1932:
Composer, conductor & pianist John Williams is born in Floral Park, New York.
Regarded by many as one of the greatest film composers of all time, he has composed many of the most
famous film scores in Hollywood history including the Star Wars saga and Indiana Jones films. His music can be heard in Disney parks around the world. In July 2018, Williams composed the main musical theme for Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park attraction Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The Star Wars' theme is among the most widely recognized in film history. In 2016, Williams composed the score for Spielberg's The BFG (a fantasy film distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures). Williams makes annual appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, and took part as conductor and composer in the orchestra's opening gala concerts for the Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2003. With 52 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the second most nominated individual after Walt Disney! (His non-Disney film credits include such classics as The Towering Inferno, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Home Alone, Jurassic Park, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.)
Scuba diving plays a major role for 54
employees at the Disneyland Resort.
Divers are responsible for maintaining
and fixing rides and equipment in the
waterways, such as the lagoon for the
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.
2005:
Roy Disney and Stanley Gold make public their withhold vote for all Directors
at this year's shareholders meeting (to be held February 11 in Minneapolis).
"Travel enables us to enrich our lives with new experiences, to enjoy and to be educated, to learn respect for
foreign cultures, to establish friendships, and above all to contribute to international cooperation and peace
throughout the world." -Jules Verne
1828:
Writer Jules Verne, known for such classic novels as Twenty Thousand
Leagues Under the Sea, In Search of the Castaways, Around the World
in Eighty Days, and From Earth to the Moon, is born Jules Gabriel Verne
in Nantes, France. His depictions of fantastic technological advances, including space and
underwater travel and television (years before their inventions), helped create the genre of science
fiction and influenced many - including Walt Disney and his Imagineers. Disney's 1954 blockbuster
hit 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was based on Verne's 1870 "Vingt mille lieues sous les mers." In Search of the
Castaways, first published in 1873, was released by Disney in 1962. The 2003 video short "Jules Verne & Walt
Disney: Explorers of the Imagination" was released as a bonus on Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea home
release. The first incarnation of Space Mountain in Disneyland Paris, named "Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune,"
was based loosely on Verne's novel From the Earth to the Moon. In 2004, Walt Disney Pictures released a version of
Around the World in 80 Days starring Jackie Chan and Keith Coogan.
1872:
The first performance in Italy of Giuseppe Verdi's opera Aida
takes place in his home town of Milan.
1886:
Actor Charles Ruggles is born in Los Angeles, California. In a career spanning six decades, his
Disney credits include The Parent Trap, Follow Me, Boys!, The Ugly Dachshund, and Son of Flubber. It was
Ruggles who voiced Benjamin Franklin in Disney's 1953 animated short Ben and Me. (Ruggles also lent his voice
to the "Aesop & Son" feature in the animated The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.)
1952:
The Disney 8-minute animated short Lambert, the Sheepish Lion, featuring the
narration of Sterling Holloway, is released. Lambert, a lion that is mistakenly left with a flock of sheep
by a stork, lives his life thinking he is a sheep - until he is forced to defend the flock from an attack by a wolf!
(The short will win an Oscar for Best Animation.)
1956:
The Disneyland television series airs
"Survival in Nature," narrated by Winston Hibler.
1965:
Julie Andrews receives a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy for her role in Disney's Mary Poppins. Dick Van Dyke is nominated for Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy (also for his role in Mary Poppins), but is edged out by Rex Harrison
(for his role in My Fair Lady). Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy goes to My Fair Lady - beating out Mary
Poppins. Although the Sherman Brothers are nominated for Best Original Score (for their contributions to Mary
Poppins), the Golden Globe is given to Dimitri Tiomkin (for his work on The Fall of the Roman Empire).
1974:
Ringo Starr's single "You're 16" is released in the UK. The tune (already a hit in the
U.S.) is written by Richard and Robert Sherman (of Disney songwriting fame). It is the
second version of their song, as Rockabilly singer Johnny Burnette released his "You're 16" back in 1960.
"A Fare of the Heart" Valentine's Party takes place at Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
The special evening event features Tony Orlando and Dawn, The Grass Roots, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes,
and Gabriel's Brass.
Actor, comedian, voice actor, and television producer Seth Green is born in
Pennsylvania. Well known as the voice of Chris Griffin on Family Guy, Green's image was used as the
nine-year-old Milo in Disney's 2011 Mars Need Moms.
1987:
The TV series The Wonderful World of Disney airs "The Liberators."
