Disney, Ruth F.

Disney, Ruth F. Walt Disney’s sister, the youngest in the family, born in Chicago on December 6, 1903. Ruth eventually moved to Portland, Oregon, where she married Theodore Beecher. Ruth was a connoisseur of organ music, purchasing and outfitting an old theater organ at her home. She died on April 7, 1995.

Disney Afternoon, The

Disney Afternoon, The Two hour package of animated television series; beginning September 10, 1990. The contents varied from year to year, as follows: 1990-91: Duck Tales, The Adventures of the Gummi Bears, Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Rescue Rangers, Tale Spin. 1991-92: Duck Tales, Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Rescue Rangers, Tale Spin, Darkwing Duck 1992-93: Chip ‘n’ Dale’s …

Disney, Sharon M.

Disney, Sharon M. Second daughter of Walt and Lillian Disney, born on December 31, 1936. She married first Robert B. Brown, who died shortly after Walt, and later William Lund. She had three children. She was one of the founders of Retlaw Enterprises. Sharon was elected to the board of directors of The Walt Disney …

Disney•ABC Television Group

Disney•ABC Television Group Formed in 2004, Disney•ABC Television Group is home to The Walt Disney Company’s worldwide (non-sports) media networks and encompasses the ABC-TV network, Disney Channel Worldwide, ABC Family, Jetix (formerly Fox Kids), SOAPnet, Toon Disney, Touchstone Television, Walt Disney Television Animation, Buena Vista Television and Buena Vista International Television.

Disney, Ray

Disney, Ray – Walt Disney’s older brother, who had been in the insurance business. He was born on December 30, 1890, and died on May 24, 1989, at the age of 98.

Disney, Roy Edward

Disney, Roy Edward Son of Roy O. Disney and nephew of Walt Disney; born in 1930. Roy began working for the company in 1954 as an assistant film editor on the True-Life Adventure films. He helped write narration for animal-related television shows from 1957 to 1971, and also directed (1973 to 1978) and produced (1968 …

Disney, Lillian Bounds

Disney, Lillian Bounds Wife of Walt Disney. She was born in Idaho in 1899 and came to work for Walt as a secretary shortly after he founded the Disney company. He married her in 1925, and they had two children, Diane and Sharon. After Walt’s death, she married John L. Truyens in 1969 but survived …

Disney, Roy Oliver

Disney, Roy Oliver Older brother of Walt Disney, who founded the Disney company in partnership with Walt in 1923. Born June 24, 1893; died December 20, 1971. Served as president of Walt Disney Productions from 1945 to 1968 and chairman of the board from 1964 until 1971. Roy was recuperating in Los Angeles from tuberculosis …

Discovery Island

Discovery Island Nature preserve at Walt Disney World; opened on April 8, 1974 as Treasure Island; name changed in 1977. It closed on April 8, 1999. An 11.5-acre island paradise, Discovery Island was home to many exotic birds and animals. Originally the island was themed to the Disney film Treasure Island, and a wrecked ship …

Disney, Elias

Disney, Elias Father of Walt Disney, born in Bluevale, Ontario, Canada, on February 6, 1859, the son of Irish immigrants. While still in his teens, he moved with his family to the United States, where they settled in Ellis, Kansas. A few years later, when a neighbor family named Call moved to Florida, Elias went …