This Day in Disney History: FEB 16

1904:

Actor James Baskett, Uncle Remus in Disney's Song of the South, is

born in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1945, he will audition for a bit part

dubbing one of the animals in the new Disney feature based on the

Uncle Remus stories. Walt will be so impressed with Baskett's talent,

that he will hire him on the spot for the lead role of Uncle Remus. As

such, he will be the first live actor hired by Disney to play in a feature film.

2003:

The Wonderful World of Disney airs

"Meredith Wilson's The Music Man" starring Matthew Broderick

(a 3-hour new presentation of the classic musical).

1903:

Ventriloquist/radio performer Edgar Bergen (famous for his wooden puppet sidekick Charlie McCarthy) is born in Chicago, Illinois. His Disney credits include the TV shows Disneyland '59 and One Hour in Wonderland. Bergen also portrays himself in the 1947 Fun and Fancy Free. In 1947 Walt Disney himself will be a guest on Bergen's popular radio show. (Edgar is the father of actress Candice Bergen.)

1920:

Patti Andrews, one-third of the popular singing trio The Andrews Sisters, is born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Aside from frequently playing themselves in movies, the sisters sold over 60 million records and lent their singing voices to Disney's Make Mine Music and Melody Time.

1945:

Frank Welker, Hollywood's "voice god," is born in Denver Colorado. His Disney credits include Mulan II, The Search for Mickey Mouse, The Lion King 1 1/2, Kim Possible: Revenge of Monkey Fist, and Return to Neverland. (Cartoon fans may recognize his voice as Fred Jones in various Scooby Doo cartoons and animated features.)

1953:

Newsweek features an article on the Disney Studios and their latest hit

Peter Pan. At the end of the article, it is announced that after the next animated feature, Lady and the Tramp, that Beauty and the Beast and Walt Kelly's Pogo the Possum are possibilities for future Disney animated features.

1955:

The Disneyland television series presents a look at Disney music and its importance in film. Guests include singer/songwriter Peggy Lee, songwriter Sonny Burke, the Mellomen (a vocal group featuring Thurl Ravenscroft), and the Firehouse Five (a musical group made up of Disney Studio employees).

1960:

Annette Funicello performs "O Dio Mio" on TV's American Bandstand.

1964:

Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color airs part 2 of

"The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh," starring Patrick McGoohan.

1984:

Disney's Mickey's Christmas Carol is nominated for an

Academy Award (Short Film, Animated).

1993:

Sharon M. Disney Lund, the second daughter of the late Walt Disney, passes away of complications from cancer at age 56. She had been a director of The Walt Disney Company since 1984.

1994:

Disney commits $500,000 to create Disney GOALS, a program designed to offer organized athletics, supplementary education and community service to local underprivileged youths.

2000:

Under a drizzly afternoon sky, Mickey Mouse, President of the Disneyland Resort Cynthia Harriss, the Disneyland Resort Millennium Ambassador Team of Dorell Mitter and Jennifer Simis, over 600 school children and Disneyland cast members all gather in front of the Disneyland Main Street Train Station to begin Disneyland's 45th Anniversary celebration. As part of the festivities inaugurating a yearlong celebration of "45 Years of Magic" at Disneyland, singer-songwriter Kenny Logins makes a special appearance performing his new song "Your Heart Will Lead You Home" from The Tigger Movie.

2001:

Disney's Recess: School's Out (based on the TV cartoon) is released in theaters.

The Disney Channel Original Movie Motocrossed, about a girl named Andrea

Carson (played by Alana Austin) who loves motocross - despite the fact that her

father finds her unsuited for the sport, debuts.

1991:

The live stage show "Dick Tracy Starring in Diamond Double-Cross" gives its final performance at Disney-MGM Studios' amphitheater. The show has been running since May 1990. (A Disneyland version had run from June to December of 1990.)

FEBRUARY 16

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2007:

Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media's live-action feature Bridge to Terabithia, based on the Katherine Paterson novel, is released.

Animal Kingdom's

Tree of Life

has 8,000 branches.

FEBRUARY 16

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2008:

Disney's President's Day Fastpitch Open kicks off at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Florida. The 3-day tournament is sanctioned by the

Amateur Softball Association of America.

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