1956:
A.A. Milne, English author and creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, passes
away at age 74 in Hartfield, Sussex, England after a long illness. In
1952 Milne had underwent an operation of the brain, which unfortunately left him an invalid.
Spending his childhood in London, Milne's early education owed much to the skills of a young
teacher and mentor named H.G. Wells. In Which We are Introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh and
Some Bees and the Stories Begin was first printed in the "London Evening News" on
December 24th, 1925. Less than a year later his successful Winnie-the-Pooh was published by Methuen.
Milne's widow will sell the rights to the Pooh characters to Stephen Slesinger, whose widow will later sell
the rights after Slesinger's death, to the Walt Disney Company.
Comedian-singer-banjo player Hank Penny appears on the ABC-TV
series Mickey Mouse Club. Today is Guest Star Day.
CommuniCore (short for Community Core) was an Epcot pavilion dedicated to technological advance. Held in two semi-circular buildings to the east and west of Spaceship Earth, they are now the home of Innoventions. CommuniCore closed on this day in 1994.
2006:
Walt Disney Pictures The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe receives Oscar nominations for Sound mixing, makeup, and visual effects.
Also nominated is the Disney distributed March of the Penguins for Documentary Feature.
Walt Disney Records releases Radio Disney Jams, Vol. 8 - a 2-disc enhanced CD. The compilation includes songs by Aly & AJ, Jesse McCartney, Hilary Duff, Everlife, and The Click Five.
1937:
Actress Suzanne Pleshette, the voice of Zira in Disney's 1998
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, is born in New York City. Her
live-action Disney credits include the features The Shaggy D.A., The Ugly Dachshund,
Blackbeard's Ghost, and The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin. Pleshette appeared in the first feature film ever to be shot in Disneyland: 40 Pounds of Trouble (a 1962 Universal film). Pleshette is best remembered to fans of the 1970s sitcom The Bob Newhart Show as Emily Hartley.
1970:
Actress Minnie Driver, the voice of Jane Porter in Disney's 1999 Tarzan, is born in London, England. Her Disney film credits include Hollywood Pictures Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) and Miramax Films Good Will Hunting (1997).
1978:
Disney animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas (two of Walt's
"Nine Old Men") retire together. They will both go on to author
several books, give lectures and consult on many film projects.
1981:
Justin Timberlake, a member of Disney Channel's The All New Mickey Mouse Club
and one-fifth of the singing group 'N Sync, is born in Memphis, Tennessee. As an actor he
co-starred in Model Behavior, a 2000 television movie that aired on The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC.
1994:
Epcot's CommuniCore East and West close. Originally the hub of EPCOT Center, both geographically
and conceptually, it brought together nearly all of the ideas and concepts explored in Future World and complemented
the experiences offered by the park's other pavilions. Dedicated to technological advance, Communicore occupied two
buildings behind Spaceship Earth. In an effort to keep Epcot updated and vital, CommuniCore will be
replaced with Innoventions (which will officially open to guests the following September).
1995:
The Disney animated movie, Gargoyles: The Movie: The Heroes Awaken, is released to video.
1998:
Walt Disney World's Cinderella Castle (decorated like a cake for the
park's 25th anniversary celebration) is returned to its traditional look.
2002:
As of this day, Disney stops selling Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Tarzan, Mulan, and Pinocchio on VHS and DVD.
2004:
An auction called "75 Years of Fun with Mickey Mouse" takes place
at the Grand Californian Hotel in the Disneyland Resort.
2005:
Dream on, Silly Dreamer, a documentary on the demise of traditional animation
at Disney, premieres at the Animex International Festival of Animation (in
Middlesbrough, England).
1988:
Quarterback Doug Williams of the Washington Redskins announces, "I'm going to
Disneyland!" following his team's win over the Denver Broncos at Super Bowl XXII
in San Diego.
1999:
At Super Bowl XXXIII (in Miami) Terrell Davis and John Elway of the Denver
Broncos shout "We're going to Disney World!" following their team's 34-19
win over the Atlanta Falcons.
