Q: Do you know if the World Premiere of Fantasia in 1940 was an invitation-only premiere or whether the average Joe could buy tickets for the screening?
Will, Pacifica, California
A: I do not have a definitive answer, but the November 13, 1940, premiere at the Broadway Theater included many celebrities in formal attire, including Walt and Lillian Disney, and Leopold Stokowski. The film began its regular run on that date, and continued to play for 49 weeks at the theater, a record for the time.
Dave Smith