Tag: This Day in Disney History
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Elmer Elephant | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 28, 1936
On this day in 1936, the ‘Silly Symphony’ cartoon ‘Elmer Elephant’ was released in theaters. Elmer attends Tillie Tiger’s birthday party with a group of other animal children. They bully Elmer about his long trunk, and he becomes self-conscious about his appearance. After receiving some wise advice from an elder giraffe, Elmer uses his trunk…
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Disneyland Railroad | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 27, 1999
On this day in 1999, the Disneyland Railroad marked two important milestones. Steam Engine No. 2, the E. P. Ripley, was rededicated at the park after being fully restored. The E. P. Ripley ran at Disneyland on opening day in 1955 and had been in service ever since. It was known as Walt Disney’s favorite…
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Wally Feignoux | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 26, 1906
On this day in 1906, continental cinema representative and Disney Legend Wally Feignoux was born. Wally was hired in 1936 to represent Disney in Europe. WWII broke out a few years later, putting Disney’s interests and personnel in Europe at great risk. Wally heroically kept the Paris office open from 1936 to 1945 during the…
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Walt Disney Commemorative Gold Medal | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 25, 1969
On this day in 1969, U.S. President Richard Nixon presented Lillian Disney with the Walt Disney Commemorative Gold Medal. Congress passed Public Law 90-316 to honor Disney’s service to motion pictures, theme parks, goodwill, and philanthropy. The award was sculpted by Blaine Gibson and struck by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. Six thousand bronze replicas…
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Astro-Jets | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 24, 1956
On this day in 1956, the Astro-Jets first opened at Disneyland. They were an early version of the Astro Orbiter that can be found at multiple Disney parks. The Astro-Jets replaced the Court of Honor state flag planter at the back of Tomorrowland. The spinning “flat ride” was built by the German Kaspar Klaus Company.…
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Corn Chips | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 23, 1951
On this day in 1951, the Donald Duck short ‘Corn Chips’ was released. Donald and Chip ‘n’ Dale are cleaning up snow on a winter’s day. Donald tricks the chipmunks into shoveling his sidewalk when they dump snow onto it from their tree branch. Wanting revenge, Chip ‘n’ Dale sneak into Donald’s house and take…
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Reese Witherspoon | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 22, 1976
On this day in 1976, actress, producer, and entrepreneur Reese Witherspoon was born. For Disney, she starred in ‘A Far Off Place,’ ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’ and ‘A Wrinkle in Time,’ and was a guest star on ABC’s ‘The Muppets.’ Witherspoon may be best known as Elle Woods in ‘Legally Blonde’ and for her Oscar-winning role…
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Mika Miš | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 21, 1936
On this day in 1936, Yugoslavia’s first Disney comic magazine was published, called ‘Mika Miš,’ or “Mickey Mouse” in Serbian. The “Adventures of Mika Miš” were a frequent feature of the comic in addition to other heroes like Prince Valiant, Phantom, Flash Gordon, and Tarzan. The Serbian Mickey took on a personality influenced by his…
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Laugh-O-Gram | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 20, 1921
On this day in 1921, the first of six Laugh-O-gram films debuted at the Newman Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. The series of minute-long shorts were some of the first films Walt Disney ever made. They depict a young Walt hand-drawing various subjects onto a single frame. The films were made in the shed behind…
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Minnie Oh! Minnie! | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 19, 2018
On this day in 2018, the stage show “Minnie Oh! Minnie!” ran for the last time at the Theatre Orleans in Adventureland at Tokyo Disneyland. The energetic and colorful Latin-themed spectacle debuted in April 2004 to celebrate the park’s 21st anniversary. Headliner Minnie Mouse was joined by Disney friends Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and…
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Spy Kids | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 18, 2001
On this day in 2001, the movie premiere for ‘Spy Kids’ from Dimension Films was held at the recently opened Disney’s California Adventure. A parade of the cast led to a red carpet party in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot. The event was a chance for Boeing to showcase their new Boeing Satellite System to beam…
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Traffic Troubles | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 17, 1931
On this day in 1931, the Mickey Mouse cartoon ‘Traffic Troubles’ was released. Said to be inspired by an incident Walt Disney had during a traffic stop, the short follows Mickey’s wild adventures as a madcap taxi driver. Mickey deals with a portly passenger and an irritated cop, a rough road that dislodges his fare,…
