The film premiered on November 12, 1946, at the
Fox Theater in Atlanta.
[25] Walt Disney made introductory remarks, introduced the cast, then quietly left for his room at the
Georgian Terrace Hotel across the street; he had previously stated that unexpected audience reactions upset him and he was better off not seeing the film with an audience. James Baskett was unable to attend the film's premiere because he would not have been allowed to participate in any of the festivities, as Atlanta was then a
racially segregated city.
[32]
Song of the South was re-released in theaters several times after its original premiere, each time through
Buena Vista Pictures: in 1956 for the 10th anniversary; in 1972 for the 50th anniversary of
Walt Disney Productions; in 1973 as the second half of a double bill with
The Aristocats; in 1980 for the 100th anniversary of Harris's classic stories; and in 1986 for the film's own 40th anniversary and in promotion of the upcoming
Splash Mountain attraction at
Disneyland and
Disney World. The entire uncut film has been broadcast on various European and Asian television networks including by the
BBC as recently as 2006. The film (minus the infamous
Tar Baby scene which was cut from all American television airings) was also aired on US television as part of the Disney Channel's "Lunch Box" program in the 1980s and 1990s until December 18, 2001.
