On this day in 1971, the Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat left Liberty Square (the day after the park's debut) with Magic Kingdom guests for the very first time for a short trip on the Rivers of America. Walt Disney World's first riverboat, it was named after retired navy admiral Joe Fowler who was in charge of the construction for both Disneyland and Disney World. (Fowler was named a Disney Legend in 1990.)
The original Fowler Riverboat carried Disney World guests pass such attractions as Tom Sawyer Island and the Haunted Mansion for nearly ten years. When Fowler was damaged during refurbishment in 1980, the Richard F. Irvine Riverboat became the Magic Kingdom's second Liberty Square steam paddle boat. (It was later renamed the Liberty Belle Riverboat.)
On this day in 1875, Edgar Rice Burroughs, the
creator of Tarzan and one of the great
pioneers of modern
science fiction, was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Burroughs was a soldier,
business executive, gold miner, cowboy, storekeeper, and policeman before he
turned to writing as a career. He wrote more than 20 novels depicting the
adventures of Tarzan. After the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
he wrote a letter to Walt Disney about the possibility of making his creation
into an animated feature. His work eventually did become the inspiration for
Disney's 1999 animated feature Tarzan and later a Disney produced Broadway stage
musical.
Burroughs also wrote
popular science fiction and fantasy stories involving Earthly adventurers and
Martians. He began writing a series called the Barsoom books in the
second half of 1911. (Barsoom was his fictional representation of the planet
Mars.) The final book in the series was titled John Carter of Mars (to
be released as a major motion picture by Disney in 2012). In the early
twentieth century, Burroughs compiled a glossary of the terms used in these
novels. In 1957, Walt Disney created an animated version of it for his "Mars and Beyond" TV episode. Today
Burroughs even has a large crater on Mars named for him!
Click HERE for much more September 1 Disney history.
On this day in 1925 Mike Douglas, a singer, entertainer, and TV talk show host, was born in Chicago, Illinois. First singing as a choirboy, in his teens he worked as a singer on a dinner cruise ship on Lake Michigan. After briefly serving in the U.S. Navy, Douglas moved to Los Angeles and began performing on radio and as a vocalist for the big band of Kay Kyser (at the time a popular bandleader and radio personality).
This led to Douglas taking part in Disney's 1950 animated release Cinderella. Although William Phipps supplied the speaking voice for Prince Charming, it was Douglas who provided the character's singing voice.
Take a quick listen to Douglas on "So This is Love."
In 1961 Douglas began a local talk show in Cleveland, Ohio. The Mike Douglas Show became immensely popular and soon was seen coast-to-coast from studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His successful afternoon show went on to make 6,000 telecasts through 1982. Everyone and anyone in show business at some point made an appearance on The Mike Douglas Show including such musical acts as The Beach Boys, Herman's Hermits, Louis Armstrong and Billy Joel and such Hollywood stars as Bob Hope, Judy Garland, Jimmy Stewart and Paul Newman.
In 1983 Douglas co-hosted the very first broadcast of Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Day Parade. The 90-minute special was actually broadcast live from the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day.
Sadly Mike Douglas passed away on his 81st birthday in 2006.
On this day in 2009, Disneyland celebrated the 40th anniversary of one of its most popular attractions, The Haunted Mansion. First opening to the public on this day in 1969, the attraction's roots actually go back to even before Disneyland was built.
Click HERE foolish mortals for more Haunted Mansion and August 9 Disney history.
On this day in 1955, the 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea Exhibit opened in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. The walk-through exhibit featured props and set pieces from Disney's 1954 blockbuster release 20,000 LeaguesUnder the Sea.
Guests could view the exterior of the Nautilus, Professor Aronnax's
cabin, the pump room, the chart room, the diving chamber, the wheelhouse
and the famous organ (which would later reside in Disneyland's Haunted
Mansion ballroom). The exhibit remained open until August 28, 1966 (with Disneyland's Submarine Voyage attraction opening in 1959). In 1967 the area that housed The Sea Exhibit was used for Adventure Thru Inner Space, which coincidentally opened on this day in 1967.
(The spot is now used for Star Tours).
