“Happy birthday, it’s Donald’s birthday, happy happy birthday to you.” These are the lyrics to Disneyland’s 1984 parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of Donald Duck, and they seem appropriate today. On this day in 1934, audiences were first introduced to an irascible little duck named Donald in the Disney animated short subject The Wise Little Hen. In his small role, Donald and Peter Pig refuse to help a hen plant and harvest her corn by feigning belly aches. Their scheme backfires when they miss out on the delectable bread, cakes, and fritters baked by the hen. Right from his appearance in The Wise Little Hen, Donald had been voiced by Disney Legend Clarence “Ducky” Nash. Tony Anselmo, the current official voice of Donald, was personally trained by Nash and fondly recalls, “He was such a great guy. He was sweet, down to earth, generous with his time… it wasn’t until Donald’s 50th year when Clarence was 80 and Donald was 50 and he finally got the recognition that I think he deserved by going on The Tonight Show and the Academy Awards® and putting his hand and footprints in the forecourt of the Chinese Theatre, as well as going on a national tour which was great for him.”
