RSS Feed

Monthly Archives: October 2015

October 11

October 11, 2005 – The Disney Princess Christmas Album is Released Through Walt Disney Records

Disney Princess Album

“Christmas is coming for one and for all, good friends and family are coming to call.”

On October 11, 2005, the Disney Princess Christmas Album was released through Walt Disney Records. The album gave a Disney twist on several traditional Christmas carols, as well as a few original compositions, including “Christmas is Coming” sung by Disney Princesses, and “Beautiful” by Jim Brickman featuring Wayne Brady. The album was re-released in 2009 with the song “Christmas Eve Dinner” replacing “Beautiful.”

October 10

October 10, 2007 – The 2007 Disney Legends Ceremony Takes Place

Disney Legend

“…the spark that is ignited when imagination and skill combine to create a new dream.”

On October 10, 2007, the 20th Disney Legends Ceremony took place in the Legends Plaza at the Walt Disney Studios. Among those honored were President of ABC Sports Roone Arledge, animator Art Babbit, Imagineer Carl Bongirno, dancer Marge Champion, animator Dick Huemer, executive vice president Ron Logan, animator Lucille Martin, ABC CEO Thomas Murphy, composer and musician Randy Newman, animator Floyd Norman, make-up artist Bob Schiffer, and archivist Dave Smith.

October 9

October 9, 2003 – The Dedication for the Epcot Attraction Mission: SPACE Takes Place

Mission Space

“…very much based in reality, it’s a mix of real science and thrill.”

On October 9, 2003, the dedication for the Epcot attraction Mission: SPACE took place with a special ceremony. The attraction, which had a soft opening in June of that year, was a collaboration between Disney and NASA five years in the making. The opening included appearances by astronauts from several notable missions, NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, and CEO Michael Eisner, among others.

October 8

October 8, 2010 – The Cars Toon Heavy Metal Mater Premieres on Television

HMM_1

“Nah, I don’t want to steal the show.”

On October 8, 2010, the seventh Cars Toon Heavy Metal Mater premiered on the Disney Channel. The short was written by John Lasseter, Rob Gibbs, Matthew Luhn, Scott Morse, Kevin O’Brien, and Derek Thompson, and was directed by Lasseter and Gibbs.

The video begins with karaoke night at Flo’s, and Mater proceeds to tell Lightning McQueen about his time as a famous rock star. He started out in a band called Mater and the Gas-Caps, which began in a garage. They get their first gig at a truck stop, and when the waitresses fawn over them and ask if they have a record, they quickly rush to the studio to record one. The drummer swats at a fly during the session, hitting random drums and percussion instruments, and the band plays along, with the band soon becoming a heavy metal band called Heavy Metal Mater. Mater then changes the story to include McQueen, though McQueen isn’t convinced that it happened.

October 7

October 7, 1918 – Film Editor and Disney Legend Norman “Stormy” Palmer is Born

Norman Palmer

“Stormy was one of the key players in creating the classic Disney True-Life Adventures series, and he was a true pioneer in the field of nature documentaries.”- Producer and Creative Director Dave Bossert

On October 7, 1918, Norman Palmer was born in Santa Ana, California. After graduating from Hollywood High School in 1937, he applied to the Walt Disney Studios, joining as a projectionist in 1938. Soon after he arrived, Palmer was transferred to the editorial department. His early career was cut short by the onset of World War II, when he joined the Field Photographic Branch of the Office of Strategic Services in Washington D.C., editing films. He was soon sent overseas, taking aerial photos over Europe. After the war, Palmer came back to Disney, where he continued editing films, including Melody Time and Make Mine Music. When the studio stared working on the True-Life Adventure series, Palmer was brought in to edit the films, including Academy Award winning The Living Desert and White Wilderness. It was Palmer’s special skill with editing and attention to detail that brought attention to these nature documentaries. Palmer also brought his editing skills to several Disney television series. After 45 years with the company, Palmer retired in 1983. He was inducted as a Disney Legend in 1998. Palmer passed away in 2013 at the age of 94.

October 6

October 6, 2014 – Memento Mori Opens in Walt Disney World

Memento Mori

“The Victorian-era phrase ‘Memento Mori’ reminded people of that age ‘to live life to the fullest as everyone is mortal.’”

