2008:
Disney Legend Harriet Burns, the first woman ever hired by Walt Disney Imagineering in a creative rather than an office capacity, passes away at age 79 in California.
For 31 years Burns helped design and build prototypes for theme park attractions, as well as final products featured at Disneyland and the New York World's Fair of 1964. (She was even at Disneyland's July 17 debut in 1955!) Retired since 1986, she stayed active in the Disney community and was a frequent guest at Disney and fan organized events. Burns (born 8/20/28) is the only woman to have a window on Disneyland’s Main Street USA!
Her commemorative plaque reads: "The Artisans Loft, Handmade Miniatures by Harriet Burns."
The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, announces its 2008 Winsor McCay Award recipients during a private reception at the Gaslight Marriott during the annual Comic Con Convention in San Diego, California. This year’s Winsor McCay recipients are Mike Judge, John Lasseter and Nick Park. Lasseter, a pioneering computer animation director, is currently the Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation.
Bolt Across America kicks off in New York City with an
event featuring Miley Cyrus, the voice of Penny in a new Disney
animated comedy adventure titled Bolt - to be released November 2008.
The Bolt Across America cross-country journey will raised awareness for the film and for the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the nation’s leading animal welfare organization.
1959:
The Ernest S. Marsh locomotive (Engine No. 4) takes its first inaugural run around Disneyland at the hands of Chief Engineer, Walt Disney. Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1925, it is named for the current president of the Santa Fe Railroad.
2003:
The Disney Institute (located at Walt Disney World) officially closes after 7 years in operation. A resort and learning center, it was a pet project of Disney CEO Michael Eisner who saw it as a way for families to learn and play together.
1894:
Legendary actor Walter Brennan, who appears in the live-action Disney films The Gnome-Mobile (1967) and Those Calloways (1965), is born in Swampscott, Massachusetts. A three-time Academy Award winning actor, Brennan will always be remembered as one of the premier character actors in motion picture history.
1917:
Writer/producer Arthur Alsberg is born in New York City. His Disney credits include
Hot Lead & Cold Feet, Gus, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, and No Deposit, No Return.
Alsberg started out in show business in New York writing radio comedy shows for stars like Milton Berle and
Danny Kaye (the future host of Epcot's TV debut). Kaye brought Alsberg to Hollywood in 1946, where he
became a writer for such TV shows as "Our Miss Brooks", "I Dream of Jeannie", "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir",
and "Nanny and the Professor".
1935:
Actress Barbara Harris - Ellen Andrews, the mother in Disney's 1976 version of Freaky Friday - is born in Evanston, Illinois. The role earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress - Motion Picture, Musical/Comedy!
1936:
Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon Alpine Climbers is released. Directed by David Hand, it features the only animated appearance of Donald Duck's St. Bernard pet.
1937:
Paul Collins - the voice of John in the 1953 Disney classic
Peter Pan - is born in London, England.
2006:
Stars from Disney’s three current Broadway musicals - Beauty and the Beast,
The Lion King and Tarzan - perform a free concert at the J&R Music and
Computer World at City Hall Park in New York City.
1985:
The record album for Disney's animated The Black Cauldron is recorded - months
after the actual score used for the feature was recorded. The music is performed by the Utah Symphony Orchestra (the same orchestra who recorded the original score) with Elmer Bernstein conducting. The
album will not contain all of the music from the film, only highlights.
1955:
The publication Newsweek runs an article about Disneyland titled
"Spectacular Plus." It reports that - "California had never seen anything like it: A children's super amusement park covering 160 acres at Anaheim, Calif., 22 miles outside of Los Angeles, costing some $17 million and keeping 2,500 workers toiling to the last minute on such rides as the "Peter Pan Fly-Through" (a galleon ride to Never-Never Land) and "rocket trips to the moon," interspersed with oases where an expected 5 million callers a year may gather strength for further adventures from the world's biggest glass of root beer."
2007:
A press release announces that the Walt Disney Company has made a commitment to end cigarette smoking in Disney-branded films. Disney will discourage depictions of cigarette smoking in its films and will place an anti-smoking PSA on DVD's of any future film that does depict smoking.
Disney's Hollywood Records announces the release of an album with CDVU+ technology that provides a variety of extras, and is packaged in eco-friendly material. The self-titled album from the Jonas Brothers contains extras such as exclusive content, hidden 'Easter eggs' and interactive material that can be downloaded for access on and offline.
On the television game show Jeopardy!, "What is Hakuna Matata?" is the question for the Final Jeopardy answer. A Swahili phrase, it means
"There are no worries here."
JULY
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JULY 25
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JULY 25
THIS SITE MADE
IN THE
USA
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The tradition of Disney topiaries
began in 1966 when
Disneyland horticulturalists
sculpted larger-than-lifesize
characters in Fantasyland, in
particular surrounding
the It's a Small World attraction.
At Disney World, the process began
3 years before the resort’s 1971
opening and is still evolving
today at the WDW Nursery!
The Disney Institute closes
"We're interested in doing things that are fun... in bringing pleasure and especially laughter to people. I think what I want Disneyland to be most of all is a happy place... a place where adults and children can experience together some of the wonder of life, of adventure, and feel better because of it." -Walt Disney
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2009:
Mickey’s Pin Trading Afternoon is held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Walt Disney World. The free activity is open to guests of all ages at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Convention Center, Fantasia G Ballroom.
1966:
The day after the debut of Disneyland's New Orleans Square,
the Long Beach Press-Telegram calls the park's new addition a
"2.7-acre parcel of Americana." The Pasadena Star-News reports that it is
part of Walt's plan "to develop the theme of Americana."
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