2003:
Jules Engel, a pioneering animator and the founding director of the California
Institute of the Arts Experimental Animation Program, passes at the age of 94 in
California. Engel began his career in the late 1940s at Walt Disney Studios where he was first recognized
for his work on the Chinese and Russian dance sequences in Fantasia and on the animated feature Bambi.
(Engel was one of the original members of the animation studio United Productions of America, and with the
late Robert Cannon, developed such cartoons as Gerald Mc Boing Boing, Madeline and Mr. Magoo!)
The second annual ABC Primetime Preview Weekend begins at
Disney's California Adventure.
The Florida chapter of the National Kidney Foundation hosts a 5K Fun Run and
Walk Race at Disney World.
2005:
Toy Story celebrates its 10th anniversary with the release of a special two-disc
DVD edition. The film is also released on UMD (a first for Buena Vista). UMD (Universal Media Disc)
is a Sony created disc format for use on their PlayStation Portable entertainment system.
It is reported that Disney's Buena Vista Music Group (which produces
soundtracks for Disney movies and albums for singers such as Hilary Duff) has
signed a deal with EMI, the world's third-largest music company.
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1869:
Writer Felix Salten is born Siegmund Salzmann in Budapest, Hungary.
His 1926 book "Bambi, A Life in the Woods" was released as an animated feature by Walt Disney in 1942. The
idea came to Salten while on vacation in the Alps after being charmed by the wildlife there. He based the name,
Bambi, on the Italian word "bambino", meaning baby. Originally published in Berlin in 1923, an English translation by Whittaker Chambers was published in North America by Simon & Schuster in 1928. Since then, "Bambi" has been translated and published in over 30 languages around the world. Another of Salten's stories "The Hound of Florence," a fantasy about a man who turns into a dog was the inspiration for Walt Disney's 1959 live-action film The Shaggy Dog. The tale is unique as it is written as one piece - there are no chapter divisions. Salten's 1938 novel "Perri: The Youth of a Squirrel" was adapted into a True Life Fantasy of the same name by Disney in 1957.
1926:
The Alice Comedy Alice Charms the Fish is released.
1937:
Actress-comedienne Jo Anne Worley, first known for her performances on TV's "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," and later her work in Disney films and TV specials, is born in Lowell,
Indiana. Her Disney voice credits include "Kim Possible: The Secret Files" (as Mrs. Rockwaller), "A Goofy Movie" (as Miss Maples), and "Beauty and the Beast" (as Armoire the Wardrobe). Worley appeared as an extra in the 1962 "Moon Pilot," hosted a 1972 episode of "The Mouse Factory," appeared in the 1976 live-action comedy "The Shaggy D.A." (as Katrinka Muggelberg) and played the role of Miss Osborne for the 1977 TV special "The Mouseketeers at Walt Disney World." She also appeared on episodes of "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch," "Boy Meets World," "Wizards of Waverly Place," and "Jessie." Worley has appeared in regional theater as well as Broadway.
1976:
America on Parade has its final run at both Disneyland and Disney World.
Featuring oversized head costumes of historic Americans, the parade's unique soundtrack - synthesizers
and antique carousel organs - has been prepared by Don Dorsey (his very first project for Disney).
1982:
The Disneyland attraction Alice in Wonderland temporarily closes while Fantasyland
is being updated. ("Alice" will re-open in April 1985.)
Still about a month away from officially debuting, EPCOT Center opens at 9 a.m. on
this Labor Day for the Family Construction Preview. Family members of any of the park's
construction workers can wander through Future World and World Showcase until 6 p.m.
1995:
The Disneyana Convention 1995 kicks off at Walt Disney World.
1996:
Night of Joy 1996 begins at Disney World's Magic Kingdom. To be held over 3 nights
(September 6, 7 & 13), performers include D.C. Talk, Michael W. Smith, Newsboys, Hezekiah Walker, Rebecca
St. James, and Clay Crosse.
