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 …
See more
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 …
See more
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), …
See more
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 …
See more
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 …
See more
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 …
See more
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 …
See more
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 …
See more
Producer, lyricist, and Disney Legend Howard Ashman made a huge “splash” in the world of popular culture in 1989 with The Little Mermaid, which he also co-produced. His song “Under the Sea,” co-written with composer and Disney Legend Alan Menken, won an Oscar® that year for Best Song. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 17, 1950, the …
See more
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 …
See more
