On this final day of April in 1989, The Magical World of Disney aired the episode "The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening," on NBC the night before the park's actual debut.
The special, which took viewers on a tour of such (now extinct) attractions as Superstar Television and The Monster Sound Show, featured a cast of all-star celebrities. Harry Anderson, George Burns, Walter Cronkite, Jane Fonda, John Forsythe, Estelle Getty, Kate Jackson, Ann Miller, Willie Nelson, Tony Randall, Mickey Rooney, and John Ritter were just some of the stars who appeared.
"The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening" was nominated for two Emmy Awards ... and later won 1 for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography, mainly due to its musical finale - "Hooray for Hollywood."
Click HERE for more April 30 Disney history.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Apr 29: Something frightening. Something strange. Something different.
On this day in 1983, the Disney live-action feature Something Wicked This Way Comes was released.
Based on a 1962 novel by Ray Bradbury, the movie tells the story of two thirteen-year-old boys who have a harrowing experience with a nightmarish carnival that comes to their hometown.
Directed by Jack Clayton, Bradbury also wrote the screenplay. The film starred Jason Robards (as Charles Holloway - the father of one of the boys), Jonathan Pryce (as the sinister Mr. Dark), and Vidal Peterson & Shawn Carson as the two young teens.
Something Wicked This Way Comes was foreign territory for Disney at the time, as they had never made a dark film like it before. But it was well received by critics and won the 1984 Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film.
In the original version of Epcot's Journey Into Imagination attraction, the words "Something Wicked" are printed on the spine of one of the large books in the literature scene. This is a reference to both the film and an ode to author Ray Bradbury ... who had a helping hand in designing Epcot!
Click HERE for more April 29 Disney history.
Based on a 1962 novel by Ray Bradbury, the movie tells the story of two thirteen-year-old boys who have a harrowing experience with a nightmarish carnival that comes to their hometown.
Directed by Jack Clayton, Bradbury also wrote the screenplay. The film starred Jason Robards (as Charles Holloway - the father of one of the boys), Jonathan Pryce (as the sinister Mr. Dark), and Vidal Peterson & Shawn Carson as the two young teens.
Something Wicked This Way Comes was foreign territory for Disney at the time, as they had never made a dark film like it before. But it was well received by critics and won the 1984 Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film.
In the original version of Epcot's Journey Into Imagination attraction, the words "Something Wicked" are printed on the spine of one of the large books in the literature scene. This is a reference to both the film and an ode to author Ray Bradbury ... who had a helping hand in designing Epcot!
Click HERE for more April 29 Disney history.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Apr 22: "Nahtazu"
On this day in 1998, Disney's Animal Kingdom (Disney World's 4th theme park but Disney's 7th park in the world) had its grand opening. Appropriately debuting on Earth Day, DAK is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums - which means Disney has met and exceeded the standards in education, conservation, and research.
The idea for DAK can be traced back to January 1990 when Imagineering Concept Designer Joe Rhode met with then CEO Michael Eisner about a concept for an animal park/nontraditional zoo. Disney's "Wild Animal Kingdom" project was announced in June 1995 with ground being broken the following August.
The park, which covers 500 acres, is Disney's first to be themed around animal conservation. When it first opened, the park was divided up into sections called Oasis, Safari Village, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Conservation Station, DinoLand USA, and a small portion of Asia.
DAK today is broken up into seven themed areas - Oasis (the entrance area), Discovery Island (the main land previously known as Safari Village), Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki's Planet Watch (formerly Conservation Station), Asia, and DinoLand USA.
The park's icon, The Tree of Life, is a 145-foot tall artificial tree featuring more than 300 animals hand carved into its trunk.
Happy 10th anniversary DAK ... and happy Earth Day.
Click HERE for more April 22 Disney history.
The idea for DAK can be traced back to January 1990 when Imagineering Concept Designer Joe Rhode met with then CEO Michael Eisner about a concept for an animal park/nontraditional zoo. Disney's "Wild Animal Kingdom" project was announced in June 1995 with ground being broken the following August.
The park, which covers 500 acres, is Disney's first to be themed around animal conservation. When it first opened, the park was divided up into sections called Oasis, Safari Village, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Conservation Station, DinoLand USA, and a small portion of Asia.
DAK today is broken up into seven themed areas - Oasis (the entrance area), Discovery Island (the main land previously known as Safari Village), Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki's Planet Watch (formerly Conservation Station), Asia, and DinoLand USA.
The park's icon, The Tree of Life, is a 145-foot tall artificial tree featuring more than 300 animals hand carved into its trunk.
Happy 10th anniversary DAK ... and happy Earth Day.
Click HERE for more April 22 Disney history.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Apr 20: A Musical Disney Legend
On this day in 2005, Disney Legend & musician Salvatore "Tutti" Camarata passed away in Burbank, California. Originally a trumpet player, he ran Disneyland Records (today known as Walt Disney Records) for nearly 20 years.
Nicknamed "Tutti" by band leader Jimmy Dorsey, Camarata was an instrumentalist, orchestrator, arranger, composer, and record producer.
