APR 07 Disney History

2008:

The United States Air Force "Thunderbirds" fly over Walt Disney World. The Las Vegas, Nevada-based air demonstration team, who are celebrating their 55th anniversary, soar over the resort following an air show in Punta Gorda, Florida.

In a public ceremony, Jackie Autry, wife of the late Gene Autry ("The Singing

Cowboy") accepts a star on the Anaheim/Orange County Walk of Stars in honor of her husband and Orange County’s baseball pioneer. Actor & singer-songwriter Gene Autry is the sixth honoree on the Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars (Walt Disney was the first) and is recognized for his contributions to baseball and professional sports in Orange County. Autry once owned the California Angels and later sold a quarter share of the team to The Walt Disney Company.

2005:

A themed airplane adorned with the image of Tinker Bell on the

fuselage and golden Mickey Mouse ears on the tail from Alaska Airlines soars

into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The bright blue Boeing 737-400 named the

"Magic of Disneyland" celebrates the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney's Anaheim park.

It is reported that thirty-five nonprofit organizations from five Central Florida

counties received a collective $600,000 in awards from the Walt Disney World

Resort as part of Disney's Helping Kids Shine program.

It is announced that Brooke Tansley, who started her run as Belle in Disney's

Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast on September 14th, 2004, and was

extended through May 1st, has been extended again through September

18th, 2005.

1928:

Actor James Garner, the voice of Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke in

Disney's 2001 animated release Atlantis: The Lost Empire, is born in

Norman, Oklahoma. His live-action Disney film credits include the 1974 The Castaway

Cowboy and the 1973 One Little Indian. (TV fans know him as the star of "The Rockford Files"

and for his role in "8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter.")

1939:

Disney's final Silly Symphony cartoon The Ugly Ducking is

released. Based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen, this short retells the

tale of an outcast duckling who turns out to become a beautiful swan. A color remake of the 1931 Disney

short, it will win an Academy Award for Best Cartoon.

Sound recording for Disney's newest feature Fantasia begins. (The project will consume a half million feet of sound film during 42 days of recording!)

1964:

Actor Russell Crowe, who starred as John Biebe in Disney's 1999 comedy "Mystery, Alaska" (also known as Disney's "Hockey Project") is born in Wellington, New Zealand.

1970:

At the 42nd Academy Awards (held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles), Disney's It's Tough To Be A Bird wins an Oscar (Short Subjects, Cartoon).

1990:

At Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney, Cage replaces Videopolis East (one of the original Pleasure Island clubs for the under-21).

1995:

Walt Disney's sister Ruth (the youngest of the family) passes away.

The Disney film A Goofy Movie is released. This film was animated primarily at a new Disney studio in France, after character design, art direction, and storyboarding had been completed in Burbank, California. It features the voices of Bill Farmer (as Goofy), Jim Cummings, Jo Anne Worley, and Joey Lawrence.

1996:

Walt Disney World's Happy Easter Parade, hosted by

Regis Philben and Joan Lunden, airs on television.

2001:

Disney's House of Mouse debuts the episode "Thanks to Minnie."

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Play It! officially opens at Disney-MGM Studios.

The attraction is a modified version of the popular Who Wants to Be a Millionaire television game show.

2003:

The National Association of Broadcasters inducts the Disney anthology television series into the NAB Hall of Fame at the NAB2003 Television All-Industry Luncheon in Las Vegas. CEO Michael Eisner accepts the award on behalf of The Walt Disney Company. The Disney anthology includes "Disneyland," "Walt Disney Presents," "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color," "Disney's Wonderful World," "Walt Disney," "The Disney Sunday Movie," "The Magical World of Disney" and, as it is currently known, "The Wonderful World of Disney." Michael Eisner also speaks at the Television All-Industry Luncheon (at the Las Vegas Hilton). He talks about Disney's Movie Beam, a new video on demand service.

2004:

Roy E. Disney and his wife Patty tour the new $22.5 million

"Roy E. Disney Center for Performing Arts" at the National Hispanic Cultural Center & Foundation in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Disney's have contributed $1 million to help fund the construction of the 700-seat theater.

2006:

Disney World's biggest ride yet, Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, a 20-story, white-knuckle roller coaster spin officially opens in Animal

Kingdom. The ceremonial grand opening is led by Disney CEO Bob Iger and theme parks chairman Jay Rasulo.

The attraction, which features a snowy mountain setting and an "abominable snowman" figure, is currently Florida's

tallest peak, sculpted from 1,800 tons of steel, and covering more than six acres!

The third Hannah Montana episode "She's A Super Sneak"

debuts on Disney Channel.

1983:

Walt Disney World welcomes its 150-millionth guest - Carrie Stahl!

1985:

ABC-TV airs Walt Disney World's Happy Easter Parade.

1957:

Parade magazine features the "Luckiest Boy in the World," a cover story on Cast Member (and future Disney Legend) Tom Nabbe - Disneyland's first Tom Sawyer.

1954:

Chip 'n' Dale's short The Lone Chipmunks, directed by Jack Kinney, is released.