JUN 19 Disney History

1915:

Pat Buttram, the voice behind many Disney animated characters - including

Chief in the 1981 release The Fox and the Hound, and Luke in the 1977 release The Rescuers - is born in Addison, Alabama. His Disney voice credits also include

A Goofy Movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Robin Hood, and The Aristocats.

(Fans of the 1960s television sitcom Green Acres will know him as Mr. Haney!)

1942:

Mouseketeer & dancer Nancy Abbate - who appears on TV's Mickey Mouse Club for the first season - is born in Los Angeles, California.

Michael Broggie, a nationally-recognized authority on the life and legacy of Walt Disney and the son of Roger Broggie (Disney's original Imagineer) is born in California. At age 12, Michael will test-drive the miniature Autopia cars and accompany Walt Disney in the initial run of the Disneyland Railroad's steam trains on June 18, 1955. (Michael is married to Sharon Charmagne Broggie, co-founder of the Carolwood Foundation.)

1946:

Actress Jennifer Darling is born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her Disney voice credits include Brother Bear, Treasure Planet, Lilo & Stitch, Monsters Inc., The Emperor's New Groove, A Bug's Life, and Aladdin.

1957:

Disney's animated The Story of Anyburg, U.S.A. is released along

with the live-action adventure film Johnny Tremain. The film, about a young silversmith's apprentice who is drawn into the American Revolutionary War, stars Hal Stalmaster and Luana Patten, and

features a cameo by Walt's daughter Sharon.

1960:

Freedomland U.S.A., a themed amusement park in New York City, opens its doors. Built in the shape of the United States, the 205-acre park's main theme is American history. It is conceived by Cornelius Vanderbilt Wood, a young Texan, who had previously worked in the planning, construction and management of Disneyland. This same evening, TV's The Ed Sullivan Show presents a promotional tour of the park and refers to it as Disneyland's equal on the East Coast. (The park will only remain in business for 4 years.)

1964:

After 5 seasons on television, The Twilight Zone airs its last episode,"The Bewitchin' Pool." Rod Serling's popular series

will later be the inspiration for Disney theme park attractions.

1965:

Actor Sean Marshall, better known as Pete in Disney's 1977 Pete's Dragon, is born in Canoga Park, California.

1966:

Legendary comedic actor Ed Wynn, who appears in such Disney live-action classics as Mary Poppins, Those Calloways, Son of Flubber, and That Darn Cat! passes away in Beverly Hills, California at age 79. He is probably best known as the voice of the Mad Hatter in the animated Alice in Wonderland. (In 1959, Wynn appeared on Rod Serling's TV series The Twilight Zone in the episode "One for the Angels". Serling, a longtime admirer, wrote the episode especially for him!)

1995:

A bronze statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse, called the Partners Statue, is

installed at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney Word. It is identical to the statue

created by Blaine Gibson first installed at Disneyland in November 1993.

1996:

Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame has its world premiere at the Superdome in New Orleans, utilizing six enormous screens, and a parade through the French Quarter.

(The film will have its general release 2 days later.)

1998:

In Florida, DisneyQuest opens in the West End area of Downtown Disney. Packed with 4 floors of high-tech, interactive virtual adventures, it is the first in a national chain of interactive entertainment centers.

Disney's 36th animated feature Mulan (featuring the singing voice of Donny Osmond) opens nationwide in the United States and Canada. It is the first film primarily produced at Walt Disney Feature Animations Florida, Disney's state-of-the-art animation studio in Orlando. (The film will earn an amazing 10 Annie Awards.) Disney's Mulan Parade also premieres at the Disney-MGM Studios.

2002:

The Travel Channel's Great Hotels series - hosted by Samantha

Brown - features Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

2005:

Voting begins for Discovery Channel's Greatest American.

Among the top 25 nominees ... is Walt Disney!

Walt Disney, excited by the

new technology already in

use at Disneyland,

approached Las Vegas

officials in 1960 with the

idea of running a monorail

down the strip.

He was turned down.

1958:

A fourth locomotive (purchased in New Jersey for $2,000) arrives at Disney's backlot. It is to be rebuilt and put into service at Disneyland.

1987:

The Disney Channel Premiere Film Not Quite Human, featuring Alan Thicke, Robyn Lively, and Jay Underwood, debuts. It is based on a series of young adult novels by Seth McEvoy about a scientist who creates an android son.

"Walt had more confidence in us as artists than we had in ourselves. I’m a sculptor now, but I used to be an animator, and I loved it. I didn’t want to leave animation and go work in the theme parks. But Walt saw me as a sculptor and he sold me on it. He made me believe I could do it. He gave us the confidence to do things we never imagined were possible." -Blaine Gibson

This time, the princess saves the prince.