Walt Disney's Treasury of Classic Tales is an American Disney comic strip, which ran on Sundays in newspapers from July 13, 1952, until February 15, 1987. It was distributed by King Features Syndicate. Each story adapted a different Disney film, such as Darby O'Gill and the Little People, Peter Pan, or Davy Crockett. It was run in relatively few papers, with 58 in 1957A Revolutionary Story and 55 in 1966,Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. Remembered and was principally a vehicle for promoting new and re-released Disney films."The Black Hole: How Deep Is it?" by David E. Jefferson. The Collected Jack Kirby Collector v.2. p.96 Raleigh, NC: TwoMorrows Publishing, 2004. "... Disney used their Treasury of Classics Sunday comics strip as a vehicle to promote new films..."

Publication history

From March 8 to June 18, 1950, Disney distributed a limited-time Sunday strip adaptations of their new animated feature Cinderella, written by Frank Reilly, with art by Manuel Gonzales and Dick Moores. The same team followed the next year with Alice in Wonderland, which ran from September 2 to December 16, 1951. Judged a success, the experiment was turned into an ongoing feature in 1952, beginning with The Story of Robin Hood.

The strip featured a wide variety of Disney stories. The animated features adapted for the strip include Peter Pan (1953), Lady and the Tramp (1955), Sleeping Beauty (1958), The Sword in the Stone (1963) and The Jungle Book (1968). Classic Tales also featured animated shorts, including Lambert the Sheepish Lion (1956) and Ben and Me (1953), and featurettes like Peter & The Wolf (1954) and Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966).

Treasury of Classic Tales also adapted live-action films like Old Yeller (1957–58), Swiss Family Robinson (1960), Mary Poppins (1964) and The Love Bug (1969). The strip transitioned from historical dramas like The Sword and the Rose (1953) and Kidnapped (1960) to comedies like The Shaggy Dog (1959) and The Parent Trap (1961).

The 1979–80 adaptation of The Black Hole was particularly notable for featuring pencil art by comics icon Jack Kirby, with Mike Royer inking.

Some of the stories created toward the end of the strip's run in the 1980s were original stories featuring characters from different Disney animated movies, including The Return of the Rescuers (1983), Dumbo, the Substitute Stork (1984) and Cinderella: Bibbidi-Bobbodi-Who? (1984).

Most stories ran for thirteen weeks. A total of 129 stories were created between 1952 and 1987.

