After appearing in Vaudeville and in films while under contract with MGM, Wally Boag came to Disneyland in 1955 to star in the Golden Horseshoe Revue and signed a two-week contract, or as his Horseshoe costar and friend Fulton Burley would quip, “Was it two week or too weak?” Twenty-seven years later, on this day …
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In the 1950s, Walt Disney allowed Ice Capades to use stories, music, and costumes from Disney properties, but it wasn’t until this day in 1981 that Walt Disney’s World of Ice premiered, a joint effort between Disney and Feld Entertainment®, the largest provider of live family entertainment in the world, which put a new spin …
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When The Fox and the Hound was released in 1981, it was a huge success, no bones about it. The film tells the, um, tale, of a most unlikely pair of pals, Tod the fox and Copper, a hound dog, who happen to be the best of friends. This was the first film to be …
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On this day in 1981, Hayley Mills hosted an episode of Disney’s Wonderful World entitled “Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life.” Corresponding and loosely tied to the book of the same name by Disney Legends Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, Hayley tours the Walt Disney Studios to show viewers the process of animation. According to …
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Two and a half years before Tokyo Disneyland, the first international Disney theme park, opened, ground was broken in a very unique ceremony featuring members of Walt Disney Productions and the Oriental Land Company. The initial contract for the new park outlined that Walt Disney Productions would provide the design, master plan and technical advice …
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Although the mine trains on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which seem to have a mind of their own, had already been thrilling guests for a couple months after the attraction’s “soft” launch, Big Thunder had its official grand opening in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World on this day in 1980. Although Disney’s Imagineers …
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Howdy folks! On this day in 1980, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. With an elevation of 200 feet, Big Thunder Mountain forms a sculpture of redstone buttes, windswept canyons, and towering peaks. While the Disneyland version of Big Thunder takes place in the town of Rainbow Ridge, which …
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On this day in 1980, The Last Flight of Noah’s Ark soared into theaters with an impressive cast that included Elliott Gould, Genevieve Bujold, Tammy Lauren, Ricky Schroeder, 20 chickens, six pigs, five sheep, four rabbits, two grey geese, four white ducks, two goats, two bulls, and a mallard duck. The film tells the story …
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Organizing the simultaneous release of 30 international collectible postage stamps may seem like a sticky situation, but thanks to William D. Cox, the stamps were released on this day in 1979. The entrepreneur had a varied career, from lumber tycoon to owner of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. Having connections with both Walt Disney Productions …
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Howdy folks, please remain seated as we tell you about the wildest ride in the wilderness. After seven years of planning and two years of construction, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened at Disneyland on this day in 1979. The high-speed attraction replaced the more sedate Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland, which would depart from the …
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