By Francesca Scrimgeour, Walt Disney Archives Howdy, folks! Welcome to the one and only original Country Bear Jamboree… soundtrack! Audiences have been clapping along to the rip-roaring attraction for almost half a century. Debuting as an opening day attraction in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in 1971, the Country Bear Jamboree made …
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By Matt Moryc, Walt Disney Archives If you grew up watching television in the 1980s and 1990s, there is an objective argument to be made that some of the greatest family sitcoms of all-time were produced during this era. The American Broadcast Company(ABC) was at the forefront of this golden age of adolescent television with …
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By Holly Brobst, Walt Disney Archives The world-famous Jungle Cruise attraction at Disneyland draws inspiration from Walt Disney’s acclaimed True-Life Adventures film series, as well as numerous far-off locales from around the world that are meant to inspire the intrepid. The original Jungle Cruise poster, seen below, was designed by artist Bjorn Aronson in 1955 …
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By Matt Moryc, Walt Disney Archives If you grew up watching television in the 1980s and 1990s, then you might agree that there is an objective argument to be made that some of the greatest family sitcoms of all-time were produced during this era. The American Broadcast Company (ABC) was at the forefront of this …
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By Natalie Auxier, Walt Disney Archives “Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in this history of mankind. Mankind—that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can’t be consumed by our petty …
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Kenny Ortega first began designing dances on the small screen, choreographing music videos for Olivia Newton-John and Madonna and quickly moved on to bigger productions. In 1980, he choreographed the dance sequences for the musical film Xanadu, working with legendary dancer and director Gene Kelly. He continued choreographing such hits as St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), …
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By Kimi Thompson and Ed Ovalle, Walt Disney Archives Last week we shared A Historical Legacy: The Beginning of the Walt Disney Archives, and today we’re continuing our look back at the history of our department and how we preserve the magic of The Walt Disney Company. After Disney Legend Dave Smith established the Walt …
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DATE WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES EVENT AND EXHIBITION CALENDAR: LOCATION June 5 Heroes & Villains – The Art of the Disney Costume – The Museum of Pop Culture Seattle, WA Exhibition Opens July 22 Inside the Walt Disney Archives – Graceland Exhibition Center Memphis, TN D23 Gold Member Preview Event July 23 Inside the Walt Disney …
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Imagineer Bob Gurr has always been a man on the move. And, for almost 40 years, he helped move many a happy Disney theme park guest aboard vehicles and ride conveyances of his own design. As he’s often quipped, “If it moves on wheels at Disneyland, I probably designed it.” And he certainly has. Bob …
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By Kimi Thompson and Ed Ovalle, Walt Disney Archives Our story begins with none other than our founder, Disney Legend Dave Smith. A Southern California native and UCLA reference librarian, Dave began his research on Walt Disney Productions (known today as The Walt Disney Company) after expressing an interest in compiling an extensive bibliography on …
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