NOV 29 Disney History

2002:

The 32nd Annual Candlelight Processional kicks off at Epcot with guest narrator Edward James Olmos. (Candlelight Processional is a presentation of the traditional Christmas story told by celebrity narrators who are joined by a mass choir and 50-piece orchestra.)

2005:

It is announced that Disney has renewed its Emmy-winning animated series Kim Possible for a fourth season.

1898:

Irish author and scholar Clive Staples Lewis (commonly referred to as C. S.

Lewis) is born in Belfast, Ireland. He will be known for his work on medieval literature and for his

Christian apologetics and fiction, especially the children's series entitled The Chronicles of Narnia. (Disney will

bring his 1950 novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to the big screen in 2005.)

1917:

Broadcaster and newsman George Russell Walsh is born in Cleveland, Ohio. He will become known as the voice of TV's Gunsmoke and upon retirement work as a clerk at Disneyland's Candy Palace. Walsh's voice will also be featured on the Disneyland attractions Flight to the Moon and Mission to Mars.

(Walsh recorded the signature line for Smokey The Bear: "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!")

1926:

Disney's Alice Comedy Alice's Spanish Guitar, starring Margie Gay, is released.

1929:

Laurie Main, the narrator of such Disney videos as Winnie the Pooh & Christmas

Too and Winnie the Pooh Spookable Pooh, is born in London, England. She is also the voice of Dawson in the 1986 animated feature The Great Mouse Detective.

1934:

Thanksgiving Day

Macy's Christmas Parade (later to be called the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade) features the first set of Disney balloons. Joining Mickey Mouse for the stroll down Broadway in New York

City are Pluto, the Big Bad Wolf, and one of the Three Little Pigs. Constructed

by the Goodyear Rubber Company, Mickey measures over 50 feet tall!

1937:

Walt Disney receives a letter from conductor Leopold Stokowski,

suggesting Walt create a new character to use in "The Sorcerer's

Apprentice" instead of using Mickey Mouse. (In 1940, Stokowski will make the famous

film Fantasia together with Walt ... and Mickey.)

1955:

The Mickey Mouse Club airs on ABC-TV. Today is Guest Star Day.

1964:

Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color airs part 2 of "Toby Tyler."

1970:

The Wonderful World of Disney airs "Hang Your Hat on the Wind."

1972:

Carl W. Stalling, "the most famous unknown composer

of the 20th century," passes away at age 81.

He wrote and arranged the music for early

Disney productions such as Plane Crazy and The Gallopin' Gaucho. He spent 2 years at Disney, where

he invented the "tick" method, a timing device that allows animators to set the tempo of the cartoons, so

that the musicians can play along before the cartoon is even drawn. He was the first music director to

extensively use the metronome to time scores. He also co-wrote the tune Minnie's Yoo Hoo! with Walt

Disney. (Stalling was also closely associated with the Looney Tunes shorts produced by Warner Bros,

where he worked, averaging one complete score each week, for twenty-two years!)

1987:

The Disney Sunday Movie airs part 1 of "Student Exchange."

2001:

Disney World premieres the first night (of 11) of the annual event Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in the Magic Kingdom. The ticketed party begins each night at 7 p.m.

2004:

It is reported that The Incredibles has delivered Disney's biggest single weekend ever at the international box office, taking in $45.5 million.

2006:

High School Musical: The Concert 2006 Tour kicks

off in San Diego, California.

The Disney Studio in Burbank kicks off the holidays with a "Light Up the

Season" event. Mickey Mouse lights the Studio lot tree, the employee choir

sings carols and photo ops and crafty activities are offered to the public.

A mechanical bird in a New Orleans antique shop in 1949 supposedly sparked Walt Disney's imagination to

create a 3-D animated

figure ...

later to be known as

Audio-Animatronics technology.

1971:

The Walt Disney World Open $150,000 Golf Championship begins in Florida.

2007:

All Broadway shows that had been up and running before the Local One Stagehands' strike, including Disney's newest musical The Little Mermaid (which is in the middle of previews) begin offering performances for the first time in over half a month. Originally scheduled for a December 6 debut, The Little Mermaid will now officially open January 10.

Disney's The Lion King finally celebrates its 10th Anniversary on Broadway. Because of the strike, the musical was unable to mark its gala performance on Sunday, November 11 at the Minskoff Theatre.

1948:

Disney's feature film So Dear to My Heart is released in Chicago. (It will be generally released the following January.) Set in early 20th century Indiana, So Dear to My Heart tells the tale of Jeremiah Kincaid (played by Bobby Driscoll) and his quest to raise his "champion" lamb, Danny. It is based on the Sterling North book Midnight and Jeremiah.