1993:
The NBC television sitcom Blossom (produced by Walt Disney’s Touchstone Television)
starring Mayim Bialik, Joey Lawrence and Ted Wass - airs the episode
"Of Mice and Men" ... which takes place at Disneyland! It is the first sitcom to do a "Disney episode"
in which the cast visits a Disney theme park. Blossom's dad gets a job as an Elvis impersonator at Disneyland.
2002:
Disney World's Downtown Pleasure Island begins its Mardi Gras celebration.
Disneyland officially announces the upcoming additions to Disney's California Adventure in a short ceremony celebrating the park's first birthday. Two new attractions, "A Bug's Land" and the "Twilight Zone Tower of Terror" will be added to the California park.
The Lizzie McGuire episode "First Kiss" debuts on Disney Channel.
2006:
Gordon Goodwin wins a Grammy for Best Instrumental
Arrangement for "The Incredits" a track from The Incredibles
Soundtrack. Goodwin, a composer/arranger & consumate jazz musician, is a three-time Emmy
Award winner and the leader of Big Phat Band (a Los Angeles based jazz group).
1953:
Walt Disney appears as a guest on a one-hour special tribute of Ed
Sullivan's hit TV show The Toast of the Town. Sullivan narrates "The Life Story of
Walt Disney" with a little help from Donald Duck, as the company celebrates Mickey
Mouse’s 25th birthday and the release of Peter Pan. Other guests include animators Ward Kimball
and Frank Thomas, Pinto Colvig (the voice of Goofy) and even Walt's secretary Beverly Jordan.
1968:
Disney's live-action fantasy-comedy
Blackbeard's Ghost, starring Peter
Ustinov (as the ghost of Blackbeard the
pirate), Dean Jones, Suzanne Pleshette,
and Elsa Lanchester, is released. Based
upon the novel of the same name written by Ben Stahl,
the film tells the story of the famous pirate's ghost who
returns to modern times. Jones plays Steve Walker, a
college track coach, who teams up with the spirit of
Captain Blackbeard to stop some local criminals from
taking over the historic Blackbeard's Inn, run by Emily
Stowecroft (Elsa Lanchester). The pirate has
been cursed by his last wife (a notorious witch) so that
he will never die unless he can "break" the curse
by doing a good deed. Suzanne Pleshette plays Jo
Anne Baker the pretty psych professor who likes Steve
but is worried by his inexplicable behavior.
Blackbeard's Ghost is directed by Robert Stevenson
with a screenplay by Bill Walsh
and Don DaGradi.
2008:
The 35th Annual Annie Awards
take place at UCLA’s Royce Hall
in California (the first change of
venue for the awards in nine years).
Pixar’s Ratatouille (which is nominated
in 13 categories) is the big winner taking
home 10 awards!
Actress/singer Eartha Kitt is awarded
Voice Acting in an Animated Television
Production for her contribution to
Disney's The Emperor's New School.
Among the Disney nominations are
Kim Possible (Best Animated Television Production),
My Friends Tigger & Pooh (Directing in an Animated Television Production) and Meet the Robinsons (Music in an Animated Feature Production and Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production).
1980:
Midnight Madness, a cult comedy film from Walt Disney Productions & starring
David Naughton, is released. About a group of college students who participate in an all night
puzzle solving race, it features Michael J. Fox in his very first film role. It is rated "PG" - only the second film from
the Disney company to receive anything other than a "G" rating.
FEBRUARY 8
FEBRUARY 08
THIS
SITE MADE
IN THE USA
Blackbeard's Ghost released
DCA Opens
2009:
Disney Channel's newest live-action series Sonny With a Chance (starring
Demi Lovato) debuts with back-to-back episodes.
At the 62nd British Academy Film Awards, Wall-E wins for Best Animated Film.
The 51st Annual Grammy Awards take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Best Musical Album For Children goes to "Here Comes The 123s" by
They Might Be Giants (the sequel to the group's 2005 album "Here Come the ABCs").
 | ||||
| ||||
1967:
Sherie Rene Scott, an actress, singer and writer, is born in Topeka,
Kansas. Among her Broadway Disney credits - Amneris in Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, for which she
won the Clarence Derwent Award, and the original role of Ursula in The Little Mermaid, for which she
received her second Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.
| ||||
SEASON 2 EPISODE 19
Ratatouille is awarded:
-Best Animated Feature
-Best Animated Video Game
-Character Animation in a Feature Production (Michal Makarewicz)
-Character Design in an Animated Feature Production (Carter Goodrich)
-Directing in an Animated Feature Production (Brad Bird)
-Music in an Animated Feature Production (Michael Giacchino)
-Production Design in an Animated Feature Production (Harley Jessup)
-Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production (Ted Mathot)
-Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production (Ian Holm)
-Writing in an Animated Feature Production (Brad Bird)
2010:
Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees joins Mickey Mouse in a celebratory parade in the
Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
2007:
At the annual Disney Investor Conference, it is announced that Disney-ABC Television Group has rebranded Touchstone Television as ABC Television Studio.
