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Conference koolit::disney

Title:The Disneyphile's Disney File
Notice:This Conference can show you The World
Moderator:DONVAN::SCOPA.zko.dec.com::manana::eppes
Created:Thu Feb 23 1989
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:536
Total number of notes:19961

67.0. "Disney vs. The Academy" by HBO::MADDEN (Keep your face to the sunshine) Fri Mar 31 1989 13:33

Anyone have any comments on the suit between Disney and the Academy
Award folks?!  I can't believe - of all people to do this - that the
Academy had the nerve (for lack of a better word at the moment) to
use the Snow White character without consent.  Seems like they should
know better than anyone else....

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67.1Summary please?RECAP::SEAGLEDisney-aphileFri Mar 31 1989 15:097
    For the benefit of those of us who have not seen a newspaper in
    a week and missed part of the 61st Academy Awards ceremony, would/could
    you briefly summarize what the Academy did and any salient details
    about Disney's suit?
    
    Thanks,
    David.
67.2HBO::MADDENKeep your face to the sunshineFri Mar 31 1989 17:1821
>    For the benefit of those of us who have not seen a newspaper in
>    a week and missed part of the 61st Academy Awards ceremony, would/could
>    you briefly summarize what the Academy did and any salient details
>    about Disney's suit?
    

The Academy opened their show with a little number featuring a sequined
Snow White - complete with squeaky voice - doing some song and dance 
numbers by herself, then going up to audience members and singing to
them, and then with Rob Lowe, etc.  Anyway, it was kind of stupid (per-
sonal opinion).

Disney, I guess, didn't appreciate the show.  Seems the Academy got no
prior permission to use the character.  So Disney told them the next
morning that if the Academy published a public apology they would ex-
cuse the entire incident and let it go at that.  However, the Academy
said that they would do no such thing (reasons unknown...).

So Disney replied with a note stating that they'd see them in court then.

67.3MURPHY::OGRADYGeorge - ISWS - 262-8665/296-4023Fri Mar 31 1989 17:2010
    
    The Academy used a Snow White character in their opening song/dance.
    The used the Snow White outfit *without* permission.
    
    I didn't see the show but on the news I did notice they used a shorter
    dress on Snow White and a *very* large bow.  But the colors and
    hair and bright red lips was definitely Snow White.
    
    gog
    
67.4MURPHY::OGRADYGeorge - ISWS - 262-8665/296-4023Fri Mar 31 1989 17:249
    
    .2 obviously beat me in.....
    
    Does anyone know why the Academy didn't offer the apology?  Snobby?
    Or maybe they want the publicity?  I do have the agree with .2....
    from what I saw on the news it certainly looked "stupid".
    
    gog (a slower typist :-{})
    
67.5That opening number was TTTEEERRRIIIBBBLLLEEEBUSY::TBUTLERFri Mar 31 1989 17:3716
    	I thought that the number that they did was ridiculous.  Did
    anyone see the enourmous woman singing with the Snow White Character
    and Rob Lowe, I think they were trying to pass her off as sort of
    a Carmin Miranda.  I couldn't believe it.
    	After about 2 or 3 minutes of that number, I had to change the
    channel.
    	When Snow White came out, I figured it was probably sanctioned
    by Disney, and when they started singing in front of a mock up of
    the Chinese Theater, I figured it was Disney's way of getting in
    a promo for the MGM Theme Park.  I guess I was wrong.
    	I still can't believe that with all of the talented people involved
    with the production of a show like that, that the opening routine
    was soooo terrible.  The montage of old movie musicals was muuuccchhh
    better.
    
    Tom
67.6Not just to DisneyRAINBO::WEBERFri Mar 31 1989 18:552
    I think they owe an apology to the viewing public for airing such
    trash.
67.7BUSY::TBUTLERFri Mar 31 1989 19:495
    	I think the producer for the show was that Truman Capote look
    alike Alan Carr, wasn't it??
    
    
    Tom
67.8RECAP::SEAGLEDisney-aphileFri Mar 31 1989 21:079
    RE: .7
    
    NOT ALAN CARR!  *The* Alan Carr of "You Can't Stop the Music"-starring-
    The-Village-People fame?  No wonder it was tacky, rude, offensive,
    and unlicensed!
    
    EEEEECCCHHHHH!
    
    David.
67.9additional damages for doing a bad jobTOHOKU::TAYLORWed Apr 05 1989 16:087
    In addition to the copyright infringement, Disney is asking for
    damages because it was a BAD presentation. (Something Disney
    should not have trouble proving given the reaction in the previous
    notes.)

    mike
67.10But BBB has permission from DisneyTELGAR::WAKEMANLAAnother Eye Crossing Question!Wed Apr 05 1989 16:468
    The group who did the presentation are the infamous "Beach Blanket
    Babylon" troupe from San Francisco who have been doing revues for about
    ten years now at the Club Fugazi.  The strange thing is is that they do
    have permission from Disney to use the characters and unfortunately,
    you saw them at their best.  Even stranger is that the S.F. Comical (I
    mean Chronicle) still gives them rave reviews.
    
    Larry
67.11Gobble-GobbleINDMKT::GOLDBERGLen GoldbergThu Apr 06 1989 17:092
    Johnny Carson joked last night on the Tonight Show that Butterball
    was suing the Academy for imitating a turkey.
67.12!SRFSUP::LABBEEWaiting for the 'Big One' in L.A.Thu Apr 06 1989 21:003
    I agree that the opening number was horrible!  Snow White, in a
    short skirt, doing 'the bump' and singing "Proud Mary"!  Give me
    a break!
67.13News FlashCALL::SWEENEYWall Street is my beatFri Apr 07 1989 01:281
    The Academy appologized and Disney dropped the lawsuit
67.14...and promised never to use that clip again...QBUS::MITCHAMAndy in AtlantaFri Apr 07 1989 11:210
67.15Although Disney may never win another oscar...EUCLID::OWENIn a Locst wind coms a RATTLE AND HUMFri Apr 07 1989 11:295
    Not only did the Academy embarass Disney with that skit, they
    embarrassed themselves as well.  It was downright awful!
                                
    71 days and counting
    Steve O
67.16Not good enoughRAINBO::WEBERFri Apr 07 1989 12:283
    I'm still waiting for the Academy to apologize to us!
    
    Danny W.