January 11, 2004 – Pirates of the Caribbean Wins People’s Choice Award
“Drink up me hearties, yo ho.”
On January 11, 2004, the 30th People’s Choice Awards were held in Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which had been released on July 9, 2003, was honored as the Favorite Motion Picture of the year by the public, adding to the many accolades it received since its release.
December 28, 2006 – Disney Announces $3.26 Billion Box Office Returns for the Year
“In every area and on every level, 2006 was an extraordinary year for The Walt Disney Studios.” – Chairman Richard Cook
On December 28, 2006, Disney announced its year end box office gross of $3.26 billion. The year had been a successful one in several areas for Disney, ranging from its box office receipts and records, DVD sales, the Pixar acquisition, hit Disney Channel shows and movies, and its Broadway productions, among other profitable areas. In this report, Disney also claimed the top two box office spots for the year, with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest which earned over $1.06 billion, and Pixar’s Cars which grossed $462 million. Disney also had the three best-selling DVDs: Pirates of the Caribbean; Cars; and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe; these releases gave Buena Vista Home Entertainment an industry milestone.
December 15, 1933 – Comedian and Disney Legend Tim Conway is Born
“It’s interesting when you come to Disney, you get a script, go to wardrobe, and then you meet your animal.”
On December 15, 1933, Thomas Daniel Conway was born in Willoughby, Ohio, and grew up in the aptly named Chagrin Falls. He attended the Bowling Green State University to major in speech and radio; after graduating, he joined the Army, where he served for two years. After being discharged, he wound up back in Cleveland to work with radio personality Ernie Anderson. After working with Anderson on several projects, he was noticed by comedic actress Rose Marie, who decided to take him under her wing, which led him to a spot on The Steve Allen Show as a regular. It was his following project, as Ensign Charles Parker on McHale’s Navy, which gave Conway a national presence. After the show ended, he worked several other shows before landing at The Carol Burnett Show, where he was awarded with five Emmy Awards during his time. Conway first started working with Disney in 1973, when he starred in the live action feature The World’s Greatest Athlete, and followed that with the 1975 film The Apple Dumpling Gang, 1976’s Gus, and 1979’s The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again. Conway has also contributed to the Air Bud series, as well as several Disney television shows. For his work in the Disney medium, he was honored as a Disney Legend in 2004.
November 21, 2007 – Enchanted Actress Amy Adams and Walt Disney Studios Chairman Richard Cook Ring the Closing Bell of the New York Stock Exchange
“I’ve been dreaming of a true love’s kiss…”
On November 21, 2007, actress Amy Adams and Chairman of the Walt Disney Studios Richard Cook were asked to ring the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange. Both were invited to promote the newest Disney feature Enchanted, opening the same day and starring Adams as Giselle, a fairytale character that finds herself in Manhattan. Adams and Cook spent time before the bell taking pictures and talking with traders on the floor.
November 9, 1955 – Actress and Disney Legend Karen Dotrice is Born
“My first impression of [Dick van Dyke] was, ‘Wow, I get to do this for nine months? This is awesome!’”
On November 9, 1955, Karen Dotrice was born in Guernsey, off the coast of Normandy, to two Shakespearean actors. Surrounded by actors of great renown, she made her acting debut at the age of four in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle. It was in this production where she was scouted by Disney, and soon flew across the Atlantic to the Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Her father was on tour in England as King Lear, so “Uncle Walt” as she came to call him took care of her and her family as Dotrice worked. Her first film for the studio was The Three Lives of Thomasina, along with co-star Matthew Garber, and the two were then cast in the film Mary Poppins, which brought her newfound fame around the globe. Her final film for Disney was The Gnome-Mobile, after which she went back to England to star in films and the television series Upstairs, Downstairs. She returned to the United States in the 1980s, and retired from acting in 1984 to focus on raising a family. She was awarded as a Disney Legend in 2004.
November 7, 1999 – The Television Movie Annie Premieres on The Wonderful World of Disney
“Tomorrow, tomorrow, I’ll love ya, tomorrow, you’re only a day away.”
On November 7, 1999, the television movie Annie premiered on ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney programming block. The film was based on the popular Broadway musical of the same name, written by Thomas Meehan with music and lyrics by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. The movie was nominated for and won two Emmy awards for choreography and music direction. The movie also featured a cameo by the original Broadway Annie, Andrea McArdle. The film was directed by Rob Marshall, and starred Kathy Bates as Miss Hannigan, Alicia Morton as Annie, Victor Garber as Daddy Warbucks, Audra McDonald as Grace Farrell, Alan Cumming as Rooster, and Kristin Chenoweth as Lily St. Regis.
October 22, 2010 – The Rolling Stage Show “Disney Channel Rocks!” Premieres in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
“Turn the beat up, party up!”
