1954:
Chris Miller, Walt Disney's grandson, is born in Monterey County, California.
1939:
The first Donald Duck Sunday page is published. Like the daily strips, the Sunday pages are written by Bob Karp and drawn by Al Taliaferro, and distributed by King Features. (An ambitious Taliaferro had flown to New York on his own to convince King Features to introduce a Donald Duck Sunday strip!)
2003:
Walt Disney World begins placing motion-sickness bags in the
capsules of their newest Epcot attraction, Mission:SPACE. It is the
first time Disney has put motion-sickness bags on any of its thrill rides.
Actor Sean McClory passes in California at age 79. His Disney credits include the live-action features The Gnome-Mobile, The Happiest Millionaire, and Follow Me Boys!. McClory's career spanned six decades and included well over 100 films and television series.
1879:
Ernest Howard Shepard, who brought A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh and friends to life with his enchanting and captivating drawings, is born in St John's Wood, London, England (only a five-minute walk from the birthplace of Milne). Often referred to as E. H. Shepard, he was also known for his human-like animal illustrations for The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. Mary Shepard, his daughter, was famous for her illustrations for P. L. Travers' Mary Poppins.
1903:
Author Mary Norton is born in London, England. Her novels "The Magic Bed-Knob" (her very first
book) published in 1943 and its 1947 sequel "Bonfires and Broomsticks" were the basis for the 1971 Disney
live-action feature Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Norton won the 1952 Carnegie Medal from the Library Association, recognizing her novel "The Borrowers" as the year's outstanding children's book by a British author. Writing 5 "Borrowers" in all, they were later made into movies and a TV series.
Actor George J. Lewis is born in Guadalajara, Mexico. He played the role of Alejandro in Disney's 1950s Zorro TV series.
1923:
Actor Harold Gould, who portrayed the grandpa in Disney's 2003 Freaky
Friday and supplied the voice of Old Denahi in Disney's 2003 animated
Brother Bear, is born in Schenectady, New York. Gould's Disney credits also include the 1997
television version of The Love Bug, the 1990s series Dinosaurs and the 1975 feature The Strongest Man in the
World. TV fans will recognize him as Martin Morgenstern from the 1970s sitcoms Rhoda and The Mary Tyler
Moore Show, and as Miles Webber on The Golden Girls - a Touchstone Television production.
1932:
Disney's Silly Symphony cartoon Santa's Workshop,
directed by Wilfred Jackson, is released.
1937:
Disney's 9-minute Donald Duck cartoon Donald's Ostrich, directed by Jack King and
written by Carl Barks, is released. When an ostrich gets free of her shipping crate and swallows
everything in sight, train station agent Donald Duck is in for a hectic day.
1941:
Child actor Tommy Kirk is born in Louisville, Kentucky. First hired by Walt Disney
Productions as a clean-cut teenager in The Hardy Boys serial feature, along with Tim Considine, Kirk went on to star in a succession of successful Disney feature films. He played Travis Coates in the 1957 Old Yeller, Wilby Daniels in the 1959 The Shaggy Dog, and middle son Ernst Robinson in the 1960 Swiss Family Robinson. Kirk also played the "scrambled egghead" student inventor Merlin Jones in two comedies; The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964) and The Monkey's Uncle (1965). His acting careered faded by the early 1970s and Kirk went on to run a successful rug-cleaning business for two decades. He was inducted a Disney Legend on October 9, 2006.
Chad Stuart, the voice of Flaps (one of the four singing vultures) in Disney's 1967 The Jungle Book, is born in England. (Stuart is best known as half of the 60s singing duo Chad and Jeremy.)
1957:
Actor Michael Clarke Duncan, the voice of Tug in Disney's 2003 Brother
Bear, is born in Chicago, Illinois. (Movie fans may recall him for his role
of John Coffey in the 1999 The Green Mile.)
1961:
Actress/singer Nia Peeples, who appeared in the 1997 TV movie Tower of
Terror (based on the Disney World attraction) is born in Hollywood, California.
The television series Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color airs "Kids is Kids."
1969:
Academy Award-winning composer Leigh Harline passes away in Long
Beach, California at age 62. First joining Disney in 1932, his best known Disney tune
"When You Wish Upon A Star" was originally used in Pinocchio. Together with Frank Churchill,
Larry Morey, and Paul J. Smith, Harline was also responsible for such songs as "Whistle While
You Work," "Heigh Ho," and "Some Day My Prince Will Come."
