Tag: Disney History
-
A Father’s Day Walk Down Memory Lane at Disneyland! ~ Photoniks ~ Episode 22
Happy Father’s Day! In this special episode of Photoniks, hosts Mr. Daps and Clocky are joined by a very special guest—Mr. Daps’ own father, Chaz from Chaz Stories! To celebrate, Chaz brings a treasure trove of vintage Disneyland photos dating back nearly 50 years to his honeymoon in June 1979. Together, the trio takes a…
-
The Rocketeer | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 19, 1991
On this day in 1991, ‘The Rocketeer’ premiered at the newly renovated El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. Modeled after 1930s pulp fiction comics, ‘The Rocketeer’ follows Cliff Secord, a pilot who discovers a rocket pack that allows him to perform high-flying heroics. The El Capitan’s grand re-opening for this film marked the completion of a…
-
Luca | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 18, 2021
On this day in 2021, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Luca’ was released on Disney+ during the COVID-19 pandemic. The coming-of-age story explores themes of friendship, feeling different, and finding acceptance. Young sea monsters Luca and Alberto experience an unforgettable summer on the Italian Riviera of the 1950s. Director Enrico Casarosa was inspired by his childhood in…
-
Terry Gilkyson | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 17, 1916
On this day in 1916, musician and composer Terry Gilkyson was born. He wrote the Academy Award-nominated song “The Bare Necessities” for ‘The Jungle Book’ and many other classic Disney songs. For The Jungle Book, he was ultimately replaced by the Sherman Brothers. However, this song remained in the film and is a beloved Disney…
-
Shanghai Disney Resort | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 16, 2016
On this day in 2016, the Shanghai Disney Resort officially opened to the public. It was Disney’s twelfth theme park and the first on mainland China. On opening day, the park had six themed lands: Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Adventure Isle, Treasure Cove, and Tomorrowland. Because of Shanghai Disneyland’s commitment to be “authentically…
-
Disneyland Grad Nite | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 15, 1961
On this day in 1961, the First Annual Disneyland Grad Nite Party took place from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM. The first year honorees numbered 8,500 from 33 high schools, making Grad Nite the largest graduation party in the U.S. Grads paid $6 to enjoy unlimited attractions, dancing, and entertainment from the King of Swing,…
-
Columbia | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 14, 1958
On this day in 1958, the Sailing Ship Columbia debuted at Disneyland as an expansion to the Rivers of America attractions. The three-masted windjammer was modeled after the real Columbia Rediviva (or “Freedom Reborn”). She was the first United States ship to circumnavigate the globe, starting in 1787, discovering the Columbia River in Oregon along…
-
Stellan Skarsgård | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 13, 1951
On this day in 1951, Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård was born. Disney fans will remember him as Bootstrap Bill Turner in the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise and the Grand Duke in 2015’s live-action ‘Cinderella.’ Skarsgård also had a foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his role as Dr. Erik Selvig across the ‘Thor’…
-
Raiders of the Lost Ark | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 12, 1981
On this day in 1981, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ was released by Lucasfilm. The first ‘Indiana Jones’ film in the crowd favorite franchise, ‘Raiders,’ introduced Harrison Ford as the adventurous and heroic archaeology professor. This first installment saw Indy fighting off the Nazis to gain control of the Ark of the Covenant. It would…
-
Autopia | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 11, 2016
On this day in 2016, the Autopia attraction closed at Hong Kong Disneyland after an almost ten-year run in the park. The Hong Kong version of the classic attraction was the first to have fully electric cars instead of gas-powered. An internal audio system filled in the engine noises. Honda Motors sponsored the futuristic attraction…
-
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 10, 2000
On this day in 2000, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopened after a six-month refurbishment, the first extended overhaul since opening day in 1989. The inaugural show was filled with a very special group of fans—500 Floridians all with the last name Jones! Disney gave the invited Joneses red carpet…
-
Cars | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 9, 2006
On this day in 2006, Pixar’s ‘Cars’ was released. Talented but arrogant race car Lightning McQueen discovers the importance of the journey, not the finish line, when he takes an unexpected detour to the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. ‘Cars’ was the last Pixar film made before the studio was bought by Disney.…
