On this day in 1971, audiences were first able to see, or not see as the case may be, Now You See Him, Now You Don’t. Disney Legend Kurt Russell appeared . . . and disappeared . . . as Dexter Riley, but this wasn’t the first time audiences saw Russell as Riley. He first …
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Among the many items Chief Archivist Dave Smith packed up in Walt’s office desk after his passing was a document in which Walt stated his strong interest in casting Kurt Russell — Disney’s top teen idol of the ’70s — in Disney films. After landing parts on TV westerns and Gilligan’s Island, Kurt Russell had …
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Pictured Clint Howard and Ron Howard Uprooted from their comfortable home in Pennsylvania, James and Kate Tanner (Steve Forrest and Vera Miles), along with their sons Virgil and Andy, journey to the wild country of 1890s Wyoming to become farmers. Soon, they come face-to-face with tornadoes, bears, and wolves. But through the hardships, their love …
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In this beloved animated feature—the first cartoon completed without Walt Disney—a pedigreed mother cat, Duchess, and her three kittens, Toulouse, Berlioz, and Marie, are catnapped by a greedy butler named Edgar. Edgar hopes that by stealing the cats, he will gain the inheritance left to them by their owner, Madame Bonfamille. Things look pretty hopeless …
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In 1969, a librarian at UCLA had just finished doing a bibliography of Disney. UCLA had contacted Disney, suggesting that Disney deposit Walt Disney’s papers at the library, and a meeting soon followed. The librarian sat in that meeting, in which it became obvious that what Disney was thinking of was not just the history …
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Corny jokes, Kurt Russell singing “Sugar, Sugar”, and The Osmonds’ singing of the 1970s staple “The Age of Aquarius.” Not only did viewers tune in and see some of the biggest stars in the world singing, they also were treated to a full 20 minutes of footage from the just-opened Haunted Mansion attraction, featuring cameos …
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On this day in 1969, Dexter Riley was introduced to the world, a character played by Kurt Russell. In The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Dexter attempts to fix an early 1960s computer, but he gets an electric shock which essentially turns his brain into a computer. Kurt’s version of Dexter returned for two additional Disney …
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It was on this day in 1969 that Haunted Mansion, one of the most beloved attractions at Disneyland, finally opened its creaking doors. Construction on the Mansion had begun seven years before, but work ceased on the project when Walt and his Imagineers were forced to turn their attentions to the 1964 World’s Fair. After …
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In 1969, Disneyland faced the future with great optimism when the new Tomorrowland debuted, bringing the land completely up to date and into tomorrow. Now guests could visit new and updated attractions including Carousel of Progress, Adventure Thru Inner Space, People Mover, Rocket Jets, and Circle-Vision featuring the new America the Beautiful. Guests could also …
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President Nixon presented Lillian Disney and members of the Disney family with a special honor, the Walt Disney Commemorative Medal. In his remarks, President Nixon stated, “Many ceremonies are held in this White House, but none that I think will have more meaning to all of us, young and old, than this one today, because …
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