Disney's short It's Tough to Be a Bird (a mix of animation and live-action)
flies into theaters. Directed by Ward Kimball and featuring zany, fast paced montages and
over-the-top humor, a red bird (appropriately named M.C. Bird) explains how winged creatures
have contributed to human culture. The voice cast includes the singing voice of comedian Ruth
Buzzi and the narration of Richard Bakalyan, with music by George Bruns. (It will win the
Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Cartoons.)
1978:
The Wonderful World of Disney airs "Christmas at Walt Disney World."
The holiday special features Shields & Yarnell, Danielle Spencer, Avery Schreiber, and Phyllis Diller.
1985:
Actress & singer Raven-Symoné, the star of Disney Channel's That's So
Raven (2003-07), is born in Atlanta, Georgia. Her earliest Disney work includes the 1990
The Muppets at Walt Disney World (in which she sang a duet of "The Rainbow Connection" with Kermit) and the 1999 Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. She portrayed Galleria Garibaldi on The Cheetah Girls and The Cheetah Girls 2, and supplied the voice for Monique in Disney's animated series Kim Possible (2002-07). Raven was also the voice of Iridessa for such releases as Tinker Bell and Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure. In 2004 she appeared in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement as Princess Asana and in 2008 co-starred in Walt Disney Pictures' comedy College Road Trip as Melanie. She also lent her voice to episodes of the animated series Guardians of the Galaxy. In 2017 she reprised her role as Raven Baxter on Raven's Home, for which she was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming. In 2020, she hosted the Disney Channel special Disney Holiday Magic Quest and has the recurring role of Rhonda in the ABC sitcom Black-ish.
As a singer, Symoné released her first soundtrack album with The Cheetah Girls for their debut film, and a second in
2006. Over the years she has made vocal appearances on several Disney soundtracks, including The Haunted Mansion, The Lion King 1½, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Ice Princess, and College Road Trip.
1993:
EPCOT's Listen to the Land re-opens as Living with the Land with a new
narration, music, and opening & ending scenes.
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, a musical comedy film loosely based on the life of
Crenshaw High School choir instructor Iris Stevenson, and starring Whoopi
Goldberg, is released by Touchstone Pictures. In this sequel, Las Vegas performer Deloris Van
Cartier (Goldberg) is surprised by a visit from her nun friends. It appears Deloris is needed in her nun guise as
Sister Mary Clarence to help teach music to teens at a troubled school in hopes of keeping the facility from
closing. The cast includes Kathy Najimy, Maggie Smith, Tanya Blount, Barnard Hughes, and Lauren Hill.
1998:
The Test Track Preview Center at Epcot closes.
(Nine days later Test Track will open.)
2000:
The Emperor's New Groove - Disney's newest animated feature -
has its world premiere. It will be generally released 5 days later.
1996:
Walt Disney Records releases Dog Songs - in celebration of Walt Disney
Pictures' live action 101 Dalmatians. It features performances by such artists as
Lobo, Patti Page, The Monkees, Harry Nilsson, and Dr. John.
For the holiday season,
Disneyland dresses up
the classic it’s a small
world ride, adding
lights and seasonal songs. Twenty employees work
for 17 days,
10 to 12 hours
a day to
decorate the
attraction!
2004:
Disney Channel airs "Neander-Phil," the seventeenth Phil of the Future episode, for the first time.
DECEMBER 10
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Today is Human Rights Day
THIS DAY MADE
IN THE
USA
DECEMBER 10
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"I love the projects I've done there (Disney) and the people. It's been a wonderful experience. I've loved
it all, but I had the best time on That's So Raven." -Raven-Symoné
DEC
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1999:
An official agreement is signed between the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region government and the Walt Disney Company regarding the building and
operating of Hong Kong Disneyland.
Touchstone Pictures & Happy Madison Productions release the comedy
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, starring Rob Schneider. An average aquarium cleaner house-sits
for a gigolo, only to be forced to become one himself. The cast includes William Forsythe and Eddie Griffin.
2009:
A rare 1932 Mickey Mouse Christmas card signed by Walt Disney sells at auction in
Illinois for $13,987. The card - addressed to Chicagoan Henry Scherping - features the original version of
Mickey and Minnie Mouse along with a note written less than a month after the cartoonist received his first Oscar.
Walt Disney sent out dozens of these Christmas cards, but this is the first one to ever surface.
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2010:
Touchstone Pictures/Miramax Films releases the comedy-drama The Tempest.
