1789:
George Washington, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall
Street in New York, takes his oath of office as the very first
President of the United States. (At this time the capital is located in New York City.)
2004:
ABC-TV airs the George Lopez episode, "George Goes to Disneyland." Viewers keep track of hidden Mickeys during the 30-minute show for a special "Mousehunt" contest.
1923:
Actor Al Lewis is born in New York. Famously known as Grandpa from the hit 1960s television series The Munsters, Lewis appears in Disney's 1970
live-action film The Boatniks as Bert.
1926:
Actress Cloris Leachman, Nurse Spex in Disney's 2005 live-action feature Sky
High, is born in Des Moines, Iowa. Her Disney credits also include The North Avenue Irregulars
(1979) as Claire Porter and Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) as Aunt Louise.
(An eight-time Emmy Award winner, Leachman is best known for her roles on the classic TV sitcom The Mary
Tyler Moore Show and later the spinoff series, Phyllis.)
1928:
Disney's Oswald the Lucky Rabbit black & white silent short Ozzie of the Mounted is released through Universal Pictures.
1939:
The New York World's Fair, "Building the World of Tomorrow," opens in Flushing Meadows. Disney is represented by a specially commissioned Mickey Mouse cartoon developed for the Nabisco Pavilion. (The World's Fair of 1964-65 will take place at this same location.)
1949:
Disney's The Bone Bandit is released.
1958:
The Disneyland TV series airs episode 98 - "An Adventure in Art."
1961:
The TV series Walt Disney Presents airs "Flash, the Teenage Otter."
1982:
Actress Kirsten Dunst, who appears in the 1997 TV movie Tower of Terror (inspired by the theme park attraction) is born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.
1989:
The Magical World of Disney airs the TV special "The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening" the night before the park's actual grand debut.
The program features such TV stars as Harry Anderson, Stefanie Powers, Kate Jackson, Rue McClanahan, Ann Miller, Tony Randall and Hollywood legend George Burns. The show opens with a big musical number starring singer Smokey Robinson, as he and numerous dancers make their way down Hollywood Boulevard. The ending dance number "Horray for Hollywood" will win an Emmy for Best Choreagraphy!
1995:
At Disneyland's Fantasyland, the Beauty and the Beast stage show closes.
2000:
The L.A. Times reports that Walt Disney World has disbanded its marching band,
a Magic Kingdom fixture for nearly 30 years. The band's 18 musicians, dressed in
signature red coats, white pants and plumed hats, were abruptly fired last week.
They will be replaced by smaller musical groups throughout the Florida park.
2002:
At Epcot, singer Eddie Money performs 3 shows as part of the Flower Power concert series at America Gardens Theatre. (He will appear through May 2.)
Monsters, Inc. is among the winners for Top Box Office Films at the ASCAP
Film and Television Music Awards, held in California.
1969:
During a press conference at the Ramada Inn on Highway 50 in Ocoee, Florida (a little suburb on the outskirts of Orlando), Donn B. Tatum (president of Walt Disney World Co.) details the more than 3 years of planning for a "Destination Vacation". It has been two years since special legislation had been passed to allow Disney to build its Florida project, and now the Disney Company has rented out the entire Ramada Inn for Walt Disney World's official first press event. A large circus tent outside the hotel is filled with models and artist renderings of Walt Disney World for this three-day gala. Among the Disney officials in attendance is Walt's brother Roy O. Disney and Disney publicist Charlie Ridgway. A 16-mm 17-minute film titled Walt Disney World - Phase 1 is screened at the Parkwood Cinema Theater. It shows the master plan and artists' depictions for a theme park (which will open in 1971).
1976:
Disney animator Milt Kahl, one of Walt's "Nine Old Men," retires.
His work ranged from the 1935 Mickey's Service Station to the
1977 The Rescuers.
"All of us in the Disney
organization who have come to Florida over the last several years
can't say enough about the warm and enthusiastic welcome we
have received here."
- Roy O. Disney, Walt Disney World Press Conference,
This Day in Disney History 1969
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The first daily
operating monorail system in the USA opened
at Disneyland in 1959.
2007:
Legendary comedian Don Rickles appears at the Dolphin Hotel at Disney World in
Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Rickles is the voice of Mr. Potato Head in Disney/Pixar's Toy Story films and
the voice of William in Disney World's Enchanted Tiki Room attraction.)
Starting on this day, Disneyland Resort tickets can be purchased online and printed
at home.
Veteran comedic actor Tom Poston passes away in Los Angeles at age 85.
Best known for his role on the series Newhart, Poston's Disney credits include The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and
the film Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.
2003:
The ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards are presented at the Beverly Hilton in
Los Angeles, California. Among the winners for Top Box Office Films is Lilo & Stitch.
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2008:
The Newport Beach Film Festival holds a special event - "An Evening of Disney Rarities" featuring rarely seen Disney animated shorts and experimental films with commentary by Roy E. Disney, Don Hahn and Dave Bossert.
The Jonas Brothers take a spin on "Toy Story Mania!" - the newest attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The trio are on property taking part in the "Disney Channel Games," a made-for-TV, Olympic-style event that will be shown on Disney Channel in summer 2008.
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APRIL 30
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APRIL 30
THIS DAY MADE IN THE USA
Today is National Honesty Day
In observance of Washington's inauguration
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A
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"He left the studio in 1976 and moved north to San Francisco where his children were. He was sort of my muse. Once a year I would go up there and spend an afternoon with him. Socially, he was wonderful. He gave me all the time I needed. I would show him drawings and he didn't tear me apart. I think that was a bit different than when he was at the studio where when he saw things he didn't like he would really chew people up." -animator Andreas Deja on Milt Kahl
1952:
Mr. Potato Head is first introduced to the public when it becomes the first toy ever advertised on television. Over one million kits will be sold in the first year!
Originally invented by George Lerner in 1949, Mr. Potato Head will later sold to Henry and Merrill Hassenfeld in 1951 (the creators of the toy company Hasbro). In 1995 Mr. Potato Head will make his debut in Hollywood with a leading role in the Disney/Pixar animated feature, Toy Story.
Father of His Country
