Chew on These Doggone Adorable Secrets about Lady and the Tramp

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In my perspective, one of the most heartwarming stories I’ve come across is a tale that took roots from the true life of a Springer Spaniel, lovingly known as Lady Nell the Second.

In the year 1937, Walt Disney and his colleagues at Walt Disney Productions embarked on a new journey as they set to create their debut full-length movie, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” (Working together with a cheerful spirit)

In the meantime, character designer and story artist Joe Grant was adapting to his fresh parental duties, unexpectedly finding out that his pedigree dog turned out to be quite an effective caretaker for his non-canine kid.

In his own words, this New York City native shared that his ideas started pouring out in the form of sketches and story scenarios. One sketch, in particular, carried a deep impact and he presented it to Walt. Upon seeing it, Walt granted them permission to expand Lady’s tale into a feature film, adding Tramp to infuse a touch of romance into the narrative.

Well, hot dog!

Unless Walt looked at the draft – which detailed a grandmother’s visit along with her mischievous cats, who tried to pin blame on Lady for various offenses such as consuming the parrot pet – he remained unconvinced that this was an accurate portrayal of the cat’s behavior.

Dissatisfied, he put the entire project aside and it gradually faded into obscurity as the company redirected its efforts towards producing propaganda movies for World War II.

1943 marked the time when he stumbled upon Ward Greene’s tale in Cosmopolitan (a magazine not yet primarily for teenage readers) titled “Happy Day, the Whistling Dog”. It was then that he began to suspect his old dog might have some fresh capabilities.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: In 1953, Disney weaved together a heartwarming canine tale, titled “Lady and the Tramp: The Story of Two Dogs“, by blending the escapades of a pampered pedigree and a free-spirited stray. This timeless story was ingeniously crafted to generate anticipation for the upcoming film adaptation.

This dog (the movie) enjoyed its moment in the spotlight, as the 1955 release raked in a substantial $7.5 million following its premiere on June 22. This was the studio’s highest-grossing film since Snow White.

For about 490 human years following its initial release, this movie was re-introduced on five separate occasions, generating approximately an additional $100 million in revenue, and sparking endless creativity among enthusiasts who adore pasta, leading them to experiment with their spaghetti meals.

As I couldn’t help but delve deeper (like a curious pup on a treasure hunt), I’m excitedly unearthing some cherished trivia to celebrate the significant milestone of 70 years.

Walt Disney personally thought up the nickname for the elegant woman’s unconventional love interest, replacing the name “Mutt” with “Tramp” in his script. Other suggestions thrown around were Homer, Rags, and Bozo, which seemed quite harsh.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but relive the magical moment when Walt, the mastermind behind the Mouse House, surprised his beloved wife with their first family pet, a Chow Chow named Lady. After tirelessly campaigning for them to adopt a pet, he managed to sway her opinion and ultimately convinced her that this breed was perfect for their family.

The very next day, without revealing his secret, Walt went out and chose their new furry companion, only unveiling the surprise during the holidays. He recalled the Christmas Eve scene with a hearty chuckle: “I picked up my chow from the kennel, wrapped it in a big hat box, and tied it with a big ribbon.”

When the time came to reveal his gift, he placed the puppy-filled box in front of his unsuspecting wife. His niece, under the impression that the box contained a hat, brought it over to her. As my wife opened the box, she was shocked to find a moving present inside! A little chow popped its head out and from that moment on, it became her precious baby.

1. During the animation process, the studio became a canine haven as employees and even the voice actor brought their dogs to work for inspiration.

2. The dog that played the role of Mickey Mouse’s best friend, however, was quite extraordinary. As the legend goes, story artist Erdman Penner happened upon this stray mutt in his neighborhood while driving home one evening.

Despite Penner getting rid of it amidst bushes, the stray dog was eventually traced to a shelter, miraculously rescued mere moments before being euthanized. In an unexpected turn of events, the dog turned out to be female, but they decided to use her as their muse nonetheless—a forward-thinking choice for that era.

In a remarkable coincidence, the months-old puppy found her forever home with Dolly and Owen Pope, who were responsible for taking care of the horses at Disneyland, and she spent the remainder of her life in lavish surroundings.

6. The bustling thoroughfares I often traverse carry an uncanny resemblance to Marceline, Missouri – the very place where young Walt spent four formative years on a farm. This humble town, with barely over 2,000 residents, has also left its mark on Disneyland’s Main Street, and today stands proud as home to the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, a sanctuary for all things Disney.

7. Multiple characters underwent name transformations: Initially, cats Si and Am were known as Nip and Tuck, while Mumsie, who was once depicted as a somewhat ominous mother-in-law, became Aunt Sarah. Jim Dear and Darling, the owners of Lady, were previously named Mr. and Mrs. Fred.

8. In the original script, some roles were assigned to birds figuratively speaking: The family’s canary was called Trilby, and a neighbor’s duck also made an appearance.

9. The most memorable scene from the movie almost didn’t make it into the final cut, as Walt felt the emotional connection between animals and humans displayed in the shared spaghetti moment could have been too pushing the boundaries.

10. The advancement of technology is evident when you consider that the original press release for the film boasted about using over 2 million rough and finished drawings by more than 150 Disney artists and animators. This reminds me of the phrase “working like a dog.

1. In her autobiography published in 1989 titled “Miss Peggy Lee,” jazz vocalist Peggy Lee, who voiced cats Si and Am, dog owner Darling, and Peg the shelter dog, and wrote lyrics for numerous original songs, disclosed that she earned $250 a day for the film, amounting to a total of $3,500 over three years.

Later on, she filed a lawsuit when she found out her voice was used on video tapes, a technology that wasn’t available in the 50s. After a prolonged court case, she received a settlement of $2.3 million.

12. The iconic film from the 50s played a significant role in shaping another cherished Disney production, as Ralph Eggleston, art director of Toy Story, revealed that watching a movie centered around family pets’ viewpoint sparked the idea for them and Pixar to narrate their story through toys’ eyes.

13. In the 2019 live-action adaptation, Tessa Thompson, Justin Theroux, and Theroux’s rescue pit bull Kuma were starring roles. “She’s easy to overlook, but she’s there in the pound scene,” the actor said on Good Morning America.

14. Since Walt is known for hiding Easter eggs for Disney fans, Lady and Tramp make an appearance together on a London street in 1961’s One Hundred and One Dalmations. It’s nice to know that their love went beyond just puppy infatuation.

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2025-06-22 13:17