(Pictured above Christine Vess and Michael Schwartner) It was on this day in 1955 that Disneyland opened to the public for the first time, the day after an ambitious — and stressful — Sunday press preview that survived the myriad complications of a live televised broadcast, invited guests that stayed longer than expected and thousands …
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Take a “paws” to learn about the breakout character from the 1955 Disney animated classic, Lady and the Tramp, who was nameless in the film. Scamp was born to Lady and Tramp at the end of the story. The puppy who closely resembled his father was first seen in comic strips on this day in …
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Work on the beloved Lady and the Tramp, released on this day in 1955, actually began in 1937 when Walt bought the story from Ward Greene, a friend and head the King Features Syndicate, which distributed Disney comic strips. As Neal Gabler recounts in his recent biography, Walt Disney: Triumph of the American Imagination, Lady …
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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea proved to be a whale of a tale not only for moviegoers but for the filmmakers who were tasked with creating Walt Disney’s greatest special-effects film to date. As the first Disney production filmed in Cinemascope, all the bells and whistles went into this landmark production. A special effects soundstage—Stage …
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On this day in 1955, Man in Space took to the air as an episode on the Disneyland TV series. This episode offered viewers a realistic look at the possibilities and challenges of space travel. With the help of the world’s top scientists, this program was met with great praise. In fact, President Eisenhower requested …
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Pictured above Peggy Lee and Sonny Burke In the 1955 episode of the Disneyland TV series, “Cavalcade of Songs,” viewers learned what goes into the creation of some of Disney’s best-loved songs. Although footage from story meetings and composing sessions are hokey reenactments, it doesn’t detract from the entertainment or informational value. There’s a sense …
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On this day in 1950, Cinderella made a bibbidi, bobbidi de-boo in theaters. In the ads to market the film, Cinderella promised to “Put a smile in your heart…and laughter in your dreams.” The ad continued, “A story written in stardust…six years in the making…Walt Disney’s Cinderella will give a new gleam to your hopes, …
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Fess Parker was a tall, handsome actor appearing in the science fiction film Them! when Walt first spotted him and considered him for the upcoming part of the king of the wild frontier, Davy Crockett. The choice proved to be quintessential, giving Fess instant popularity and lifetime recognition for the role. It was on this …
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The 1950 Academy Award® winning film Beaver Valley told the whole “tooth” about critters, including their lives in ponds and their interactions with other animals such as moose, deer, raccoons, and frogs. The 32 minute featurette made its debut on the Disneyland TV show on this day in 1954, paired up with Camera in Africa, …
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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, based on the 1869 story by French science-fiction author Jules Verne, dove onto screens on this day in 1954. With Verne’s great story in place, Walt Disney went to great depths to ensure that the movie would be equally as compelling. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is possibly the most elaborate live-action production …
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