This Day in Disney History

[tiggerguy]

July 30

1907:
Writer and actor Roy Williams - Roy, the "Big Mooseketeer" on TV's The Mickey Mouse Club - is born in Coleville, Washington.

1956:
At Disneyland, the Mineral Hall Exhibit opens.

1999:
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, officially opens to all guestsas part of the largest property-wide expansion in Disney World history.

[tiggerguy]

July 31

1960:
At Disneyland, the Sunkist Citrus House opens on Main Street.

1995:
Disney announces the acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC. As a result of the $19-billion merger, Disney will add the entire ABC television network, key affiliates, ABC radio networks, publishing enterprises, and much more to its rapidly expanding roster of business units.

[tiggerguy]

August 1

1933:
Comedic actor, chef & author Dom DeLuise is born in Brooklyn, New York. His Disney credits include the animated TV series Hercules (as the voice of Bacchus) and the animated feature Oliver & Company (as the voice of Fagin).

1956:
The trade publication Radio & TV News runs an article titled "Sound Effects Add Realism To Disneyland." Readers are told that - "A full-time service crew consisting of six technicians is required to maintain 290 loudspeakers, more than 40 miles of wiring, 13 long-playing magnetic tape playback units, and some 150 cartridge-type tape program repeaters. In addition, associated timers,
amplifiers, and other equipment is spread over the lot. All in all, there are seven control centers on the grounds at Disneyland."

1997:
Walt Disney World's Coronado Springs Resort (featuring an American Southwest theme) opens with 1,967 rooms and suites. Considered the main convention resort at Disney World, it offers almost 100,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. The entire resort circles Lago Dorado, a large lake which features an island that includes the Dig Site swimming pool.

[tiggerguy]

August 2

1998:
Passengers aboard the Disneys Magic's maiden voyage become the very first guests to set foot on Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. Located 225 nautical miles from Disney's home port of Port Canaveral, Florida, the island stretches 3.1 miles long and 2.2 miles wide.

1999:
Disney's newest ship the Disney Wonder is escorted into Port Canaveral for the first time, by its sister ship the Disney Magic.

[tiggerguy]

August 3

1933:
The Mickey Mouse Watch is introduced at a cost of $2.75.

1988:
A groundbreaking ceremony take place for Disneyland Paris.

1994:
Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 150-millionth guest!

2007:
Walt Disney Pictures' Underdog, a live-action film based on the cartoon,
is released. Produced by Spyglass Entertainment and Classic Media, it
features a real dog (voiced by Jason Lee) with computer-generated
imagery enhancements.

[tiggerguy]

August 4

1995:
Ground is broken for Disney's newest Florida theme park - Animal Kingdom.

[tiggerguy]

August 5

1967:
Disneyland's attraction Adventure Thru Inner Space opens in Tomorrowland. Guests are transported through a microscope where they are shrunken down and sent off to explore the inside of an atom. It features the voice of Paul Frees and the song "Miracles from Molecules" written by the Sherman Brothers. The attraction is the first to use the OmniMover system - called Atomobiles - to transport guests.

[tiggerguy]

August 6

1928:
Disney's first Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short Poor Papa is released

1999:
The film The Sixth Sense - distributed by Buena Vista Pictures - is released. It will become Disney's highest-grossing live-action film.

[tiggerguy]

August 7

1955:
Comedic actor Wayne Knight, the voice behind many of Disney's animated characters - including Al McWhiggin in both Toy Story & Toy Story 2, Tantor in Tarzan, and Demetrius the Pot Maker in Hercules - is born in Cartersville, Georgia.

1969:
The Haunted Mansion in Disneyland opens to Cast Members only, from 7:00 pm to midnight. The attraction opened to the public 2 days later.

[tiggerguy]

August 8

1942:
Disney's 5th animated feature Bambi has its world premiere in London, England.

[tiggerguy]

August 9

1946:
Disney's Donald Duck cartoon Wet Paint, featuring the voice of Clarence Nash, is released. It is written by Roy Williams who will go on to appear in TV's The Mickey Mouse Club as Roy the Big Mooseketeer.

2005:
Disney releases The Muppet Show Season 1 and The Muppets' Wizard of Oz on DVD.

[tiggerguy]

August 10

1955:
Chuck Abbott begins work at Disneyland as a ride operator on the Autopia. Abbott has to really pay attention - as there is no track on the attraction (at this time) and drivers frequently crash into anything and everything - including Cast Members!

[tiggerguy]

August 11

1950:
Disney's Pluto cartoon Food for Feudin - also featuring Chip 'n' Dale – is released.

[tiggerguy]

August 12

1951:
Actor Ronald Reagan (future U.S. president) and ventriloquist Paul Winchell take part in a celebrity race at the Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio. Paul and his dummy Jerry Mahoney beat Reagan in the competition! (Reagan will go on to co-host the opening of Disneyland and Winchell will voice the character of Tigger in countless Winnie the Pooh features.)

[tiggerguy]

August 13

1942:
Disney's 5th full length animated feature Bambi has its U.S. premiere at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

1954:
Excavation of the Disneyland site in Anaheim, California begins with the removal of walnut and orange trees.

2004:
Walt Disney World and other anxious Orlando tourists and residents hunker down as Hurricane Charley with 110 mph winds hits Central Florida. Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom all close at 1 p.m. It is the third closing in Disney World history.