1986:
Floyd Gottfredson, the man who gave Mickey Mouse his comic strip personality,
passes away at his Southern California home at age 81. Born 1905 in Utah, Gottfredson
moved to Southern California with his wife and family at the age of 23. Unable to find work as a cartoonist, he did
find employment as a movie projectionist. It wasn't until December 1929 that Walt Disney Productions hired
Gottfredson as an apprentice animator and in-betweener. The following year he started working on the four-
month-old Mickey Mouse comic strip (which had originally been scripted by Walt Disney and drawn by Ub Iwerks).
Gottfredson continued to produce the Mickey Mouse strips for the next 45 years. It's been said he had the same
impact on the Mickey Mouse comics as Carl Barks had on the Donald Duck comics. Gottfredson will be named a
Disney Legend in 2003.
2004:
The Walt Disney Company honors some of the most creative teachers across the
country with the annual DisneyHand Teacher Awards. Thirty-nine talented
educators are recognized during a 4-day event at the Disneyland Park.
Christy Carlson Romano (the current Belle in Disney's Broadway show Beauty and
the Beast) takes part in "Broadway at Bryant Park" in New York City. The event includes
casts from other Broadway shows as well.
1938:
Actor Terence Stamp, who portrayed Ramsley in Disney's 2003 The Haunted Mansion, is born in London, England. Movie fans will recognize this veteran award-winning actor from such features as Get Smart, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Alien Nation, and Superman.
1943:
Singer and actor Bobby Sherman (who became a popular teen idol in the late 1960s and early 1970s through hit records and TV appearances) is born in Santa Monica, California. He performed at Disney-MGM Studios as part of The Teen Idols tour in December 1998. During the 1990s he became an EMT officer for the L.A. Police Department. A big Disney fan, during the 1970s Sherman built a 1/5 scale model of Disneyland's Main Street in his backyard!
1947:
Actor-writer-director-comedian Albert Brooks, the voice of Marlin the clownfish in the 2003 Finding Nemo and the 2016 Finding Dory, is born in Beverly Hills, California. Multi-talented Brooks directed six short films for the first season of NBC's Saturday Night Live, and created such features as The Muse, Mother, Defending Your Life, and Lost In America.
1949:
Academy Award-winning songwriter/composer Alan Menken, best known for his
scores and songs for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and
in musical theatre, is born in New Rochelle, New York. His long lists of film credits include Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Newsies (1992), Aladdin (1992), Life with Mikey (1993), Pocahontas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Hercules (1997), Home on the Range (2004), Enchanted (2007), Tangled (2010), and Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018). Menken's most popular songs include "Under the Sea", "Be Our Guest", "Belle", "A Whole New World", "Friend Like Me", and "Colors of the Wind".
1955:
At Disneyland, the Candy Palace opens on Main Street. Over in
Tomorrowland, Rocket to the Moon presented by TWA debuts. A simulated
ride to the moon, guests seated in a theater view their journey on screens. An iconic rocket, the
Moonliner, stands outside, towering over the attraction building. Visiting the park on his birthday is
future teen idol Bobby Sherman and his family.
Actor Willem Dafoe, the voice of Gill in the 2003 Finding Nemo, is born in Appleton, Wisconsin. (Fans of the Spider Man series of films will know him as the Greeen Goblin.)
1967:
Irene Bedard, the speaking voice of Pocahontas in Disney's
1995 animated film, is born in Anchorage, Alaska. She also
supplied the voice for the 1998 direct-to-video sequel Pocahontas II:
Journey to a New World and the 2018 Ralph Breaks the Internet. Bedard was
the physical model for the Native American character as well.
Actor & musician Rhys Ifans is born in Wales. He portrayed
Zanik Hightopp in the film Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016).
1994:
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction opens on Sunset Boulevard at
Disney World's Disney-MGM Studios. A simulated freefall thrill ride, it is
themed after the popular television series The Twilight Zone, hosted and
created by Rod Serling. (The television anthology series originally ran for 156 episodes between 1959-
1964.) The Disney attraction takes place in the fictional Hollywood Tower Hotel (itself inspired by the Hollywood
Tower, a real structure built in 1929 and named an historic landmark by the US Department of the Interior). The
story of the hotel is adapted from elements of the television series, including the hotel being struck by lightning on
October 31, 1939 and mysteriously transporting an elevator cart full of passengers to the Twilight Zone!
