Tag: DISNEY THIS DAY
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Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause | DISNEY THIS DAY | November 3, 2006
On this day in 2006, ‘Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause’ was released. In the franchise’s final theatrical installment, Tim Allen returned as Scott Calvin alongside much of the previous cast, with Martin Short joining as Jack Frost. As Santa prepares for the arrival of his in-laws at the North Pole, Frost schemes to invoke…
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Monsters, Inc. | DISNEY THIS DAY | November 2, 2001
On this day in 2001, Pixar’s ‘Monsters, Inc.’ debuted in theaters. The film introduced audiences to Monstropolis, where scarers Sulley and Mike Wazowski must secretly return a human child named Boo after she wanders into the monster world. Directed by Pete Docter, ‘Monsters, Inc.’ was Pixar’s first feature not led by John Lasseter. The filmmakers…
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Walt Disney | DISNEY THIS DAY | November 1, 1966
On this day in 1966, the American Forestry Association presented their Distinguished Service Award to Walt Disney at a ceremony in Williamsburg, Virginia. The prize honored Disney’s outstanding contributions to conservation, including his support for the National Wildlife Federation. In his unscripted remarks, Disney emphasized the responsible stewardship of natural resources and his vision for…
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The Country Cousin | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 31, 1936
On this day in 1936, the ‘Silly Symphony’ short ‘The Country Cousin’ was released. Inspired by Aesop’s Fable “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,” the dialogue-free cartoon follows naive rural mouse Abner as he visits his sophisticated city cousin, Morty. Morty tries to help Abner navigate the fast-paced urban environment, but when the pair…
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Saturday Night at the World Halloween Party | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 30, 1976
On this day in 1976, Walt Disney World hosted the “Saturday Night at the World Halloween Party.” The event was part of a special ticketed Saturday night series that debuted earlier that year, with a new theme each week. Magic Kingdom Park was open until midnight, as compared with the normal 7 PM closing time.…
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Winona Ryder | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 29, 1971
On this day in 1971, actress Winona Ryder was born. Best remembered for some of her more eccentric roles, Ryder first achieved success in the late 1980s and 1990s in films like Tim Burton’s ‘Beetlejuice.’ For Disney, she voiced Elsa Van Helsing in ‘Frankenweenie’ and appeared in 2023’s ‘Haunted Mansion.’ Ryder also starred in several…
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Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 28, 1994
On this day in 1994, Disney released ‘Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale’ in theaters. It starred Adam Beach as the legendary Indigenous American hero Squanto. The film dramatically recounted Squanto’s capture by the English, enslavement in Europe, courageous escape, and return to New England. There, he helped prevent conflict between the indigenous tribes and the Pilgrims,…
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Walt Disney’s EPCOT ’66 | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 27, 1966
On this day in 1966, Walt Disney filmed his final on-camera appearance, “Walt Disney’s EPCOT ’66.” It was a 24-minute presentation outlining his vision for the Florida Project and EPCOT, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Shot in a single day, the film showcased plans for what would become Walt Disney World, with EPCOT as…
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Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 26, 1986
On this day in 1986, Mickey and Donald made their official debut on China Central Television when the network launched ‘Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck,’ a 30‑minute program dubbed in Mandarin. Under an agreement signed by Disney CEO Michael Eisner, CCTV aired 104 episodes over two years, introducing Disney’s iconic characters to millions of Chinese…
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Walt Disney World Dedication | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 25, 1971
On this day in 1971, the three-day dedication of Walt Disney World culminated in a formal ceremony at Magic Kingdom. Nearly 100,000 guests, including numerous celebrities, were in attendance to witness the momentous occasion. The weekend’s grand finale started with the world’s largest marching band, 1,076 members strong, playing “76 Trombones” in front of Cinderella…
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A Disney Halloween | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 24, 1981
On this day in 1981, ‘A Disney Halloween’ first aired as a 90-minute television special. The show combined spooky clips from archival shorts and features, like “Night on Bald Mountain” from ‘Fantasia,’ “Heffalumps and Woozles” from ‘Winnie the Pooh,’ “The Old Mill,” “Lonesome Ghosts,” and “Trick or Treat.” The Magic Mirror introduced favorite scenes with…
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Dumbo | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 23, 1941
On this day in 1941, ‘Dumbo’ debuted in theaters. Based on a story by Helen Aberson-Mayer and Harold Pearl, the tale follows Jumbo Jr., a baby circus elephant born to Mrs. Jumbo. He is ridiculed and dubbed “Dumbo” because of his enormous ears. After he is separated from his mother, his friend Timothy Mouse helps…
