2001:
Disney's "Walt Disney Treasures" series releases The Complete Davy
Crockett Televised Series, Disneyland USA, Mickey Mouse In Living Color,
and Silly Symphonies. Each title is released as a special 2-disc DVD.
Cast members of "The Lion King" and "Aida" perform at the Tree of
Life & Festival of Lights at California Plaza Watercourt, in downtown
Los Angeles.
The Travel Channel airs Great Hotels - Disney's Grand Floridian, Walt
Disney World Resort hosted by Samantha Brown, for the first time.
The television special Mickey Mouse in Living Color airs. Host
Leonard Maltin talks about Mickey Mouse's career and shows cuts
from early movies.
Disney's Touchstone Pictures releases The Royal Tenenbaums. A comedy-
drama about three gifted siblings who experience great success in youth, and even greater
disappointment and failure after their eccentric father leaves them in their adolescent years, the
film stars Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Bill Murray.
2005:
Film producer Gregg Hoffman passes away at the age of 42 in Los Angeles,
California. In 1995, he was hired at Disney, where he helped develop such live-action films as
Inspector Gadget, 101 Dalmatians and The Parent Trap. Hoffman later became a senior vice president of
production and earned a producer credit on Disney's George of the Jungle.
1949:
Actor & producer Jeff Bridges, the star of Disney's 1982 Tron and its 2010 sequel, is born to Dorothy Dean and actor Lloyd Bridges in Los Angeles, California. He also starred in Touchstone Pictures' 2006 comedy drama Stick It and the Hollywood Pictures' 1996 disaster survival film White Squall. (Among his best-known major motion films are: True Grit, Iron Man, The Contender, Starman, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Jagged Edge, Against All Odds, The Fisher King, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Seabiscuit and The Big Lebowski.)
1952:
Walt Disney writes his annual birthday letter to his sister Ruth (who will
celebrate on December 6). His opening words include: "It's time to wish you Happy Birthday
again, in which I am joined by Lilly and the girls." He writes of family, his hobbies and the retirement of their
brother Herb from the Post Office. As usual, Walt sends along a check as a birthday gift.
1957:
The television series Disneyland airs the episode "Mars and Beyond." The
program is hosted by Walt and a mechanical man named Garco. Popular Disney voice artist Paul Frees
narrates as well as provides all the voices. ("Mars and Beyond" is the third installment of what will be a
highly acclaimed and influential series about space exploration.)
Walt's annual birthday letter to his sister Ruth begins with: "It is time for a
Happy Birthday greeting again and I must say it seems only a short time ago
that I sent your last birthday letter ... the years really do tick by, don't they?" He
goes on to describe he and Lily's recent trip to Europe. A check is included with the letter as a gift for Ruth.
1960:
Walt Disney Presents debuts the first Daniel Boone episode titled "The Warrior's
Path." A four-part miniseries based on the life of frontiersman Daniel Boone, a fast-talking salesman
convinces Boone (played by Dewey Martin) to pull up stakes and move from North Carolina to the "promised
land" of Kentucky. Boone, his wife Rebecca, and their friends are assured that if they travel along "The Warrior's
Path," a secret Indian trail, their journey will be a safe one. Unfortunately, the Indians they encounter along the
way are dangerous.
1987:
Actor and musician Orlando Brown is born in Los Angeles, California. His Disney credits
include That's So Raven, Fillmore!, Max Keeble's Big Move, The Proud Family, Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off
and episodes of Lizzie McGuire and Phil Of The Future.
1998:
A 1931 Mickey Mouse doll sells for 4,370 pounds (about $7,250)
at a Christie's Teddy Bear auction in London, England.
1999:
A Disneyland Holiday Celebration airs on KCOP in Los Angeles. This one hour TV special,
featuring future American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, takes viewers on a tour of Disneyland's entertainment and
attractions for the holiday season. Among the Disney performers are The Dapper Dans, the Main Street
Townsfolk Carolers, and ragtime piano player Rod Miller.
Animator/Imagineer Marc Davis (one of Walt's "Nine Old Men") and his wife Alice
(also an Imagineer) are interviewed and filmed for a television special about Walt
Disney. (Sadly Marc will pass away a little over 5 weeks later.)
"Daisy's Road Trip" airs on ABC-TV as part of Disney's Mickey Mouse Works series.
2003:
Michael Eisner (Disney chairman-CEO) is honored at the 65th annual Will
Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation's Pioneer of the Year dinner.
