September 16: Man Behind the Myth

On this day in 2001, ABC-TV debuted the much anticipated special Walt: The Man Behind the Myth. The 2-hour documentary, narrated by Dick Van Dyke, aired as part of "The Wonderful World of Disney."

The special, produced by Pantheon Studios in association with The Walt Disney Family Foundation, documents the life and career of Mr. Walt Disney through interviews with people who knew him best. Just about every important event in Walt's life is covered - from his humble upbringing in middle America to his critical success in California. But most importantly Walt: The Man Behind the Myth portrays Walt ... as human.

The feature-length documentary was screened at several film festivals (including the Monte Carlo Film Festival) before airing on ABC-TV.

"The film is not whitewash, but a determined effort to provide a true, real-to-life portrait of my grandfather, in all aspects of his life." -Walter Miller, grandson of Walt Disney

(Released on DVD in 2004, Walt: The Man Behind the Myth now includes bonus material containing more in-depth interviews and home movie clips.)

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September 15: Music For Bugs

On this day in 1998, Disney released A Bug's Life: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack.
The soundtrack to the Disney/Pixar animated feature A Bug's Life (which wasn't released in theaters until November 1998), featured the music of Randy Newman.

Prior to A Bug's Life, Neman (already a veteran singer-songwriter known for his satirical pop songs) had also written music for the 1995 Toy Story and the 1996 James and the Giant Peach.

The opening track to A Bug's Life album - "The Time of Your Life," written and performed by Newman, is the only song with a vocal in the collection. The remaining 19 cuts are orchestral cues (conducted by Newman himself).

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September 14: Muppets Tonight Episode 202

Muppets Tonight, a live-action/puppet television series created by Jim Henson Productions, was a continuation of the original series The Muppet Show (which had debuted back in 1976). This new series also featured the classic Muppets (and some new ones) in fresh skits with multiple guest stars.

Originally broadcast on ABC in 1996, after one season Muppets Tonight moved to the Disney Channel and on this day in 1997, episode 202 debuted with guest star Rick Moranis.

Moranis, a comic actor best known for his work on SCTV and such classic features as Ghostbusters and Little Shop of Horrors, had also starred in Disney's 1989 comedy Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. (Moranis later starred in the sequel Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, the park attraction Honey, I Shrunk the Audience and finally Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves.)

Episode 202 was directed by Brian Henson, son of Muppet creator Jim Henson. New episodes of Muppets Tonight continued until February 1998.

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September 11: Patriot Day

"To retreat from any of the principles handed down by our forefathers, who shed their blood for the ideals we still embrace, would be a complete victory for those who would destroy liberty and justice for the individual." -Walt Disney 

September 03: Regis & Kathie Lee Go National

On this day in 1988, a live television morning talk show out of New York City featuring Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford debuted nationally on ABC. Originally known as The Morning Show with Philbin and Cyndy Garvey, the show became known in 1988 as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and was syndicated by Buena Vista Television (one of Disney's very first talk show productions) on this day.

Today the show is as popular as ever but is now called Live with Regis and Kelly since 2000 (as it now features actress Kelly Ripa - known to fans of ABC-TV's All My Children). The team of Regis and Kelly have gone on to host many of Disney's Christmas Day television parades from Walt Disney World and Philbin was the original host for the U.S. version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

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September 02: Hang On To Them Hats & Glasses

On this day in 1979, Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction opened. The very first Big Thunder Mountain to open in any Disney park, the attraction is located in Frontierland on the spot once occupied by Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland (which first opened in 1956).

Designed by Imagineer Tony Baxter and ride design engineer Bill Watkins, the idea originated from work Baxter had done years earlier on a Marc Davis concept called Western River Expedition (originally meant to be built in Disney World's Magic Kingdom).

Big Thunder Mountain features runaway mine trains that twist through desert canyons, creaking mine shafts, and pitch-black bat caverns. "The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness" is still a favorite among park guests.

A Big Thunder Mountain later opened at WDW in November 1980, followed by versions in Tokyo Disneyland in 1987 and finally Disneyland Park in Paris in 1992.

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September 01: A Playful Spot at WDW

On this day in 2005, Pooh's Playful Spot (a play area for 2-5 year-olds) opened on the site of the former 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea at Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Located across from Fantasyland's The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, the Playful Spot featured a large tree which housed Pooh's home for young ones to explore. Themed after the Hundred Acre Wood, it also included spurting fountains of water, crawl-through logs, huge honey pots, and a slide.

Due to the Fantasyland expansion, Pooh's Playful spot closed in April 2010 and the iconic tree from the playground was moved into the queue area of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

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