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 16, 1831
On this day in 1831, Victor Hugo’s classic tale ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ was first published. Set in 15th century Paris, the French Gothic novel tells the story of hunchback Quasimodo, street dancer Esmeralda, her pursuer Captain Phoebus, and antagonist Archdeacon Claude Frollo. The narrative has been adapted numerous times for film, stage, and…
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Disney Afternoon Avenue | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 15, 1991
On this day in 1991, Disney Afternoon Avenue first opened at Disneyland Park in California. The “it’s a small world” mall area was transformed into a new “land” based on the ‘Disney Afternoon’ two-hour syndicated television block. Guests could get event maps stamped and meet characters from ‘DuckTales,’ ‘Chip ’n’ Dale Rescue Rangers,’ ‘TaleSpin, and…
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Howard Ashman | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 14, 1991
On this day in 1991, lyricist, playwright, stage director, and Disney Legend Howard Ashman sadly passed away from the complications of HIV/AIDS at 40 years old. Ashman is best known for propelling the Disney Renaissance with the song lyrics he wrote for ‘The Little Mermaid,’ ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ and ‘Aladdin.’ The legacy he and…
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Race to Witch Mountain | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 13, 2009
On this day in 2009, ‘Race to Witch Mountain’ was released in the United States. The film was a reboot of the ‘Witch Mountain’ series from the 1970s, which included ‘Escape to Witch Mountain’ and ‘Return from Witch Mountain.’ Alexander Key wrote the original source novel in 1968. In this chapter, Dwayne Johnson stars as…
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Kim Irvine | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 12, 2011
On this day in 2011, Kim Irvine, former Imagineer and Art Director for Disneyland, received the Buzz Price Thea Award from the Themed Entertainment Association. Irvine was the first woman to receive this lifetime achievement award. She began work at WED Enterprises straight out of high school in 1970. Her career with Disney lasted for…
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Mulan Parade | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 11, 2001
On this day in 2001, the Mulan Parade made its final run at Disney-MGM Studios in Florida. The parade opened on the same day as the ‘Mulan’ film – June 19, 1998. Similar versions also ran for a short time at both Disneyland in California and Disneyland Paris. Mushu led the parade, which included 53…
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D23 | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 10, 2021
On this day in 2021, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club and Walt Disney Imagineering teamed up for the first in a series of special events. It was called D23 x Walt Disney Imagineering Magical Milestones – Disney California Adventure Park 20th Anniversary and was streamed online. Director Leslie Iwerks and then-president of WDI Bob…
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John Lounsbery | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 9, 1911
On this day in 1911, animator, Disney Legend, and one of Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men, John Lounsbery was born. Known as “Louns,” he was hired in 1935 as an assistant on ‘Snow White.’ He had a natural drawing style that felt stretchy and springy. Louns animated some favorite classic characters, like Dumbo, the animals…
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Alice’s Tea Party | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 8, 1986
On this day in 1986, the Alice’s Tea Party attraction opened at Tokyo Disneyland. It is a version of the spinning teacup ride that is found in Fantasyland at five of the Disney “castle” parks – Anaheim, Orlando, Tokyo, Paris, and Hong Kong. The attraction debuted three years after Tokyo Disneyland opened, reportedly part of…
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Mickey’s Grand Opera | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 7, 1936
On this day in 1936, the cartoon ‘Mickey’s Grand Opera’ was released. In the theme of 1935’s ‘The Band Concert,’ Mickey’s attempt to conduct a musical performance is once again taken over by shenanigans. This time, Clara Cluck and Donald Duck (clumsily) sing a piece from Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” Meanwhile, Pluto fights off a rogue magician’s…
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Mars Needs Moms | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 6, 2011
On this day in 2011, Disney’s ‘Mars Needs Moms’ held its premiere at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. Nine-year-old Milo must rescue his mom after Martians take her as a model to retrain their parenting robots. Seth Green performed the motion capture for Milo, but it is easy to miss because his voice was…
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The Ballad of Nessie | DISNEY THIS DAY | March 5, 2011
On this day in 2011, the short film ‘The Ballad of Nessie’ premiered at Anima, The Brussels International Animation Film Festival. Billy Connolly narrated the Scottish tale of the young Loch Ness Monster who must look for a new home after hers is taken over by a cruel land developer, MacFroogal. The cartoon’s classic style…