On October 22, 2010, the rolling stage show “Disney Channel Rocks!” premiered in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park. The show traveled along Hollywood Boulevard before stopping for its main performance in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat. It was similar to its predecessor, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year – Right Here! Right Now!” in its format and showcasing song structure. The show itself featured music from several popular Disney Channel films, including Camp Rock and StarStruck. It closed on April 6, 2013.
October 7, 1918 – Film Editor and Disney Legend Norman “Stormy” Palmer is Born
“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.
September 25, 1925 – The Alice Comedy Alice Chops the Suey is Released to Theaters
“Whee! Chinatown!”
On September 25, 1925, the Alice Comedy Alice Chops the Suey was released to theaters. It was the 22nd Alice Comedy released, and starred Margie Gay as Alice.
The cartoon begins with a live-action animator drawing Julius. Julius is startled when the ink bottle starts shaking, and out jumps Alice. Both watch as the animator continues to draw, and Alice is excited to find that he has drawn Chinatown. Unfortunately, a mysterious figure pops out of the ink bottle, scaring Julius. Alice is snatched while Julius escapes, and is brought to a Chinese restaurant. Julius is quick to pursue her, but is unable to get through the door, which turns into a brick wall. Julius manages to capture one of the captors and steals its clothes so he can sneak in, and is able to run away with Alice still in the bag. He is pursued by several of the captors, but after a few mishaps, including a throwing sword fight, the two manage to make their getaway back into the ink bottle, which is carried away by the animator.
September 24, 1993 – The Sitcom Boy Meets World Premieres on ABC
“There’s no gravity in space, Mr. Matthews, therefore astronauts ‘suck up.’ Learn from them.”
On September 24, 1993, the live-action sitcom series Boy Meets World premiered on ABC. The series centered around the life of teenager Corey Matthews, from his early days in sixth grade to his marriage to childhood sweetheart Topanga Lawrence. The series became a staple of ABC’s TGIF programming block lineup, and was nominated for several awards during its run. In 2014, a sequel series that featured several of the original characters premiered on the Disney Channel, known as Girl Meets World. The series eventually ran for 158 episodes in seven seasons. It was created by Michael Jacobs and April Kelly, and starred Ben Savage as Corey Matthews, William Daniels as Mr. Feeny, Rider Strong as Shawn Hunter, Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence, Will Friedle as Eric Matthews, William Russ as Alan Matthews, Betsy Randle as Amy Matthews, and Tony Quinn as Jonathan Turner. Trina McGee-Davis would join in season five as Angela Moore, as would Matthew Lawrence as Jack Hunter. Maitland Ward would join the cast in season six as Rachel McGuire.
The pilot episode begins in the cafeteria, where teacher Mr. Feeny finds Corey Matthews getting a candy bar from the vending machine so early in the morning. After exchanging some barbs, Corey sits with his friend Shawn, who warns him that Mr. Feeny will make his whole sixth grade miserable. In class, they act out Romeo and Juliet, but Corey is listening to a baseball game secretly instead of paying attention. Mr. Feeny finds out and confiscates it, and tries to explain the true tragedy of the play. Corey, however, doesn’t understand, and is awarded detention for his insolence. After school, Corey’s brother Eric announces that he’s going on a date on Friday, which means that he won’t go to the baseball game with Corey. Corey is disappointed, and when he goes to tell his dad, he finds that Mr. Feeny, who happens to be his next door neighbor, has already informed his parents about Corey’s detention on Friday. When Corey complains about the game, his parents are happy that Eric is going on a date, which depresses Corey further.
Corey confides in his friends his troubles at home, and how he finds himself now an “orphan.”
At school the next day, Corey tries to come up with a plan to skip detention to score tickets to the game, and announces that he is now an orphan. That night, he decides to sleep in his treehouse, which gives him a good view of Mr. Feeny’s dining room. He notices that the table is set nicely, but after a phone call, he puts away the other place setting and eats by himself. The next morning, Corey sneaks back in the house to get some clothes, and his mother asks if he still feels abandoned. She explains that “people grow up and priorities change,” and no one is the bad guy in any situation. In detention, Corey tries to talk to Mr. Feeny, but Mr. Feeny ignores him. Corey points out that love leads to nowhere, as love has turned his family against him, and love left Mr. Feeny lonely. Mr. Feeny is frustrated, thinking that Corey hasn’t learned anything from him this entire year, and tries to teach him something that afternoon. He explains that the Matthews family derives its strength from being a family, and that there is nothing higher than achieving love. He then lets a stunned Corey go. Corey heads home and runs into his dad, who is glad his son is back. That evening, Eric comes home, and relates that his date when horribly, as he didn’t know what to do. Corey says that his brother is too cool for a girl, and convinces Eric to ask the girl out again, as “love is worth it.”
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