It was on this day in 1968 that It’s Tough to Be a Bird landed in theaters for the first time. With a story by the zany Disney animator Ward Kimball, who also directed the film, this mostly animated featurette takes a humorous-yet-educational look at the history of birds. One standout segment features narrated live-action …
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“Happy 40th, MICKEY.” This was the title of an article that appeared in Life Magazine on this day in 1968. It told of Mickey’s successes in his first 40 decades, including “character roles in over 140 movies, as well as personal appearances on at least 5,000 different products, 400 funny-paper strips with a mass circulation of …
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Walt Disney officially got the U.S. stamp of approval on this day when his portrait was issued on a six-cent U.S. postage stamp. A grand celebration took place that day in Walt’s childhood hometown of Marceline, Missouri. Kaye Malins, affectionately known as the Queen of Marceline, vividly remembers the celebration. ‘Walt Disney Day’ really was …
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In the early 1700s, a notorious English pirate known as Blackbeard sailed the seas. With his large black beard and feathered tricorne (pirate hat) and carrying swords, knives, and pistols, Blackbeard was the prototypical pirate. Despite leading a life of crime, the plundering rogue found his way in stories and films for years to come, …
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Songwriter Richard M. Sherman remembers the first time he and his brother were called into a meeting to learn about this idea Walt Disney had for a new film. “We were called into Walt’s office with several other people: Woolie Reitherman, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Larry Clemmons, and a whole bunch of the regulars at …
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Tomorrowland is not just the realm of “outer” space, and on this day in 1967, a true-life scientific attraction brought Disneyland guests into “inner” space to explore the world of atoms and molecules. Explore the vast universe inside a snowflake . . . On Adventure Thru Inner Space guests boarded Atomobile vehicles while listening to …
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Pictured Joyce Cook To learn more about Club 33, which quietly opened its doors to special guests on this day in 1967, we turned to Gary Maggetti, the Disneyland General Manager of Food and Beverage, who gave us a taste of the exclusive club’s history. “Club 33 is a private, members-only club located in New …
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When you decide to create your own experimental prototype community of tomorrow (EPCOT), it’s essential to have independence within your community. Thus, the Disney company petitioned Florida State Legislature for the creation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, encompassing the entire Disney World property and allowing it most of the powers of a county, including …
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The character of money scavenger Scrooge McDuck was originally created by Carl Barks in a 1947 comic book story, but Scrooge didn’t make his theatrical debut until two decades later on this day in 1967 with the theatrical release of Scrooge McDuck and Money. When Scrooge appeared later in Mickey’s Christmas Carol and the television …
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With the opening of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction on this day in 1967, Disneyland guests could dine at the Blue Bayou with sounds of frogs and crickets, the water gently lapping on the shore, and the continuous passing of passenger boats. Gary Maggetti, once general manager in Disneyland’s Food and Beverage department, mentioned …
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