June 7, 2011 11:21 AM
I stumbled across this story yesterday and wanted to share it with you all. "The last take...
There's a wonderful story about Adriana Caselotti's re-recording of the soundtrack now used at Snow White's Wishing Well at Disneyland - that was done back during the 50th anniversary theatrical re-release of Snow White. [A magazine writer friend related it to me, and this seems like the perfect part of the site to finally tell it.]
Apparently, Adriana used to take the greatest of pride that until her very last days she could still do the famous "voice" - and usually she sounded just about as fresh then as she did back in the late thirties.
As you may well know, I'm Wishing, the song you hear every few minutes at the well requires a very solid, almost operatic, voice to perform well. Over the years for the more demanding studio work, Adriana had been increasingly replaced by several other actresses who were a little bit more reliable whenever it came time to do Snow's voice.
For this little project, apparently the forces that be at Disney thought it would be a nice touch to give her one last shot to digitally record and replace the patched together film soundtrack they were using at the grotto since it was originally installed. They wanted to capture her performance as Snow for posterity as the years went on.
Anyway, the day for the session came, and sadly, try as she may, Adriana just could not reach the high notes required of her for the song. Take after take came and then went - and she just couldn't make it. People who had pushed so very hard for her to do this little project were heartbroken to say the least.
Finally, apparently just as she sensed they were going to call the session over, she asked if she could go ahead and ask someone for help. Rather puzzled, (since she was alone in the studio) the engineer and producer went ahead and gave her the go-ahead.
She turned away from the mike - looked up skyward - and very quietly asked:
Mr. Disney, if you are up there - please help me find Snow White's voice.
After a moment, she turned back around and asked for a last take. The engineer crossed his fingers, hit the start button, and the tape began to roll. She got each and every note absolutely perfect that one last time.
[And yes... those tears welling up in your eyes now are just what happened to everyone who was in the studio too upon the completion of the track.]
So, the next time you stop by Snow White's Wishing Well at Disneyland do take a careful listen won't you? It's quite a heavenly performance they have playing there if you ask me."
I loved reading this and thought you all would appreciate it as well. (my apologies if this has been posted before) Source: http://tinyurl.com/3r4d69g
What a great story! Thank you for sharing it with us -
UppityEmpress
783.8 #2 11:24AM
Awesome! And I'm. Not tearing up,,, my eyes are just tired from yesterday! Really! I'm serious!! -
Zipitydoodahdad
258.3 #939 11:30AM
Yeah... Or there's something in your eye, right? Hahaha Yup... I totally teared up when I read it lol -
SPandEvLover
819.4 #116 11:41AM
Wow.. I am tearing up! Geez everything Disney makes me get all emotional! -
Bandleader Mickey
218.3 #1410 11:44AM
Wow! I teared up on queue!! What a sweet story. Thanks for sharing. *hands you a churro* -
HandMeAChurroImmaFaint
1837.6 #43 11:46AM
Love it. I'll have to take my boys to the wishing well next visit so I can hear it...I mean so they can make a wish :) -
iDreamAboutDumbo
307.4 #586 11:46AM
Great story!! -
Darla
22.2 #4963 11:48AM
Yay!!! *happy dance* Gotta churro outta the deal! Hahaha (what's sad is that churro will probably be the highlight of my day lol) -
SPandEvLover
819.4 #116 11:48AM
What a great story. Thanks for sharing. -
veronica619
517.3 #228 11:49AM
Wow, awesome story. Thanks for sharing. -
weaver941
403.9 #331 11:49AM
I have a sketch from one of the family fun days in jan, the artist that did my sketch of snow white personally knew adriana. It was amazing hearing the stories of time they spent together. That sketch means more to me than anything I have bought at disneyland. The joy in her face and tone in her face when she told me some history of snow white and disney is something I will never forget! -
MsSnowWhite
297.4 #638 11:50AM
Really cool thanks for posting. We'll add it next trip. -
unclebeezy
230.0 #1268 11:50AM
Awesome story. -
CantWait
1044.9 #85 11:52AM
I love the Wishing Well and that's a FABULOUS story! -
PrinceCorey
4242.2 #6 11:53AM
Wonderful Thank you for sharing! -
Ladystrac
438.6 #289 12:37PM
Thank you sooo much for sharing this fantastic story!!! -
kyoto_sparkle
150.2 #2331 3:02PM
Amazing! Thanks for sharing! -
DizGeek
453.3 #273 3:02PM
So sweet and I too teared up on que.
Love these kind of stories. Thanks for sharing.
-
Sunny
781.6 #124 3:03PM
That story got me too! Thanks for posting! -
msdizmaui
521.5 #226 3:04PM
Tears welling up? No! Tears streaming down my face!!!!!!!!!!! -
WaltSentMe
317.3 #552 3:07PM
I'm SO glad to hear I'm not the only one who it made tear up! my MW family hehe -
SPandEvLover
819.4 #116 3:08PM
This is a beautiful story full of magic! -
Tataandbeyond
74.8 #3387 3:29PM
Thank you for sharing this. Beautiful story. -
WicKeD
282.3 #736 3:39PM
:) -
Madi
204.1 #1613 3:40PM
I guess I should have put a tissue disclaimer with it, huh? LOL -
SPandEvLover
819.4 #116 3:52PM
This story always makes me tear up! -
jazzydarling
37.8 #4142 3:57PM
Great story! -
Tom
4013.7 #7 4:27PM
this is such a great story :) -
candymation
286.1 #704 11:26AM
Aww I love this! Thanks for sharing. -
OhanaPrincess
187.8 #1813 11:49AM