2005:
New York City's Museum of Modern Art premieres a new exhibit
called "Pixar: 20 Years of Animation." It is the largest animation show
the museum has ever done, as well as the first time the material has been seen outside of Pixar's
studios in Northern California. The show's run into 2006 coincides with Pixar's 20th anniversary.
1938:
An afternoon story meeting takes place at the Disney Studio.
Walt and his staff discuss Sequence 10 of Pinocchio.
1955:
Mickey Mouse Club airs on ABC. Today is Anything Can Happen Day.
The Disneyland television series presents "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates," starring Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen. The final of the five
Davy Crockett programs, this episode finds Davy and his crew battling pirates.
1961:
Disney's first live-action musical feature film Babes in Toyland, starring
Ray Bolger, Tommy Sands, Annette Funicello, and Ed Wynn is released.
Mother Goose Village is celebrating two of its most beloved citizens, lovely Mary Contrary
(Annette Funicello) and handsome Tom Piper (Tommy Sands), who are about to wed—only the
dastardly Barnaby (Ray Bolger; pictured left) seeks to stop their happiness. Directed by Jack Donohue, the film
is based upon Victor Herbert's popular 1903 operetta Babes in Toyland and adapted by Disney songwriter George Bruns specifically for this production. The film’s climax is the rousing “March of the Wooden Soldiers” sequence, in which a miniaturized Tom leads a toy battalion against Barnaby. Ward Kimball (an avid toy collector) has headed the special unit set up for the making of the more than 100 toys created especially for this scene.
1964:
Actor Todd Turquand, a member of the 1977-1978 TV series The New Mickey Mouse Club, is born.
1966:
Lilly Disney visits her husband Walt at St. Joseph's Hospital (across from his studio)
in Burbank, California. Although Walt is very ill, she is encouraged by the strength he shows. His brother
Roy pays him a visit at night and they talk about company matters, EPCOT, and Disney
World. Walt looks at the ceiling and points out the design of the new Florida park to a teary-eyed Roy. After he
leaves, Walt asks to have his bed raised so he can look toward the nearby Disney Studios. At Roy's
orders, every one of the studio's lights is left on to shine through the night.
Actress Verna Felton, who was best known for providing many voices in numerous Disney animated films (as well as voicing Fred Flintstone's mother-in-law Pearl Slaghoople in Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones), passes away at age 76. Her Disney credits include Dumbo (1941) as the Elephant Matriarch and Mrs. Jumbo, Dumbo's Mother, Cinderella (1950) as The Fairy Godmother, Alice in Wonderland (1951) as the Queen of Hearts, Lady and the Tramp (1955) as Aunt Sarah, Sleeping Beauty (1959) as Flora, the Red Fairy & Queen Leah, Princess Aurora's mother, and The Jungle Book (1967) as Winifred the Elephant (her final role).
1977:
Tasha Danner, a member of the Disney Channel's
The All New Mickey Mouse Club, is born in Indiana.
1986:
The Wonderful World of Disney airs "The Christmas Star." An escaped convict
named Horace McNickle (played by Edward Asner) hides out in a suburban neighborhood and is
befriended by two neighborhood children who think he is the real Santa Claus.
1997:
The second official "Toad In" takes place at Walt Disney World's Fantasyland. Supporters of the ill-fated Mr. Toad attraction pass out "Save Mr. Toad" buttons.
2003:
After many delays, the first phase of Walt Disney
World's Pop Century Resort (the Classic Years 1950s-
90s) finally opens for business. Located at 1050
Century Drive, the resort is adjacent to the Wide World
of Sports Complex and near Disney-MGM Studios.
2004:
Mary Poppins 40th Anniversary Edition DVD is released. Bonus material includes an all-
new animated short hosted by Julie Andrews.
Also released on DVD is The Princess Dairies 2: Royal Engagement.
Disney's newest musical production On The Record comes to the Lousiville
Palace in Kentucky for 6 days.