Singer Phil Collins (known for his work on Disney's Tarzan) performs at the event at the Century
Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
The Travel Channel airs Inside Walt Disney Studios: Paris for the first time.
Walt Disney World's new Pop Century Resort hosts an "Open Mouse" for
Cast Members only. Phase I, the Classic Years, will open December 14.
2006:
Nominations for the Annies, the International Animated Film Society
equivalent of the Oscars, are announced. The Disney-Pixar film Cars is nominated
for nine awards including best animated feature and best director for John Lasseter. Composer
Randy Newman also receives a nomination for the film's soundtrack. (Winners will be announced at
the 34th annual event for achievement in animation February 11, 2007.)
1996:
Rocker Bryan Adams performs at Pleasure Island in Florida.
Walt Disney had an apartment built
above the fire station on Main Street USA
in Disneyland. Employees would know
when he was in the apartment when the
light was on
in the
window
at night. To
this day a
light is left
on in his
memory.
2007:
Walt Disney Records releases Pirates Of The Caribbean: Soundtrack
Treasures Collection a 5-disc box set featuring music from all 3 films.
1958:
Actor Steve Blanchard, the longest running Beast in Beauty and the Beast on
Broadway, is born in York, Pennsylvania. He played the Beast for the last eight
years of the show's Broadway run.
1982:
The Wonderful World of Disney airs "A Disney Christmas Gift" (the 11th episode of
the twenty-ninth season) on CBS-TV. It features Christmas-themed animated shorts with Mickey
Mouse and Donald Duck combined with excerpts from Disney feature films as well as the 1933 classic short
"The Night Before Christmas."
DECEMBER 4
Today is Santas' List Day
THIS DAY MADE
IN THE
USA
DECEMBER 4
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1971:
Walt Disney Productions releases The Aristocats (the twentieth
animated feature in the Disney animated features canon) in Sweden.
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"It all begins with dreams. As a kid, I was a dreamer. I’d sit in class and I’d be way off. What I was
dreaming about I don’t know. I was always getting lectured: ‘Now, Walter, I know you’re intelligent’. I
was always a creative kid. I built things in the backyard. I organized the kids of the neighborhood to build
a tree house." -Walt Disney
1942:
Disney's Goofy short How to Fish, directed by Jack Kinney, is released.
Goofy demonstrates how to fish ... although he's really showing us how not to fish!
DEC
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SEASON 4 EPISODE 12
2009:
Singer Celine Dion is taped performing "O’ Come All Ye Faithful" in the lobby of
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Disney World for the
"Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade" ABC-TV special.
Actress Valerie Boyle joins the Broadway cast of Mary Poppins as household cook
Mrs. Brill. The musical marks Boyle's Broadway debut, though she originated the role of Mrs. Brill with the
Mary Poppins North American touring company.
Disney's Miramax Films releases Everybody's Fine, starring Robert DeNiro, Drew
Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell. Widower Frank Goode (DeNiro), who realizes
his only connection to his family was through his wife, sets off on an impromptu road trip to reunite with each of
his grown children.
1959:
The TV series Walt Disney Presents airs "Texas John Slaughter: The Robber Stallion." Filmed in Frio Town, Texas, it is the seventh in a series of 17 episodes based on John Horton Slaughter, an actual historical figure who helped clear the Texas territory of outlaws and bandits.
1966:
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color airs part three of "The Moon-Spinners"
on NBC-TV. A feature film originally released in 1964, it stars Hayley Mills, Joan Greenwood,
Peter McEnery, and Eli Wallach.
Actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician Fred Armisen is born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2002 until 2013, he appeared in a 2014 episode of ABC's Modern Family.
1992:
Disney's Hollywood Pictures releases the comedy The Distinguished Gentleman
starring Eddie Murphy. A con man named Thomas Jefferson Johnson (Murphy) uses the passing of the
long time Congressman from his district, Jeff Johnson, to get elected to Congress.
1946:
Actress and voice artist Sherry Alberoni is born in Cleveland, Ohio.
Alberoni got her start as a Mouseketeer on the weekday ABC television program Mickey Mouse
Club (she was the youngest Mouseketeer for the show's second season). As an adult, she became
a successful voice artist for Hanna-Barbera Productions.
2012:
Walt Disney Studios announces that it has completed a deal to show films from its
Disney, Pixar and Marvel banners on Netflix (replacing a less lucrative pact with
Starz). The agreement is the first time one of Hollywood’s big studios has chosen Web streaming over pay
television.
Finding Nemo is released on Blu-ray.
