2005:
Disneyland Resort Paris launches Space Mountain: Mission 2 to the public.
The decade-old roller coaster (which first opened in June 1995) has been upgraded
with new wagons and a faster launch catapult!
Mickey Mouse serve as the Grand Marshal of the National Cherry
Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C.
1954:
Actor Dennis Quaid, the star of Disney's 2002 live-action release The Rookie, is born in Houston, Texas. Quaid played Jimmy Morris, a real-life chemistry teacher/baseball coach who had a brief but famous
Major League Baseball career. Quaid also starred in the 1998 remake of Disney's The Parent Trap, playing the role of Nick
Parker - the father of identical twins. His Touchstone Pictures' credits include the mystery thriller D.O.A. as Professor Dexter Cornell, the horror thriller Cold Creek Manor (2003) as Cooper Tilson, and the Western The Alamo (2004) as Sam
Houston. First gaining widespread attention in the 1980s, some of his notable credits include Breaking Away (1979), The
Right Stuff (1983), The Big Easy (1986), Great Balls of Fire! (1989), Frequency (2000), and The Day After Tomorrow (2004).
1958:
The Disneyland TV series features episode 96 - "An Adventure in the Magic
Kingdom." Tinker Bell takes viewers on a tour of Disneyland and the Mouseketeers perform live in Holidayland.
1961:
The TV series Walt Disney Presents airs "Battle for Survival."
At Disneyland, Walt Disney himself dedicates the Snow White Wishing Well and
Grotto - adjacent to Sleeping Beauty Castle. Guests can make a wish and drop
their coins to benefit children’s charities all around the world.
1978:
The University of Southern California chapter of the Delta Kappa Alpha National Honorary Cinema Fraternity recognizes the "Nine Old Men" (a group of early Disney animators) with the
"Pioneer in Film" award.
1991:
Disneyland's Dapper Dans sing "The Star Spangled Banner" as part of the Disney festivities before the California Angels home opener against the Seattle Mariners.
2000:
The Wonderful World of Disney airs the television movie "Angels in the Infield."
A follow-up to the 1994 Angels in the Outfield and the 1997 Angels in the Endzone, this film is about a group of angels
trying to help a baseball team (the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) win a championship game - while at the same time
helping to reunite the team's pitcher's family. Directed by Robert King, it stars Patrick Warburton, Brittney Irvin, David Alan Grier, and Kurt Fuller. Big league pitcher, Eddie Everett (Warburton), is on a losing streak but his estranged young daughter, Laurel (Irvin), wants to help restore his self-confidence. She prays for help, and along it comes in the guise of an angel, Bob Bugler (Grier), who still hasn’t earned his wings, and a bunch of inept angel helpers. At this time The Walt Disney Company actually owns the Anaheim Angels.
2002:
The city of Los Angeles declares the El Capitan Theatre (now owned by Pacific Theatres and operated by The Walt Disney Company) to be an historic landmark. The El Capitan Theatre (at 6838 Hollywood Blvd) debuted on May 3, 1926, as "Hollywood's First Home of Spoken Drama." Charles Toberman, a prominent Los Angeles developer, erected thirty-six stylish buildings in the heart of Hollywood including the El Capitan. In 1941, the El Capitan Theatre was converted from a playhouse to a movie theatre. In 1989, the Walt Disney Company joined forces with Pacific Theatres and launched a two-year, museum quality restoration of The El Capitan, led by renowned theatre designer Joseph J. Musil. Musil with the supervision of the National Park Service's Department of the Interior, and guidance from conservator Martin Weil and architect Ed Fields, achieved the goal recreating the original 1926 look and feel. The theatre reopened its doors to the public on June 19, 1991 for the world premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' The Rocketeer.
It is reported that the Jacksonville, Florida radio station
WBWL (600 AM) has been purchased by Disney. Sometime within the
next 3 months the station will become a Radio Disney affiliate.
2003:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences present the 8th Marc Davis Lecture on Animation "Frank and Ollie: Drawn Together," featuring Disney Legends Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston in person, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Leonard Maltin moderates the discussion to honor the animators who are famous members of Walt's "Nine Old Men."
Cast and crew of the hit TLC television series Trading Spaces visit Walt Disney World to tape segments for a future episode that will feature 4 Walt Disney World Cast Members and their homes.
2006:
Expedition Everest: Journey Into Sacred Lands airs on the Travel Channel. The special takes a look at Disney World's newest and most elaborate attraction, Expedition Everest (located in Animal Kingdom).
