2003:
A memorial tribute to Disney Imagineer David Mumford is held in California. (The talented 46-year-old Imagineer, historian, and author had passed away January 20th.) As a senior principal show set designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, David oversaw the production of working set drawings for Disney theme park attractions (such as the Journey into Imagination with Figment attraction at Epcot).
The Lizzie McGuire episode "Bye, Bye Hillridge Junior High" and
the That's So Raven episode "Campaign in the Neck" both
air for the first time on Disney Channel.
The martial arts comedy feature Shanghai Knights is released
by Touchstone Pictures. The sequel to Shanghai Noon, when a Chinese rebel murders Chon's estranged father and escapes to England, Chon (Jackie Chan) and Roy (Owen Wilson) make their way to London with revenge on their minds.
2004:
The Disney/Pixar animated feature Finding Nemo
earns an amazing nine Annie Awards at the
31st annual event, held at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California.
Outstanding Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production is
awarded to Disney's The Jungle Book 2 (Sharon Forward).
Roy E. Disney's appearance on stage as a presenter prompts a
thunderous applause and a standing ovation (as he is in the midst of
ousting CEO Michael Eisner). Voice actor Will Ryan and his ukulele,
leads the audience in a round of "Happy Birthday" for absent Winsor
McCay honoree Thurl Ravenscroft (whose voice can be heard all over
Disney television shows, movies and theme park attractions). The late
John Hench (the great Disney artist & Imagineer who passed only 2
days ago) is also awarded the Winsor McCay Award for Lifetime
Achievement in the service of animation.
The Ub Iwerks Award for Technical Achievement is given to
Scott F. Johnston (whose Disney credits include The Lion King,
Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast).
Television's The Wonderful World of Disney airs
"The Special Edition of The Lion King."
"Tomorrow, we're going to the Park and we'll go down, stand in line and
pretend we're guests. I always come back with a full load of notes."
-Imagineer & illustrator John Hench
1956:
Folk singers Archer and Gile appear on the ABC-TV series Mickey Mouse Club.
Today is Guest Star Day.
2001:
Die-hard Disney fans begin to line up at 5 p.m. Wednesday, 15
hours before the 8 a.m.Thursday opening of Disney's California
Adventure. Disneyland officials discourage people from camping out, although bathrooms are available, and a
limited amount of food and beverages are offered for sale.
Meanwhile, Disney officially dedicates their "Golden Dreams" attraction at Disney's California Adventure with a ceremony
emceed by Disney President Robert A. Iger. Also in attendance are Whoopi Goldberg, the star of "Golden Dreams" and
singer Rene Goldsberry who performs "Just One Dream" live with gospel groups from throughout Southern California.
Disney officially also dedicates the ABC Soap Opera Bistro in a ceremony attended by the stars of ABC daytime. During
the ceremony a representative of each Soap donates an item from their show to live permanently at the Bistro.
2006:
Bambi II is released direct-to-DVD and VHS in the U.S. (It had premiered in Argentina January
26, 2006). The sequel features the voices of Alexander Gould (as Bambi), Patrick Stewart (as the Great
Prince/Stag), and Brendon Baerg (as Thumper). Walt Disney Records releases Bambi II Soundtrack on the same
day, featuring the music of Alison Krauss, Michelle Lewis. Martina McBride, and composer Bruce Broughton.
Bambi II is the last Disney film to be released to VHS.
The CD Radio Disney Jams, Vol. 8 is also released. The collection includes performances
by such artists as The Click Five, Aly & AJ, Jesse McCartney, Hilary Duff, and The Cheetah Girls.
2007:
Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy and running back Dominick Rhodes visit the Magic Kingdom in Florida to celebrate their February 4 Super Bowl win.
Mel Blanc (the voices of Bugs Bunny &
dozens of other Looney Tunes and
Merrie Melodies characters), was
hired to perform the voice of Gideon
the Cat (who is Foulfellow the Fox's
sidekick) for Disney's Pinocchio.
However, it was later decided that
Gideon would be mute (just like
Dopey in Snow White). All of Blanc's
recorded dialogue in the film was
deleted, save for one military
hiccup, which can be heard a
couple of times
in the film.
1940:
Disney's animated feature film, Pinocchio (based on the 19th century
book by Carlo Collodi) premieres at the Central Theatre in New York
City. A living puppet (voiced by Dickie Jones), with the help of a cricket named Jiminy (Cliff
Edwards) as his conscience, must prove himself worthy to become a real boy. The film has been
adapted by Aurelius Battaglia, William Cottrell, Otto Englander, Erdman Penner, Joseph Sabo,
Ted Sears, and Webb Smith from Collodi's original story. Disney's second animated feature, it has cost a staggering $2.6 million to make. (Pinocchio is felt by many film historians to be the most technically perfect of all the Disney animated features.)
1958:
Disney's first animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is
released in theaters for the fourth time - with new opening and
ending credits replacing the RKO Radio Picture logo.
2008:
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts announces the creation of an "American Idol"
attraction that will bring the television and pop culture phenomenon to life at
Disney World's Hollywood Studios theme park. Currently slated to debut in late 2008, the
attraction will allow Disney guest to experience the challenge of auditioning, the rush of performing on stage
in competition, or the thrill of judging the performances in a live interactive "American Idol" setting.