December 4
Although very small, the apartment was fully
operational. The decorator of the apartment was
Emil Kuri, a set designer for many Disney films, and
also the decorator of Main Street, itself.
2015:
Two weeks ahead of the premiere of the hotly anticipated feature film Star Wars:
The Force Awakens, a "Star Wars"-themed launch bay opens at Animation Courtyard in Disney World's Hollywood Studios.
The attraction allows visitors to become a Jedi and step onto the bridge of a Star destroyer or
go to a hidden base, all while interacting with iconic characters from the film. There is an Imperial meet and greet location where guests can meet Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, and BB-8.
2018:
Disney World's popular Candlelight Processional is livestreamed on this evening for the first time ever. Narrated by actor Neil Patrick Harris, the event features the story of Christmas accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a choir. The live stream, found on the Disney Parks Blog and on YouTube, comes to
internet viewers from Epcot and begins at 8:10 p.m.
2017:
Nominations for the 45th Annual Annie Awards, honoring excellence in the field of animation, are announced. Among the many Disney/Pixar nominees-
-Best Animated Feature: Cars 3 and Coco
-Best Animated Special Production: Olaf's Frozen Adventure and Tangled Before Ever After
-Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children: Mickey and the Roadster Racers
-Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Children: Tangled: The Series – Episode: Queen for a Day
-Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production: Shaun Galinak, Dave Hale, Jason
Johnston, Carl Kaphan, Keith Daniel Klohn – Coco
-Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production: John Chun Chiu Lee – Coco
-Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production: Shane Prigmore,
Bobby Pontillas, Taylor Krahenbuhl, Mayumi Nose – Tangled: The Series – Episode: Tangled Before Ever After
-Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production: Dave Wasson, Eddie
Trigueros, Alonso Ramirez-Ramos – Mickey Mouse – Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse
Halloween Spooktacular!
-Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production: Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina – Coco
-Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production: Michael Giacchino, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Germaine Franco, Adrian Molina – Coco
The Annie Awards will be given out on February 3, 2018.
2020:
Godmothered, a fantasy comedy film, debuts on Disney+. A young and unskilled fairy godmother (played by Jillian Bell) ventures out on her own to prove her worth by tracking down a young girl whose request for help was ignored. The cast includes Isla Fisher, Jane Curtin, and Mary Elizabeth Ellis.
Godmothered (Original Soundtrack), featuring a score by Rachel Portman, is released on Walt Disney Records.
Disney Holiday Magic Quest airs on Disney Channel.
Raven-Symoné virtually hosts the challenge, which features "Zombies 2" stars Milo Manheim, Kylee Russell, Ariel Martin, and Pearce Joza as they compete in a holiday adventure through Magic Kingdom.
Nomadland, a drama film directed by Chloé Zhao (who also wrote, edited, and produced) is virtually released by Disney's Searchlight Pictures. Based on the 2017 non-fiction book "Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century" by Jessica Bruder, the film stars Frances McDormand as a woman who leaves her small town to travel around the American West.
Actor, comedian, composer, musician, and baseball scout David Lander passes away at age 73 in California. Best known for his role of Andrew "Squiggy" Squiggman on the ABC sitcom Laverne & Shirley (from 1976 to 1982), his Disney voice credits included TaleSpin, Recess, A Bug's Life, 101 Dalmatians: The Series and Jungle Cubs. Lander was also the voice of Smart Ass, the chief weasel of Judge Doom's Toon Patrol in the 1988 Disney film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Lander reprised his role as Smart Ass on the related ride, but the character was renamed Wiseguy. Officially diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1984, he went public in 1999 and served as a Goodwill ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
1937:
Actor David Bailie is born in Springs, South Africa. Bailie's best-known work in film is the role of "Cotton", a mute pirate who has his tongue cut out, so he trained his parrot, also named Cotton, to speak on his behalf, though it cannot say more than stock phrases. Bailie first appears as Cotton in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) as one of the pirates Jack Sparrow chooses in Tortuga. He is one of the Black Pearl crewmembers to survive the Kraken attack in the sequel Dead Man's Chest (2006), and also played Cotton in the third installment: At World's End (2007). He also appeared in the 2011 short Pirates of the Caribbean: Tales of the Code – Wedlocked.
1964:
Actress Marisa Tomei is born in Brooklyn, New York. Her film credits include Touchstone's Oscar (1991) and Disney's Wildhogs (2007). Tomei also played the role of Aunt May Parker in such Marvel/Disney superhero films as Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Films fans know her best from the 1992 comedy My Cousin Vinny.
