The Walt Disney Archives Celebrates 60 Years of ‘Mary Poppins’
Sixty years ago today, the world was introduced to Disney’s Mary Poppins. A stunning achievement in filmmaking and storytelling, the movie would bring to life one of literature’s most beloved characters and introduce the talent of the Sherman Brothers to a larger audience.
In celebration of Mary Poppins‘s big anniversary, the Walt Disney Archives opened their doors to share a look at some of the props, documents, and artifacts related to the classic Disney film.
Photo: D23
Let’s take a closer look.
Mary’s Magical Carpet Bag
If you have seen Mary Poppins, then you remember the nanny’s magical carpet bag.
The bag itself belongs to the Walt Disney Archives, where it is preserved for future generations.
Photo: Disney
For Darlene Fogg, Senior Secretary with the Archives, the carpet bag holds a special place in her heart.
“I am so thrilled that the Walt Disney Archives has the carpet bag in [our] collection,” she says, “along with other precious pieces from Mary Poppins.”
Bringing Cherry Lane to Life
To bring Mary Poppins to life, lavish sets were created across four sound stages on The Walt Disney Studios lot. The Cherry Tree Lane and nearby park set, for example, filled an entire stage. The cherry wood was imported from France and Portugal!
Art directors Carroll Clark and William H. Tuntke created and designed the settings, with Academy Award winners Emile Kuri and Hal Gausman handling set direction.
Photo: Disney
Mary’s wardrobe, meanwhile, was designed by English designer Tony Walton. Here is a look at some of the pieces that Walton designed. If you look closely, you can see Mary’s black hat, her “Jolly Holiday” boots, and the shoes she wore when she arrived.
If Mary’s “Jolly Holiday” boots look different than fans remember, there is an interesting story behind that. After Andrews wore the boots in Mary Poppins, they were painted white and worn by Lesley Ann Warren in the 1968 Disney musical The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band.
‘Jolly Holiday’
For the film’s iconic “Jolly Holiday” segment, guests were transported into the film’s fantastical animated world.
Photo: Disney
The Walt Disney Archives has a piece of production art that showcases the talent of art director Carrol Clar, Xavier “X” Atencio, Don DaGradi, Bill Justice, and Peter Ellenshaw.
St. Paul’s Cathedral Snow Globe
One of the most beloved items in the Disney Archives is the snow globe featuring St. Paul’s Cathedral. The globe is featured in the scene where Mary teaches the Banks children a lesson and sings “Feed the Birds.”
Amazingly, the prop was thrown out years after the film’s release. One day, a janitor saw the globe in the trash and saved it as he thought it was interesting.
Photo: Disney
In the early 1970s, Dave Smith, founder of the Disney Archives, saw it on the janitor’s shelf and identified it as the one from the film.
Fans can see the snow globe in person at the Disney100: The Exhibition in Kansas City, Missouri.
Mary Poppins‘s Glamorous Premiere
It was a star-studded affair when Mary Poppins premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on August 27, 1964.
“It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life… After four years of working on this film, I was floating on clouds,” Richard Sherman later remembered.
The premiere, which took seven months to plan, was Walt’s first big Hollywood event since the premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937. The evening also served as a benefit for CalArts, with the 15-minute CalArts Story film screened before Mary Poppins itself.
“We were all praying it would be a success. We thought it was good, but maybe we were just [biased]. Everybody was just glued to that screen. They laughed at all the right places. After ‘Step in Time,’ there was thunderous, screaming applause… [and] when it was over, everybody stood up en masse and applauded. And they continued standing for five minutes,” Sherman recalled.
“Women were wiping their eyes. [Co-producer and Disney Legend] Bill Walsh leaned over and winked. I looked over at Walt, and he was all smiles. He felt so good. What a wonderful thing for the creators of the film to feel and see.”
Photo: Also Disney
Luckily, the Archives have preserved unique pieces from the historic premiere, including a ticket and envelope, an official lapel ribbon worn by premiere staff, and a police pass.
A Merchandise Machine
After its 1964 release, Mary Poppins continued to delight and entertain audiences for generations. It has also spawned a ton of merchandise.
Here is a look at some of the Mary Poppins merchandise in the Archives collection, including two Mary Poppins dolls!
Photo: Also Disney
After 60 magical years, Mary Poppins continues to be a beloved film for fans, young and old. Hopefully, the Walt Disney Archives will continue to give fans a look behind the scenes for another 60 years to come.
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below. One of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond-level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon! Also, Thanks for reading