2011:
The soundtrack for the movie Gnomeo and Juliet is released by Walt Disney
(3 days before the film's intial release).
1977:
It's Let's Go Day on episode 17 of The New Mickey Mouse Club. The serial
"Mystery at Rustler's Cave" premieres its third installment, "Prime Suspect," and Donald Duck appears in
the short New Neighbor.
2001:
Disney's second Anaheim park (and 8th theme park in the world),
Disney's California Adventure Park officially opens along with its new
Grand Californian hotel. DCA is the centerpiece of a $1.4-billion expansion of what will now be called the Disneyland Resort. The new 67-acre park, which has its own distinct identity separate from the 45-year-old Magic Kingdom's, is divided into 3 main theme areas: Paradise Pier - a nostalgic California beachfront amusement section, Hollywood Pictures Backlot - a district inspired by Hollywood Boulevard and the movies, and the Golden State - a more sprawling area devoted to the people, natural beauty and industries of California. (By 2010 the park will be known as simply Disney California Adventure.)
The Grand Californian, a Craftsman-style hotel, resembling a luxury lodge at a Western national park, has 751 rooms. The hotel sits at the edge of the new park and shares its theme celebrating the Golden State.
1884:
Character actor Burt Mustin is born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A late bloomer,
Mustin began acting professionally at age 67. In his 25-year career, he appeared in nearly 400 television
shows, 70 movies and dozens of commercials. His Disney credits include the films Son of Flubber, The
Misadventures of Merlin Jones, The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin, Now You See Him Now You Don't,
Herbie Rides Again and The Strongest Man in the World. In 1969, he appeared in the 2-episode "My Dog, the Thief" on "The Wonderful World of Disney." (Fans of classic TV will recognize Mustin for his roles in episodes of such shows as The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., Dragnet, Leave It to Beaver, The Brady Bunch, and Sanford and Son.) Burton Hill Mustin passed at age 92 in 1977.
FEB
FEB
1960:
Walt Disney receives two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for television and
one for movies. The TV star is located on the North side of the 6700 block of Hollywood Boulevard, while the
Movie star is at the North side of the 7000 block of Hollywood Boulevard
1997:
Disney previews the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film That Darn Cat (a remake
of the 1965 mystery comedy) at FAO Schwarz in New York City. Starring Christina Ricci and Doug
E. Doug, the film will open in theaters February 14.
"To all who believe in the power of dreams … Welcome! Disney's California Adventure opens its
golden gates to you. Here we pay tribute to the dreamers of the past … the native people, explorers,
immigrants, aviators, entrepreneurs and entertainers who built the Golden State. And we salute a
new generation of dreamers who are creating the wonders of tomorrow … from the silver screen to the computer screen … from the fertile farmlands to the far reaches of space. Disney California
Adventure celebrates the richness and the diversity of California … its land, its people its spirit and
above all, the dreams that it continues to inspire."
Michael Eisner's dedication on this day includes these words:
Opening day attractions include:
Animation Academy - housing a total of ten shows, galleries, and interactive exhibits
California Screamin' - the second longest steel coaster in the U.S.
Character Close-Up - walkthrough exhibit featuring animation sketches & models
Games of the Boardwalk - located on Paradise Pier
Golden Zephyr - cycle ride reminiscent of blimps
Grizzly River Run - white-water raft ride
It's Tough to Be a Bug! - 3-D film featuring some of the characters from the Disney/Pixar film A Bug's Life
Jumpin' Jellyfish - parachute drop
King Triton's Carousel - elaborate and stunningly crafted carousel
Mullholland Madness - wild ride that takes guests on a winding, obstacle-ridden drive above Paradise Pier
Muppet*Vision 3D - 3-D film augmented by auditory, visual, and tactile special effects
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail - elaborate maze of rope bridges, rock climbing, log towers, a zip line & a cave
Soarin' Over California - hang-glider tour of California with IMAX-quality images projected below
Sorcerer's Workshop - series of walkthrough exhibits inside the Disney Animation Building
The Bakery Tour - walkthrough attraction featuring hosts Rosie O'Donnell and Colin Mochrie via video
2012:
On the 11th anniversary of Disney California Adventure park, Disney announces that
the expansion of the park will be complete this summer. With the addition of two new areas —
Buena Vista Street and Cars Land — and slight changes to the names of some existing areas, the total number of
themed lands in the park will increase to eight.