List of story titles TitleYear Dates Writing Art INDUCKSlink The Story of Robin Hood1952 July 13 – Dec 28 Frank Reilly Jesse Marsh ToCT 1 Peter Pan1953 Jan 4 – June 14 Manuel Gonzales& Dick Moores ToCT 2 The Sword and the Rose June 21 – Oct 25 Jesse Marsh ToCT 3 Ben and Me Nov 1 – Dec 27 Manuel Gonzales& Dick Moores ToCT 4 Rob Roy1954 Jan 3 – May 30 Jesse Marsh ToCT 5 Peter & The Wolf June 6 – July 25 Manuel Gonzales& Dick Moores ToCT 6 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Aug 1 – Dec 26 Jesse Marsh ToCT 7 Lady and the Tramp1955 Jan 2 – July 10 Manuel Gonzales& Dick Moores ToCT 8 The Legends of Davy Crockett1956 July 7, 1955 – Jan 8 Jesse Marsh ToCT 9 The Littlest Outlaw Jan 15 – March 26 ToCT 10 The Great Locomotive Chase April 2 – July 29 ToCT 11 Lambert the Sheepish Lion Aug 5 – Sep 30 Floyd Gottfredson ToCT 12 Westward Ho, the Wagons!1956–1957 Oct 7 – Jan 27 Jesse Marsh ToCT 13 Gus & Jaq1957 Feb 3 – March 31 Ken Hultgren ToCT 14 Johnny Tremain Apr 7 – June 30 Jesse Marsh ToCT 15 Perri July 7 – Nov 24 ToCT 16 Old Yeller1957–1958 Dec 1 – Feb 23 ToCT 17 The Seven Dwarfs & The Witch Queen1958 March 2 – Apr 27 Julius Svedsen ToCT 18 The Light in the Forest May 4 – July 27 Jesse Marsh ToCT 19 Sleeping Beauty Aug 3 – Dec 28 Julius Svedsen ToCT 20 The Shaggy Dog1959 Jan 4 – Apr 26 Jesse Marsh ToCT 21 Darby O'Gill and the Little People May 3 – Aug 3 ToCT 22 Third Man on the Mountain Sept 6 – Dec 27 ToCT 23 Toby Tyler1960 Jan 3 – Mar 27 ToCT 24 Kidnapped Apr 3 – June 26 ToCT 25 Pollyanna July 3 – Sep 25 ToCT 26 Swiss Family Robinson Oct 2 – Dec 25 ToCT 27 101 Dalmatians1961 Jan 1 – Mar 26 Bill Wright & Chuck Fuson, Manuel Gonzales & Floyd Gottfredson ToCT 28 Nikki, Wild Dog of the North Apr 2 – June 25 Jesse Marsh ToCT 29 The Parent Trap July 2 – Sep 25 ToCT 30 Babes in Toyland Oct 1 – Dec 31 Joseph Hale ToCT 31 Moon Pilot1962 Jan 7 – Mar 25 Jesse Marsh ToCT 32 Bon Voyage! Apr 1 – June 24 John Ushler ToCT 33 Big Red July 1 – Sep 30 Jesse Marsh ToCT 34 In Search of the Castaways Oct 7 – Dec 30 John Ushler ToCT 35 Son of Flubber1963 Jan 6 – Mar 31 ToCT 36 Miracle of the White Stallions Apr 7 – June 30 ToCT 37 Savage Sam July 7 – Sep 29 ToCT 38 The Sword in the Stone Oct 6 – Dec 29 ToCT 39 A Tiger Walks1964 Jan 5 – March 29 ToCT 40 The Three Lives of Thomasina Apr 6 – June 28 ToCT 41 The Moon-Spinners July 5 – Sep 27 ToCT 42 Mary Poppins Oct 4 – Dec 27 ToCT 43 Those Calloways1965 Jan 3 – Mar 28 ToCT 44 The Monkey's Uncle Apr 4 – June 27 ToCT 45 Dumbo July 4 – Sep 26 ToCT 46 That Darn Cat! Oct 3 – Dec 26 ToCT 47 Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree1966 Jan 2 – Mar 27 ToCT 48 Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. Apr 3 – June 26 ToCT 49 The Fighting Prince of Donegal July 3 – Sep 25 ToCT 50 Follow Me, Boys! Oct 2 – Nov 27 ToCT 51 Monkeys, Go Home!1966–1967 Dec 4 – Jan 29 ToCT 52 The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin1967 Feb 5 – Apr 30 ToCT 53 The Gnome-Mobile May 7 – July 30 ToCT 54 The Happiest Millionaire Aug 6 – Oct 29 ToCT 55 The Jungle Book1967–1968 Nov 5 – Jan 28 ToCT 56 Blackbeard's Ghost1968 Feb 4 – Apr 28 ToCT 57 Never A Dull Moment May 6 – July 28 ToCT 58 Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day Aug 4 – Sep 29 ToCT 59 The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit Oct 6 – Dec 29 ToCT 60 Smith!1969 Jan 5 – Feb 23 ToCT 61 The Love Bug Mar 2 – May 25 ToCT 62 Hang Your Hat on the Wind! June 1 – Aug 31 ToCT 63 My Dog, The Thief Sept 7 – Nov 30 ToCT 64 The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes1969–1970 Dec 7 – Feb 22 ToCT 65 King of the Grizzlies1970 Mar 1 – May 31 ToCT 66 The Boatniks June 7 – Aug 30 ToCT 67 The Aristocats Sept 6 – Dec 27 ToCT 68 The Barefoot Executive1971 Jan 3 – Mar 28 ToCT 69 The Million Dollar Duck Apr 4 – June 27 ToCT 70 Bedknobs and Broomsticks July 4 – Oct 31 ToCT 71 The Living Desert Nov 7 – Dec 26 ToCT 72 Napoleon and Samantha1972 Jan 2 – Mar 26 ToCT 73 Now You See Him, Now You Don't Apr 2 – June 25 ToCT 74 The Legend of Lobo July 2 – Sep 24 ToCT 75 Snowball Express Oct 1 – Dec 31 ToCT 76 The World's Greatest Athlete1973 Jan 7 – Mar 26 Mike Arens ToCT 77 