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Monthly Archives: April 2016

April 10

Posted on April 10, 2016 by disneydetail

April 10, 1972 – Bedknobs and Broomsticks Wins Academy Award for Special Visual Effects

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“Treguna, Mekoides, Trecorum Satis Dee.”

On April 10, 1972, the 44th Academy Awards were held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. Nominated for five Academy Awards, the live-action feature Bedknobs and Broomsticks managed to go home with one for Best Visual Effects, beating out the film When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth by Hammer Films, distributed by Warner Brothers. One of the effects used included the sodium screen vapor process (originally developed by Ub Iwerks), which was used mostly for the flying bed scenes and involved a three-strip Technicolor camera that removed the sodium light by use of a prism. The sodium process has since been replaced by green screens and blue screens, as well as compositing via computers.

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April 9

Posted on April 9, 2016 by disneydetail

April 9, 2002 – The El Capitan Entertainment Centre is Declared a Historical Monument

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“We are so proud to be a part of Hollywood history and to be playing a continuing role in the revitalization of this historic area of Los Angeles.” – Lylle Breier, Senior VP Worldwide Special Events for Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

On April 9, 2002, the newly resorted El Capitan Entertainment Centre was opened and was named a Historic Hollywood Landmark by the city of Los Angeles. Originally built in 1921 as the Hollywood Masonic Temple, the temple was sold by the Masons in 1982 after years of dwindling membership. In 1998, the Walt Disney Company became the owner of the property, solely for the purposes of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. Disney gave the building an extensive overhaul, restoring some of the buildings’ original features that had been taken out since the sale of the building in the 1980s. Disney has since used the El Capitan Theater for its studios’ film premieres, particularly for Pixar and Disney Animation releases.

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April 8

Posted on April 8, 2016 by disneydetail

April 8, 2008 – Disney Legend Julie Andrews is Honored with Carousel Horse at Disneyland

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“I’ve never lost touch and never lost my feeling of family with Disney, and I am so proud to be a cast member.”

On April 8, 2008, actress, Disney Legend, and 50th anniversary ambassador of Disneyland Julie Andrews was honored with a special carousel horse on King Arthur’s Carousel. The lead horse, named Jingles, was repainted with a more ornate design, honoring Andrews’ more than 40 years of dedication to the Walt Disney Company, including a saddle featuring her initials, images depicting her famous role as British nanny Mary Poppins, along with the number 50 to represent the park’s 50th anniversary, for which she was the ambassador and made an honorary cast member. On hand to present the horse was Imagineer and fellow Disney Legend Marty Sklar.

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April 7

Posted on April 7, 2016 by disneydetail

April 7, 1954 – The Chip ‘n’ Dale Short Film The Lone Chipmunks is Released to Theaters

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“Drop that gun! You comin’ along peaceful-like?”

On April 7, 1954, the Chip ‘n’ Dale short film The Lone Chipmunks premiered in theaters. It was the third and final short in the pair’s separate series, as most of their shorts had been included under Donald Duck’s banner. It was directed by Jack Kinney, with story by Dick Kinney and Milt Schaffer.

It’s the Old West, and Black Pete is terrorizing towns and stealing money from the banks. As Chip is gathering nuts for winter, a soldier posts up a reward poster, offering $10,000 for Black Pete’s capture, dead or alive. Black Pete is riding by their tree, with the chipmunks unaware that he uses their tree to stash his stolen goods. Dale wants to claim the reward for his capture, but Chip stops him, telling he needs a plan. Their first plan to drop a large rock on him goes awry, and Black Pete becomes paranoid that someone is after him. Chip comes up with a second plan, replacing Black Pete’s tobacco with gunpowder, but that plan also goes wrong. The pair then steals Black Pete’s money, but he gets the better of them and starts firing. Chip realizes they have to get his gun, and once they do, it goes off wildly. Chip manages to hold Black Pete up, but his inexperience in this field causes problems. Dale comes up with some quick thinking, and the two manage to subdue the robber as the Calvary arrives. The captain realizes that it’s the work of the Lone Chipmunks, and the pair ride off into the sunset.

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April 6

Posted on April 6, 2016 by disneydetail

April 6, 1996 – The Band Fastball Releases Debut Album Through Hollywood Records

Fastball

“Are you ready for the fallout? Who you gonna call out?”

On April 6, 1996, the debut album for the band Fastball, entitled Make Your Mama Proud, was released through Hollywood Records. The band, native to Austin, Texas, had been recommended to the Disney-owned record label thanks to the efforts of a local journalist. The album had one minor hit with the promotional single “Are You Ready for the Fallout?” but overall did not sell very well, selling under 6,000 copies. The band wouldn’t find success until the 1998 album All the Pain Money Can Buy and the hit single “The Way”

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April 5

Posted on April 5, 2016 by disneydetail

April 5, 1940 – The Donald Duck Short Film Donald’s Dog Laundry is Released to Theaters

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“Oh boy, oh boy! It’s all finished!”

