2002:
Walt Disney World (and other Orlando, Florida attractions) are featured on Family Vacations in Orlando - broadcast on the Travel Channel.
1909:
Animator-director Wolfgang "Woolie" Reitherman (one of Walt's
"Nine Old Men") is born in Munich, Germany. As a child, his family will move to the U.S. and settle in California.
1952:
Disney's live-action adventure The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men,
starring Richard Todd as Robin Hood, Joan Rice as Maid Marian, and Peter Finch as the
Sheriff of Nottingham, is released through RKO Pictures. Robin Hood, in love with Maid Marian, enters an archery contest with his father at the King's palace. On the way home, his father is murdered by henchmen of Prince John. Robin takes up the life of an outlaw, gathering together his band of merry men with him in Sherwood Forest, to avenge his father's death and to help the people of the land that Prince John are over taxing. Also released, the True-Life Adventure film Water Birds (made in cooperation with the National Audubon Society & the Denver Museum of Natural History).
Walt Disney writes a humorous letter to Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper:
Dear Vice-President Hopper –
You may not know it but you have just been elected Vice-President of the CAROLWOOD PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The only obligation this office entails is, when you're in the vicinity of the 'Fair Weather Route', that you stop
by for a ride and try your hand at the throttle.
The severe rains of the past winter did considerable damage to the railroad, such as causing slides, roadbed washouts and generally messing up the whole layout. However, repairs are now under way – good progress is
being made and we're going to have a better and more interesting Road than ever.
Your Pass is enclosed and I hope we may have the pleasure of your company some sunny Sunday in the near future.
Sincerely,
Walt Disney
A passionate enthusiast of steam locomotives, Walt has built the Carolwood Pacific Railroad, one of the most
intricately detailed miniature live-steam home railroads ever created!
1956:
At Disneyland, the Mule Pack (one of the park's original attractions)
is renamed the Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules.
1959:
Disney's Donald Duck featurette Donald in Mathmagic Land is released in the U.S., along with the live-action feature film Darby O'Gill and the Little People.
Donald in Mathmagic Land, directed by Hamilton Luske, features the voices of Paul Frees & Clarence Nash, and scientific expert Heinz Haber. Donald's goes on an adventure in which it is explained how mathematics can be useful in real life. Through this journey it is shown how numbers are more than graphs and charts, they are geometry, music and magical living things.
Although set in Ireland, the bulk of Darby O'Gill was shot at Disney's ranch in Burbank, California. Second unit footage from Ireland, combined with matte paintings by Peter Ellenshaw, help present a seamless picture of 19th century Ireland. A wily old codger matches wits with the King of the Leprechauns and helps play matchmaker for his daughter and the strapping lad who has replaced him as caretaker. Directed by Robert Stevenson, the cast includes Albert Sharpe (as Darby), Janet Munro (as Katie), Sean Connery (as Michael), Jimmy O'Dea (as King Brian), Kieron Moore (as Pony), and Denis O'Dea (as Father Murphy).
1968:
The Disney live-action comedy Never A Dull Moment, starring Dick Van Dyke, Edward G. Robinson, and Dorothy Provine, is released. Second-rate actor Jack Albany (Van Dyke) finds himself mistaken for fiendish killer Ace Williams and forced to confront master gangster Leo Smooth (Robinson). Fearing for his life, Jack must continue with the charade even when he learns he is to play a deadly role in an art theft! The film is directed by actor Jerry Paris; who played Jerry Helper, the dentist and next-door neighbor of Rob and Laura Petrie, on The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966).
1999:
Disneyland hosts a two-day celebration honoring the Haunted
Mansion's 30th Anniversary. On this evening, over 1000 guests
witness a panel discussion at the Fantasyland Theater with some of the people
who brought the mansion to life. The Dapper Dans (the park's popular singing group)
materialize as the Hitchhiking Ghosts and the Grave Digger to sing a rendition of the attraction's theme
song, "Grim Grinning Ghosts." Released on this same day is The Haunted Mansion: 30th Anniversary
Limited Edition Compact Disc.
The Disney Channel Original Movie Smart House, about a young
computer whiz (played by Ryan Merriman), his widowed father, &
little sister, who win a computerized house that begins to take on a life of its
own, debuts. The film stars Katey Segal as Pat the homes' virtual housemaid.
2006:
Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean officially re-opens to guests.
Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbosa (characters from the Pirates of
the Caribbean feature films) have been added to the popular
attraction. Disney Imagineers have also enhanced the attraction
experience with an all-new dynamic digital sound design.
1995:
Delos Records releases the CD Heigh-Ho! Mozart - featuring Disney tunes in the style of great classical composers.
