5 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About "Santa and the Fairy Snow Queen"

Santa and the Fairy Snow Queen was a famous (infamous?) live action short made for children that has been seen for decades on home media, television and now YouTube. A production of Sid Davis, famous for decades of classroom films, more information is still needed about this film. For now here are 5 facts, not generally known about this short.

1) It is based on a Christmas play.
The short film is based on a play by Robert Niel Porter, who also arranged the choreography. It is unknown to this writer how close the original play was to Sid Davis's film production. Porter's play was enacted in Los Angeles, California area as early as December 1948, and given a copyright date of 1949.

2) The film was made in 1950, not 1951.
Santa and the Fairy Snow Queen was announced as part of a package of newly completed films in the fall of 1950. It was promoted for a Hollywood, California area PTA gathering in December of 1950. However the widely used copyright date is 1951.

Snippet from the Birmingham News, December 24, 1951.
"Santa and the Fairy Snow Queen" is listed for a 12:30pm broadcast.

3) It was a TV special as early as 1951. Listings for this film a TV Christmas special have been found in an number of TV markets during December 1951. These stations include WBRC-TV Birmingham and WATV New York.

Rochelle "Rocky" Stanton as "Snoopy"

4) Rochelle Stanton "Snoopy" was a stage & TV actress and visual artist. Rochelle Stanton was born in 1925 in Los Angeles, but grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She was listed in stage and TV roles in the Los Angeles area as early as 1948 including a short lived sitcom. Often billed as "Rocky" Stanton she appeared in episodes of the "Gene Autry Show" and the "Roy Rogers Show". After she married Rochelle became "Rocky Stanton Rau", a Los Angeles kids TV host and visual artist. She passed away in 2003.

A November 1950 newspaper ad for "John Wayne Productions" with "Santa and the Fairy Snow Queen" on the list. 

5) John Wayne was a producer. Yes, that John Wayne!
In fact, Sid Davis (at 6 feet, 4 inches) was Wayne's double before producing educational films. "Santa and the Fairy Snow Queen" is listed in 1950 newspapers press ads as a new "John Wayne Production".