On April 5, 1940, the Donald Duck short film Donald’s Dog Laundry premiered in theaters. It was directed by Jack King.

Donald has instructions for a modern dog washer, and sets up to make it using a makeshift of spare parts. Poor unaware Pluto is snoozing away nearby, but wakes up when he accidentally breathes in a leaf while snoring. Donald calls Pluto over for a bath, but Pluto has other ideas and tries to sneak away. Donald chases after him, and after a humorous back-and-forth, Pluto is able to hide in his doghouse. Donald, ever determined, grabs a toy bone marked as bait (complete with string attached), and sets a trap for Pluto to follow the bone. Pluto takes the bait, but Donald pulls the bone a bit too hard, getting it lodged in a rock. Pluto manages to get the bone out, but has a hard time chewing it, as the rubber keeps hitting him in the face. The trick turns into a game of tug of war, with Pluto finally getting the bone, and Donald having to resort to another baiting trick: a cat puppet. Pluto hears Donald make cat noises and, thinking the puppet to be a real cat, stalks his prey. Donald puts the puppet in the tub and continues to harass Pluto, covering him in suds. Unfortunately, the suds make Pluto sneeze, and when Donald goes to put Pluto in the tub, Pluto lets out a sneeze so vehemently that it sends Donald flying into the dog washing contraption. Donald ends up cleaner than ever, and surprisingly pleased that the machine works.

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April 4

Posted on April 4, 2016 by disneydetail

April4, 1944 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is Reissued to Theaters

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“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is more than a great picture, it’s an experience in happiness.”

On April 4, 1944, Disney’s first full-length animated feature film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was reissued to theaters for the first time. Almost seven years after its first release, the rerelease was a gamble taken by the studios as they tried to make some money during the war years. Pinocchio and Fantasia had not been as financially successful as Walt Disney had hoped, though Dumbo managed to be another smash for the studio; unfortunately, shortly after its release was the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the entrance of the United States into World War II. The loss of the European markets hurt the Disney Studios deeply, with the war instructionals and propaganda films not providing enough income to keep the studios in business. The film has since been reissued seven times since.

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April 3

Posted on April 3, 2016 by disneydetail

April 3, 2007 – Anneliese van der Pol Take the Stage as Belle in Beauty and the Beast

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“It’s so exciting not only to be making my Broadway debut in this fabulous show, but to also have the honor of being the last person to play Belle on Broadway.”

On April 3, 2007, Disney Channel star Anneliese van der Pol took the stage as Belle in the Broadway production Beauty and the Beast. Van der Pol would be the final Belle in this production, as the Broadway run was scheduled to end on July 29 after almost 5,500 performances. A star of Disney Channel’s Original Series That’s So Raven, van der Pol was also chosen for her numerous theater credits, including California productions of Evita, Oklahoma!, and The Nutcracker. This role was her Broadway debut, and she is the second former Disney star to play the role after Christy Carlson Romano.

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April 2

Posted on April 2, 2016 by disneydetail

April 2, 2007 – The Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Attraction Opens in Walt Disney World

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“Discover the power of laughter from the original Monsters of Comedy during a hilarious interactive show.”

On April 2, 2007, the interactive attraction Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor opened in Walt Disney World’s Tomorrowland area. The attraction, featuring characters from the Pixar films Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University, takes guests into a comedy club in the heart of Monstropolis, where character Mike has duties as the M.C. Guests are implored to laugh at the jokes in order to build up enough power to open the doors at the end of the show. Using special technology, the comedians interact with the audience, including choosing one audience member to be “that guy,” the butt of every joke. While waiting for the show to begin, guests are also asked to provide their own jokes through text messages that may be used during one of the show’s acts.

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April 1

Posted on April 1, 2016 by disneydetail

April 1, 1924 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Spooky Adventure is Released to Theaters

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“You knocked it in there— now go get it—

On April 1, 1924, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Spooky Adventure premiered in theaters. It was the third Alice Comedy created, and starred Virginia Davis as Alice.

The short begins with Alice and the gang accidentally hitting a baseball through a nearby window. However, the boys refuse to retrieve it because they think the house is haunted, which leaves Alice as the lone volunteer. She heads inside and looks for the baseball, and sees a moving box instead. However, she is relieved to see that it’s only a cat. She is startled by something else and falls backwards, with several items and a sheet falling on her head. She then wakes in the cartoon world, where ghosts are haunting all the houses and items are flying through the air. She hears a cry for help from a ghost, which, when she pulls off the sheet, is revealed to be her friend Julius. The pair then hear some nearby music and start to dance before heading over to the Spookville Open Air Concert. Ghosts are dancing and having fun at the gathering, though Julius finds himself in trouble when he interrupts a mahjong game. Alice knocks the ghosts out to save Julius, and the two celebrate, with Julius declaring his love for Alice. Meanwhile, Alice wakes up back in the real world, and heads out of the house with the baseball, but is caught by a cop, who locks her up in a cell for trespassing.

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