In order to
become a real boy,
the Blue Fairy
states that
Pinocchio must be
"brave, truthful,
and unselfish."
2007:
A.J. Carothers, a Hollywood writer best-known for Disney's 1968 film The Happiest Millionaire, passes away at age 75 in Los Angeles. Carothers worked closely with Walt Disney
for seven years (on features like Miracle of the White Stallions and Emil and the Detectives) and even delivered
a eulogy at Disney's funeral.
1987:
Hollywood Records recording artist and Daytime Emmy-nominated actor Jesse McCartney
is born in New York City. His first three studio albums were released on Disney's Hollywood Records. McCartney has appeared as himself in both Disney Channel shows, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Hannah Montana. He is also the voice of Terence for Tinker Bell (2008), Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (2009), Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue (2010), Tinker Bell and the Pixie Hollow Games (2011), and Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings (2012). He can also be heard in many of the Kingdom Hearts video games. McCartney performed "Because You Live" for The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Soundtrack.
At EPCOT Center the Disney Traders shop opens in World Showcase.
1945:
Legendary drummer Steve Gadd, who as an eleven-year-old appeared as a guest
tap dancing & drumming on TV's Mickey Mouse Club (during the 1956-57 season), is born
in Rochester, New York. Gadd is world famous for his work with Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Steely Dan,
Al Jarreau, Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton and countless others.
1984:
At the 56th Annual Academy Awards, Disney's Mickey's Christmas Carol is edged out by Sundae in New York in the Short Films, Animated category.
"I wasn't interested in doing a baseball story. My favorite sports movies transcend the sports that they are about." -Dennis Quaid
1986:
The Disney Channel debuts "Survival of the Fittest," the 50th episode of The Edison Twins.
1989:
The Parent Trap III, Disney's second sequel to its 1961 film The Parent Trap, airs on television. Triplets, Megan, Jessie and Lisa Wyatt (played by Joy, Leanna, and Joy Creel) return from summer vacation to discover that their father Jeffrey (Barry Bostwick) is getting married to snob Cassie McGuire (Patricia Richardson). When Cassie hires decorator Susan Ever to redecorate their home, the triplets believe Susan
(Hayley Mills - the star of the original 1961 film) is the right woman for their father!
APRIL 9
APRIL 09
THIS DAY MADE IN THE USA
Dennis Quaid born
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A
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2009:
Disney World continues to test the new Characters in Flight balloon attraction (operated by Aerophile - a company specializing in tethered helium balloons) at Downtown Disney. Located next to the bridge on the West Side near Planet Hollywood, guests will be able to float some 400 feet into the air and on a clear day see 10 miles in all directions!
(Characters In Flight will have its grand opening 4 days later.)
A group of about 70 people in the Twin Cities become the first members of the general public to see Disney/Pixar's newest animated feature Up.
The special preview takes place at the AMC Southdale. (The film will open May 29.)
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El Capitan named historic landmark
Through a successful long-term, captive breeding program, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has produced approximately 25 percent of the total world population of the Micronesian kingfisher. This tiny bird, native to Guam, is nearly extinct because of predatory snakes introduced
to the island more than 50 years ago.
1962:
The 34th Academy Awards are held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California. Although nominated for Oscars, Disney's The Absent Minded Professor, Parent Trap, Babes in Toyland, and the animated short Aquamania are all edged out in their respective categories. Competition is tough as this year's big winners include West Side Story (earning 10 Oscars out of 11 nominations), Judgment at Nuremberg, The Hustler and Breakfast at Tiffany's.
2004:
Touchstone Pictures releases The Alamo, starring Dennis Quaid (on his 50th birthday)
as Sam Houston, Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett, Jason Patric as James Bowie,
and Patrick Wilson as William Travis. It is based on the historical 1836 standoff between
a group of Texan and Tejano men and Mexican dictator Santa Anna's forces at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.
(The story of the Alamo is one of the most iconic moments in American history. During the Texan Revolution, 184 rebels
held out against 5,000 Mexican soldiers for thirteen days. Led by William Travis, the garrison included Jim Bowie, the
famous knife fighter, and Davy Crockett, a heroic frontiersman and former congressman.)
Miramax Films (at this time owned by Disney) releases Ella Enchanted, a fantasy romantic comedy. As a baby, Ella (played by Anne Hathaway) receives a visit from Lucinda (Vivica A. Fox), her fairy godmother, and is bestowed with a magical talent that requires her to obey anything that she is told to do. This proves to be more of a curse than a blessing, particularly once her mother dies and she is forced to live with the cruel Dame Olga (Joanna Lumley). Eventually, Ella embarks on a journey to find Lucinda and break the spell, accompanied by the handsome Prince Charmont (Hugh Dancy). The cast also includes Eric Idle (Narrator), Minnie Driver (as Mandy a household fairy in Ella's home), and Parminder Nagra (as Areida, Ella's best friend).