Born May 11, 1913 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, he attended the Julliard School of Music in New York City and later studied composition at nearby Columbia University. At 21 he began playing with Charlie Barnet's band and then briefly on Bing Crosby's radio show. His big break came when he was offered first-chair trumpet with Jimmy Dorsey's band. Camarat's arrangements for Dorsey was a crucial ingredient in the band's rise to success in 1939.
In the early 1940s, he left Dorsey's band and began playing and arranging for other acts (such as Benny Goodman). In 1944, Camarata was hired as a musical director for Decca Records. He arranged and orchestrated for a number of big name acts including Louis Armstrong and Mary Martin. In 1950, he put together a studio big band - The Commanders - which had success with a series of albums. This led to television work which ultimately brought his name to the attention of Charles Hansen ... an executive working with Walt Disney.
Walt was looking for someone to run a record label that would release soundtracks of movies. Camarata was hired and he moved to southern California to establish and run Disneyland Records. With the popularity of TV's The Mickey Mouse Club, Camarata found himself producing singles by most of the show's stars - namely Annette Funicello. Although Funicello had a thin voice and was not an experienced singer, Camarata patiently experimented with a new echo effect that gave her a rich sound ... and made her a recording star.
Camarata became more than a record maker at Disney, as he played an important role in building up the studio's library of original music. He was responsible for introducing Sterling Holloway (the future voice of Winnie the Pooh) to Walt. Camarata also helped convince Louis Prima and Phil Harris to take part in the animated The Jungle Book. He supervised vocals on Disney's 1963 live-action Summer Magic (starring Hayley Mills). Camarata even worked on the Louis Armstrong album Disney Songs: The Satchmo Way.
During his early years at Disney, Camarata relied on local recording studios to work in. He would often press Walt to invest in his own studio to reduce costs (and to provide a consistent quality of recordings). After Disney rejected the idea (several times) Camarata decided to build his own studio. He bought an old auto repair shop on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood and opened Sunset Sound Recorders in 1960. Although Disneyland Records was the studio's primary client at first, Sunset Sound began to attract some of rock'n'roll's biggest names. The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, and even Van Halen became regular customers.
As his studio's success increased, Camarata found it difficult to juggle its demands with those of Disneyland Records - and so in 1972 he left Disney. Today legendary Sunset Sound (now run by Camarata's son) remains a top-notch facility and home to such recording artists as Dixie Chicks, Cheryl Crow, and Jet.
Click HERE for more April 20 Disney history.
Nicknamed "Tutti" by band leader Jimmy Dorsey, Camarata was an instrumentalist, orchestrator, arranger, composer, and record producer.
Born May 11, 1913 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, he attended the Julliard School of Music in New York City and later studied composition at nearby Columbia University. At 21 he began playing with Charlie Barnet's band and then briefly on Bing Crosby's radio show. His big break came when he was offered first-chair trumpet with Jimmy Dorsey's band. Camarat's arrangements for Dorsey was a crucial ingredient in the band's rise to success in 1939.
In the early 1940s, he left Dorsey's band and began playing and arranging for other acts (such as Benny Goodman). In 1944, Camarata was hired as a musical director for Decca Records. He arranged and orchestrated for a number of big name acts including Louis Armstrong and Mary Martin. In 1950, he put together a studio big band - The Commanders - which had success with a series of albums. This led to television work which ultimately brought his name to the attention of Charles Hansen ... an executive working with Walt Disney.
Walt was looking for someone to run a record label that would release soundtracks of movies. Camarata was hired and he moved to southern California to establish and run Disneyland Records. With the popularity of TV's The Mickey Mouse Club, Camarata found himself producing singles by most of the show's stars - namely Annette Funicello. Although Funicello had a thin voice and was not an experienced singer, Camarata patiently experimented with a new echo effect that gave her a rich sound ... and made her a recording star.
Camarata became more than a record maker at Disney, as he played an important role in building up the studio's library of original music. He was responsible for introducing Sterling Holloway (the future voice of Winnie the Pooh) to Walt. Camarata also helped convince Louis Prima and Phil Harris to take part in the animated The Jungle Book. He supervised vocals on Disney's 1963 live-action Summer Magic (starring Hayley Mills). Camarata even worked on the Louis Armstrong album Disney Songs: The Satchmo Way.
During his early years at Disney, Camarata relied on local recording studios to work in. He would often press Walt to invest in his own studio to reduce costs (and to provide a consistent quality of recordings). After Disney rejected the idea (several times) Camarata decided to build his own studio. He bought an old auto repair shop on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood and opened Sunset Sound Recorders in 1960. Although Disneyland Records was the studio's primary client at first, Sunset Sound began to attract some of rock'n'roll's biggest names. The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, and even Van Halen became regular customers.
As his studio's success increased, Camarata found it difficult to juggle its demands with those of Disneyland Records - and so in 1972 he left Disney. Today legendary Sunset Sound (now run by Camarata's son) remains a top-notch facility and home to such recording artists as Dixie Chicks, Cheryl Crow, and Jet.