On October 6, 2014, the Haunted Mansion themed store Memento Mori opened in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park. The store, located in Liberty Square, features special merchandise created to celebrate one of the park’s most popular attractions, including Dooney and Bourke purses, open edition pins, and special “spirit photography” that allows guests to transform into spirits that similar to the other 999 happy haunts.

October 5

October 5, 1955 – The Disneyland Hotel Opens

Disneyland Hotel

“Be surrounded in the spirit and wonder of Disneyland past and present.”

On October 5, 1955, the Disneyland Hotel opened across the street from the Disneyland Park. When the park was in development, Walt Disney wanted to build a hotel nearby, but didn’t have the funds to do so. Entrepreneur Jack Wrather, a friend of Walt’s, was convinced to build the first Disneyland Hotel, a simple motor inn with only 100 rooms. The hotel, owned under the Wrather Corporation, grew over the years, and after Walt’s death, the Disney Company decided that it was time that it owned the hotel. In 1988, after acquiring the Wrather Corporation, they not only gained complete control of the hotel, but the Queen Mary in Long Beach as well. The Disneyland Hotel is notable for its connection to the park by monorail, making it one of the most popular hotels on the Disneyland property. The hotel is also known for its selection of restaurants, the monorail-themed pool, and its three towers: Adventure, Fantasy, and Frontier.

October 4

October 4, 1926 – The Alice Comedy Alice in the Wooly West is Released

vlcsnap-2015-10-04-20h58m22s28

On October 4, 1926, the Alice Comedy Alice in the Wooly West was released. It was the 34th Alice Comedy, and starred Margie Gay as Alice.

Julius is riding a horse in the old West, doing tricks with his lasso, when a stagecoach robbery passes by. Alice is thrown out of the stagecoach, and is cornered by one of the bandits. Julius watches from a nearby ledge when he and his horse decide to slide in and save the day. One of the bandits rides away with Alice, and Julius follows in hot pursuit. A fight ensues, even as the two fall off a tall rock formation, but Julius manages to confound the bandit by hiding amongst the rocks. Julius finally manages to subdue the robber and rescue a grateful Alice, who proclaims him her hero.

October 3

October 3, 1971 – The Peter Pan’s Flight Attraction Opens in Walt Disney World

Peter Pan's Flight

“Fly over London with Peter Pan aboard a magical pirate ship to Never Land.”

On October 3, 1971, the Fantasyland attraction Peter Pan’s Flight opened in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park. Similar to the attraction of the same name that opened in Disneyland in 1955, the attraction is based on the 1953 animated feature film Peter Pan, and takes guests on flying pirate ships to join Peter, Tinker Bell, Wendy, John, and Michael in their adventures in Never Land. The attraction is highly popular, and in 2014 a new themed queue was designed to entertain guests during their wait.

October 2

October 2, 1953 – The Special Short Film Football Now and Then is Released to Theaters

vlcsnap-2015-10-02-18h10m02s118

“Every autumn throughout the country, when the frost is on the pumpkins and the leaves begin to fall, there’s something stirring in the air: football!”

On October 2, 1953, the special short film Football Now and Then was released to theaters. It was directed by Jack Kinney, with story by Lance Nolley.

It’s the beginning of football season, and a grandfather and grandson wonder which of their respective teams would win in a match: Grandfather’s Old Time Gladiators of Yesterday, of the Modern Gridiron Heroes of Today. The Modern team has hundreds of members, while the old time team has only a few. The coin toss is done, and the modern team has their kickoff. The Old Timers manage to bulldoze their way across the field to score the first touchdown, while the modern coach is flustered at having so many members to manage and send out to the field. The Modern Team huddles together to figure out their next move, and when they get back to position – the game is interrupted by an advertisement for a dishwasher. The game continues, but the modern team doesn’t seem to be faring very well, though they finally score a touchdown. The score is tied, and at the halftime, the two teams take very different approaches to prepare for the game. The second half is full of chaos and confusion on both sides. The game is tied once again – and once again gets interrupted by the dishwasher commercial. In the end, the grandfather insists that this only proves that everyone should have that kind of dishwasher, and heads out to get one.