Pictured above Peggy Lee and Sonny Burke
In the 1955 episode of the Disneyland TV series, “Cavalcade of Songs,” viewers learned what goes into the creation of some of Disney’s best-loved songs. Although footage from story meetings and composing sessions are hokey reenactments, it doesn’t detract from the entertainment or informational value. There’s a sense of history watching the Disney team come up with the song “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” or following composers Sonny Burke and Peggy Lee through the various stages of songs for the then upcoming Lady and the Tramp, from conception to recording for the movie. In a time before home video, viewers also welcomed the chance to see clips from Disney films. In fact, one reporter wrote, “Who cares if the truth is stretched a little so long as we get to see such gems as The Three Little Pigs in its entirety, some healthy portion of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and a melodic piece of Song of the South.” On another note, although “Cavalcade of Songs“ was originally broadcast in black and white, it was shot in color and later aired in its full spectrum on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.
