First off, I owe a big thanks to board members mikeswine87 and GRD for most of what follows. Mike recently found this pic on
Facebook:
That's Fred Divel, the Imagineer responsible for the installation of the WDW Mansion as well as cast trainer and opening supervisor/lead, back in October of 1971, when this picture was taken. It's not the only photo in existence of that particular bridal figure, however. Suffice it to say, we now know that the original bride at WDW had a corpse-like appearance, with streaky painted highlights on the face. I asked Fred about this version of the bride, and he said this figure was in use the whole time he was there, which means it was in use for at least a year (i.e., at least through 1972). Eventually, WDW had the black-faced bride that we are more familiar with. That one was replaced in the mid-90's with the blue-faced, wild-haired version, and of course that one in turn yielded to Constance in 2007. Four distinct versions at WDW altogether.
The concept of a corpse-like bride can be found in Marc Davis artwork, although this sketch looks like an unused changing portrait concept.
That's Fred Divel, the Imagineer responsible for the installation of the WDW Mansion as well as cast trainer and opening supervisor/lead, back in October of 1971, when this picture was taken. It's not the only photo in existence of that particular bridal figure, however. Suffice it to say, we now know that the original bride at WDW had a corpse-like appearance, with streaky painted highlights on the face. I asked Fred about this version of the bride, and he said this figure was in use the whole time he was there, which means it was in use for at least a year (i.e., at least through 1972). Eventually, WDW had the black-faced bride that we are more familiar with. That one was replaced in the mid-90's with the blue-faced, wild-haired version, and of course that one in turn yielded to Constance in 2007. Four distinct versions at WDW altogether.
The concept of a corpse-like bride can be found in Marc Davis artwork, although this sketch looks like an unused changing portrait concept.
