January 30: Rockin' Disney Legend

On this day in 1951, singer-songwriter-drummer Phil Collins was born Philip David Charles Collins in Chiswick, London.
Best known as the lead singer & drummer for Genesis and as a Grammy and Academy Award-winning solo artist, Collins started out wanting to be an actor. (He was an extra in The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night and in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.)
His connection to Disney goes back to the 1999 animated Tarzan and his hit single "You'll Be in My Heart" - which spent 19 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart and won an Oscar.
He even performed "You'll Be in My Heart" during a Super Bowl half-time show. His music can also be heard in the 2002 follow-up Tarzan & Jane. Tarzan went on to become a stage musical as well with Collins writing additional material.
Collins also wrote music for the 2003 Brother Bear. One of his songs "Welcome" was later used as the theme for Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams (which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Disneyland.)
His interest in acting came full circle when in 2002 he voiced the character Lucky for Disney's animated feature The Jungle Book 2 ... the same year he was inducted a Disney Legend.

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January 27: The Original Mad Hatter

On this day in 1832 English author, mathematician, and Anglican clergyman Lewis Carroll was born Charles Lutwidge Dodgson in Daresbury, Cheshire County, England. (Carroll invented his pen name by translating his first two names into the Latin "Carolus Lodovicus" and then anglicizing it into "Lewis Carroll.")
He is best known to Disney fans as the author of the 1865 story Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and the 1872 Through the Looking-Glass.

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January 25: One Great Big ONEderful Motion Picture

On this day in 1961 Disney's animated 101 Dalmatians premiered.
The story centers on Pongo (voiced by Rod Taylor) and Perdita, a pair of Dalmatians who play Cupid for their human pets. In a short time, the dogs become the proud parents of 15 winsome puppies. But their happiness is short-lived when the wicked Cruella De Vil (voiced by Betty Lou Gerson) wants to buy all the puppies—to make a coat! When her dastardly offer is turned down, she orders her bumbling henchmen Horace and Jasper to abscond with the puppies as well as every other Dalmatian puppy in London. Pongo and Perdita rally a network of animals across England with the “twilight bark” to help find Cruella's secret hideaway and rescue 99 precious puppies.

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January 20: The Real Buzz

On this day in 1930, astronaut Buzz Aldrin was born Edwin E. Aldrin in Montclair, New Jersey.
It was no wonder he would grow up to be the second man on the moon ... his mother's name was Marion Moon and his dad Edwin Eugene Alrdin was an aviation pioneer (and a student of rocket developer Robert Goddard).
In October 1963, Aldrin was selected by NASA as one of the third group of astronauts. Three years later he (along with James A. Lovell) took part in the flight of Gemini 12, the 18th manned American space flight.
On July 20, 1969 Aldrin (and Neil Armstrong) made history when they became the first to land on the surface of the Moon.
Aldrin is the inspiration for Toy Story's spaceman action figure Buzz Lightyear!

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January 19: A Wonderful Story that will be Dear to Your Heart!

On this day in 1949, Disney's So Dear To My Heart, a combination live-action and animated feature, was generally released. Set in early 20th century Indiana, it tells the story of a boy named Jermiah and his quest to raise his champion lamb Danny. His dream of showing Danny at the Pike County Fair must overcome the objections of his strict grandmother.

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January 15: A Journey Through Time & Space

On this day in 1975, Space Mountain (a themed indoor roller coaster) opened at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
The first of all the Space Mountains, its concept was a direct descendant of Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds. As far back as 1964, Walt Disney himself had approached designer John Hench about a new Tomorrowland attraction for Disneyland. The "Space Port" would feature a roller coaster ride in the dark with lighting and special effects. The idea was refined by WED Enterprises and by June 1966 the name "Space Mountain" was used for the first time.
Unfortunately Walt's passing the following December and emphasis on preparation for a Florida park, put Space Mountain on hold.
Once Walt Disney World was up and running in 1971, designers went back to the Space Mountain idea and significantly refined its design. To help cover the costs of the attraction Card Walker, CEO of Walt Disney Productions, convinced RCA chairman Robert Sarnoff to sponsor Space Mountain. The attraction went on to become a Disney classic.
On this day, Colonel James Irwin (who had served as the Lunar module pilot for Apollo 15) took Space Mountain's first official ride.

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January 10: Mr Disney Turns 79

On this day in 1930, Roy Edward Disney (Walt Disney's nephew) was born to Roy and Edna Disney in California.

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