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (Soundtrack), music from the Wes Anderson film of the same name, is released through Hollywood Records.
2006:
Toon Disney kicks off its very first "12 Days of Christmas" event.
The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort announces an expansion plan
which will add 3 new attractions for 2007 and 2008. It's A Small World for early 2008,
a brand new parade for Summer 2007, and a New Animation Academy on Mainstreet USA.
Nominations for the 64th Golden Globe Awards are announced.
Among the Disney, Pixar, ABC-TV nominees-
-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Johnny Depp – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest as Captain Jack Sparrow
-Best Animated Film: Cars – John Lasseter and Joe Ranf
-Best Series Drama: Grey's Anatomy
-Best Series Musical or Comedy: Ugly Betty
-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy: America Ferrera – Ugly Betty
as Betty Suarez
-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama: Patrick Dempsey – Grey's Anatomy
as Dr. Derek Shepherd
-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama: Ellen Pompeo – Grey's Anatomy
as Dr. Meredith Grey
-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Katherine Heigl – Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Izzie Stevens
Winners will be announced January 15, 2007.
Babes in Toyland (released This
Day in 1961) marked the first time Disney’s licensees had the
opportunity to manufacture toys
that were actually seen in a movie.
The Fairy Princess doll played with by Annette Funicello in the "Just a Toy"
number was designed for the film
by Uneeda Doll Co., and 367
other items, including puzzles, puppets,
Colorforms, costumes, and games
were manufactured by 45
companies participating
in the promotion.
1988:
Actress/singer Vanessa Hudgens is born in Salinas, California. First rising to fame playing Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical film series (2006–2008), her success led to acquiring a recording contract with Hollywood Records, with whom she released two studio albums, V (2006) and Identified (2008). Along with her fellow castmembers, Hudgens took part in High School Musical: The Concert; a 2006/2007 live tour. She also appeared in 4 episodes of Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, the 2016 High School Musical: 10th Anniversary, and the 2020 special The Disney Family Singalong. Hudgens has won multiple Radio Disney and Teen Choice Awards.
1989:
The Little Mermaid is released in Peru.
2007:
Disney Family Night at High School Musical takes place at the
Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
1934:
MGM releases their version of Babes in Toyland, featuring Laurel & Hardy. Also known as March of the Wooden Soldiers, a scene features the Three Little Pigs and a costumed child dressed like Mickey Mouse! The Hal Roach Studios has obtained permission from Disney to use the characters.
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2008:
Turner Classic Movies airs an all-new original documentary entitled The Age of
Believing: The Disney Live-Action Classics, narrated by Tony winner and three-time
Oscar nominee Angela Lansbury (who played Miss Price in Disney's 1973
Bedknobs and Broomsticks). The documentary - from FitzFilm, Inc. and writer/producer/director Peter
Fitzgerald - follows Disney's history as it ventured beyond its animation legacy to non-animated family features.
Snow 2: Brain Freeze, a television film starring Tom Cavanagh and Ashley Williams, premieres on ABC Family. Just days before Christmas, Nick Snowden forgets about spending early Christmas with his wife, Sandy due to pressure at work. After a fight, Nick walks through a magical mirror and ends up with amnesia. Now it's up to Sandy to recharge his memory and save Christmas once and for all, but Nick's old nemesis Buck Seger returns and uses Santa's amnesia to his advantage.
DECEMBER 14
THIS DAY MADE
IN THE
USA
DECEMBER 14
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1951:
Disney's Donald Duck short Bee on Guard is released. Directed by Jack Hannah, Buzz-Buzz the bee must protect his hive against Donald's honey harvesting!
Actress Celia Weston is born in South Carolina. Weston began her career on stage, making her Broadway debut in 1979. After a recurring role on the ABC daytime soap opera Ryan's Hope, she later appeared in episodes of Desperate Housewives and Modern Family.
