Take note that on this day in 1940 the animated musical extravaganza Fantasia held its world premiere at the Broadway Theatre in New York. Not resting on his laurels after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney decided to create “an entirely new form of entertainment,” as music critic, composer, author, and radio commentator Deems Taylor described it as the master of ceremonies in Fantasia. Deems was not only an essential part of the film on screen but in the film’s early creation, as well. When Walt and the film’s conductor, Leopold Stokowski, first discussed the film, they immediately agreed that Deems should be called upon to aid in the music selection due to his great understanding of America’s musical likes and dislikes. “Seeing music and hearing pictures,” as Walt described it, required an all-new innovative stereo sound system to present the classical music experience properly, so Fantasound was developed. Because this required theaters to be specially equipped by Disney with the speakers and equipment, Fantasia only opened in 14 theaters initially. A printed program from the film includes a quote from Walt: “In a profession that has been an unending voyage of discovery in the realms of color, sound, and motion, Fantasia represents our most exciting adventure. At last, we have found a way to use in our medium the great music of all times and the flood of new ideas that it inspires.”
