2004:
Disney's 1979 sci-fi film The Black Hole is reissued on DVD. (The original DVD release was plagued with audio problems.) Also released to DVD is the 1979 comedy The Unidentified Flying Oddball.
Walt Disney Records releases Princess Diaries 2 Soundtrack. The collection includes performances by Kelly Clarkson, Raven-Symoné, and Avril Lavigne. (The feature film will be released 8 days later.)
1923:
Actress Jean Hagen, who portrayed Freeda Daniels (mother of Wilby Daniels) in
Disney's 1959 The Shaggy Dog, is born in Chicago, Illinois. (Movie fans may recognize
Hagen from such classics as Singin' in the Rain, The Asphalt Jungle and Adam's Rib.)
1933:
The Mickey Mouse Watch is introduced at a cost of $3.25
(although the price will later be lowered to $2.95).
1935:
Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon Mickey's Fire Brigade is
released. When a house catches fire, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy attempt to
put it out with some disastrous results. Directed by Ben Sharpsteen, the short
features the animation of Paul Allen, Grim Natwick, Fred Spencer, Bill Tytla
(animating Clarabelle Cow), Cy Young, and a young in-betweener named Milt Kahl.
1955:
Voice artist Corey Burton, one of the most widely heard voices in film and television,
is born in Granada Hills, California. He has done voices for theme park attractions like Disney's Timekeeper and recreated the late Paul Frees' "Ghost Host" for Disneyland's Haunted Mansion Holiday. His large body of Disney work includes the voice of Captain Hook in Disney's 2002 Return to Neverland and such animated features as Aladdin, The Lion King, Hercules, Mulan, The Incredibles, Stitch! The Movie, Treasure Planet, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure,The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Princess and the Frog, and Ralph Breaks the Internet. Burton's television voice credits include Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (as Ludwig Von Drake) and Jake and the Never Land Pirates (as Captain Hook). He also supplied the voice for Doc Hudson for the Cars video games (replacing the late Paul Newman).
1988:
A groundbreaking ceremony take place for Euro Disney (later known as Disneyland Paris). The park will open in April 1992.
1990:
The animated feature film, DuckTales The Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp is
released in the U.S., under the Disney MovieToons label. Based on the TV series DuckTales, the film is produced and animated by Walt Disney Television Animations. Scrooge McDuck travels to the far ends of the earth in search of the elusive buried treasure of legendary thief, Collie Baba. The voice cast includes Alan Young (Scrooge), Terence McGovern (Launchpad), Russi Taylor (nephews, Webby), Christopher Lloyd (Merlock), June Foray (Mrs. Featherby), Chuck McCann (Duckworth) and Rip Taylor (Genie).
1994:
Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 150-millionth guest!
2000:
The first showing of a sing along version of Walt Disney's Academy Award-winning classic Mary Poppins is held at Disney's El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. A restored
35mm Dolby Stereo print of the classic 1964 film features on-screen lyrics of all the songs so that audiences can
join in. Moviegoers are encouraged to dress as their favorite character from the film and prizes for best costume
are awarded at each show.
The Family Television Awards are handed out at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The Disneyland television series (which first debuted in 1954)
earns a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Actress Landry Bender, known for playing the role of Cleo Bernstein in the Disney
XD series Crash & Bernstein, is born in Chicago, Illinois. Her Disney credits also include the animated Jake and the Never Land Pirates and the Disney Channel sitcom Best Friends Whenever.
2001:
Disney's romantic comedy The Princess Diaries, starring Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway, opens in theaters. Teenager Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway) discovers she is the heir to the
throne of Genovia, ruled by her grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Andrews). Directed by Garry Marshall, it is
a screen adaptation of Meg Cabot's 2000 novel and Julie Andrews' first film with Disney since Mary Poppins.
The cast includes Caroline Goodall, Hector Elizondo, Robert Schwartzman, Heather Matarazzo, Mandy Moore,
Sean O’Bryan, Sandra Oh, and Eric Von Detten.
The Lizzie McGuire episode "Sibling Bonds" debuts on Disney Channel.
