@bigeyegreedy]

Now the new Snow White is ruining Disney.

[@LaurensTravels]

Interesting story

[@MsDisneylandlover]

In note the snow white ride is really scary I don't ride it at least not by myself n crazy thing I am a solo disneyland person lol. So I never ride it. Praying for that disneyland husband.

[@AlextheHistorian]

They're making the ride less scary right now. If that helps

[@MsDisneylandlover]

@@AlextheHistorian okay we will c lol. I may not ride it still at least not by myself lol.

[@exdianas]

i find it ridiculous that people get upset FOR Adriana because walt didn't credit her. 1. she's dead now, unfortunately. even then she spoke fondly of him. 2. she still got roles, and very much enjoyed them, even if she wasn't credited. it was just a little harder 3. they still let her play roles in their company 4. they still gave her money, which at the time was $20 or more, which now would be a lot. 5. she was aware she wasn't credited, and was aware even before it released 6. she was probably thankful she wasn't. what if the movie didn't do well? then it'd probably be more difficult to find roles, rather than the difficulties she had when she wasn't credited. this was all consensual as well. she knew this would happen.

[@ElanaVitality]

Spoken like someone who has never had to survive as an actor

[@AlextheHistorian]

@ElanaVitality the point being made is that Adriana didn't feel the way others feel about Walt Disney. She didn't blame him, she didn't even consider herself at a disadvantage. She didn't accept people putting words into her mouth or having attitudes towards something she didn't feel herself. So in the case of Adriana and her working relationship with Walt, people should stop speaking FOR her, because she did not feel that way.

[@ElanaVitality]

@@AlextheHistorian When I was being abused I made excuses for my abuser, too. And obviously she isn't going to disparage the only hand that feeds her. Look what Walt did to the ladies working the Ink and Paint club, or how he accused anyone who disagreed with his workplace policies of Marxism out of retaliation. Come on dude.

[@AlextheHistorian]

@ElanaVitality "the only hand that feeds her" ...she didn't have to sign a contract to be in the movie, she wanted to. She didn't even want to be an actress, she went on to pursue her TRUE dream job. How he treated women in the ink and paint department...what are you talking about? You know that whenever animation positions opened up, the first opportunities went to the WOMEN in the ink and paint department? Did you know that while women faced work-place harassment from men at Warner Bros and Universal. Walt was the only animation big wig to put out a memo denouncing harassment and threatening to fire anyone that bothered the women in his company? As for him firing anyone that disagreed with him...ya that's a known flaw of his, but he didn't fire people for no reason. The people he fired for disagreement were people that were either two-faced, racist, or just plain difficult people to work with, who thought THEY were in charge. Adriana never spoke poorly about Walt Disney. And since you cannot mind-read, it's best you take her word for it. If we let everyone speak for others instead of just listening to the people themselves, this world would be an even worse place. The thing is, you cannot claim that your experience as an actor is hers. That is a massive assumption of her based on your emotion or feeling that she went through what you went through, and that is a dangerous mind-set.

[@cealdi1516]

@@ElanaVitality I am dying laughing at you pretending you're anything like this amazing actress and that you have any clue at all what happened there. Sounds like you're just dramatic and histrionic.

[@nicoleflores2054]

there's an video telling about this situation but I don't know if it's actually true that Walt was the reason that her career was ruined or not. tho this video was analized incredibly!

[@AlextheHistorian]

There are a lot of videos and articles about this, and mine is the only one saying he didn't ruin her career.

[@nicoleflores2054]

@@AlextheHistorian true, though I think this video feels of having more true information and putting this again, as a rumour. There's also no drama happening about the Actress talking stuff about Disney and Walt Disney at some point, neither about a demand.

[@suppengroove]

still a better end than most of the voice actors from the first (of 3) german dub had minimum 3 got killed in kz's later on :(

[@juliocesarofficial]

ele morreu na década de 66

[@wolf2912]

She got a bad deal but hey it could be worse Rip adriana casseloti Rip Walt Disney

[@ggt47]

The Disney Queen.

[@BrizzB]

Two "Sister's"??? Why is there an apostrophe in a plural? Editing, yo!

[@AlextheHistorian]

Well there's just one of me, there's bound to be a few mistakes. It took me 3 weeks to make this video, and I was pretty meticulous about it, but mistakes can still be made. Human yo!

[@akungoogle9631]

Hey everyone waiting year 2024 live action disney princesses rachel zegler as snow white upcoming movie

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Right now I can just hear well at Disneyland saying I am wishing n I can can hear the eco too I am wishing. Lo man i missed disneyland. Anyone have a penny I can borrow to throw in the well. Lol.

[@princesspeachfan100]

I heard rumors she recorded the “I’m Wishing” song (in the 70’s?) for that well, (or one of them for one of the parks), and I believe they still use it today for it. :)

[@MsDisneylandlover]

And yall Disney fans n Alex check me out #DisneyDiva yall stay safe n keep the magic. Pray for the disneyland cast members.

[@heem.2353]

I heard Walt had it in her contract that she could not act in any other movie-at least, non-Disney. I thought that ruined her career.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Did you watch the video?

