OCT 15 Disney History

1999:

Singer-songwriter Terry Gilkyson, who wrote "The Bare Necessities" for Disney's The Jungle Book, passes away in Texas. A name not well remembered today, his influence on pop music and folk music is significant. Gilkyson and the members of his group, the Easy Riders, made contributions as songwriters and performers with such hits as "Memories Are Made Of This" and "Marianne."

He also wrote music for Disney's Swiss Family Robinson, The Aristocats, The Moon-Spinners, The Three Lives of Thomasina, and the television program

The Wonderful World of Disney.

2001:

"I Went to Disney World!" a positive article (in the midst of terrorist activities and a weakened economy) by syndicated columnist Liz Smith, appears in papers across the country.

1923:

Walt Disney (now living in California) receives a telegram from Margaret

Winkler (a New York cartoon distributor) offering to pay $1500 each for the first six of

his Alice Comedies. Also known as M. J. Winkler, she is the first woman to produce and distribute animated

films. Walt rushes over to the Veterans Hospital, where his brother Roy is recovering from tuberculosis, to tell him

the good news. (Ironically Roy will leave the hospital the next day - a cured man!)

1925:

The Alice Comedy Alice Plays Cupid is released.

1932:

Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon Touchdown Mickey is

released through United Artists.

1953:

Comedian/actor Larry Miller is born in Valley Stream, New York. His Disney credits include The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Max Keeble's Big Move, The Princess Diaries, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (as the voice of XR), and the 1995 TV remake of The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.

1954:

The Disney cartoon Social Lion is released.

1961:

The NBC-TV series Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color

airs "Chico, the Mismatched Coyote."

1964:

Voice actor-musician Quinton Flynn is born in Cleveland, Ohio. He is the voice of Timon in Disney's Timon & Pumbaa television series.

1969:

Actress/singer/dancer Paige Davis is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Known best as the host of Trading Spaces, she also toured for 2 1/2 years as Babette in Disney's stage musical Beauty and the Beast. (She actually met her husband, Patrick Page, who played Lumiere the candlestick, while on tour with the musical!)

1971:

LIFE magazine presents a look at the newly opened Disney

World in Florida. A color photo of 1,500 Disney employees, posing in front of

Cinderella's Castle, is featured on the cover. The issue also includes a pull-out poster

(sponsored by Eastern Airlines) of the new Magic Kingdom.

1996:

The Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland gives its final performance.

1997:

In New York City, previews begin for Disney's live Broadway show The Lion King. The Times Square Disney Store, connected to the New Amsterdam Theatre, is filled with Lion King merchandise.

Epcot's Innoventions West closes for a major renovation.

1998:

Disney World's newest show Fantasmic! debuts at the Disney-MGM Studios.

The 26-minute performance requires 88 people to dazzle park guests.

1937:

Disney's Mickey Mouse short Clock Cleaners opens in theaters. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy find themselves high above the city skyline - washing and cleaning an elaborate high clock tower.

2002:

Hilary Duff's debut album Santa Claus Lane is released on Walt Disney Records.

1891:

Director of animated films Burt Gillett is born in Elmira, New York. At Disney he will work on such early shorts as The Three Little Pigs, The Moth and the Flame and The Brave Little Tailor.

There is a wind gauge installed in Disney World's Wilderness Lodge's marina. The computer that runs the resort's geyser senses the wind speed for each "eruption" and adjusts the height of the water. This prevents blowing water from hitting the balconies of lake view rooms!

1950:

The musical feature Hit Parade of 1951 is released. Among the cast are Harper Goff, Ward Kimball, Erdman Penner, Frank Thomas, Clarke Mallery, and Monte Mountjoy - collectively known as the Firehouse Five Plus Two (a Disney employee Dixieland band).

2007:

It is announced that Disney.com's Xtreme Digital, an interactive service that combines social networking, chat and video, has been nominated for two Technology & Engineering Emmys. (The 59th annual Technology & Engineering Emmys will be handed out January 7 in Las Vegas.)

1943:

The Disney short Figaro And Cleo, distributed by RKO, is released. It is the first appearance of the kitten and goldfish since their debut in the 1940 feature Pinocchio.

1985:

The Walt Disney Comedy and Magic Revue is released on VHS and Beta.

Containing funny and magical moments from various Disney classics, it features archive footage of such stars as Julie Andrews, Eddie Albert, Ken Berry, and Ray Bolger.

1972:

English actor/singer Gavin Lee, best known for his award-winning role of Bert in both the West End and Broadway productions of Mary Poppins, is born in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England.