Category: Disney This Day
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Bill Murray | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 21, 1940
On this day in 1950, actor and comedian Bill Murray was born. He is known for many iconic roles across his 50-year career, including in ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Groundhog Day.’ For Disney, he had memorable parts in the live action ‘The Jungle Book,’ ‘What About Bob?,’ ‘Ed Wood,’ ‘Rushmore,’ and ‘The Royal Tenenbaums.’ Murray was considered…
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Window Cleaners | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 20, 1940
On this day in 1940, the Donald Duck short ‘Window Cleaners’ debuted in theaters. Pluto and Donald try their luck at washing the windows of skyscrapers, but discover it can be a real “pane!” Predictably, Donald gets himself into a few tough places when Pluto stops paying attention. Back on his platform, Donald then picks…
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Monsanto Hall of Chemistry | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 19, 1966
On this day in 1966, the Monsanto Hall of Chemistry closed in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. The museum-style walk-through attraction opened with the park in 1955. Its main draw was the “Chematron,” a series of eight giant test tubes that displayed the most fundamental substances in nature. The Hall of Chemistry aimed to inspire guests about the…
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Agatha All Along | DISNEY THIS DAY | Septmeber 18, 2024
On this day in 2024, ‘Agatha All Along’ debuted on Disney+. The 9-part Marvel miniseries was a spinoff of 2021’s ‘WandaVision.’ The show catches up with antihero Agatha Harkness in Westview, still bound by the Scarlet Witch’s spell. A mysterious teen frees Agatha and convinces her and an unlikely coven to travel the mythical Witches’…
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Joe Ranft | DISNEY THIS DAY | Tuesday 17, 2005
On this day in 2005, a “Friends and Colleagues” memorial service for Disney-Pixar animator, voice actor, and creative lead Joe Ranft was held at Pixar Animation Studios. Ranft tragically passed away in a car crash a month earlier. Several hundred admirers gathered to celebrate his life, talents, humor, integrity, and good nature. Disney director John…
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Jennifer Tilly | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 16, 1958
On this day in 1958, actress, voice actress, and professional poker player Jennifer Tilly was born. Disney fans will likely recognize her distinctive voice from her portrayals of Celia Mae in ‘Monsters, Inc.’ and Grace the cow in ‘Home on the Range.’ She also played Madame Leota in the 2003 live-action version of ‘The Haunted…
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Alice the Jailbird | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 15, 1925
On this day in 1925, the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio released the ‘Alice Comedy,’ ‘Alice the Jailbird’ in theaters. Alice and her pal Julius the Cat are riding on a turtle. They snatch a delicious pie cooling in a window. Their fun is soon put to an end when an officer pursues them across the…
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The Golden Girls | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 14, 1985
On this day in 1985, ‘The Golden Girls’ debuted on NBC. The sitcom ran for seven seasons and 180 episodes, gaining acclaim from fans and critics along the way. Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty starred as four vibrant older women who, after losing their husbands, share the ups and downs of…
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Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 13, 2005
On this day in 2005, ‘Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween’ was released direct to home video by Disneytoon Studios. It was a sequel to ‘Pooh’s Heffalump Movie,’ which came out in theaters earlier that year. Winnie the Pooh and the gang take their new friend Lumpy the Heffalump for his first experience with Halloween and trick-or-treating. They…
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Hong Kong Disneyland | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 12, 2005
On this day in 2005, Hong Kong Disneyland opened to the public! It was Disney’s second castle park to open in Asia after Tokyo Disneyland. Hong Kong Disneyland was built on reclaimed land in Penny’s Bay, Lantau Island. Special care was taken to incorporate Chinese culture, customs, and traditions into its creation, including feng shui.…
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Buzz Lightyear | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 11, 2009
On this day in 2009, Buzz Lightyear returned to Earth with Space Shuttle Discovery after two missions aboard the International Space Station. The action figure was sent to space in 2008 as part of NASA’s “Toys in Space” educational initiative. His 450-day tenure on the ISS made him the longest-serving toy in space! This Buzz…
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The Disney Afternoon | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 10, 1990
On this day in 1990, ‘The Disney Afternoon’ aired for the first time. The 2-hour programming block, shown from 3-5 PM on weekdays, was broken up into four half-hour cartoons. Each of the seven seasons of ‘The Disney Afternoon’ included a different set of titles, with some programs only lasting one year. ‘Darkwing Duck’ aired…