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Walt Disney World Airport | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 22, 1971
On this day in 1971, the Walt Disney World Airport was dedicated and began flight service. Also known as the Lake Buena Vista Airport or “STOLport” for “Short Take Off and Landing,” the 2000-foot airfield was located near the Magic Kingdom. Shawnee and Executive Airlines provided connecting service from Orlando and Tampa. It was known…
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Disney Legend Mary Blair | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 21, 1911
On this day in 1911, designer, animator, Imagineer, and Disney Legend Mary Blair was born. Famed for her bold colors and whimsical, modern style, Blair became one of Disney’s most influential artists. She joined Disney in 1940 and was named art supervisor after the South America tour. She helped define the studio’s visual identity through…
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Disney Legend Frank Churchill | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 20 | 1901
On this day in 1901, acclaimed composer, songwriter, and Disney Legend Frank Churchill was born. Despite having no formal training, he began his music career at age 15 as a pianist for silent films. Churchill joined Disney in 1930 and soon produced the studio’s first big hit with “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?”…
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ABC Super Soap Weekend | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 19, 1996
On this day in 1996, the first annual ABC Super Soap Weekend kicked off at Disney-MGM Studios in Walt Disney World. The event gave fans the chance to meet their favorite ABC soap stars up close through motorcades, panel discussions, autograph sessions, and Q&A presentations. Guests could also stop by Soap Central to view and…
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Finding Nemo – The Musical | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 18, 2006
On this day in 2006, “Finding Nemo – The Musical” offered a preview performance at Broadway’s Palace Theatre in New York City. The show opened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom about three months later. “Finding Nemo” was the first major musical created for Walt Disney World by Disney Creative Entertainment. It featured new songs from Robert…
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The Color of Money | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 17, 1986
On this day in 1986, ‘The Color of Money’ was released in theaters by Disney’s Touchstone Pictures. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film reunited audiences with Paul Newman’s iconic pool hustler “Fast Eddie” in a sequel to ‘The Hustler.’ Along with Tom Cruise as Vincent and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Carmen, the trio travels the…
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Disney Film Festival | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 16, 1988
On this day in 1988, a two-week Disney Film Festival began in the Soviet Union with a gala premiere in Moscow. Mickey Mouse’s first official visit started the day before with a red-carpet airport welcome from Misha, the bear mascot of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Celebrating Mickey’s 60th birthday, the festival coincided with the era…
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Swingers Soundtrack | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 15, 1996
On this day in 1996, the original soundtrack for ‘Swingers’ was released ahead of the film on Disney’s Hollywood Records. The album helped fuel the popularity of neo-swing in the late 1990s and introduced swing revivalist band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Their ‘Swingers’ hits, “You & Me and the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)” and…
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Winnie the Pooh | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 14, 1926
On this day in 1926, the beloved children’s book ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ was first printed. Author A. A. Milne partnered with illustrator E. H. Shepard on the project after the success of their work for English humor magazine ‘Punch.’ “Winnie-the-Pooh” was inspired by Christopher Robin Milne’s stuffed bear and Winnie, a real bear at the London Zoo.…
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Bill Thomas | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 13, 1921
On this day in 1921, costume designer Bill Thomas was born. He is remembered as one of the 20th century’s most versatile designers, having over 300 film credits. Fresh off his Oscar win for ‘Spartacus’ in 1961, Thomas came to Disney, where he helped shape the studio’s live-action films until 1982. His costumes for ‘Mary…
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Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 12, 2001
On this day in 2001, ‘Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge’ was released as the second Disney Channel Original Movie in the series. Set two years after the first film, 15-year-old Marnie and her Grandmother Aggie find that the magic has been removed from Halloweentown by the Grey Spell, turning the residents black-and-white. Meanwhile, the mortal world…
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Thank You Walt Disney, Inc. | DISNEY THIS DAY | October 11, 1996
On this day in 1996, the nonprofit Thank You Walt Disney, Inc. purchased the McConahay Building in Kansas City, Missouri, the former home of Laugh-O-Gram Studios. Walt Disney opened his first animation studio in a five-room suite on the second floor. Although the business only lasted about a year, it laid the groundwork for Disney’s…