This Day in Disney History: FEB 01

2005:

"This actress who is the voice of Kim Possible ... played Belle in Beauty and the Beast" is the answer given on today's airing of the TV game show Jeopardy. A contestant correctly answers "Who is Christy Carlson Romano?"

The direct-to-video animated film Mulan II premieres.

Today is Freedom Day

National Freedom Day is a U.S. holiday celebrating the end of slavery and commemorating freedom.

It is observed on February 1st, the day in 1865 that President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment

to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery.

xt.1925:

Disney's Alice Comedy Alice Gets Stung is released.

(It is the last time actress Virginia Davis will portray Alice.)

1956:

The Disneyland television series airs

"A Day in the Life of Donald Duck," featuring Walt Disney, the Mouseketeers and Clarence Nash (the voice of Donald).

Better Homes & Gardens runs an article about the new Disneyland park titled "Land That Does Away With Time."

1926:

The Alice Comedy Alice's Little Parade, starring Margie Gay, is released.

1954:

Actor/musician Bill Mumy is born Charles William Mumy, Jr. in San Gabriel, California. He will go on to appear in Disney's 1969 Rascal, write music for Disney's Adventures in Wonderland, and do voice-over work for Disney's animated Buzz Lightyear: Star Command. (TV fans will know him best for his

role as Will Robinson on the classic 1960s series Lost in Space.)

1966:

Hollywood fixture & gossip columnist Hedda Hopper passes. In 1938, Hopper began writing a newspaper column, "Hedda Hopper's Hollywood," for the Los Angeles Times. A year later she spun the column off into a 15-minute radio program. (One of the many Hollywood characters who stroll about the Disney-MGM Studios/Disney's Hollywood Studios interacting with guests, is very reminiscent of Miss Hopper!)

1967:

Teenage/adult romantic comedy author Meg Cabot is born Meggin Cabot in Bloomington, Indiana. Her "The Princess Diaries" series of novels are the inspiration for two Disney feature films of the same name.

1984:

Actor Lee Thompson Young - star of Disney Channel's The Famous Jett Jackson series - is born in Columbia, South Carolina.

1987:

Television's The Wonderful World of Disney airs the

episode "You Ruined My Life."

1989:

Hollywood Pictures (part of the Disney family) is created in

order to help cope with the heavy load of movies that Touchstone Pictures is dealing with. (Arachnophobia will be Hollywood Pictures' first release.)

1991:

Drummer, sound effects genius, and the second voice of Mickey Mouse, James

Macdonald passes away at age 84 in Glendale, California. He had been

scheduled to contribute sounds to the Splash Mountain attraction at Disney

parks in Tokyo and Florida. For over 50 years Macdonald created sound effects

that have become an integral part of Disney films and theme parks.

1996:

A 2-day Dapper Dans reunion begins at Disneyland.

1998:

The "25" is removed from Epcot's IllumiNations 25 (as Disney World's 25th anniversary celebration has ended) the same day IllUminations 98 debuts.

1999:

A month-long salute to African-Americans in history begins in Disney World. History, culture, music and dance take center stage at the 4 theme parks and the Downtown Disney entertainment complex.

2001:

It is reported that Disney executives are giving serious thought to letting LEGO (the Danish toy manufacturer) build its next stateside park on Disney World soil. (LEGOLAND California, the first park created in the U.S. by LEGO, includes rides, hands-on building challenges, interactive attractions, wild coasters, and shopping opportunities.)

2003:

The 30th Annual Annie Awards take place at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. Animator Doug Sweetland picks up an Annie for his work in Disney's Monsters, Inc. Daveigh Chase wins an award for the voice of Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stich. Veteran voice actor Corey Burton wins for the voice of Ludwig Von Drake in Disney's House of Mouse. The Windsor McCay award (given to individuals for a lifetime of achievement in animation) is presented to Floyd Norman and the Sherman brothers. Norman worked at Disney Studios on Sleeping Beauty & created story sketches for The Jungle Book. Songwriters Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman contributed greatly to the musical legacy of countless Disney animated features.

Disney World's Diamond Horseshoe Revue closes their saloon doors for

good with a final performance. It will be replaced with Goofy's Country

Dancin' Jamboree.

2004:

Immediately following the New England Patriots' 32-29 Super Bowl

win over the Carolina Panthers, quarterback Tom Brady is captured on video exclaiming: "I'm going to Disney World!" (The 34th episode of the long-running TV ad will air all over the country the following morning.)

xt.1908:

Baggy-trousered, banjo-strumming comedian Gene Sheldon (known for

playing small parts in films and performing in pantomime on TV guest

appearances) is born Eugene Hume in Columbus, Ohio. He will be cast

by Disney as the mute sidekick/servant Bernardo on the 1957 hit television

series Zorro. This will lead to major roles in such Disney features as Toby

Tyler, or Ten Weeks With the Circus and Babes in Toyland.

FEBRUARY 1

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FEB

1957:

The article "Clean Sweep For Disneyland" appears in the publication

American City. The article tells of the 64-member crew whose 24-hour job

is to keep Disneyland clean.

Disney Legend

James Macdonald can be spotted as the tympani player in the Disney film Fantasia.

FEBRUARY 1

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2008:

Directors at the Walt Disney Company sign the chief executive, Robert A. Iger, to a new five-year contract. The agreement, which extends through Jan. 31, 2013, shows their confidence in Iger's ability to navigate a turbulent economy and sweeping changes in the media business.

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