The Space Mountain
attraction at
Disneyland Paris
is the first and
(so far) only one with an
upside-down loop.
2007:
Disney Theatrical Productions debut a preview of a new touring stage version of
"High School Musical," at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. (The official opening
will be Wednesday evening, August 1st in Chicago, Illinois at the LaSalle Bank Theatre.)
Walt Disney Records releases:
Ratatouille Soundtrack, featuring the music of composer Michael Giacchino.
What's Cooking?: Inspired by the Ratatouille Movie ... a smorgasbord of music created by composer Fred Mollin.
Hannah Montana 2, the soundtrack album for the second season of the television series Hannah Montana.
On the same day, Hollywood Records releases Meet Miley Cyrus, the debut studio album by Hannah Montana's lead actress Miley Cyrus.
1957:
Disneyland's Viewliner (a predecessor to the monorail) debuts. The system is made up of two separate narrow gauge, miniature trains that operate alongside portions of the Disneyland Railroad main line. Billed
by Disneyland as "the fastest miniature train in the world," it is Walt's first attempt at "mass-transit" in the park.
The vehicles were designed by Walt Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr and were based on General Motors’
futuristic "Las Vegas Aerotrain." Their coaches were constructed by a company called Standard Carriage Works
and the locomotives were built in the machine shop of the Walt Disney Studios.
(The Viewliner will operate until September 1958.)
1904:
Actor Peter Lorre is born in Austria-Hungary (now called
Slovakia). Known for his unique speech and mannerisms, Lorre played the role of Conseil (the
assistant to Professor Pierre M. Aronnax) in Disney's 1954 live-action feature 20,000 Leagues Under
the Sea. (Movie fans also know Lorre for his roles in such classics as Casablanca, Around the World in
Eighty Days and The Raven.)
JUNE
JUNE 26
JUNE 26
THIS DAY MADE
IN THE
USA
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Woolie Reitherman born
"Successfully adding the popular characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean films with the mythology of our
classic attraction is an example of Disney synergy and Walt Disney Imagineering at its finest. These additions will
result in an exciting new chapter for the attraction and an unforgettable experience for our guests, giving them
another reason to come and be a part of our continuing 50th anniversary celebration."
-Jay Rasulo (Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts)
2009:
The Disney Channel Original Movie Princess Protection
Program starring Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez
debuts. When the tiny country of Costa Luna is invaded by a dictator, a
young Princess named Rosalinda (Lovato) is taken into custody by the
Princess Protection Program. The Princess Protection Program hides
Rosalinda in a home in Lake Monroe, Louisiana, where she is to
masquerade as a typical American teenager, named Rosie Gonzalez.
There she meets a teenage girl named Carter Mason (Selena Gomez), an
insecure tomboy. The movie draws 8.5 million viewers - the third best
showing for a Disney Channel movie ever! It is the first Disney Channel
Original Movie filmed in Puerto Rico.
The 3-day The Museum of Pin-tiquities begins at Epcot's World ShowPlace.
Presented in conjunction with the Epcot Committee For Celebrating Disney Pins, The Department of Tradeolog
and Fellowship of Happy Traders, the event features unique Disney pins created for the Museum's opening,
Disney pin trading activities, and both silent and live auctions of artifacts direct from the Museum's vault.
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1922:
Montgomery's Country Inn opens its doors for the first time in Los Angeles,
California. The restaurant will later be named the Tam O'Shanter Inn and become a regular hangout for
Walt Disney and his animators. Walt will become friends with the owners - even suggesting they open a
coffee shop in his Tomorrowland! Today the Tam O'Shanter is the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles still
operated by the same family in the same location!
1981:
Disney releases 12 more titles on VHS tape for the first time. Titles include Dumbo, The
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again, Davy Crockett and the River
Pirates, The Absent-Minded Professor, Gus, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, Snow White
Live at Radio City Music Hall, and Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck Cartoon Collections Volumes 1-3.
Dragonslayer, a fantasy film directed by Matthew Robbins, from a screenplay co-written with Hal Barwood, is released by Paramount Pictures & Walt Disney Productions. The story, set in a fictional medieval kingdom, follows a young wizard who experiences danger and opposition as he attempts to defeat a dragon. The cast includes Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke, and Ralph Richardson.
The Santa Fe & Disneyland Viewliner ...
... one of the shortest-lived rides in the history of Disneyland.
June 26
This Day in Disney History - THE FIRST - THE ORIGINAL
Traveling in time since 1999!