1947:
Disney Legend Wayne Anthony Allwine, the third official voice of Mickey
Mouse, is born in Los Angeles, California. Active on stage and screen most of his life, he
made his first television appearance at age seven as one of the children interviewed by Art Linkletter on his
House Party program! In 1966, Allwine's career with the "House of Mouse" began when he took a job in the
mailroom at The Walt Disney Studios. From there, he worked briefly in Wardrobe, then moved to Audio Post Production
and began a 7-1/2 year stint under resident sound effects expert Jimmy MacDonald. Allwine later assumed the role of Mickey from MacDonald (who helped coach him). Beside MacDonald, the only other person to voice the famous mouse
(at that time) was Walt Disney himself! Allwine's first appearance as Mickey was voicing the animated lead-ins for The New Mickey Mouse Club in 1977. But his first appearance as Mickey for a theatrical release was in the 1983 Mickey's Christmas
Carol. (The voice of Mickey until his passing in 2009, Allwine was married to Russi Taylor, the voice of Minnie Mouse.)
1943:
Historian Eric Foner, considered the leading contemporary expert on the
post-Civil War Reconstruction period, is born in New York City. He revised the presentation of
American history at the Hall of Presidents at Disney World's Magic Kingdom, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at
Disneyland. Foner completely rewrote and changed the script of the Hall of Presidents in order to focus more on
slavery and other ethical and civil related issues. He also rewrote Lincoln's speech, which was originally nearly
identical to that which Lincoln gave in the original version of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
"A lie keeps growing and growing until it's as plain as the nose on your face." -Blue Fairy
1944:
Disney's animated feature Pinocchio is released in Spain.
Academy Award nominations for the best of 1943 are announced. Disney's Saludos
Amigos is nominated for Best Sound Recording, Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, and Best Music, Song.
Victory Through Air Power receives a nomination in the category Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. Disney's Reason and Emotion also receives a nod for Best Short Subjects, Cartoons. Oscar night is March 2.
FEBRUARY 7
Pinocchio debuts
American Idol attraction announced
FEBRUARY 07
THIS
SITE MADE
IN THE USA
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1812:
Charles Dickens, the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era and one of the
most popular of all time, is born Charles John Huffam Dickens in Landport, Portsmouth,
England. Creator of some of literature's most memorable characters, his 1843 A Christmas Carol and his character
Ebenezer Scrooge are as popular today as the day they were first introduced to the public. Adapted for theatre, film,
television, radio, and opera countless times, a 3D version of A Christmas Carol was released by Disney in 2009. The
third film adaptation of Dickens' tale released by Disney, the two previous were the 1983 animated featurette Mickey's
Christmas Carol and the 1992 film The Muppet Christmas Carol (released under the Disney banner, almost a decade
before Disney actually bought the Muppets).
| ||||
Finding Nemo is awarded:
- Outstanding Directing in an Animated Feature
Production (Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich)
- Outstanding Writing in an Animated Feature
Production (Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson,
and David Reynolds)
- Outstanding Effects Animation (Martin Nguyen)
- Outstanding Music in an Animated Feature
Production (Thomas Newman)
- Outstanding Character Design in an Animated
Feature Production (Ricky Nierva)
- Outstanding Character Animation
(Doug Sweetland)
- Outstanding Voice Acting in an Animated Feature
Production (Ellen DeGeneres)
- Outstanding Production Design in an Animated
Feature Production (Ralph Eggleston)
- Outstanding Achievement in an Animated
Theatrical Feature (Pixar Animation Studios)
1942:
Disney's Mickey Mouse short Mickey's Birthday Party, directed by Riley Thompson, is released. The gang throws Mickey a surprise birthday party, which includes an electric organ, which Minnie plays while Mickey does a jazzy dance. Goofy tries to bake a cake, but keeps having trouble with it falling. The voice cast includes Walt Disney (Mickey), Thelma Boardman (Minnie), Pinto Colvig (Goofy), Florence Gill (Clara Duck), and Clarence Nash (as Donald Duck). Among the staff of animators who have worked on Mickey's Birthday Party is Les Clark and Ward Kimball.
1936:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces its nominations for
the best of 1935. Disney's Who Killed Cock Robin? and Three Orphan Kittens are both nominated for
an Oscar Award in the category Short Subjects, Cartoons. Winners will be announced March 5.
British-born composer-conductor Oliver Wallace begins work at the Walt Disney Studio. Over the next 25 years, he wrote more than thirty miles of soundtrack! His first big success was Dumbo (1941), for which he, together with Frank Churchill, won his first and only Oscar. Wallace went
on to score Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Lady and the Tramp.
2010:
At Super Bowl XLIV, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees shouts "I’m
going to Disney World!" following his team's 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts
in South Florida.