Shakespeare's epic play is translated from page to screen, with the gender of the main character, Prospero, changed from male to female. The film stars Felicity Jones, Jude Akuwudike, and Reeve Carney.
2011:
Actor and Disney fan Neil Patrick Harris (currently known for his
role of Barney on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother") narrates Epcot's
Candlelight Processional. His third time at Candlelight and his first since 2008,
he will also appear Decemeber 11 & 12.
1936:
An Action Analysis Class conducted by Don Graham takes place at the Disney Studio. The featured speaker for this evening is Bill Tytla who gives a talk to those artists presently
assigned to in-betweening and cleanup work on Snow White.
1950:
Voice actor Greggory "Gregg" Berger is born in St. Louis, Missouri. Best known for his
iconic role as Odie the dog from the Garfield franchise, his Disney credits include House of Mouse, Kingdom
Hearts II (video game), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (video game), Mickey's Once Upon a
Christmas, Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving and Recess.
December 10
2013:
Nearly 500 Disney Parks Blog readers preview the upcoming Disney film, "Saving
Mr. Banks," at the Disneyland Resort. Before the screening, guests are treated to a practically
perfect party, complete with a costume contest, visits from Mary Poppins and Bert, and a special presentation
by Disney historian Stacia Martin. "Saving Mr. Banks" opens in theaters December 20.
2016:
Actors Ben Mendelsohn, Mads Mikkelsen, Riz Ahmed, Felicity Jones, Diego Luna,
Alan Tudyk, and Donnie Yen attend The World Premiere of Lucasfilm's highly
anticipated Star Wars adventure, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story at the Pantages
Theatre in Hollywood, California. Rogue One, the first of Walt Disney’s planned Star Wars
standalone titles, will officially open in theaters Friday, December 16.
1992:
The Best of Country '92: Countdown at the Neon Armadillo airs on ABC-TV.
Featuring Clint Black, Suzy Bogguss, and Garth Brooks, it has been shot
at Neon Armadillo located in Disney World's Pleasure Island.
2015:
Both Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur are nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the Best Animated Feature Film category. Other nominations include:
-Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy: Mark Rylance – Bridge of Spies as Rudolf Abel
The 73rd Golden Globe Awards will be handed out January 10, 2016.
2018:
Nominations for the 24th Critics' Choice Awards are announced. Among the nominees-
-Best Picture: Mary Poppins Returns and Black Panther
-Best Actress: Emily Blunt – Mary Poppins Returns (as Mary Poppins)
-Best Supporting Actor: Michael B. Jordan – Black Panther (as N'Jadaka / Erik "Killmonger" Stevens)
-Best Acting Ensemble: Black Panther
-Best Adapted Screenplay: Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole – Black Panther
-Best Cinematography: Rachel Morrison – Black Panther
-Best Production Design: Hannah Beachler and Jay Hart – Black Panther and John Myhre and Gordon Sim –
Mary Poppins Returns
-Best Costume Design: Ruth E. Carter – Black Panther and Sandy Powell – Mary Poppins Returns
-Best Hair and Makeup: Black Panther
-Best Visual Effects: Black Panther and Mary Poppins Returns
-Best Animated Feature: Incredibles 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet
-Best Action Movie: Black Panther
-Best Actress in a Comedy: Emily Blunt – Mary Poppins Returns as Mary Poppins
-Best Score: Ludwig Göransson – Black Panther and Marc Shaiman – Mary Poppins Returns
-Best Song: "All the Stars" – Black Panther and "Trip a Little Light Fantastic" – Mary Poppins Returns
The awards will be presented on January 13, 2019.
2017:
Encore!, a reality television show hosted and executive produced by Kristen Bell and Will Gluck, premieres on ABC. It reunites the cast members of a high school musical to recreate their performance years after they originally performed. In 2019, Encore! will become a regular series on Disney+.
2020:
Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr., character actor and occasional professional wrestler, passes away at age 62 in California. He voiced Mr. Mussels in the television series Fish Hooks and Finnick in the 2016 animated feature Zootopia.
The Walt Disney Company webcast its Investor Day 2020, a four-hour presentation.
The event focuses on the Disney's direct-to-consumer streaming services.
1959:
Actor Burke Moses is born in New York City. He originated the role of Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast in 1994 on Broadway, as well as in the Los Angeles and London West End productions.
1958:
The San Francisco Museum of Art (later known as SFMOMA San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) awards Walt Disney the bronze abstract "Seed" sculpture by artist Gurdon G. Woods in recognition of Walt’s contributions to the arts.
