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Monthly Archives: September 2016

September 10

September 10, 2012 – The Daytime Talk Show Katie Premieres on ABC

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“I still have this insatiable curiosity and this need to understand the world around me. I hope that that will translate to and appeal to the audience.”

On September 10, 2012, the daytime talk show Katie premiered in syndication on ABC. The show was hosted by former ABC correspondent Katie Couric, who used the show to talk about a variety of issues, which Couric described as “…the news and issues that I think people care about, whether it’s bullying or the effect technology has on our kids.” ABC affiliates were encouraged to air the program at 3pm EST. Although the show was the number one new syndicated talk show of the 2012-2013 season, ABC and Couric mutually decided to cancel the show on December 19, 2013, with the last episode premiering on July 30, 2014.

September 9

September 9, 2011 – Robert Chapek Named President of Disney Consumer Products

“I’m excited about the opportunity to lead our newly expanded team and to grow our brands, franchises, and movie properties in the fast-changing retail and licensing marketplace.”

On September 9, 2011, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Bob Iger announced the promotion of Robert Chapek to President of Disney Consumer Products. The naming of Chapek came at the time of the formation of the consolidated consumer products organization, combining the retail lines within the Walt Disney Studios, Pixar, Marvel, and the related consumer and interactive product lines. Chapek was promoted from being the President of Distribution, a role which was then assumed by Alan Bergman, the President of the Walt Disney Studios.

September 8

September 8, 1991 – Beauty and the Beast Plays 1,000 Performance

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“Song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the Beast.”

On September 8, 1991, the Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast joined the ranks of less than 80 musicals to reach 1,000 performances with its Sunday matinee. The musical reached this milestone after almost two and a half years in the Palace Theatre, with the show opening on April 19, 1994. The musical would continue to run until July 29, 2007, having 5,461 performances overall.

September 7

September 7, 1984 – Ron Miller Resigns as President and CEO of the Walt Disney Company

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“All of this activity in the last six months is not purely attributable to Ron Miller. The directors had a voice in all of this.” – Harold Vogel, analyst with Merrill Lynch, Inc.

On September 7, 1984, after mounting pressure from the board of directors and a dismal series of events for the company, Ron W. Miller announced his resignation as President and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, which was accepted unanimously. The final six months of Miller’s command were bleak at best, with Saul P. Steinberg threatening to takeover the company; the company faced criticism in paying $325 million to Steinberg to keep the company intact. The company also faced problems in terms of the fare that they released; Miller had the idea to release more provocative fare, which was met with mixed criticism within the company. While the creation of Touchstone Films would prove to be a boon for the company, the earlier releases with this new provocative, innovative lens were financially disastrous. It would be shortly after this that Michael Eisner and Frank Wells would be named as CEO and President, respectfully, and the company would start seeing a turnaround in its success.

September 6

September 6, 1926 – The Alice Comedy Alice Charms the Fish is Released to Theaters

Margie Gay

On September 6, 1926, the Alice Comedy Alice Charms the Fish premiered in theaters. It was the 32nd Alice Comedy released, and the 16th starring Margie Gay as Alice. The film has since become known as a lost film, and is one of the earliest releases to be classified as such.

September 5

September 5, 2004 – Aida Has Last Performance on Broadway

Aida

“This is a story of a love that flourished in a time of hate, of lovers no tyranny could separate.”

On September 5, 2004, the Disney musical Aida played its final performance at the Palace Theatre, ending after 1,852 performances in four and a half years. The Tony Award winning musical, originally entitled Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida and based on the opera by Verdi, had an interesting journey to Broadway, as the musical was very different when it previewed at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as a set mishap during a Chicago performance in 1999 where lead actors Heather Headley and Adam Pascal sustained minor injuries. The final performance featured Deborah Cox as Aida and Adam Pascal returning as Radames.