1992:
Disney's Hollywood Pictures releases Medicine Man starring Sean Connery and
Lorraine Bracco (and co-produced with Cinergi Pictures). In the Amazon rain forest a brilliant but
eccentric research scientist, Dr. Robert Campbell, is on the verge of a medical breakthrough, a cure for cancer, but
he has lost the formula and must now rediscover the elusive serum. The pharmaceutical corporation sponsoring the
research has sent another biochemist, Dr. Rae Crane, to investigate the reclusive genius. A hardheaded female
scientist is the last thing Campbell wants around his camp ... but he must find the rare antidote.
2009:
Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, receives the Gordon E. Sawyer Award (an Oscar statue) at the Scientific and Technical Awards Presentations at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. (Portions of the Scientific and Technical Awards presentation will be shown at the Oscar ceremony on February 22 at the Kodak Theatre.)
1977:
It's Who, What, Why, Where, When and How Day on episode 16 of The New Mickey
Mouse Club. The Mouseketeers visit Cougar Hill Ranch, home of many famous animal actors and owned and
operated by trainer George Toth. His children, Nikki and Elizabeth, who care for the animals, give a tour of the
compound explaining the care, feeding and training of their charges. The Mousekartoon Pests of the West is also
featured, starring Pluto, the wonder pup, trying to outsmart Bent-tail the coyote.
1948:
Actor, writer and producer Michael McGreevey is born in Phoenix, Arizona.
Starting his professional career at the age of seven, his Disney feature film credits include The Shaggy D.A., The Strongest Man in the World, Snowball Express, Now You See Him, Now You Don't, and
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes. McGreevey also appeared on episodes of Disney's weekly
anthology series including The Wacky Zoo of Morgan City and Sammy the Way-Out Seal.
1965:
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color premieres episode 3 of a 3-part
mini-series titled "The Adventures of Gallegher."
Actor Jason Gedrick is born in Chicago, Illinois. His ABC-TV roles include Reese McFadden in The Beast , Rick Coletti in Desperate Housewives, and Gabriel
Shaw in an episode of How to Get Away with Murder.
FEB
FEB
1938:
The first Donald Duck daily strip in the USA, drawn
by Al Taliaferro, is published.
February 07
FEBRUARY IS DCA MONTH
2016:
The first full trailer for Disney's live-action (and heavy CGI) remake of the 1967
cartoon classic The Jungle Book is shown during the broadcast of Super Bowl 50.
Set for release in April, the film features Bill Murray as Baloo the bear, Christopher Walken as King Louie the
orangutan, and Ben Kingsley as the friendly panther Bagheera.
For only the second time in its history, there is no iconic Disney commercial following
the Super Bowl. The traditional "I'm going to Disney World" and "I'm going to Disneyland" commercial has been appearing since 1987 when New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms said it after winning Super Bowl XXI. Disney
has run the commercial soon after the end of each Super Bowl since, except for 2005.
Denver Bronco quarterback Peyton Manning tells reporters that he's "taking his kids to Disneyland," after his
team's 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
2017:
The Visual Effects Society (VES) announces the winners of their annual VES Awards, honoring outstanding visual effects in motion pictures, television and other media.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure wins the award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project. Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure is an all-new, innovative ride experience developed specifically for Shanghai Disneyland.
1962:
Stand-up comic, actor, writer, and political activist Eddie Izzard is born in the Colony of Aden. His voice credits include The Wild (2006) as Nigel, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) as Reepicheep, and Cars 2 (2011) as Sir Miles Axlerod.
2020:
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, a comedy-drama fantasy film based on the book series of the same name by Stephan Pastis, debuts on Disney+. About an 11-year old boy named Timmy who believes that he is the best detective in town, the films stars Winslow Fegley, Ophelia Lovibond, Wallace Shawn, and Craig Robinson.
1999:
Actor, jazz pianist, singer, and songwriter Bobby Troup passes away at age 80 in California. His best known song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" (also known as simply "Route 66") was composed in 1946. Troup got the idea for the song on a cross-country 10-day drive from Pennsylvania to California. Nat King Cole, with the King Cole Trio, first recorded the song that same year. Capitol Records released it as a single, which became a hit, appearing on Billboard magazine's singles charts. It reached number three on the magazine's Race Records chart and number eleven on its broader singles chart. Cole later re-recorded the tune in 1956 (for the album After Midnight) and 1961 (The Nat King Cole Story). The 2006 Pixar animated movie Cars
includes renditions of "Route 66" by Chuck Berry and John Mayer. Mayer's version was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance. As an actor, Troup's best known acting role was Dr. Joe Early on the television series Emergency! in the 1970s.
2021:
After this evening's Super Bowl LV win by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Walt Disney World Resort lights Cinderella Castle in Buccaneers' colors and also in blue in honor of the healthcare heroes who have been working so hard to battle COVID-19 "as a beacon of celebration and hope throughout the night." Although there will be no Super Bowl MVP parade taking place the following day in the Magic Kingdom (as has been customary for years) teammates Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski appear in the iconic "I’m Going to Disney World!" commercial.
Tokyo Disneyland re-opens for a second time after being forced to close again due to
the pandemic.
2012:
Disney's Lady and the Tramp Diamond Edition Blu-ray is released.
2019:
Actor John Stamos and wife Caitlin McHugh Stamos celebrate their first wedding anniversary at Disneyland Park.