2001:
A 24-karat gold sculpture called "Celebration Mickey ... 100 Golden Years of
Magic" is the main auction item at the 2001 Official Disneyana Convention. The
live auction, held at the Disneyland Resort, starts at 7 p.m. Valued at over $1 million, the two-foot tall
"Celebration Mickey" was created to observe Walt Disney's 100th birthday. A portion of the proceeds will be
donated to The Walt Disney Company's compassion program for children with life-threatening illnesses.
2002:
Contemporary Christian music takes center stage at Walt Disney World's Magic
Kingdom for the first of 2 sold out evenings. With more performers each night than at anytime
in the history of the annual event, this evening's line-up includes Plus One, Kirk Franklin, Benjamin Gate,
Mary Mary, Steven Curtis Chapman, ZOEgirl, Natalie Grant, and Phat Chance,
Actor Asher Angel is born in Phoenix, Arizona. He is known for his role as Jonah Beck in the 2017 Disney Channel series Andi Mack.
2004:
After a weekend of punishment from Hurricane Frances, Walt Disney World re-
opens with a limited schedule. Only the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Typhoon Lagoon,
Downtown Disney and the Wide World of Sports Complex are opened.
Disney Villains: The Essential Guide, published by DK, hits store shelves.
There are enough of the famous
"Mouse Ear" hats sold each year
at Walt Disney World to cover
the head of every man, woman,
and child in Pittsburgh!
2006:
Disney Channel Germany airs High School Musical for the first time.
2007:
Mickey's Mystery Pin Machine makes its debut at MouseGear in Epcot.
1993:
"Disney's Adventures in Wonderland" - a new series starring Elisabeth Harnois as Alice - begins airing in syndication. First debuting on Disney Channel last March 1992, the live-action/puppet musical builds on Lewis Carroll’s literary richness and linguistic fun in a contemporary setting. Taped at Disney-MGM Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort for its first 40 episodes, it will later be moved to Los Angeles, California. The Cheshire Cat and Dormouse puppets have been created by Chiodo Bros. Inc., a New York company specializing in clay modeling, creature creation, stop motion and animatronics. The cast also includes Armelia McQueen as The Red Queen, Patrick Richwood as The White Rabbit, and John Robert Hoffman as The Mad Hatter.
2008:
The Disney Magic enters dry dock for a bow-to-stern overhaul that is scheduled be
completed September 24. Among the changes Disney plans for the 10-year-old ship is a big revamping
of the adults-only Quiet Cove retreat area. The Cove Café coffee lounge will get a new seating area with plush
chairs, and the Cove's adults-only pool will be redone with a cascading waterfall. Disney also plans an upgrade
to cabins, which will include new flat-screen LCD television sets mounted on swivel arms.
SEPTEMBER 6
THIS DAY MADE
IN THE
USA
SEPTEMBER 6
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"Jules (Engel) always encouraged me to think beyond traditional approaches, yet to stay
within the framework of character animation." -John Lasseter
2009:
The fourth annual Disneyland Half Marathon, which winds through the
Disneyland Resort area and out into Anaheim itself, takes place. Jaeyung Hyung, 38,
of Las Cruces, New Mexico, crosses the finish line with a time of 1:10:44 to lead the estimated field of nearly
12,000 participants!
Five of Pixar's directors - Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, John Lasseter, Brad Bird
and Lee Unkrich - receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 66th
Venice International Film Festival. Presented by George Lucas, it is the first time the accolade
has been given to a group rather than an individual filmmaker.
Waking Sleeping Beauty, a documentary film directed by Disney film producer
Don Hahn and produced by Hahn and former Disney executive Peter Schneider,
debuts at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado. The film documents the history of Walt
Disney Feature Animation from the making of The Fox and the Hound in 1981 to the release of The Lion
King in 1994. Waking Sleeping Beauty will have a limited theatrical release on March 26, 2010.