2003:
Pre-opening membership sales for Disney World's Saratoga Springs Resort &
Spa begin. The first phase of the vacation club property is scheduled to open in May 2004.
Most cast member name tags are
worn on the left side of the
costume, with a few exceptions. All Walt Disney World bus drivers
wear their nametags on the
right side, so it is clearly visible
to passengers as they board or
disembark. Security cast
members also where their
name tags on the right (as the
left is reserved for the
silver badge).
2007:
Walt Disney Pictures' Underdog, a live-action film based on the cartoon (which first
debuted in 1964), is released. After an accident in the mysterious lab of mad scientist Dr. Simon
Barsinister, an ordinary beagle finds himself with extraordinary powers! Produced by Spyglass Entertainment
and Classic Media, it features a real dog (voiced by Jason Lee) with computer-generated imagery enhancements.
The film also features Jim Belushi, Alex Neuberger, Taylor Momsen, Amy Adams, Patrick Warburton, Phil Morris
and Brad Garrett.
1960:
Eight-year-old Raymond Sleeper from Hawaii becomes the 10-millionth passenger
to ride Disneyland's train. He takes his historic ride along with Walt Disney himself!
2006:
"The Spark of Creation" - the first of a 3-night engagement - at Disney World.
The show, which benefits Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, features some of Stephen Schwartz’s most
memorable film & Broadway songs.
It is reported that Walt Disney World will retool the Magic Kingdom's daily parade.
The Share A Dream Come True Parade will lose its snow globes, be given a new sound track and be renamed
The Disney Dreams Come True Parade.
2008:
"Studio DC: Almost Live!" an all-new original television special starring the Muppets debuts on Disney Channel. The special (in the style of the original Muppet Show) features singing and dancing, comedy sketches and the backstage chaotic antics of a fictional Disney Channel variety show. Special guests include Miley Cyrus, Ashley Tisdale, Dylan & Cole Sprouse, Jonas Brothers and The Cheetah Girls.
(A second similar show will debut in October.)
AUGUST 3
THIS DAY
MADE IN
THE USA
AUGUST 3
 | ||||
| ||||
Voice artist Corey Burton born
Princess Diaries released
"There's no need to fear! Underdog is here!"
| ||||
2011:
Chiquita Brands International and Walt Disney World Resort announce an agreement that will bring premium, healthy fresh Chiquita and Fresh Express products to a
number of retail points at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. and the
Disney Cruise Line. As part of the agreement, Chiquita will serve as the sponsor of both the "Crush ‘n’
Gusher" at Typhoon Lagoon, themed around a tropical fruit processing center, and the "Living with the Land"
attraction, where Chiquita will join forces with Disney to help teach guests about nutrition.
2012:
The Broadway production of the hit Disney-Cameron Mackintosh musical Mary
Poppins becomes the 24th longest-running show in Broadway history when it plays
its 2,379th performance on this evening. The Broadway production of Mary Poppins officially opened
on November 16, 2006, recouping its initial Broadway investment within 52 weeks of its premiere. It is the only show from the 2006-07 theatrical season still running!
August 03
This Day in Disney History - THE FIRST - THE ORIGINAL
Traveling in time since 1999!
1954:
At the end of its fifth year on television, producer Geroge Trendle sells the Lone Ranger
rights to Jack Wrather - future builder and owner of the original Disneyland Hotel.
(In 2013 Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films will release the live-action feature The Lone Ranger.)
2018:
Disney's newest feature film Christopher Robin
is generally released to U.S. theaters. A working-
class family man, Christopher Robin - played by Ewan
McGregor, encounters his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh,
who helps him to rediscover the joys of life. Inspired by A. A.
Milne and E. H. Shepard's book "Winnie-the-Pooh,"
Christopher Robin is a live-action/CGI extension of the Disney
franchise. The film also features Hayley Atwell (Evelyn), and
Bronte Carmichael (Madeline Robin), with the voices of Jim
Cummings (Winnie the Pooh/Tigger), Brad Garrett (Eeyore),
Peter Capaldi (Rabbit), Toby Jones (Owl), Sophie Okonedo
(Kanga), and Nick Mohammed (Piglet).