Laurie Main, the Australian-born actor best known as the kindly host and narrator of the
1980s live-action Disney Channel series Welcome to Pooh Corner, passes away in Los
Angeles. He is 89. Born 1922 in Melbourne, he was also the voice of Dr. Watson in the 1986 animated feature
The Great Mouse Detective, and narrated the Disney animated shorts Winnie the Pooh Discovers the Seasons
(1981) and Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore (1983). Main also appeared in The Strongest Man in the World
(1975), Freaky Friday (1976) and Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977).
"What one man can imagine other men can do." -Jules Verne
February 08
FEBRUARY IS DCA MONTH
2015:
The soundtrack for Disney's blockbuster Frozen picks up two Grammy Awards
sixteen months after the film's release in late 2013.
Best Song Written for Visual Media: "Let It Go"
Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters (Idina Menzel)
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media: Frozen
Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Tom MacDougall & Chris Montan, compilation producers
2016:
Quarterback Peyton Manning and his children take part in a parade down
Disneyland's Main Street, USA. The Denver Bronco helped his team to a 24-10
victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 yesterday.
(Manning did not do the iconic "I'm going to Disneyland!" post-Super Bowl commercial, at least not immediately
after the game. Instead he told reporters that he's "taking his kids to Disneyland.")
Disney Legend Al Konetzni passes away at age 100 in Florida. Born May 19, 1915 in Brooklyn,
New York, he began working for Walt Disney in October 1953 as an artist and "idea man." He created such items as a Donald Duck Pencil Sharpner, Uncle Scrooge Bank, Mickey Mouse Record Player, Glass Lamp and Disney Block Truck. He is most known for creating the popular Disney School Bus lunchbox. His lunchbox was produced from 1961-1973
and was the bestselling lunch box of all times with 9 million boxes sold!
1979:
Actor-singer Josh Keaton is born in Hacienda Heights, California. He supplied the voice for Young Hercules in Disney's 1997 animated feature Hercules.
1943:
Nominees for the 15th Academy Awards are announced.
-Best Short Subjects – Cartoons: Der Fuehrer's Face (Walt Disney)
-Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: Bambi (Frank Churchill and Edward H. Plumb)
-Best Original Song: "Love Is a Song" from Bambi (Music by Frank Churchill; Lyrics by Larry Morey)
-Best Sound Recording: Bambi (Sam Slyfield)
Winners will be announced March 4.
1941:
Actor Nick Nolte is born in Omaha, Nebraska. His Touchstone credits include Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986), Three Fugitives (1989), and Jefferson in Paris (1995). Nolte appeared in a 1969 episode of Disney's weekly television series titled "The Feather Farm."
1971:
Filmmaker, screenwriter and producer Lu Chuan is born in Xinjiang, China. He directed
Born in China, a nature documentary co-production between Disneynature and Shanghai Media Group. Released
in China in August 2016, Born in China was released in the U.S. on April 21, 2017, one day before Earth Day.
1985:
Marvin Miller, the narrator of Disney's 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty, passes away at age 71 in California. Possessing a deep, baritone voice, fans of the sci-fi feature Forbidden Planet will recall Miller as the voice of Robby the Robot.
2021:
The nominations for the 26th annual Critics Choice Awards are announced.
The western drama Nomadland (by Searchlight Pictures; a division of Walt Disney Studios) is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Chloé Zhao), Best Actress (Frances McDormand), Best Adapted Screenplay (Chloé Zhao), Best Editing (Chloé Zhao), and Best Cinematography (Joshua James Richards).
The Personal History of David Copperfield (Searchlight Pictures) is nominated for Best Production Design (Cristina Casali, Charlotte Dirickx) and Best Costume Design (Suzie Harman & Robert Worley).
The Mandalorian (Disney+) is nominated for Best Drama Series.
Lecy Goranson of The Conners (ABC) is nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Disney's Mulan is nominated for Best Visual Effects and Pixar's animated Soul is nominated for Best Score.
Hamilton (Disney+) is nominated for Best Movie Made for Television.
Winners will be revealed lve on The CW on Sunday, March 7, 2021.
1950:
Character animator Ron Husband is born in California. One of the first African-American animators for Disney, he joined The Walt Disney Company in 1975 as an assistant to Frank Thomas & Ollie Johnston on The Rescuers. His most famous assignments while at Disney were co-animator with Russ Edmonds in The Rescuers Down Under, animating Gaston with Andreas Deja in Beauty and the Beast and Pumbaa with Tony Bancroft and David Pruiksma in The Lion King. Husband has also published a book called "Quick Sketching with Ron Husband." It lays out the fundamentals of quick sketching and how it benefits an illustrator.
