On this day in 1966, everything was coming up roses for Walt Disney, when he served as the Grand Marshal of the 77th Tournament of Roses Parade, in Pasadena, California. Over the years, the parade has had some of the world’s most distinguished individuals serving in that honored position; including luminaries such as Mary Pickford, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gregory Peck, Bob Hope, Henry “Hank” Aaron, the Apollo 12 astronauts, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Angela Lansbury, and Shirley Temple. In 1966, with “It’s a Small World” as the parade’s theme, who could be a better choice as Grand Marshal than Walt (after all, later that year the it’s a small world attraction, which had been a big hit at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, made its debut at Disneyland)? On behalf of all of us here at D23, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