1993:
At Super Bowl XXVII (in Pasadena) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman
declares "I'm going to Disneyland!" after his team's 52-17 win over the Buffalo Bills.
2003:
Disney Channel debuts the Lizzie McGuire episode "Clue-Less" and
the That's So Raven episode "Smell of Victory."
The Recruit, a spy thriller film, directed by Roger Donaldson and starring Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, and Bridget Moynahan, is released in U.S. theaters.
A Touchstone Pictures/Spyglass Entertainment/Epsilon Motion Pictures production, the film gives an insider's view into the CIA's secret training ground.
JANUARY 31
1987:
It is reported that Delta Airlines will spend about $18 million over the next 10 years
for a promotional tie-in with Disney World, replacing its rival, Eastern Airlines, as the
official airline of the Florida resort.
2008:
Beginning this day - and continuing nearly every night throughout 2008 - a Year of a Million Dreams winner will be chosen randomly to spend a night inside Disneyland Park! Guests awarded will stay inside an in-park 2,600-square-foot lavish apartment known as Dream Suite,
originally an apartment conceived by Walt Disney himself (and the former location of the Disney Gallery).
On what would have been her 71st birthday, actress Suzanne Pleshette
receives the 2,355th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
ABC-TV premieres the new drama series Eli Stone, about an attorney with an
inoperable brain aneurysm that causes him to have larger-than-life visions.
Season 4 of ABC-TV's Lost debuts with the episode "The Beginning of the End."
Today is the last day Cinderella Platinum Edition will be available. Released in October 2005, Walt Disney Platinum Edition is a line of DVDs and VHS tapes (and some Blu-ray Discs) released by Walt
Disney Home Entertainment. The series features digitally restored versions of several of the most popular Disney animated features (including the 1950 Cinderella) - sometimes including a 2nd disc with special bonus features. It
will be preceded by the Walt Disney Diamond Editions series.
"Actresses may come and actresses may go . . . but few, if any,
leave the impression that Suzanne Pleshette has left, first during the production of The Ugly Dachshund, then Bullwhip Griffin." -Spring 1966 issue of Disney News
1943:
Disney's animated feature Pinocchio is released in Finland.
"Farewell
January!"
JANUARY 31
THIS DAY MADE
IN THE
USA
Animators Johnston & Thomas retire
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1986:
The comedy feature film Down and Out in Beverly Hills is released. The 5th movie by
Disney's Touchstone Pictures, it stars Nick Nolte, Bette Midler and Richard Dreyfuss, and has the distinction of being the first R-rated film ever released by Disney. When Jerry, a down-and-out bum, tries to drown himself in a Beverly Hills swimming pool, the wealthy homeowner, Dave Whiteman, rescues him and invites him into the house to live. Jerry turns the lives of the Whiteman family completely upside down, and in doing so changes their perception of the world around them.
2007:
Demolition continues on the actual North Wing of Disney World's Contemporary
Resort. A new project is planned for the area. (The project will be unveiled in September 2008
as Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort.)
Lady and the Tramp Platinum Edition DVD is released.
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"I'm an actress, and that's why I'm still here. Anybody who has the illusion that you can have a career as long as I have and be a star is kidding themselves." -Suzanne Pleshette
2010:
Composer Michael Giacchino takes home two Grammys for his music from
Disney-Pixar's Up at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. Nominated for 4 awards, including
one for his score for Star Trek (the only Trek film to ever be nominated for a Grammy), Giacchino's Up music
wins Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media and Best Instrumental Composition (specifically for the song "Married Life").
1977:
The Mouseketeers relive the fabulous Fifties on this day's episode of
The New Mickey Mouse Club. The Mouseka-Movie Special, features Pongo, Perdita and their
101 Dalmatians. Mouseketeer Angel Florez sings and dances "Fortuousity."
2011:
Wearing mouse-eared hard hats, the rescued Chilean coal miners (whose
dramatic rescue last fall made worldwide news) take part in a parade as Grand
Marshals at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Since last Thursday January 27,
the miners and their rescuers and families have been taking part in a festive gathering in their honor at WDW.