1914:
Edmundo Lassalle, the Disney Representative in Spain and Portugal
during World War Two, is born in the city of San Cristobal, state of
Chiapas, Mexico. Coming to the U.S. in 1935, he later attend Columbia University, married
the daughter of a college dean, and became a student/teacher at the University of California. Lassalle became a U.S. citizen and an assistant to Nelson Rockefeller (then a member of the Roosevelt Administration) before becoming an American espionage agent in Spain while
employed as the European Representative of the Walt Disney Company!
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2016:
Dick Van Dyke pays a visit to Walt Disney's childhood home in Chicago, Illinois.
The 90-year-old entertainer is in town to promote the near-finished restoration of the Walt Disney house, and to
perform at a show that evening at the historic Tivoli Theater in Downers Grove. The "Mary Poppins" star stands
in front of the famous Disney house, with his 44-year-old wife Arlene by his side, and leads fans in a sing-along
of the movie song "Let's Go Fly a Kite."
2015:
Best Friends Whenever, a new comedy television series created by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, airs on Disney Channel. The series stars Landry Bender, Lauren Taylor, Gus Kamp, Ricky Garcia, Benjamin Cole Royer, and Matthew Lewis Royer. After a science experiment goes awry, two teen girls acquire the ability to travel through time whenever they want and, sometimes, even when they don't!
The Disney Channel Original Movie Teen Beach 2 premieres. Months after surfer
sweethearts McKenzie (Maia Mitchell) and Brady (Ross Lynch) return from a summer adventure, that transported them
into Brady's favorite 1960s beach party movie, Wet Side Story, they receive a surprise visit from their newfound surfer
and biker buddies. Directed by Jeffrey Hornaday, it is the sequel to the 2013 film Teen Beach Movie.
1993:
Ariana Grande-Butera, known professionally as singer/actress Ariana Grande, is
born in Boca Raton, Florida. She appeared and performed in the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade
in 2014 and 2015, as well as the 2014 Radio Disney Music Awards. Grande also performed "Zero to Hero"
on the We Love Disney album. In 2017, she performed a duet version of "Beauty and the Beast" with John
Legend for the 2017 live-action version of the film.
1991:
The 17th Saturn Awards (honoring the best in science fiction, fantasy and horror film and television) are held. Among the winners:
-Best Horror Film: Arachnophobia
-Best Actor: Jeff Daniels – Arachnophobia
-Best Make-up: John Caglione, Jr., Doug Drexler, and Cheri Minns – Dick Tracy
1970:
Actor, comedian, singer and producer Sean Hayes, best known for his role as Jack McFarland on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, is born in Chicago, Illinois. His Disney voice credits include Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins and Monsters University.
1984:
Actress, comedian, and producer Aubrey Plaza is born in Wilmington, Delaware. Best known for her starring role as April Ludgate on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009–2015), she provided the voice of Claire in Monsters University.
2013:
The 39th Saturn Awards, honoring the best in science fiction, fantasy and horror
film and television in 2012, are held in California. Among the winners...
-Best Science Fiction Film: The Avengers
-Best Director: Joss Whedon – The Avengers
-Best Supporting Actor: Clark Gregg – The Avengers (as Phil Coulson)
-Best Music: Danny Elfman – Frankenweenie
-Best Special Effects: Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams, and Dan Sudick – The Avengers
-Best Animated Film: Frankenweenie
2014:
The 40th Saturn Awards, honoring the best in science fiction, fantasy and horror
film and television in 2013, are held in Burbank, California. Among the winners...
-Best Animated Film: Frozen
-Best Comic-to-Film Motion Picture: Iron Man 3
-Best Actor: Robert Downey Jr. – Iron Man 3
-Best Supporting Actor: Ben Kingsley – Iron Man 3
2020:
A behind the scenes documentary series called Into The Unknown: Making Frozen 2
begins streaming on Disney+. The series will include six episodes, that go behind the scenes of the
biggest animated film in history, Frozen 2.
Animated film director, screenwriter, voice actor, published children's book author/illustrator, and non-fiction author Kelly Asbury passes away at age 60 in California. Getting his start at Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1983, his credits included The Black Cauldron, Sport Goofy in Soccermania, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast,
The Nightmare Before Christmas, Toy Story, Wreck-it Ralph, and Frozen.
1955:
Actor and comedian Gary "Gedde" Watanabe is born in Ogden, Utah. He voiced the character of Ling in the 1998 animated film Mulan and its 2004 sequel Mulan II. His Disney/ABC credits also include the 1998 feature Armageddon, a 1999 episode of the sitcom Home Improvement and 2 episodes of the animated Kim
Possible. Although many of his roles are caricatured East Asians with heavy accents, Watanabe himself does not speak Japanese. Fans of the 1984 comedy film Sixteen Candles know him best as foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong.
