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 …
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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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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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By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives Did you know that today is the 25th anniversary of Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame? Released in 1996, the animated feature vividly brought the timeless characters and story from Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel to a new generation of filmgoers. Prior adaptations of Hugo’s novel included the 1923 silent …
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The monumental career of singer, songwriter, and performer Sir Elton John has made him one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with more than 200 million records sold worldwide. Winning a wide array of industry awards including Grammys®, Tonys®, and an Oscar®, Elton continues to add to his personal repertoire of 35 gold …
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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 …
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By Kevin Kern, Walt Disney Archives Freedom. Beauty. Truth. Love. All maxims that drive and guide the protagonists at the heart of director Baz Luhrmann’s splashy movie musical, Moulin Rouge (2001). Set amidst a bustling and bohemian Paris circa 1900, the film boasts a gorgeous design sense that helps to contextualize its characters while also …
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While Tyrus “Ty” Wong worked at The Walt Disney Studios for only three years, between 1938 and 1941, his impact on the animated classic Bambi endures. As legendary animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston point out in their book about the making of the motion picture, “He set the color schemes along with the appearance …
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In the field of musical theatre, Lea Salonga has been honored with the Olivier, Tony®, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World awards. In addition, she holds the distinction of having performed the vocal roles of two Disney leading ladies—the spectacular singing voices of Princess Jasmine and Mulan. Lea’s breakthrough came on the West …
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By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives A long time ago…in a galaxy not so far away…Star Wars: A New Hope debuted in theaters on May 25, 1977, and became the surprise smash hit of the summer. The success of Star Wars resulted in a string of beloved blockbuster films and so much more! The impact …
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For 37 years at Disney, Wing T. Chao played a vital role in designing and developing exceptional and inspiring projects at Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide. Wing served as Vice Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for Asia Pacific Development, as well as Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering, where he oversaw master …
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“Life is a journey, not a destination,” said Hideo Amemiya, a 30-year cast member and one of Disneyland’s most distinguished senior leaders. Born in Tokyo on September 4, 1944, Hideo graduated from Rikkyo University in Tokyo with a bachelor’s degree in social science, and from the University of Massachusetts, with a bachelor’s degree in hotel …
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By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives Did you know that on this day 16 years ago, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith debuted in theaters? The final installment of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, audiences were enthralled to finally see Anakin Skywalker’s tragic transformation into the villainous Darth Vader amidst the collapse of the Galactic …
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In 2018, when Mulan celebrated its 20th anniversary, Disney Legend Ming-Na Wen, voice of Mulan, reflected on the film’s impact: “I am ecstatic to have played a character with such long-lasting influence. Mulan is a role model not just for little girls but little boys, too. And for adults! I love it when the moms …
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By Francesca Scrimgeour, Walt Disney Archives Hold on to your potatoes, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom released this month on May 23, 1984! Inspired by the adventurous Republic Pictures film serials of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, director Steven Spielberg and executive producer George Lucas brought their dynamic filmmaking minds together to create …
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By Christina Pappous Walt Disney Archives As the 93rd Academy Awards® ceremony approaches, we’re taking a look at some of Walt Disney’s Oscar winners. In the spirit of Earth Day, let’s shine a light on the flora and fauna of The Living Desert (1953)! Though not the first of the True-Life Adventure films to be …
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By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives As the Academy Awards® ceremony approaches, we’re taking a look back at some of Disney’s Oscar winners. Today, we’re spotlighting Walt Disney’s first feature length animated production—and the fairest of them all—Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)! The film premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles …
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By Becky Cline, Director, Walt Disney Archives Everyone knows how hot it can get during Florida’s summer months, so it’s no surprise how popular the water activities are at Walt Disney World Resort. Whether it’s braving the slides at one of our splash-tastic Water Parks, paddling in a fabulously themed resort pool, or enjoying some …
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By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives In honor of the upcoming Academy Awards® ceremony, let’s take a look back at some of Walt Disney’s Oscar-winning films. First up, The Old Mill (1937), winner of best Short Subject (Cartoon) at the 10th Academy Awards (1938).This charming short depicts the efforts of birds, toads, and other critters …
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By Nicole Carroll, Walt Disney Archives At a time when animation was a predominantly male industry, countless women left their marks on the art form here at The Walt Disney Studios. One such woman was Mildred Rossi, who started out in the legendary Ink & Paint Department before transitioning to the Effects Department. Born in …
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By Amy Opoka, Walt Disney Archives Women have worked at The Walt Disney Studios since it opened in the 1920s. Here at the Walt Disney Archives, we love to shine a light on some of those amazing trailblazers! Berta “Bea” Tamargo was born in 1928 in Havana, Cuba, but moved with her family to Miami …
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By Rick Lorentz, Walt Disney Archives The road leading to the Walt Disney Archives has been traveled by many forms of transportation over the last 50 years. Volkswagen “beetles” from The Love Bug (1997) television movie, and Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005) reside in a secret warehouse, side by side. Models of the Black Pearl (Pirates …
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By Matt Moryc, Walt Disney Archives In his book Dream It! Do It! My Half-Century Creating Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Disney Legend Marty Sklar recalls the moment during the planning of EPCOT Center [now called EPCOT] when he noticed a musical drought of original songs at Disney Parks throughout the 1970s: “When I realized this, I …
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