-
The Great Locomotive Chase | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 8, 1956
On this day in 1956, Disney’s live-action adventure film ‘The Great Locomotive Chase’ was released. The story was based on a real mission during the Civil War. Union spy James Andrews leads a band of 22 soldiers to steal a Confederate train in Georgia and drive it to Union territory, destroying the railway system as…
-
The Rock | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 7, 1996
On this day in 1996, the action thriller ‘The Rock’ from director Michael Bay was released by Disney’s Hollywood Pictures. The film starred Nicolas Cage as an FBI chemical weapons expert alongside Sean Connery as a former British Intelligence Agent turned political prisoner and escapee from Alcatraz. The pair must break into Alcatraz Island to…
-
A Night With The Golden Greats | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 6, 1981
On this day in 1981, A Night With The Golden Greats, a special after-hours concert event, was held at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The concert was part of Walt Disney World Summer Magic and the World Series of Entertainment. The event ran from 9 PM to 1:30 AM and cost $9.95. Guests…
-
So Random! | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 5, 2011
On this day in 2011, the musical sketch comedy series ‘So Random!’ debuted on the Disney Channel. The series brought the show-within-a-show from ‘Sonny with a Chance’ to life. ‘So Random!’ was intended to be a third season of the hit series, but actually became its own independent show after Demi Lovato left the franchise.…
-
Avengers Campus | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 4, 2021
On this day in 2021, Avengers Campus opened at Disney California Adventure. It was the first in a series of Marvel-themed lands to open worldwide, with other locations in Paris, Hong Kong, and upcoming in Shanghai. The lands are set in the “Marvel Theme Park Universe,” set before the events of the ‘Infinity War’ and…
-
Atlantis: The Lost Empire | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 3, 2001
On this day in 2001, the premiere of ‘Atlantis: The Lost Empire’ was held at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. Set in 1914, linguist Milo finds a sacred book that he and a crew of mercenaries use to locate the mythical city of Atlantis. Guests of the star-studded event viewed an interactive exhibition…
-
Joseph Dubin | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 2, 1900
On this day in 1900, composer and orchestrator Joseph Dubin was born. He scored and orchestrated over 200 films during his career, 40 of which were for Disney as a staff orchestrator. Some of Dubin’s notable works for film are ‘Dumbo,’ ‘Bambi,’ ‘Cinderella,’ ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,’ and the ‘True-Life Adventures.’…
-
Dr. Sukarno | DISNEY THIS DAY | June 1, 1956
On this day in 1956, the first president of Indonesia, Dr. Sukarno, became the first head of state to visit Disneyland. He was joined by his 12-year-old son, Guntur, and a diplomatic party on an 18-day state visit and goodwill tour of the United States. Walt Disney showed President Sukarno around the park personally. Both…
-
Walt Disney’s 101 Dalmatians: A Counting Book | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 31, 1991
On this day in 1991, Disney Press published its first book, ‘Walt Disney’s 101 Dalmatians: A Counting Book.’ In it, kids search along with Pongo and Perdida for their 99 puppies. Disney Press is a division of Disney Publishing Worldwide that specializes in books for children and teens. Disney Press books often focus on classic…
-
Thru the Mirror | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 30, 1936
On this day in 1936, the Mickey Mouse short ‘Thru the Mirror’ was released. After reading Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice Thru the Looking Glass,’ a dream-state version of Mickey goes through his mirror to a parallel world where everything is alive. He eats a magical walnut that turns him into a giant and then shrinks him…
-
Disneyland Hotel Pool | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 29, 2011
On this day in 2011, the Monorail-themed water play area and the “D” Ticket pool opened at the Disneyland Hotel as part of a two-year resort transformation. The new pool area centerpiece is a tower themed after the Mark 1 Disneyland Alweg Monorail and a replica of the 1958-1989 Disneyland entrance sign. The Monorail Red…
-
it’s a small world | DISNEY THIS DAY | May 28, 1966
On this day in 1966, the ‘it’s a small world’ attraction opened in its new home in Fantasyland at Disneyland after its run at the New York World’s Fair. Walt Disney was joined by over 50 representatives from nations worldwide, officials from its sponsor, Bank of America, and international youth performing groups. Around 15 bottles…