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July 19

July 19, 2013 – The Disney Channel Original Movie Teen Beach Movie Premieres

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“Come on. They sing for no reason, they come out of the water and their hair is totally dry, the girls never surf as well as the boys, and they sing for no reason. I had to mention that one again cause even a second time, I don’t get why.”

On July 19, 2013, the Disney Channel Original Movie Teen Beach Movie premiered. It was the only DCOM to premiere in 2013, and became the second highest rated film with 8.4 million viewers on its first airing. The movie was dedicated to Annette Funicello, the original beach movie star who had passed away on April 8, 2013. The film was directed by Jeffrey Hornaday, with story by Vince Marcello and Mark Landry. The film starred Ross Lynch as Brady, Maia Mitchell as Mack, Grace Phipps as Lela, Garrett Clayton as Tanner, Kevin Chamberlin as Dr. Fusion, Steve Valentine as Les Camembert, and Barry Bostwick as Mack’s Grandfather.

The movie centers around teenagers Brady and Mack, a couple who have spent all day surfing. Mack tries to tell Brady something important, but gets distracted by the news of forty-foot waves the next day. In Mack’s grandfather’s house, there is another distraction in the form of Brady’s favorite film: Wet Side Story. Mack’s Aunt Antoinette shows up, revealing Mack’s news in front of Brady: Mack is leaving the next day. Brady is upset, as Mack will be heading to an exclusive private school back East. Mack asks for one more day to surf the big waves, but Aunt Antoinette won’t have it. Brady and Mack argue, but Mack says it’s her choice and she didn’t know how to tell Brady; Mack had made a deal with her Aunt to go to private school after her mother died. Mack wants to fulfill her mother’s dream of going to college, and breaks up with Brady.

Brady  heads out to save Mack from a huge storm that is brewing

Brady heads out to save Mack from a huge storm that is brewing

The next day, as Mack packs to head East, she finds her grandfather’s legendary surfboard and decides to hit up the forty-foot waves. Brady finds her and watches her as she heads out to surf, trying to find the perfect wave. Mack’s grandfather finds Brady and warns him that the sky doesn’t look good, and although it is deemed dangerous to surf, Mack continues to stay in the water. Brady heads out to bring Mack back in, but the two get caught in the large wave. The two manage to reach the surface, and are shocked to find themselves in what seems to be the set for Wet Side Story. Brady embraces it immediately, while Mack thinks they’ve died. The two stick out, and the surfers don’t take well to outsiders. The bikers then enter the bar where the bikers and surfers hang, and find themselves in the middle of a surf and turf war. Brady explains what’s going on to Mack, who is still nonplussed by the situation. Brady then continues to insert himself into the musical numbers while Mack watches, impressed.

Mack is once again thrown by the fact that they are stuck in the 1960s as she needs to get on a plane to the East, and Brady thinks that there needs to be storm to get them home. Mack and Brady end up at the shindig at Big Momma’s, the surfer and biker joint, when the bikers crash the party. Mack is frustrated at Brady’s attitude at the party, and the pair finds themselves dancing. Unfortunately, Mack and Brady end up changing the film, where the two leads, Lela and Tanner, end up falling for Brady and Mack instead of each other. The movie is then thrown off course, and Mack and Brady realize that they’ve changed everything. The two head to the secret hideout of the movie’s villain, Les Camembert, who has created a large weather altering machine. If Mack and Brady don’t fix the film, then the two won’t be able to get home. Brady and Mack come up with a plan to get Tanner and Lela fall for each other instead of them.

Mack infiltrates the biker girls' sleepover to get closer to Lela and fix the relationship mess

Mack infiltrates the biker girls’ sleepover to get closer to Lela and fix the relationship mess

Mack ends up at the biker girls’ sleepover, and she questions why the girls let boys decide everything for them. Meanwhile, Brady hangs out with the surfer guys at Big Momma’s, and finds that Tanner doesn’t care if a girl is a surfer or a biker, so long as she has something special. Mack ends up with a biker chick makeover, much to Brady’s amusement. Mack worries that they will remain stuck in the film, but Brady wants to stay because the two of them can stay together. Mack and Brady try to get Lela and Tanner to end up alone so they can get to know each other as people. Mack develops a friendship with Lela, who opens up to Mack with a big secret: she wants to surf. She convinces Lela to start surfing, and offers to have Brady teach her. Meanwhile, Les Camembert is testing his weather altering machine with his assistant, Dr. Fusion, which causes Mack and Brady to panic, as the storm is approaching. The situation is even worse when the two realize they are becoming part of the film, and burst into an involuntary musical number.