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Teacher’s Pet | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 9, 2000
On this day in 2000, the animated series ‘Teacher’s Pet’ premiered in ABC’s One Saturday Morning lineup. The show follows 4th grader Leonard and his dog Spot, who dresses up as a human and attends school. The series features some noteworthy voice talent, including Nathan Lane, Debra Jo Rupp, David Ogden Stiers, Jerry Stiller, and…
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Disney’s Sing Me a Story with Belle | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 8, 1995
On this day in 1995, ‘Disney’s Sing Me a Story with Belle’ debuted on the Disney Channel. The live-action series finds Belle from ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ played by Lynsey McLeod, as a bookstore owner in small-town France. She narrates classic animated Disney stories to visiting children with the help of Lewis and Carol, two…
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Bountiful Valley Farm | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 7, 2010
On this day in 2010, the Bountiful Valley Farm area of Disney California Adventure closed after nine years of operation. Offering edutainment, the walkaround farm displays celebrated the importance and variety of agriculture in California. Caterpillar sponsored an interactive exhibit of farm equipment, models of cows highlighted dairy and livestock production, and garden beds of…
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Maliboomer | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 6, 2010
On this day in 2010, the Maliboomer attraction had its last operating day in Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure. The opening day attraction was a Space Shot-style ride built by S&S Power. It was themed after the so-called “high striker” test-of-strength carnival games, but set in outer space. At 180 feet tall, it was…
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Pluto | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 5, 1930
On this day in 1930, the character that would become Pluto first appeared in the Mickey Mouse short ‘The Chain Gang.’ Pluto is one of two bloodhounds that chase after Mickey after he escapes from Peg-Leg Pete’s jail. He was drawn by Norm Ferguson, a cameraman with no formal training in art. The animation of…
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Pooh’s Hunny Hunt | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 4, 2000
On this day in 2000, Pooh’s Hunny Hunt opened officially at Tokyo Disneyland. Guests enter a giant storybook and board 5-seater honey pots to help Pooh find his favorite snack. The attraction is more technologically advanced than the domestic versions and boasts Disney’s first-ever trackless ride system. A custom “local positioning system” means that each…
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Eric Larson | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 3, 1905
On this day in 1905, animator, Disney Legend, and member of the “Nine Old Men,” Eric Larson was born. Larson was active with Disney between 1933 and 1986, a total of 52 years. He was a lead animator for a long list of feature films and shorts, including ‘Bambi,’ ‘Cinderella,’ and ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ Larson…
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Beezy Bear | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 2, 1955
On this day in 1955, the Donald Duck short ‘Beezy Bear’ was released. It was the fifth appearance of Humphrey the Bear, this time at odds with Donald when he tries to steal honey from Donald’s beehives. Park ranger J. Audubon Woodlore doubts that Humphrey is causing trouble, which makes the situation worse. Fans may…
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Edgar Rice Burroughs | DISNEY THIS DAY | September 1, 1875
On this day in 1875, novelist Edgar Rice Burroughs was born. He was a prolific author of adventure, science fiction, and fantasy stories. His most famous creations were the characters Tarzan and John Carter, both of whom were later given film treatments by Disney – 1999’s ‘Tarzan’ and 2012’s ‘John Carter of Mars.’ It is…
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Disney’s Hercules: The Animated Series | DISNEY THIS DAY | August 31, 1998
On this day in 1998, ‘Disney’s Hercules: The Animated Series’ debuted in first-run syndication. ‘Hercules’ ran for 52 episodes, with 13 of them airing on ABC as part of Disney’s One Saturday Morning. The show is a spinoff from the 1997 film and explores the time when Hercules is still in training as a hero.…
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Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch | DISNEY THIS DAY | August 30, 2005
On this day in 2005, ‘Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch’ was released direct to home video. The story is a sequel to the original ‘Lilo & Stitch’ film, but takes place before the events of ‘Stitch! The Movie.’ Due to incomplete programming, Stitch has frequent attacks that threaten to ruin his relationship…
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Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant | DISNEY THIS DAY | August 29, 1955
On this day in 1955, the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant opened its gangplank to guests for the first time. As a full-size replica of Captain Hook’s ship, the location was both a quick-service restaurant and a play area for kids. Chicken of the Sea sponsored tasty dishes like tuna burgers, hot…