"I really enjoyed running the race here. There were so many people, and Disney made it a lot of fun." -Hyung
1972:
Tony Award-winning actress and singer Anika Noni Rose is born
in Bloomfield, Connecticut. She supplied the voice of Princess Tiana for
Disney's animated 2009 feature The Princess and the Frog and the 2018 Ralph
Breaks the Internet. Her voice can also be heard in episodes of Sofia the First and
Avengers Assemble. Known for her stage work, she played the role of Amneris in
2000 for Disney's musical Aida. Rose was named a Disney Legend in 2011.
Actor-musician Idris Elba is born in London England. His Disney voice credit include Zootopia, The Jungle Book, and Finding Dory. Elba portrayed Heimdall in Thor (2011) and its sequels Thor: The Dark World (2013) and Thor: Ragnarok (2017), as well as Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
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Disneyland Half Marathon
In Memory of Jules Engel (1909-2003)
2010:
Today is the final day Disney California Adventure visitors will be able to ride the tall
Maliboomer attraction. Tomorrow crews plan to start removing the ride which Disney has long planned to
demolish. The thrill ride, which shoots visitors up 180 feet, will no longer fit with the theme of the Paradise Pier
area, which will take on an early 1900s feel.
ALICE
1985:
Night of Joy 1985 kicks off for the first of two consecutive nights in the Magic
Kingdom at Disney World. (Actually this is the second night for this year's event as a single Night
of Joy was also held last May 17.) This evening's lineup includes AD, David and the Giants, David Meece,
Michael W Smith and White Heart.
1986:
Magic Kingdom hosts Night of Joy 1986 for a second evening at Disney
World with musical guests Darrell Mansfield, Leon Patillo, Petra, Stryper,
Russ Taff, Sheila Walsh, and The Winans.
1991:
Chrisitian music acts Margaret Becker Band, DC Talk, Mylon & Broken Heart,
Petra, Whiteheart, and BeBe & CeCe Winan take part in Disney World's Night
of Joy 1991 for the first of two evenings.
The animated television series Darkwing Duck premieres in syndication (it had first debuted on Disney Channel last April). The series features an eponymous superhero anthropomorphic duck with the alter ego of Drake Mallard, voiced by Jim Cummings.
September 06
"Do you know the dancing mushroom scene in Fantasia? Well, that was me!"
-animator Jules Engel
2013:
Night of Joy 2013 kicks off for the first of two evenings at Disney World.
This night's lineup includes Skillet, MercyMe, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Audio Adrenaline,
Mandisa, for KING & COUNTRY, Moriah Peters, We As Human, and City Harbor.
The second season of the animated Doc McStuffins debuts on Disney Junior.
2015:
Nearly 15,000 runners from around the world descend upon Disneyland for the park's
10th annual Half Marathon. Fullerton resident James Lander, a 36-year-old chiropractor, wins with a time
of 1:08:56. He crosses the finish line more than six minutes ahead of the second place winner, Valdir Aparecideo
Bueno, 35, of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
1961:
Character animator, director and television producer Bruce W. Smith is born in Los Angeles, California. Best known as the creator and executive producer of the Disney Channel hit show The Proud Family and for supervising the animation of the evil villain Dr. Facilier in the Walt Disney animated film The Princess and the Frog, his credits also include A Goofy Movie, Tarzan, The Emperor's New Groove, Home on the Range, and Frozen.
1997:
Story artist, concept artist, and writer Bianca Majolie passes away at age 96 in California. Born in Italy, she came to the United States as an exchange student and attended McKinley High School in Chicago... at the same time as a young Walt Disney (though the two never met). The first woman to become a storyboard artist for Walt Disney Productions (in 1935), her credits included the shorts Elmer Elephant and Woodland Café, and the feature Fantasia. In 1938, she wrote several outlines and provided visual development artwork for early versions of Cinderella and Peter Pan. After her career at Disney, Majolie married American artist Carl Heilborn in 1942.
2016:
Beauty and the Beast 25th Anniversary Signature Edition is released.
