1966:
The television series Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color airs "Disneyland Around the Seasons." As this is the first episode to air after the December 15th death of Walt Disney, a portion of Walt’s narrative is substituted by a brief tribute from Dick Van Dyke and NBC newsman Chet Huntley. The episode features Bob Cummings, Ronald Reagan and Paul Frees.
1888:
Actress Gladys Cooper, Aunt Mary Drexel in Disney's 1967 live-action feature The Happiest Millionaire, is born in London, England. (She is probably best known to movie fans for her role of Mrs. Higgins in the classic My Fair Lady.)
1933:
During a ceremony at the studio in which he is receiving an award from
The Parents Magazine, Walt Disney gets word that his pregnant wife Lilly is
about to deliver. He dashes off to the hospital and arrives just in time to see
Diane Marie Disney born!
1941:
Walt Disney is called to Washington, D.C. to meet with the Treasury Department and the IRS. He is asked to provide a film to promote paying taxes - to be completed by the end of February 1942.
1950:
Film historian, writer & producer Leonard Maltin is born in New York City. His book
The Disney Films was first published in 1973. He also appears as a speaker at
Disney conventions and hosts many of Walt Disney Treasures DVD releases.
1959:
The TV series Walt Disney Presents airs the episode
"Texas John Slaughter: Range War at Tombstone."
1960:
Walt Disney Presents airs the segments, "Escape to Paradise" & "Water Birds."
The Christmas in Many Lands Parade debuts at Disneyland.
1979:
The Walt Disney Productions live-action feature film,
The Black Hole, featuring Maximilian Schell, Anthony
Perkins, Ernest Borgnine, and Roddy McDowall premieres
in London. (It will be released in the U.S. three days later.)
1980:
Pop star Christina Maria Aguilera, a member of Disney Channel's
The All New Mickey Mouse Club, is born in Staten Island, New York.
1991:
Jim Henson Productions and Buena Vista Home Video (part
of the Disney family) sign a worldwide distribution deal.
1998:
McDonald's opens a french fry stand inside Disneyland,
housed inside a covered wagon in Frontierland.
2000:
Nick Stewart (also known as Nicodemus Stewart), the voice of Brer Bear in Disney's
1946 Song of the South & the Splash Mountain park attractions, dies at the age of 90.
2002:
The Lion King Day is celebrated in Dearborn, Michigan to honor the metro-Detroit premiere of Disney's The Lion King and the great success of the IMAX Theatre at the Henry Ford Museum.
2003:
The Disney Company is nominated for multiple Golden Globe Awards.
They include Miramax Films' Civil War epic Cold Mountain with 8 nominations, and a nomination each for
Finding Nemo, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Freaky Friday.
2004:
Body Wars, Cranium Command and The Making of Me
reopen at Epcot for the holiday season.
Disney Cruise Line sets sail on its first 10-night holiday cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida.
"Mother was a true partner with my father. She traveled with him around the world to visit colleagues. When they came to Burbank, she'd cook them chicken dinner at our home. After serving in her kitchen, she usually encouraged them to help wash the dishes after eating. She was good friends with many Disney employees; she had a unique gift for understanding people."
-Roy E. Disney (son of Roy O. Disney)
1971:
The St. Petersburg High School Green Devil Band performs at
Walt Disney World. This makes them the first guest high school marching
band to ever play at the new Florida theme park.
1984:
Edna Francis Disney, mother of Roy E. Disney, passes at the age of 94.
Often regarded as Disney's answer to Star Wars, The Black Hole cost the studio $20 million to produce - making it (at the time) the most expensive picture ever produced by the company. Although not well-received by critics, it
earned $36 million at the
US box office!
DEC
2006:
A performance of High School Musical: The Concert is taped at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. It will be released on CD and DVD in May 2007.
1953:
Disney's animated Peter Pan is released in Finland and France.
2008:
The premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' Bedtime Stories takes place at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California. The adventure comedy stars Adam Sandler as Skeeter Bronson, a hotel handyman whose life is changed forever when the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to mysteriously come true.
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DECEMBER 18
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THIS DAY MADE
IN THE
USA
DECEMBER 18
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Bedtime Stories premieres
1942:
Disney's Donald Duck short Bellboy Donald, directed by Jack King is released.
Donald struggles with his self-control as he deals with rude hotel guests!