Cinderella Apr 1 – June 24 ToCT 78 One Little Indian July 1 – Sep 30 ToCT 79 Robin Hood1973–1974 Oct 7 – Jan 27 ToCT 80 Alice in Wonderland1974 Feb 3 – Apr 28 ToCT 81 Herbie Rides Again May 5 – July 28 ToCT 82 The Bears and I Aug 4 – Sep 29 ToCT 83 The Island at the Top of the World1974–1975 October 6, 1974 – January 26, 1975 ToCT 84 Escape to Witch Mountain 1975 Feb 3 – Apr 27 Carl Fallberg ToCT 85 The Apple Dumpling Gang May 4 – June 29 Frank Reilly ToCT 86 One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing July 6 – Sep 28 ToCT 87 Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too Oct 5 – Nov 30 ToCT 88 No Deposit, No Return1975–1976 December 7, 1975 – February 29, 1976 Frank Reilly & Carl Fallberg ToCT 89 Gus1976 Mar 7 – May 30 Carl Fallberg ToCT 90 Treasure of Matecumbe June 6 – Aug 29 ToCT 91 The Shaggy D.A. Sept 5 – Nov 28 Richard Moore ToCT 92 Freaky Friday1976–1977 Dec 5 – Feb 27 Al Stoffel ToCT 93 The Rescuers1977 Mar 6 – May 29 Carl Fallberg ToCT 94 Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo June 5 – Aug 28 Al Stoffel ToCT 95 Pete's Dragon Sept 4 – Nov 27 Carl Fallberg ToCT 96 Candleshoe1977–1978 December 4, 1977 – Feb 26 Carl Fallberg & Al Stoffel ToCT 97 The Cat from Outer Space1978 Mar 5 – May 28 Carl Fallberg ToCT 98 Hot Lead and Cold Feet June 4 – Aug 27 Al Stoffel ToCT 99 Pinocchio Sept 3 – Nov 26 Carl Fallberg ToCT 100 The North Avenue Irregulars1978–1979 Dec 3 – Feb 25 ToCT 101 The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again1979 Mar 4 – May 27 Al Stoffel ToCT 102 Unidentified Flying Oddball June 3 – Aug 26 ToCT 103 The Black Hole1979–1980 Sept 2 – Feb 24 Carl Fallberg Jack Kirby & Mike Royer ToCT 104 The Watcher in the Woods1980 Mar 2 – May 25 Richard Moore ToCT 105 The Last Flight of Noah's Ark June 1 – Aug 24 Al Stoffel ToCT 106 The Devil and Max Devlin Aug 31 – Nov 23 ToCT 107 Condorman1980–1981 Nov 30 – Apr 12 Greg Crosby Russ Heath ToCT 108 The Fox and the Hound1981 Apr 19 – Aug 30 Jeannette Steiner Richard Moore ToCT 109 Night Crossing1981–1982 Sept 6 – Jan 17 ToCT 110 Tron1982 Jan 24 – June 6 ToCT 111 Tex1982 June 13 – Sep 26 ToCT 112 Mickey's Christmas Carol Oct 3 – Dec 26 Carl Fallberg Richard Moore & Frank Johnson ToCT 113 Ferdinand the Bull & The Robbers1983 Jan 2 – Mar 6 Richard Moore ToCT 114 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Mar 13 – June 26 ToCT 115 The Adventures of Mr. Toad July 3 – Sep 25 Tom Yakutis ToCT 116 The Return of the Rescuers Oct 2 – Dec 25 ToCT 117 Dumbo, the Substitute Stork1984 Jan 1 – Mar 25 ToCT 118 Robin Hood in: Rich John, Poor John Apr 1 – June 24 ToCT 119 Cinderella: Bibbidi-Bobbodi-Who? July 1 – Sep 23 ToCT 120 Pinocchio & Jiminy Cricket: A Coat Tale Sept 30 – Dec 30 Carl Fallberg ToCT 121 Black Arrow1985 Jan 6 – Mar 31 Tom Yakutis ToCT 122 Return to Oz Apr 7 – July 14 Carl Fallberg ToCT 123 The Black Cauldron July 21 – Oct 27 Tom Yakutis ToCT 124 The Journey of Natty Gann1985–1986 Nov 3 – Jan 26 Don Dougherty ToCT 125 The Search For Sleeping Beauty1986 Feb 2 – Apr 27 Carl Fallberg ToCT 126 The Great Mouse Detective May 4 – July 27 ToCT 127 Song of the South Aug 3 – Nov 16 ToCT 128 Tramp's Cat-astrophe1986–1987 Nov 23 – Feb 15 ToCT 129

Reprintings

In 2016, IDW Publishing and their imprint The Library of American Comics (LoAC) began to collect all the Treasury of Classic Tales stories in a definitive hardcover reprint series.https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2016/1219/Gift-needed-for-comics-fan-Try-Walt-Disney-s-Treasury-of-Classic-Tales CS Monitor – Retrieved March 30, 2018 As of 2019, three volumes have been published, reprinting all the stories from Robin Hood (1952) through In Search of the Castaways (1962). In April 2018, it was announced that, due to the sales goal of the series not being met, the third volume may be the last one to be published."Episode 006 with special guest Michael Barrier ." The Library of American Comics. April 6, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2018

Notes and references

External links Walt Disney's Treasury of Classic Tales (samples of 1970s strips) INDUCKS database of credits for Treasury of Classic Tales