[@MsDisneylandlover]

New video cool

[@booklight4902]

Unethical to not pay her more, I hope it was rectified

[@SuperMicky64]

Your silly grab me title is what’s wrong with society. People weren’t self congratulatory in those days and were very happy to be part of a legend, she talks about it and says it never bothered her, instead she was proud.

[@fundifferent1]

Um, no... He still could have let her out of the contract or explicitly look the other way if she broke it.

[@AlextheHistorian]

She was an adult. She made her decision. When you're an adult you have to live with the decisions you make.

[@dietdrpepper15]

I read a Disney approved bio on Walt and then an unapproved one that you know claimed he was awful. And I’m sure he was in between them, like a person is.

[@thomasbrown4211]

The man who played the prince (I can't remember his name) tried to sue Disney with Adriana (sorry if that's spelled wrong)

[@nicoleflores2054]

source?

[@alanashy3514]

The man who played the prince is called harry stockwell

[@gooderambles]

Just because it was standard practice at the time... And just because Adriana Caselotti took the high road... That doesn't make it right. And Walt Disney always had the ability to change the terms of the contract, but wouldn't do so because... reasons. And even if he threw scaps her way in the following decades, it doesn't change the fact that he made an inexperienced young person sign a manipulative contract and refused to let her out of it long after there was no good reason to maintain the terms of the initial agreement.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Actually the context matters a lot. Because if Adriana had no problem with it, why should you? What gives you the right to speak for her, to say thoughts she never expressed, to feel anger she never exhibited? The second someone starts speaking FOR someone else, is where things get dangerous. If the contract was standard practice at the time, how can you assume Walt maliciously roped her into it? SHE asked to be in that movie. And she never expressed any regrets, ever, over her acting career, or about Walt Disney. History teaches us that we cannot assign new meaning to something, we have to look at it with the evidence provided and see it for face value. Otherwise allowing an interpretive free-for-all will spark chaos and it will lead us further from the point. People have been lied to about Walt Disney. A smear campaign dating back to 1947 has transgressed through to modern day, founded on no facts, but rather, EMOTION. How people FEEL about who Walt Disney was. For every accusation against him there are dozens of hard facts that contradict it.

[@gooderambles]

@@AlextheHistorian Like I said: It's still a bad thing to do to someone even if it was more common back in the day.

[@AlextheHistorian]

But it wasn't a bad thing to do to someone. If you get a driver's license for a regular car, they tell you, "this license is only good for a car, you cannot drive a commercial truck or operate heavy machinery with this license." Are you going to agree to that and then later say "that was so mean of them to prevent me from driving other machinery!" No, because they told you what the contract and law was, and you ASKED to sign it. Adriana was fully aware what she was signing and she did it anyway...because she knew she didn't want to be an actor, she just wanted the part of Snow White.

[@gooderambles]

@@AlextheHistorian Adriana was 18, a teenager, when she signed that contract. Teenagers don't have their life figured out at that age. By your admission, Caselotti signed the contract under the false pretense that she would be performing for short cartoons and hadn't initially planned to try to be an actor. But guess what? Like all young people under the age of 25, she changed her mind on what she wanted to do with her life, Only this time, she was barred from doing so because of an arbitrary clause in a contract. The contracr that she signed while she was too young to have figured out what she wanted to do with her life and that was signed under false pretenses.

[@AlextheHistorian]

@gooderambles it wasn't false pretenses, she was hired as a voice actor for cartoons...she played not only snow white, but she also did voice over for other Disney cartoons. Hired to voice cartoons: voiced cartoons. There was no false pretense. Snow White was the world's first full length animated feature. Even the movie industry didn't know how to classify it other than a cartoon, only it wasn't short. As for what you said about her being 18 and not knowing better...sorry but that's life. When you're 18 you are legally considered an adult and must take responsibility for your actions. No industry on this planet is responsible for making sure an 18 year old is making the right decision with employment. If an 18 year old gets a job at Burger King but TRULY wished to work at McDonald's, is Burger King responsible for making sure that kid made the right employment decision? It was standard practice for cartoon companies and the movie industry in general to make contracts with actors and those contracts have stipulations that are explained to the actor before signing. Walt Disney wasn't some wicked warlock just waiting to ruin Adrianas life, in fact her life was not ruined at all. And let's not forget, Walt didn't write those contracts, there were people who worked in the company who established the order. Walt was just the creative guy thar asked for the things he wanted to create to be done. He didn't design the company regulations or even the employee handbook.

[@chgem.2658]

Nonsense

[@MatthewOnAFireMissionFromGod]

He absolutely could have sign a modified contract, revising the crediting provision. to speak ill of Disney publicly because that's the only place she was going to get work from; this is completely exploitation.

[@AlextheHistorian]

You're making a lot of assumptions.

[@richardkennedy8481]

"With the Disney fan base growing exponentially in recent years..." In what cave, on what planet do you live?

[@AlextheHistorian]

This video is old, the fan base WAS growing at the time.

[@katelynjohnson9229]

LOVE this video. I pray Disney stops going on the woke direction and hold to its values on focusing on kindness, positivity, and looking for the good in others. Innocence and joy.

[@ElanaVitality]

Meh. Disney is and always woll be a heartless machine.

[@cealdi1516]

"I prefer to villainize people over false information!"