Clic2003:
Walt Disney Records releases the soundtrack to the hit Disney Channel original animated series Kim Possible.
JMac, an EP by pop singer Jesse McCartney, is released through Hollywood Records.
Freaky Friday, the soundtrack album to the 2003 Disney film of the same name, is released by Hollywood Records.
2006:
In celebration of its 10th birthday, Radio Disney presents a concert at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim in Anaheim, California. This Radio Disney Totally 10 Birthday Concert features Jesse McCartney, Bowling For Soup, The Cheetah Girls, Aly & AJ, and Everlife.
1963:
Tex Beneke and his orchestra - featuring Ray Eberle, Paula Kelly, and The
Modernaires, perform at Disneyland for the first of a six-day engagement. Beneke, the
most popular member of Glenn Miller's pre-World War II orchestra, is known for his performances on songs such as
"Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree."
At 199 feet,
The Twilight Zone
Tower of Terror is the second tallest attraction on Walt Disney World property!
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"I fell in love with the park when I went there with my
parents on my 12th birthday." -Bobby Sherman on Disneyland
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Hollywood Tower Hotel."
"You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension. A dimension of sound. A dimension of sight. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into ... The Twilight Zone." -Rod Serling
1992:
Actress and singer Selena Gomez, one of the stars of Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place, is born in New York City. Raised in Texas, her first role was on Barney & Friends.
This led to work with Disney and appearances on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Hannah Montana. As a singer she contributed to the soundtracks of Tinker Bell, Another Cinderella Story and Wizards of Waverly Place.
JULY
JULY 22
JULY 22
THIS SITE MADE
IN THE
USA
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2010:
The Walt Disney Company makes its mark at the 2010 Comic-Con convention with an exciting lineup of feature films, scripted & animated series, and interactive booths providing fans with a first look at new content, experiences and merchandise.
This day's Comic-Con presentations include:
A special insider look at the upcoming TRON: Legacy with director Joe Kosinski, producers Sean Bailey and Steven Lisberger, and cast members Jeff Bridges (Kevin Flynn), Garrett Hedlund (Sam Flynn), Olivia Wilde (Quorra), Michael Sheen (Castor) and Bruce Boxleitner (Alan Bradley).
A panel discussion with the creators of Tangled, a new animated feature to hit theaters this holiday season.
The
original
Tower of Terror debuts
2001 Disney Legend
July 22
This Day in Disney History - THE FIRST - THE ORIGINAL
Traveling in time since 1999!
2016:
Elena of Avalor, a computer-animated adventure television series, premieres on
Disney Channel. Teen princess Elena Castillo Flores (voiced by Aimee Carrero) has saved her
magical kingdom of Avalor from an evil sorceress and must now learn to rule as its crowned princess.
Clic2002:
Nominations are announced for the 54th Primetime Emmy Awards. Disney/ABC are represented in the following categories:
-Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series: Politically Incorrect
-Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special: The 74th Annual Academy Awards
-Outstanding Miniseries: Dinotopia
-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow on Alias
-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Victor Garber as Jack Bristow on Alias
-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Charles S. Dutton as Leonard Marshall on The Practice
-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: J. J. Abrams for Alias
Winners will be announced September 22, 2002.
1964:
Actor, stand up comedian, and writer David Spade is born in Birmingham, Michigan.
He voiced Kuzco in Disney's animated films The Emperor's New Groove (2000) and its direct-to-video sequel, Kronk's New Groove (2005). Spade also starred as C. J. Barnes in the ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules (2004–2005). First starting out on Saturday Night Live, you may know Spade from such comedy films as Tommy Boy, Black Sheep, and Joe Dirt, and the Hotel Transylvania animated film series as Griffin the Invisible Man.
2014:
Heart Made Up on You, the third EP by American pop rock band R5, is released through Hollywood Records.