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Pop Century opens
1954:
Disney's 1944 animated feature The Three Caballeros is released in West Germany.
DEC
"I didn’t have a formal education to speak of. I had only one year of art in night school. But the way to get an
education is to do something. You get yourself into a problem, and you’ll do the research to solve it. I have a
feeling that’s what’s missing in our schools—the tackling of the hard job, then the series of ‘Ahh…I see now
where I was off’. That’s how you learn." -Walt Disney
SEASON 2 EPISODE 13
The happiest, most delightful musical comedy of your lifetime!
1935:
The Silly Symphony short Broken Toys, directed by Ben Sharpsteen, is released to theaters. Discarded toys at the city dump, led by a toy sailor, decide to repair themselves!
1973:
Buena Vista world premieres the live-action comedy feature film Superdad, directed by Vincent McEveety. Worried father Charlie McReedy (played by Bob Crane) tries to wrest his daughter Wendy (Kathleen Cody) from her childhood sweetheart Bart (Kurt Russell), of whom he disapproves. The cast also includes Barbara Rush, Joe Flynn, Dick Van Patten, and Bruno Kirby (making his on-screen debut).
1984:
Disney releases the animated featurette Frankenweenie, directed by Tim Burton.
A parody of and a homage to the 1931 film Frankenstein, this time Victor Frankenstein is a young boy who brings
his pet dog Sparky back to life! (In 2012 Burton will remake this story into a full-length feature.)
2010:
Disney and ABC Studios receive a total of nine Golden Globe nominations.
Among the nominations -
-Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy: Alice in Wonderland
-Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Actor: Johnny Depp – Alice in Wonderland as Mad Hatter
-Best Original Score: Danny Elfman – Alice in Wonderland
-Best Original Song: "I See the Light" – Tangled
-Best Animated Feature Film: Toy Story 3 and Tangled
-Television Best Series: Modern Family
-Best Supporting Performance in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film, Actor: Eric Stonestreet – Modern Family
as Cameron Tucker
-Best Supporting Performance in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film, Actress: Sofía Vergara – Modern Family
as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
The 68th Annual Golden Globes, awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, will be televised
live on NBC, Sunday, January 16, 2011.
1912:
Versatile comedian, writer, lyricist, producer and supreme jokester
Morey Amsterdam is born in San Francisco, California. Best known for his
creation of the character Buddy Sorrell in the television series The Dick Van Dyke Show
(1961-1966), Amsterdam appeared in a 1955 episode of Mickey Mouse Club. In 1968 he hosted
a "Family Night" concert featuring Disneyland performers at the Hollywood Bowl and appeared in
Disney's comedy feature The Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit (as Charlie Blake). Amsterdam starred in Believe You
Can ... And You Can! a 1983 television special about Disneyland's renovated Fantasyland and later left his
handprints in front of Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Disney-MGM (today known as Disney's Hollywood Studios).
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December 14
2001:
The Other Side of Heaven, a film produced by Academy Award winner Gerald R.
Molen and directed by Mitch Davis, is released by Excel Entertainment. The movie focuses on a
young man named John H. Groberg - played by Christopher Gorham - and his adventurous experiences and trials
while serving as a missionary in the South Pacific during the 1950s. Not understanding the language, and longing for the girl he left behind, John faces suspicion, distrust, typhoons, mosquitoes, and other perils of man and nature as he reaches out to the local people. Anne Hathaway portrays Jean, John's sweetheart who he has left behind in Idaho Falls. The cast also features Joe Folau as Feki, Nathaniel Lees as Kelepi, and Miriama Smith as Lavinia. Walt Disney Home Entertainment will later release the film on video in 2003.