September 4

September 4, 1913 – Chairman of the Oriental Land Company and Disney Legend Masatomo Takahashi is Born

Masatomo Takahashi

“Thanks to Masatomo, for years to come, families around the Asia-Pacific region will experience the delights of Disney and its magical theme parks.” – Roy E. Disney

On September 4, 1913, Masatomo Takahashi was born in Fukushima, Japan. He graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in 1939, and began working at the Riken Heavy Industries Company until Japan’s entry into World War II; he then served as an Army interpreter, serving in areas such as Shanghai and New Guinea. Once the war ended, he began working at Kenzai Company, Ltd., working up the management ranks from executive managing director to eventually becoming its president. In 1961, Takahashi left Kenzai to join the Oriental Land Company (OLC) as its senior executive managing director, mainly working in the area of land reclamation with fisherman. Takahashi had always had a dream of bringing Disneyland to the children of Japan and, after becoming the president and representative director of OLC in 1978, he approached the Walt Disney Company with his idea: building a Disney theme park in Japan’s capital city of Tokyo. After the creation and success of Walt Disney World, the idea was given the greenlight, and contracts were signed in 1979. Takahashi was steadfast on the idea that this wasn’t to be an Asian version of the popular Disney park, but a park similar to those in the United States. In 1983, his vision was fulfilled when Tokyo Disneyland opened to great success. For his unwavering vision, Takahashi was honored as a Disney Legend in 1998. After becoming the chairman of OLC, Takahashi continued to develop and expand his idea, creating the idea that would soon become Tokyo DisneySea, located in Tokyo Bay. Takahashi passed away on January 31, 2000, with Tokyo DisneySea opening on September 4, 2001.

September 3

September 3, 2014 – A Western Lowland Gorilla is Born in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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“It’s exciting to see a strong, nurturing family of this endangered species flourishing at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.” – Animal Operations Manager for Disney’s Animal Programs Jay Therien

On September3, 2014, a western lowland male gorilla was born in Disney’s Animal Kingdom; this was the second birth of this gorilla species within the past month. The baby was born to mother Kashata and father Gino, with Gino also being the father of the gorilla born earlier in August. These arrivals mark the fourth and fifth gorillas born within Animal Kingdom, with the care and conservation done in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan.

September 2

September 2, 1955 – The Donald Duck Short Film Beezy Bear is Released to Theaters

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“You think it was a bear. Oh no, it couldn’t have been one of my boys.”

On September 2, 1955, the Donald Duck short film Beezy Bear premiered in theaters. It was directed by Jack Hannah, with story by Dave Detiege and Al Bertino. It is one of the few Donald Duck short films filmed in Cinemascope.

It’s another day at Donald’s honey farm, and Humphrey the Bear is once again tring to steal Donald’s honey. Donald storms over to Ranger Audubon’s station to complain. Audubon doesn’t believe that it could be one of his bears, but Donald is adamant. Audubon and Donald reach an impasse where they agree not to cross into each other’s properties, with Humphrey going crazy over the honey he can’t eat. He manages to sneak into Donald’s farm again and traps the bees before making off with one of the cartons of honey, but the bees manage to chase him back into the national park. He continues to make his way back, trapping the bees in various (but inevitably failing) ways. Audubon still doesn’t suspect Humphrey, though he comes close to finding the truth several times. Donald manages to come across the bear at one point, taking his honey back. When he attempts to trick Humphrey, the trick backfires, and he, Humphrey, and Audubon end up in the lake.

September 1

September 1, 1950 – The Donald Duck Short Film Hook, Lion, and Sinker is Released to Theaters

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“Now, watch your old man!”

On September 1, 1950, the Donald Duck short film Hook, Lion, and Sinker premiered in theaters. It was directed by Jack Hannah, with story by Bill Berg and Nick George.

A mountain lion is fishing using his tail as the pole, but hasn’t caught a thing. His cub sneaks up behind him and starts playing with the lure, much to the father lion’s anger. The father carries the cub back to their cave, where the cub is given a spanking, before the lion returns to his task. Meanwhile, at the nearby cabin, Donald returns, having caught many fish. The cub sees the catch and, after Donald drops a fish on the dock, runs over to claim it. He takes it back to his father, who is proudly showing off a tiny fish he caught, and is surprised that his son caught something bigger. The two then work together to grab the fish that Donald caught. Unfortunately, Donald has had many run-ins with mountain lions stealing his fish, as evidenced by the heads mounted on his wall. As Donald preps the fish, he sees the paw of the mountain lion near his oven, and tricks the lion into grabbing a hot piece of coal. Angered, the lion tries to leap inside, only to come nose to muzzle with a shotgun. Donald sends the two packing, and the cub has to pull bits of pellets out of his father’s backside. Nevertheless, they continue their plan, this time with the cub working to steal the fish. Donald catches the cub and throws him outside after giving him a spanking. The lion then tries fishing out the chimney, almost getting away with it until Donald has him fish out the shotgun. Again and again the lion and cub try, only to come face to face with Donald and his shotgun. In the end, all the lion is left with are the pellets that his cub has to pull out of his backside.