1998:
Actress Madison Pettis is born in Arlington, Texas. Known for her roles as Sophie Martinez on the Disney Channel comedy series Cory in the House, and as Peyton Kelly in the 2007 film The Game Plan, her film credits also include The Search for Santa Paws (2010), Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 (2011), and Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva la Fiesta! (2012). Madison can also be heard on such animated television shows as Special Agent Oso, Phineas & Ferb, Lab Rats, and The Lion Guard.
2008:
Hollywood Records releases both Permission to Fly, the second and final studio album by singer-songwriter Jordan Pruitt, and Breakout, the second studio album by singer/actress Miley Cyrus.
Actress and comedienne Estelle Getty passes away at age 84 in California. She was best known for her portrayal of wisecracking Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls (1985–1992), an NBC sitcom produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions, in association with Disney's Touchstone Television. Getty reprised the role for appearances on such comedies as Empty Nest (1993–1995), The Golden Palace (1992–1993), Blossom (1990–1995), and Nurses (1991–1994). She will be named Disney Legend in 2009 along withe her fellow Golden Girls cast members.
1973:
Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright is born in Rhinebeck, New York, to folk singers Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III. (His parents will divorce when he is three, and he will live with his mother in Montreal for most of his youth.) He has recorded many albums of original music and numerous tracks on compilations and film soundtracks including 3 on the soundtrack album to Disney's Meet The Robinsons - "Another Believer" (written by Wainwright and Marius De Vries), "The Motion Waltz (Emotional Commotion)" (written by Wainwright), and "Where is Your Heart At?" (written by Wainwright but performed by Jamie Cullum). He also attended the world premiere of Meet The Robinsons in March 2007. In December 2007, Wainwright performed at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California. (Wainwright and his music have influenced several artists in the music industry, such as Katy Perry.)
1965:
Emmy Award-winning animator, director, storyboard artist, writer, and producer Mike Milo is born in Hackensack, New Jersey. He directed the animated series Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja at Titmouse, Inc. for Disney XD and was a story artist/writer on the show Phineas and Ferb for Disney Channel.
1910:
Animator and artist Ruthie Tompson is born in Portland, Maine (she will be raised in Boston, Massachusetts). Her family relocated to Los Angeles and their house was on the same block as the house of Robert Disney, uncle of Walt Disney. Tompson first met Walt while visiting her neighbor Robert. She was also one of many neighborhood children who appeared as extras in many of Disney's early Alice Comedies. Years later Walt offered 18-yea-old Tompson a job as an inker. Later transferred to the Paint Department, she helped with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. After working on several other Disney films (such as Pinocchio and Fantasia), Tompson was promoted to Final Checker position where she reviewed animation cels before they were photographed onto film. As
Tompson grew increasingly skilled at camera movement within animation, in 1952 she became one of the first women asked to join the International Photographers Union, Local 659, of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Tompson retired in 1975 after working for The Walt Disney Company for almost 40 years. She was named a Disney Legend in 2000. (A life-long Disney fan, Tompson passed at age 111 in October 2021.)
1988:
Animator, screenwriter and voice actor Larry Clemmons passes away at age 81 in Friday Harbor, Washington. Taking a job offer from Walt Disney in 1930 to work at his Hyperion Studios, after several years Clemmons became an assistant animator for the Mickey Mouse film series. When World War II broke out, he left the studio and decamped to the Midwest, where he wrote technical manuals for wartime manufacturing plants. At the end of the war he landed a job on Bing Crosby’s prime-time network radio shows, where he spent nine years writing weekly scripts for Crosby and his guests. Years later he returned to Walt Disney Productions as a writer and segment producer on The Mickey Mouse Club and various shorts and features such as Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, The Jungle Book, The Aristocats, Robin Hood and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too. Clemmons had been retired since 1978.
2012:
The 2012 Teen Choice Awards take place in California. Among the winners:
-Choice Movie Actress: Drama: Emma Stone – The Help
-Choice Summer Movie: Action: The Avengers
-Choice Music Group: Selena Gomez & the Scene
-Choice Hottie: Female: Miley Cyrus
"Mickey Mouse and I grew up together." -Ruth Tompson
