This Day in Disney History

[tiggerguy]

December 8

1937:
Actor James MacArthur is born in Los Angeles, California. He will go on to portray Fritz Robinson in Disney's 1960 live-action film Swiss Family Robinson.

1944:
The Disney short Donald's Off Day is released.

[tiggerguy]

December 9

1928:
Actor D ick Van Patten is born in New York City. His Disney credits include the 1975 film The Strongest Man in the World and the 1976 films The Shaggy D.A. and Freaky Friday.

1957:
Singer-actor Donny Osmond, who supplies the singing voice for Captain Li Shang in Disney's Mulan, is born in Ogden, Utah. As a member of the Osmond Brothers, Donny's performed many times at Disneyland. In September 2006 he began playing the role of Gaston in the Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast.

[tiggerguy]

December 10

1923:
Actor Harold Gould - who portrays the grandpa in Disney's 2003 Freaky Friday and supplies the voice of Old Denahi in Disney's 2003 animated Brother Bear - is born in Schenectady, New York.

1941:
Original Mouseketeer Tommy Kirk is born in Louisville, Kentucky. Besides taking part in TV's The Mickey Mouse Club he appeared in such Disney film classics as Old Yeller, Babes in Toyland, and Son of Flubber.

[tiggerguy]

December 11

1976:
The Disney television special "Lt. Robin Crusoe U.S.N." airs. It is the only feature fil that Walt Disney has a story credit for under Retlaw Yensid

[tiggerguy]

December 12

1941:
Disney's animated commercial Seven Wise Dwarfs is released. The short is made for the National Film Board of Canada to promote the purchase of Canadian war bonds.

1952:
Disney's Goofy short How to be a Detective is released.

[tiggerguy]

December 13

1925:
Emmy Award-winning actor Dic k Van Dyke, best known as Bert the Cockney chimney sweep in Disney's 1964 musical feature Mary Poppins, is born in West Plains, Missouri.

1959:
Child-actor Johnny Whitaker, who stars in Disney's 1972 Napoleon and Samantha with Jodie Foster, and Snowball Express with Dean Jones, is born in Van Nuys, California.

[tiggerguy]

December 14

1934:
MGM releases their version of Babes in Toyland, featuring Laurel & Hardy. A costumed child dressed like Mickey Mouse appears!

1961:
Disney's first live-action musical feature film Babes in Toyland, starring Ray Bolger, Tommy Sands, Annette Funicello, and Ed Wynn is released.

2003:
After many delays, the first phase of Walt Disney World's Pop Century Resort (the Classic Years 1950s-90s) finally opens for business. Located at 1050Century Drive, the resort is adjacent to the Wide Worldof Sports Complex and near Disney-MGM Studios.

[tiggerguy]

December 15

1933:
Comedic actor Tim Conway is born Thomas Daniel Conway in Willoughby, Ohio. He will go on to appear in Disney's Apple Dumpling Gang movies, the 1973 The World's Greatest Athlete, the 1987 TV special Walt Disney World Celebrity Circus, and perform the voice of Griff in Disney's Hercules animated TV series.

1973:
The Pirates of the Caribbean attraction opens in Walt Disney World. Housed in a golden Spanish fort called Castillo Del Morro, it is located in the Caribbean Plaza of Magic Kingdom's Adventureland. Featuring 125 Audio-Anamatronics

[tiggerguy]

December 16

1952:
WED Enterprises is founded as a private company owned solely by Walt Disney to design and create Disneyland and to manage Disney's personal assets. WED stands for Walter Elias Disney.

1977:
The Disney live-action feature Candleshoe - starring Jodie Foster as Casey Brown, Helen Hayes as Lady St. Edmund (in her last screen appearance), and David Niven playing 3 roles including the part of Priory - is released.

1994:
After extensive renovations, Walt Disney World's Snow White's Adventures reopens as Snow White's Scary Adventures.

[tiggerguy]

December 17

1943:
Disney's cartoon short Chicken Little is released.

1990:
Honey I Shrunk the Audience Movie Set Adventure opens in the backlot annex area of Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World.

[tiggerguy]

December 18

1941:
Walt Disney is called to Washington, D.C. to meet with the Treasury Department and the IRS. He is asked to provide a film to promote paying taxes - to be completed by the end of February 1942.

1979:
The Walt Disney Productions live-action feature film,
The Black Hole, featuring Maximilian Schell, Anthony
Perkins, Ernest Borgnine, and Roddy McDowall premieres
in London.

[tiggerguy]

December 19

1984:
Disney World's Country Bear Jamboree Country Bear Christmas Special runs for the first time.

1999:
Disney World's Tomorrowland Speedway (originally called Grand Prix Raceway) is renamed Tomorrowland Indy Speedway.

[tiggerguy]

December 20

1908:
Actor/singer Dennis Morgan, who in in 1958 will host Disneyland's very first Candlelight Processional Parade, is born in Prentice, Wisconsin.

1924:
Funnyman Charlie Callas, the voice of Elliott in Disney's 1977 Pete's Dragon, is born in Brooklyn, New York.

Disney Legend Sam McKim is born in North Vancouver, British Columbia. McKim will be instrumental in the design of various areas of Disneyland, as well as being the creator of the very first souvenir map of the park.

[tiggerguy]

December 21

1922:
Paul Winchell, a versatile ventriloquist, TV host, and voice actor is born Pinkus
Wilchinski in New York City. Famously known as Disney's Tigger,
Winchell's credits also include The Aristocats and The Fox and the Hound.

1936:
A baby girl named Sharon Mae is born. Less than two weeks later she will be adopted by Walt Disney and his wife Lillian.

1937:
Tuesday
Disney's first feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premieres at the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles, California.

1948:
Actor Samuel L. Jackson, the voice of Lucius Best/Frozone in the 2004 Disney-Pixar animated feature The Incredibles, is born in Washington, D.C.

[tiggerguy]

December 22

1968:
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color airs "The Mickey Mouse Anniversary Show," narrated by Dean Jones.