By Jim Fanning Hello there, you kooky people, you! Are you in for a treat! 60 years ago—on September 24, 1961—the egotistical, erudite, eccentric professor Ludwig Von Drake made his debut on the premiere episode of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. The only major animated character Walt created especially for television, Professor Von Drake …
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By Greg Ehrbar Certain past Disneyland attractions stir instant memories for guests fortunate enough to have experienced them—and also inspire the imaginations of those who wish they could have enjoyed them. Topping many a list is Adventure Thru Inner Space, which opened August 5, 1967. This ingenious attraction took guests through a Mighty Microscope to …
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By Greg Ehrbar On September 24, 1961, TV viewers watched the fireworks burst over Sleeping Beauty Castle as Tinker Bell pixie-dusted their screens to launch a new kind of Disney anthology series. The show they knew as Disneyland and then Walt Disney Presents had changed from black-and-white to color, moved from ABC to NBC, and …
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By Jim Fanning You’ve heard of the three R’s—“reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmetic”—but when it comes to Disney in the classroom, it’s more about the three E’s: entertainment, engagement, and, of course, enchantment. For decades, teachers have used Disney films to open the minds and excite the imaginations of their students. “Educational films will never replace the …
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