2013:
English-Irish stage and screen actor Peter O'Toole, well known for his role as
British Army officer T. E. Lawrence in the 1962 epic adventure drama film
Lawrence of Arabia (for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for
Best Actor), passes away in London at age 81. He played Robin MacGregor in the
1960 Disney film Kidnapped and voiced Anton Ego in the 2007 animated Disney/Pixar film Ratatouille.
2015:
Five thousand invited guests experience the Hollywood premiere of Star Wars: The
Force Awakens on this Monday evening. Three theaters; the iconic TCL Chinese (where the
original Star Wars premiered in 1977), the Dolby, and Disney's El Capitan roll out red carpets for the premiere of
the hugely anticipated film. A half-mile section of Hollywood Boulevard is closed to traffic and a giant opaque tent
lines four blocks of the famous thoroughfare. The Force Awakens will open to the public Friday, December 18.
Nominees for the 21st Critics' Choice Awards are announced. Nominees include-
-Best Picture: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
-Best Director: Steven Spielberg – Bridge of Spies (distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures in North America)
-Best Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance – Bridge of Spies as Rudolf Abel
-Best Original Screenplay: Matt Charman, Joel Coen, and Ethan Coen – Bridge of Spies
-Best Animated Feature: Inside Out
-Best Actor in an Action Movie: Paul Rudd – Ant-Man as Scott Lang / Ant-Man
-Best Comedy: Inside Out
-Best Costume Design: Sandy Powell – Cinderella
Winners will presented on January 17, 2016.
2016:
Welsh film and television actor Bernard Fox passes away at age 89 in Van Nuys,
California. He supplied the voices for both Chairman and Doctor Mouse for Disney's 1990 animated feature
The Rescuers Down Under, the follow-up to the 1977 The Rescuers for which he also voiced Mr. Chairman.
Fox's live-action Disney credits include Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo and The Million Dollar Duck.
(He was best known for his television roles of Dr. Bombay from Bewitched, and the naive, bumbling Colonel
Crittendon on Hogan's Heroes.)
2017:
The Walt Disney Company announces a definitive agreement to acquire 21st Century
Fox for $52.4 billion in stock. Assets being assumed by the acquisition include the 20th Century Fox film
and TV studios, Fox Television Group (along with cable channels such as FX), international networks, stakes in National Geographic Partners, Indian television broadcaster Star India, additional 30% stake in Hulu, and other key assets.
Animator, character designer, and layout artist Bob Givens passes away at age 99 in
California. Joining the Walt Disney Studio in 1937 (on the recommendation of school classmate and Disney staffer Hardie Gramatky), Givens worked as an animation checker on several of short subjects (mostly involving Donald Duck), before working on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Bambi. He later left Disney and went on to work at such studios as Warner Bros. Cartoons and Hanna-Barbera.
2009:
Nominees are announced for the 15th Critics' Choice Awards, honoring the finest achievements of 2009 filmmaking. Among the nominations-
-Best Animated Feature: Up & The Princess and the Frog
-Best Score: Michael Giacchino – Up & Randy Newman – The Princess and the Frog
-Best Song: "Almost There" by Randy Newman, The Princess and the Frog
Winners will be announced January 15, 2010.
At the African-American Film Critics Association Awards 2009, Disney's The Princess and the Frog is awarded Best Screenplay to Ron Clements, Rob Edwards, and John Musker. The film is also included in the Top 10 films of 2009 along with Up.
1886:
Actor Frederick Worlock is born in London, England. Known for his work in various films during the 1940s and 1950s, he was the voice of Horace for Disney's 1961 animated One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
1991:
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association awards Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Best Animated Film.
1995:
Flash Forward, a Disney Channel Original Series produced in Canada for preteens and teenagers, airs for the first time. (The series will air as a 4-episode limited-run preview on The Disney Channel from this day to January 6, 1996. Starting on September 14, 1996, the series will air as a special nationwide preview-run on ABC's Saturday morning lineup.) The show focuses on the lives of two best friends and neighbors since birth, Tucker (Ben Foster) and Rebecca (Jewel Staite), and their respective adventures as they travel through the world of eighth grade with their friends.
