Southern Dairies

With summer fast approaching, I thought it appropriate to post some ice-cream related images.


Southern Dairies became a Disney licensee in 1936. The publicity image of Walt Disney and some of his staff was taken on the grounds of the Hyperion Studio. Walt Disney sits on a box of ice cream cup novelties, while other staff hold paper banners advertising the cool summer treat. Disney and some of the others seem to be indulging in the tasty delight.


Besides the posters and actual ice cream cups, a pin-back button and play money were also issued. The novelty items were usually used by participating merchants who sponsored their local theater's Mickey Mouse Club. The pin and money would have been used in Club promotions as a means of getting children into the retailer's outlet.


The publicity image is courtesy my friend Mark Sonntag. The ice cream cup was auctioned on eBay several months ago, while the pin and money images are courtesy Hake's Americana and Heritage Auctions.

Wayne Allwine - 1947-2009

This sad news just in: Wayne Allwine, the official voice of Mickey Mouse, passed away May 16, 2009, due to complications from diabetes.

Allwine was just the third person to provide Mickey with his voice, the others being Walt Disney and Disney sound effects man Jimmy Macdonald. Allwine was married to Russi Taylor, the current voice of Minnie Mouse.

Walt Disney portrait

Back in the fall of 2008 Google started posting images online from the Life magazine collection - some great Disney related photographs are now available for viewing.

I'm not quite sure why, but this is one of my favorites - a very pensive looking Walt Disney, obviously tired, with an expression that indicates he carries the weight of the world upon his shoulders, taken in his Hyperion Avenue office in November 1938. That looks to be a budget, or some type of financial document on his desk.


When my seven year old daughter saw this photo she remarked, "Why does he look so sad?" Good question. She then quickly added, "Maybe he's trying to figure out a new story." I'd say she's a pretty smart kid.

Maybe he's trying to figure out how to ask brother Roy for more money to help fund one of the many projects the Studio had in production at the time. I suppose we'll never know for sure, but like I said, for some reason this image really appeals to me.

Enjoy!