This Day in Disney History: SEP 05

1911:

Walt Disney begins attending Benton Grammar School located at 3004 Benton Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri. He will continue his formal education there until he graduates from the 7th grade in 1917.

1912:

Animator Frank Thomas, one of Walt's "Nine Old Men," - who will work on such Disney classics as The Brave Little Tailor, The Fox and the Hound, Robin Hood, and The Jungle Book during his 43-year-career at the studios - is born in a house on Tenth Street in Santa Monica, California. (One year later the family will move to Sacramento.)

1927:

The very first Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Trolley

Troubles (created by Walt Disney and Ubi Iwerks) is

released. After the Alice Comedies, Walt's film distributor suggested a change in direction to keep Walt's animated shorts fresh. A new character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was developed. (Over the next 2 years the Disney Studio will produce over two dozen black and white, silent Oswald cartoons.)

1929:

Legendary comedian-actor Bob Newhart, the voice of Bernard the Mouse in Disney's 1990 release The Rescuers Down Under, is born in Oak Park, Illinois.

1930:

Disney's black & white Mickey Mouse cartoon Chain Gang is released. It features the first appearance of Pluto (though he is not yet named).

1951:

Actor Michael Keaton is born in Corapolis, Pennsylvania. His Disney credits include the 2005 live-action feature Herbie: Fully Loaded and the 1982 television special Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary.

Keaton is also the voice of Chick Hicks for the 2006 Cars.

1956:

Canadian-born Mouseketeer Darlene Gillespie becomes a U.S. citizen.

1964:

Walt Disney visits Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark. The European theme park has greatly influenced Walt's Anaheim park.

1966:

Disneyland's Flying Saucers attraction (located in Tomorrowland) closes after just 5 years in operation. Also closing in Tomorrowland on this day ... the Tomorrowland Jets.

1983:

Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 5-millionth guest!

Retired Imagineer Yale Gracey passes away in Los Angeles at age 73. With no special effects training other than his own hands-on experimentation, Yale worked as a research and development designer creating illusions, such as the "999 grim, grinning ghosts" featured in the Haunted Mansion and the flames of the burning city in Pirates of the Caribbean.

1984:

Ray Watson informs Michael Eisner that he will recommend him

as new CEO of Disney, to the board of directors.

1994:

Disney World's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction "temporarily closes" at the end of this day. Opened since October 14, 1971, the attraction was held inside one of 14 submarines, each with a capacity of 38 passengers. It was based on Disney's first big-budget live-action 1954 movie, which starred Kirk Douglas and James Mason. (The film was inspired by Jules Verne's classic novel.) Almost 2 years later Disney will officially call the attraction forever closed. Some of the submarines will be sunk off of Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the Caribbean.

Today's Newsweek runs an article on Disney in which executive Roy E. Disney (Walt's nephew) is referred to as the "keeper of the flame."

2000:

The 2000 Disneyana Convention kicks off at the Contemporary Hotel (for 5 days) at Disney World.

Over at Disneyland, Rocket Rods (a high-speed Tomorrowland attraction opened since May 1998) closes.

2001:

The animated series Stanley premieres on Disney Channel.

2003:

Michael W. Smith, Jars of Clay, and other top names in Christian music kick off Night of Joy 2003 at Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

2004:

Disney World theme parks remain closed for the second day in a row as slow-moving Hurrican Frances continues to slam Florida.

Disney's Aida, the musical retelling of Verdi's classic opera, closes its doors

today after 4 1/2 years and 1,852 performances (and 30 previews) on Broadway

in New York City. This day's cast includes Adam Pascal as Radames (who

originated the role back in 2000), Deborah Cox as Aida, Lisa Brescia as

Amneris, and Micky Dolenz as Zoser.

2006:

Twitches, Disney Channel's original movie, is released to DVD. Also released - the classic live-action features Escape to Witch Mountain and Return to Witch Mountain on a 2-set DVD.