"Here at Disneyland, where we have visitors from all over the world, this Disneyland-Variety Clubs International Wishing Well is dedicated to youngsters everywhere. When you throw your coins into this wishing well, just remember that wishes made here at this well will really come true... for the children of the world." -Walt Disney
2012:
The turnstile clicks for the 100th day in a row for Disney fans Jeff Reitz and Tonya
Mickesh; a couple continuing a streak of visiting Disneyland every day in 2012. Annual
passholders, they originally got the idea to visit every day in 2012 (all 366 days) when Disneyland announced it
would be open for 24 hours on Leap Day.
1938:
Snow White and Dopey appear on the cover of this day's issue of Liberty magazine. The
April 9 edition features the article The Story Behind Snow White's $10,000,000 Surprise Party by writer Miriam Stillwell.
April is 1964/65 New York World's Fair Month
2018:
Tokyo Disney Resort's Happiness is Here Parade featuring Disney characters, cheerful
music, and themed parade floats, comes to an end. It first debuted in April 2013 to originally help
celebrate the park's 30th anniversary.
1998:
Actress Elle Fanning is born in Conyers, Georgia. She portrayed Princess Aurora
in Disney's 2014 release Maleficent and the 2019 follow-up Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.
1982:
Actor, director, stand-up comedian and screenwriter Jay Baruchel is born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He played Dave Stutler in the 2010 fantasy film The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
1976:
Actor, voice actor, writer director and producer Blayne Weaver is born in Bossier City, Louisiana. In 2001, he became the new voice of Disney's Peter Pan, and has performed that voice in various children's films as well as in recordings for the Disney theme parks. Weaver's credits include Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001), Return to Neverland (2002), Disney's House of Mouse (2002), The Lion King 1½ (2004), and the theme park attraction Mickey's PhilharMagic (2003).
2016:
The 2016 MTV Movie Awards are held from Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, California. It is the first since the 2006 MTV Movie Awards not to be aired live, as the event will be pre-recorded on this evening and broadcast on April 10. Among the winners...
-Movie of the Year: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
-Breakthrough Performance: Daisy Ridley – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
-Best Villain: Adam Driver – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
-Best Virtual Performance: Amy Poehler – Inside Out
2013:
Should've Gone to Bed, the third EP from the band Plain White T's, is released on Hollywood Records.
2014:
Graphic artist Python Anghelo passes away. Moving to the U.S. from his home in Romania at age
17, he worked as an animator at Disney for a short time. Anghelo spent the rest of his career successfully creating
and designing pinball & video games (such as Joust and Bubbles).
1963:
Animation director and writer Vernon Stallings passes away in California. First working for Bray Productions in 1916 where he directed the Colonel Heeza Liar series of shorts and the Krazy Kat shorts, he invented "the glass disk in the center of the drawing board" in the 20s which eventually became known as the animation desk. Later working for Disney, Stallings directed the Silly Symphonies short Merbabies, and worked in story development on such feature films as Fantasia (1940), Dumbo (1941), Bambi (1942) and Song of the South (1946).
2017:
Disney Junior – Live on Stage! closes at Disney California Adventure.
1970:
Illustrator and painter Gustaf Tenggren passes away at age 73 in Maine. Born in Sweden, he was first known for his Arthur Rackham-influenced fairy-tale style and use of silhouetted figures with caricatured faces. A chief illustrator for The Walt Disney Company in the late 1930s, Tenggren worked on the features Snow White, Bambi, and Pinocchio, and the shorts The Ugly Duckling and The Old Mill. In 1956 he illustrated the November 17 cover of The Saturday Evening Post, which featured the article "My Dad, Walt Disney" (attributed to Diane Disney Miller). After leaving Disney, Tenggren drastically changed his style and for 25 years illustrated children's books including the Little Golden Books - "The Poky Little Puppy" and "Tawny Scrawny Lion." Working until his death, his collection of paintings and illustrations will later be donated by his wife to the University of Minnesota.
1930:
Zoologist and TV host Jim Fowler is born in Albany, Georgia. Best known for hosting the documentary series Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, he was also a consultant for Disney's 1994 animated
The Lion King.
2021:
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier—Vol. 1 is released on Hollywood Records.
It features music, composed by Henry Jackman, from the first 3 episodes of the miniseries.