Also released is the film's soundtrack, featuring Geoff Zanelli and Jon Brion's score, and Richard Sherman's new songs.
Walt Disney Records releases Disney Junior Music: Vampirina - Ghoul Girls Rock!
2019:
The 3rd season of the animated series The Lion Guard kicks off with the episode "Battle for the Pride Lands." The Lion Guard is a sequel to the The Lion King and takes place during the time-gap within the 1998 film The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.
1963:
Actor Isaiah Washington is born in Houston, Texas. He portrayed Dr. Preston Burke on the ABC medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy from 2005 until 2007, and again in 2014. His role earned him two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Actress, stand-up comedian, and producer Lisa Ann Walter is born in Silver Spring, Maryland. Disney fans know her as Chessy in the 1998 romantic comedy film "The Parent Trap" and Melissa Schemmenti on the ABC mockumentary sitcom "Abbott Elementary" (which debuted in 2021). Walter also played Whoopi
Goldberg's tarty sidekick Claudine in "Eddie" (1996) and appeared in an episode of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (in 2019).
1979:
Actress Evangeline Lilly is born in Alberta, Canada. She
gained popular acclaim for her first leading role as Kate Austen on the ABC
series Lost (2004–10), which garnered her a nomination for the Golden Globe
Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series and won her a Screen Actors Guild
Award. Lilly's film credits include The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003) as a police
officer, Real Steel (2011) as Bailey Tallet, and Ant-Man (2015), Ant-Man and
the Wasp (2018), & Avengers: Endgame (2019) portraying Hope van Dyne /
Wasp. She revived her role of the superhero for the Hong Kong Disneyland attraction Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! (Fans of The Hobbit know her
as Tauriel in both the films The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
1981:
Actor Travis Willingham, known for providing voices for English-language versions of anime, animation and video games, is born in Dallas, Texas. He voiced King Roland II in the 2012 Disney animated television film, Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess and its follow up animated series, and Thor Odinson in Ultimate Spider-Man, Avengers Assemble, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. His voice credits also include Guardians of the Galaxy and Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel.
1985:
Film and television actress Georgina Haig is born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
She played the role of Elsa in 12 episodes of ABC's fantasy drama Once Upon a Time (starting in 2014).
1996:
Animator Robert W. Youngquist passes away at age 90 in Los Angeles, California. He spent his entire career at Disney (from 1935-1970) and worked on such features as Fantasia, Bambi, Fun and Fancy Free, Sleeping Beauty, and The Sword in the Stone, and such shorts as Bone Trouble, Canine Casanova, Pluto's Kid Brother, and Figaro and Frankie.
1974:
Publicist for foreign markets and head of the Publications Department at the Disney Studios, George Sherman passes away at age 45 in California, after an extended illness. Becoming friends with Roy E. Disney while attending college, he later went to work at Disney handling publicity for foreign markets. In 1962 he established the Disney Studio Program, producing comic book stories for the foreign markets. He provided editorial support to the Program and authored (or co-authored) the text for several illustrated children books.
1983:
Grace Bailey, the head of the Ink & Paint Department at Walt Disney Animation Studios from 1954 to 1972, passes away in Florida. Bailey began working with the studio in the days when the films Disney made were still in black and white. When the studio moved into color films with the Silly Symphonies, Bailey worked with Disney's staff to collaborate on approaches and palettes. Beginning in 1954, until her retirement in 1972, Bailey was head of the Ink & Paint Department. In 2000 she will posthumously receive a Disney Legends Award in recognition of her 40-year career with the Walt Disney Company.
1926:
Singer Tony Bennett is born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in Queens, New York. A legend of jazz and popular music, his career spanned 8 decades. Making a guest appearance in episode 106 of "Muppets Tonight," he later appeared in the 2014 film "Muppets Most Wanted," during the song "We're Doing a Sequel." His most popular song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" has been featured in countless movies including Disney's "Arachnophobia" and "Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco." Bennett sold millions of records during his career and won numerous Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award. He contributed to the 2006 release "Wishes! Walt Disney Presents" singing a version of "The Bare Necessities." Loved by generations, Bennett passed in July 2023 at age 96 in New York City.