1965:
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color airs episode 2 of a 3-part mini-series titled
"The Adventures of Gallegher," starring Roger Mobley as a teen who works
at a newspaper.
1992:
Professor Barnaby Owl Photographic Art Studio opens at the end of Splash Mountain at Disneyland. The idea of Disney CEO Michael Eisner, it is the first time a Disney park attraction takes photos of guests as they ride. Splash Mountain riders are photographed as they plunge down Chick-A-Pin Hill! Guests can later purchase
their on-ride souvenir pictures at Professor Barnaby Owl Photographic Art Studio. (The shop will close in March 2020.)
JAN
JAN
(1882-1956)
Today is Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
January 31
This Day in Disney History - THE FIRST - THE ORIGINAL
Traveling in time since 1999!
2014:
Variety reports that Disney is developing a live action film that will star its
animated chipmunks Chip 'n' Dale.
A special Sing-Along version of Frozen opens in 1,000 U.S. theaters.
2015:
The 42nd Annual Annie Awards are given out at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Among the Disney winners:
-Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production: Aaron Springer, Disney Mickey Mouse; Disney Television Animation
-Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production: Darrick Bachman, Disney Mickey Mouse; Disney Television Animation
-Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production:
Bill Farmer as the voice of Goofy and Grandma, Disney Mickey Mouse; Disney Television Animation
-Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production:
Justin Nichols, Wander Over Yonder; Disney Television Animation
-Best Animated Short Subject: Feast, Walt Disney Animation Studios
-Animated Effects in an Animated Production:
Michael Kaschalk, Peter DeMund, David Hutchins, Henrik Falt, John Kosnik, Big Hero 6; Walt Disney Animation Studios
-Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production:
Christopher Willis, Disney Mickey Mouse; Disney Television Animation
-Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production:
Benjamin Balistreri, Wander Over Yonder; Disney Television Animation
-Editorial in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production: Illya Owens, Disney Mickey Mouse; Disney Television Animation
-Special Achievement Award: The Walt Disney Family Museum
2016:
Animagique has its final performances at Walt Disney Studios Park. A live show
housed in Studios 3 at the entrance of Toon Studio, the show closes to make way for Mickey and the Magician.
1997:
Cinergi Pictures & Hollywood Pictures releases the political thriller Shadow Conspiracy.
Set in Washington, D.C., the film documents an attempted power grab by White House Chief of Staff Jacob Conrad,
played by Donald Sutherland. Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures, it also stars Charlie Sheen, Linda Hamilton,
Ben Gazzara, and Sam Waterston .
2012:
Treasure Buddies, a Disney direct-to-DVD family film, is released. The 6th installment in
the Air Buddies franchise, the Buddies head to the ruins of Ancient Egypt, where, with the help of a monkey named
Babi and a camel named Cammy, explore tombs, escape booby traps, and race against a Sphynx cat named Ubasti
in search of treasure.
1922:
Actress Joanne Dru is born in Logan, West Virginia. Known for such films as Red River, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and All the King's Men, she appeared in Disney's 1958 live-action The Light in the Forest.
2020:
Lamp Life, a prequel Toy Story short film, is released on Disney+. The short explains what happened to Bo Peep (voiced by Annie Potts) inbetween the events of Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.
Ariel's Grotto closes at Tokyo DisneySea. Located in the Mermaid Lagoon area, it was
a meet-and-greet based on The Little Mermaid.
2017:
Diamond Editions of Cinderella (1950), The Jungle Book (1967), and The Little Mermaid
(1989) all disappear to the Disney Vault. "Disney Vault" is a term used by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment for its policy of putting home video releases of Walt Disney Animation Studios's features on moratorium.
1941:
Actress Jessica Walter is born in New York City. Appearing in over 170 film, television, and stage productions, she can be heard in 9 episodes of Disney's Star vs. the Forces of Evil as Miss Heinous / Meteora Butterfly.
