JUN 29 Disney History

2004:

Walt Disney Records releases "America's Heart & Soul" soundtrack from the Buena Vista documentary film (featuring artists such as John Hiatt, George Woodard and Joel McNeely).

"I think our pleasure comes from survival. The first thing we strive for as an infant is this kind of life experience, and it's the last thing we want to give up. We strive for the experience of being alive."

-John Hench

1901:

Singer-actor Nelson Eddy, the narrator of Disney's 1946 film

Make Mine Music, is born in Providence, Rhode Island.

1908:

Disney Legend & artist John Hench is born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He will make pioneering contributions to such Disney films as Fantasia and Dumbo, and become senior vice president of Walt Disney Imagineering. One of Hench's most recognizable works will be the well known Olympic Torch. Nearly all of the most recent versions will be modeled after his design for the 1960 Winter Olympics (which Disney participated in). Hench will also be the "official portrait artist" of Mickey Mouse, painting the company's official portraits for Mickey's 25th, 50th, 60th, 70th, and 75th birthdays.

1915:

Actress Ruth Warrick, who portrays Sally in Disney's 1946 Song of the South, is born in St. Joseph, Missouri. (Long time All My Children fans know her as Phoebe Tyler Wallingford.)

1935:

Disney's Silly Symphony cartoon Who Killed Cock Robin?, directed by David Hand and featuring the voice of Billy Bletcher, is generally released.

1957:

The Dave Brubeck Quartet record tracks

for a Disney-themed record album titled

Dave Digs Disney. (The album is inspired

by a Brubeck family visit to Disneyland.)

1966:

Disney's live-action short film Run, Appaloosa, Run is generally released.

1974:

At Disneyland, the America Sings attraction officially opens to the public in

Tomorrowland's Carousel Theater. A special press preview is held with invited guests receiving a

promotional version of the soon-to-be released LP record and a painted casting of Eagle Sam. Sam - voiced by Burl Ives - guides visitors through 4 big musical acts, each with a medley of period tunes. The attraction, featuring over

110 Audio-Animatronics animal characters, replaces the General Electric Carousel of Progress (which has moved to Walt Disney World).

2000:

The renovated Chevron Autopia opens at Disneyland.

Disneyland's Mickey & Friends, a 6-story parking structure off of Disneyland Drive, is completed. One of the largest structures in the United States, it can hold over ten thousand cars!

2001:

The Lizzie McGuire episode "Obsession" debuts on Disney Channel.

2002:

Mickey's Star Spangled Pin Event takes place at

Disney World's Contemporary Resort.

1965:

Stan Kenton and his orchestra perform at Disneyland for the first of a six-day engagement.

2007:

Ratatouille, the eighth animated feature film produced by Pixar, is

released by Walt Disney Pictures. The plot follows Remy, a rat who dreams of

becoming a chef. Directed by Brad Bird (creator of The Incredibles), Ratatouille features the voices of

Patton Oswalt (as Remy), Lou Romano (as Linguini), Brian Dennehy (as Django), Brad Garrett (as

Gusteau), Janeane Garofalo (as Colette), and John Ratzenberger (as Mustafa).

Disney Legend & artist

John Hench was an employee of The Walt Disney Company for more than sixty five years.

His exceptionally long tenure (which began in 1939) saw

the rise of nearly every

classic Disney animated

feature and

theme park!

1981:

The Broadway at the Top show opens in the Top of the World at Disney World's Contemporary Resort.

1951:

Comic book writer & illustrator Don Rosa is born Gioachino 'Keno' Don Hugo Rosa in Louisville, Kentucky. He is best known for his stories about Scrooge McDuck, Donald Duck and other Disney characters.

1945:

The Donald Duck short Donald's Crime is released. Donald (voiced by Clarence Nash) raids his nephews' piggy bank ... only to have his guilty conscience catch up with him!

1997:

Grammy Award-winning singing star Kathy Mattea performs at the Disney Institute

Performance Center in Florida. Her show is recorded for "The Big Bang from Walt

Disney World Resort" concert series and airs on the Premier Radio Networks.