Click HERE for more April 20 Disney history.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Apr 17: And the Oscar goes to ...
On this day in 1961, Bob Hope hosted the Academy Awards, held for the first time outside of Hollywood - at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California.
Disney's Goliath II (about a 6-inch tall elephant) is among those nominated for Best Short Subject, Cartoons - but loses to Munro. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, Goliath II is narrated by Sterling Holloway.
Although nominated for Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects - Disney's Islands of the Sea loses to Day of the Painter. Islands of the Sea is a beautifully shot documentary about the wildlife on 4 islands - the Galapagos, Guadelupe, Falklands, and an island in the Midway chain.
The Oscar for Best Documentary Feature does go to a Disney picture titled The Horse with the Flying Tail - about a palomino who becomes a champion mount for one of the US equestrian team.
Hayley Mills is given a special Juvenile Award for her performance in Disney's Pollyanna, as a young girl who comes to an embittered town and must confront its attitude with her determination.
Click HERE for more April 17 Disney history.
Disney's Goliath II (about a 6-inch tall elephant) is among those nominated for Best Short Subject, Cartoons - but loses to Munro. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, Goliath II is narrated by Sterling Holloway.
Although nominated for Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects - Disney's Islands of the Sea loses to Day of the Painter. Islands of the Sea is a beautifully shot documentary about the wildlife on 4 islands - the Galapagos, Guadelupe, Falklands, and an island in the Midway chain.
The Oscar for Best Documentary Feature does go to a Disney picture titled The Horse with the Flying Tail - about a palomino who becomes a champion mount for one of the US equestrian team.
Hayley Mills is given a special Juvenile Award for her performance in Disney's Pollyanna, as a young girl who comes to an embittered town and must confront its attitude with her determination.
Click HERE for more April 17 Disney history.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Apr 15: A New Kind of Magic
On this day in 1962, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color aired episode 26 (of season 8) titled "Disneyland After Dark." Walt Disney himself presented a view of his Anaheim park at night with special musical guests.
The show began with a trip aboard the monorail from the Disneyland Hotel to Tomorrowland. Then Walt made his first appearance on Main Street, ordering popcorn from a vendor. His opening words included:
"Hi there! Y'know this is one of my favorite times of the day here ... just about sundown. I like to be around when the lights come on. It seems like a new kind of magic takes over in Disneyland After Dark."
In Tomorrowland, original Mouseketeer Annette Funicello performed "Dance Annette" and teen idol Bobby Rydell sang "Around the World." Viewers were then shown Frontierland to hear legendary jazz great Louis Armstrong. The Osmond Brothers performed (making their network debut) as well as Bobby Burgess, The Dapper Dans, and The Elliott Brothers Orchestra.
Disneyland looked quaint, homey ... and not as crowded in 1962.
Click HERE for more April 15 Disney history.
The show began with a trip aboard the monorail from the Disneyland Hotel to Tomorrowland. Then Walt made his first appearance on Main Street, ordering popcorn from a vendor. His opening words included:
"Hi there! Y'know this is one of my favorite times of the day here ... just about sundown. I like to be around when the lights come on. It seems like a new kind of magic takes over in Disneyland After Dark."
In Tomorrowland, original Mouseketeer Annette Funicello performed "Dance Annette" and teen idol Bobby Rydell sang "Around the World." Viewers were then shown Frontierland to hear legendary jazz great Louis Armstrong. The Osmond Brothers performed (making their network debut) as well as Bobby Burgess, The Dapper Dans, and The Elliott Brothers Orchestra.
Disneyland looked quaint, homey ... and not as crowded in 1962.
Click HERE for more April 15 Disney history.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Apr 14: Oscar for Pooh
On this day in 1969, Disney's short feature Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day was awarded an Oscar for Best Short Subject, Cartoon at a ceremony held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. (It was the first Academy Awards to be telecast throughout the world.)
Based on the Pooh books by A. A. Milne, Blustery Day was originally released in December 1968 along with the live-action feature The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman (one of Walt's "Nine Old Men"), it features the voices of Sterling Holloway (as Pooh), Paul Winchell (as Tigger), John Fiedler (as Piglet), and Jon Walmsley (as Christopher Robin).
Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (the second Disney animated feature based on Milne's characters) was nominated along with the shorts The Magic Pear, La Maison de Jean-Jacques, and Windy Day.
Click HERE for more April 14 Disney history.
Based on the Pooh books by A. A. Milne, Blustery Day was originally released in December 1968 along with the live-action feature The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman (one of Walt's "Nine Old Men"), it features the voices of Sterling Holloway (as Pooh), Paul Winchell (as Tigger), John Fiedler (as Piglet), and Jon Walmsley (as Christopher Robin).
Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (the second Disney animated feature based on Milne's characters) was nominated along with the shorts The Magic Pear, La Maison de Jean-Jacques, and Windy Day.
Click HERE for more April 14 Disney history.
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