As Mack and Brady work on a plan, they are attacked by Les Camembert; meanwhile, Lela and Tanner meet by chance and start falling for each other, realizing that they’re meant to be before realizing that Mack and Brady must be in trouble. Mack and Brady are held captive in the lighthouse, and Lela and Tanner ask for everyone’s help in Big Momma’s, begging for everyone to work together to stop Les Camembert’s plans. Once the surfers and bikers see how much in love Lela and Tanner are, they have no choice but to work together. In the lighthouse, Mack finally admits that she doesn’t want to leave Brady and head to private school. The bikers and surfers show up just in time to save the day, and cause the machine to blow, creating the massive storm needed to get Mack and Brady back home. Lela and Tanner ask them to stay, and Lela gives Mack a special friendship necklace. Finally, Brady and Mack are able to take the giant wave back home, having saved the film. Mack then gets a chance to ride the forty-foot swell, and nails it. In the end, Mack tells her aunt that she doesn’t want to go, and want to stay with Brady and her grandfather, and make her own decisions. The movie ends with a big musical number on the beach.

July 6

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July 6, 2009 – ABC Programming Appears on Hulu

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“Today marks the official start of a new relationship: the launch of ABC content on Hulu.”

On July 6, 2009, the deal between Disney and Hulu was completed with the appearance of ABC programming on the streaming service. The first episodes to appear were five episodes of the hit drama Grey’s Anatomy. Other ABC titles were introduced through a promo called Hulu Days of Summer, where viewers could guess clues to the next content to be posted. With this arrangement, ABC was one of the last major networks to use Hulu as a platform for streaming their programming to a new crop of viewers.

July 5

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July 5, 1988 – The Film Norway – The Film Opens in Epcot’s Norway Pavilion

Norway Pavilion

“Norway…it was born in challenge, in a thousand years of challenging the seas.”

On July 5, 1988, the seventy millimeter film Norway – The Film opened in the Norway Pavilion of Epcot’s World Showcase. Also known as The Spirit of Norway, the film was shown at the end of the Maelstrom attraction, where guests could sit and learn a bit more about the people and culture of Norway. The film closed alongside Maelstrom on October 5, 2014, to make way for a new attraction featuring the characters from the film Frozen.

July 3

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July 3, 2004 – The Live Show One Man’s Dream II – The Magic Lives On Opens in Tokyo Disneyland

One Man's Dream II

限りなくつづくディズニーの夢の世界…誰もが心をうばわれたミッキーマウスの誕生から始まったウォルト・ディズニーの夢と魔法をどうぞお楽しみください。”

On July 3, 2004, the live show One Man’s Dream II – The Magic Lives On opened in Tokyo Disneyland. A revised version of the One Man’s Dream show that ran from April 15, 1988 to September 3, 1995, the 30-minute show was a musical spectacular that took guests through magical scenes from several Disney films, honoring the imagination of Walt Disney. This show was unique in the aspect that it began with black-and-white scenery and costumes before exploding into a wonderful world of color. The show freatured characters such as Snow White, Pinocchio, and Peter Pan.

July 2

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July 2, 1999 – The Live Show Tarzan Rocks Opens in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

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“Two worlds, where primitive meets civilized, where man and beast coexist as one.”

On July 2, 1999, the live-action show Tarzan Rocks opened in the Theater in the Wild in the DinoLand U.S.A. area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. The half-hour show, based on the 1999 animated feature film Tarzan and sponsored by McDonald’s, featured several types of performances, including dancers, inline skaters, and gymnasts in all areas of the theater. Songs from the show were performed by a rock band that occupied a scaffolding on the stage, with the singers acting as narrators for the “Two Worlds Concert Tour.” Halfway through the show, the characters Tarzan and Jane appear to act out scenes from the film before performing complex aerial acrobatics. After this, the stage is taken over by Terk, who starts “Trashing’ the Camp” with audience participation. The show then ends with a musical and dance spectacular to the song “You’ll Be in My Heart.” The show closed on January 21, 2006.

June 22

June 22, 2009 – The ABC Family Series Make it Or Break It Premieres

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“It’s so weird: all this work and it can be all over in one weekend.”

On June 22, 2009, the drama series Make It or Break It premiered on ABC Family. Inspired by the comedy-drama film Stick It, the series revolved around four elite gymnasts who wished to make it to the Olympics. The series lasted for three seasons with 48 episodes. It was created by Holly Sorensen, and starred Chelsea Hobbs as Emily Kmetko, Ayla Kell as Payson Keeler, Josie Loren as Kaylie Cruz, and Cassie Scerbo as Lauren Tanner.

