JULY 19 Disney History

1950:

Disney's Treasure Island - starring Robert Newton in the role of Long John Silver & based on the book by Robert Louis Stevenson - is released in the U.S. and the U.K. It is the first Disney live-action film without any animation (although Walt Disney's original plan was to make the movie as a full-length cartoon). Treasure Island is also the first Disney film to be shot in England. The decision to film in there, rather than the West Indian setting of the story, was financially motivated. Sales of Disney product had stockpiled a large sum of money in the UK - whose laws prevented their pounds sterling from being exchanged totally into American dollars - so the studio decided to use the frozen funds to make the film in England. Also released is the True-Life Adventure Beaver Valley.

2002:

The Walt Disney Company signs a letter of intent with the city of Shanghai to builds its third Asian theme park there.

The Lizzie McGuire episode "Best Dressed for Much Less"

debuts on Disney Channel.

2005:

A tragedy is averted when famed sports agent Drew Rosenhaus performs life-saving CPR on a 3-year-old at Walt Disney World. After being pulled from the kiddie pool at the Grand Floridian, the young child from Chicago is revived by Rosenhaus (who is in town for a function at ESPN Club).

1919:

Dal McKennon - the voice of Benjamin Franklin in Disney's

American Adventure (located at Epcot) and the narrator of the

now-retired Disneyland attraction Mine Train thru Nature's

Wonderland - is born in Oregon. His Disney credits also include the voice of the animated bear in Bedknobs and Broomsticks and appearances in the films Son

of Flubber, The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, and The Cat from Outer Space.

1934:

Disney signs a contract with the Lionel Corporation to produce a Mickey Mouse wind-up hand-car.

1942:

Character actor & Disney voice star Sterling Holloway enlists in the U.S. Army.

1999:

Disney fans, railroaders, members of the Disney family, local government officials and press gather in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, for the official dedication of Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn. (Disney had a miniature railroad in his backyard on Carolwood Drive and a barn where he could monitor and control the 2,615 feet of track that made up his railroad. The barn also served as a workshop and a place for Walt to relax.)

1955:

A 12-year-old Californian named Tom Nabbe starts his new job as a "newsie" -

hawking The Disneyland News at the Anaheim park. Published monthly, it covers the

ongoing events happening at Disneyland and costs a dime (Nabbe earns 3 cents per copy). Nabbe will go on to

become Disneyland's first Tom Sawyer, a monorail manager at Disney World & later manager of distribution

services at the Florida theme park ... and a Disney Legend in 2005!

1957:

The Disney animated short The Story of Anyburg, U.S.A., directed by Clyde Geronimi, is released. A "humorous message on auto sanity," it features the voices of Hans Conried, Thurl Ravenscroft, and Bill Thompson.