Information
Date of document: December 30, 1938
Document writer: Wally Feignoux
Source: “Disney’s Grand Tour: Walt and Roy’s European Vacation, Summer 1935” by Didier Ghez
This letter to Walt Disney from Wally Feignoux, the company’s European representative, describes the organization of a special screening of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Elysée Palace for the French Presidency, a prestigious event for children. William Banks Levy, mentioned in the letter, is the European Sales Director of Walt Disney Merchandise.
Dear Mr. Disney,
I take much pleasure in sending you herewith a program of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which has been autographed by Mr. Albert Lebrun, President of the Republic of France, as an expression of his admiration and of his personal appreciation of Snow White, therefore of your art. With Mr. William B. Levy’s permission, I was fortunate to arrange one special performance at the Palais de l’Elysée on the occasion of the Christmas tree and Christmas festivities Mr. Lebrun uses to give to three hundred of the poor kids of Paris.
Had you been there, I am sure you would have been happy to see the faces of all those kids. And they’ll keep Snow White in their heart. Specially printed programs were handed to Mr. Lebrun and his family, but also to the members of the Government and each of those children.
The day following the performance, all the newspapers told about it. Besides the charity angle, this is not to be neglected, especially since this has been the very first time a foreign picture has been shown at the Palais de l’Elysée in such an event.