The pilot episode begins at the Rocky Mountain Gymnastics Training Center (also known as the Rock), where several Olympic hopeful gymnasts are arriving. Best friends Payson, Kaylie, and Lauren are preparing to head to their last Nationals, though Kaylie and Lauren are looking forward to life after competing. The top three gymnasts will be heading to Nationals, with the three girls eyeing the spots. A last minute competitor named Emily joins the race, giving the three girls some anxiety, particularly Lauren. Kaylie attempts to be nice to Emily, while Lauren is rather snippy. Lauren attempts to turn Kaylie and Payson against Emily, but Kaylie and Payson would rather pay attention to their own work. Emily has a scholarship to attend The Rock, and is nervous about maintaining it. Each girl has their own troubles to work with, with each dealing with the pressure to win a spot at Nationals.

Emily starts the long trek home from The Rock when her mom forgets to pick her up

Emily starts the long trek home from The Rock when her mom forgets to pick her up

Emily ends up walking home from the Rock, and accidentally finds Kaylie making out with fellow gymnast Carter, which is a violation of the rules of the Rock. When Emily arrives home, she finds that her mother has forgotten about the National Tryouts, but Emily is able to smooth things over. Carter drives Kaylie home and wants to tell her father about their relationship, but Kaylie refuses as they should focus on Nationals. Lauren arrives at Kaylie’s, and says that her father will “take care of Emily,” making sure that she will not qualify for the team. Emily arrives at her new job to pick up her uniform, and ends up having to work a shift, keeping her late at the restaurant. She ends up making friends with fellow employee Razor, although he seems to have an immediate crush on her. The next morning, Emily oversleeps and rushes to make it to the trials. She barely manages to make it, but arrives just in time.

The competition begins, and Emily holding her own against the other three girls, though she still holds in fourth place. Lauren, known as “Queen of the Beam,” heads up to do her routine, but falls off the beam at the start, costing her some serious points. Realizing that Emily deserves a shot at top three, Payson starts cheering Emily on, with everyone joining her. Emily nails her beam routine, and nails her position in top three, crushing Lauren. Lauren decides to sabotage Emily’s vault routine, especially knowing that Emily is afraid of the vault. Unaware of the sabotage, Emily takes off, and injures herself badly on the vault. Emily doesn’t want to go to the hospital, but she is taken to rest in the back. Emily’s mom wants her to give up on her dream, but Emily refuses to quit. She is allowed to have her second vault, and sets the board herself to prevent another injury. She nails the vault, and manages to win her shot at Nationals. Lauren is hurt that she lost her spot, and decides to get it another way: by spilling the details of Kaylie’s verboten relationship with Carter. However, Emily defends Kaylie, covering for her. In the end, Lauren’s father, who funds the Rock, goes to the coach and blackmails him into taking Lauren and a few other girls to the Denver club. This leaves Kaylie, Payson, and Emily with no coach, and no hope before Nationals.

June 13

June 13, 1990 – The Television Special Dick Tracy: Behind the Badge…Behind the Scenes Airs

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“Dick Tracy on one hand is about good versus evil, and on the other hand it’s a story about people wanting to form a family.”

On June 13, 1990, the television special Dick Tracy: Behind the Badge…Behind the Scenes aired. The special took viewers behind the scenes of the comic turned film, with a look at how Warren Beatty acted as both lead actor, producer, and director, how actors like Al Pacino were transformed from actors to comical mobsters, and how Madonna was able to become character Breathless Mahoney. Beginning from its origins as Chester Gould’s comic, this featurette explores the work it took to turn this to a big screen action film, from the art of make-up magic to the explosive experts for the elaborate scenes. The featurette was written by Rick Sublett, and directed by Gayle Hollenbaugh.

June 11

June 11, 2012 – The ABC Family Series Bunheads Premieres

Bunheads

“If a director can just look at you and say ‘no’ after three seconds, it’s not ‘no’ cause you’re so young and hot. It’s ‘no’ cause you’re starting to look like an IHOP cashier.”

On June 11, 2012, the dramedy series Bunheads premiered on ABC Family. The series centered around Las Vegas showgirl Michelle Simms, who marries a man impetuously and moves to his hometown of Paradise, California. After her husband dies, Simms decides to go back to her roots and teach ballet alongside her mother-in-law at the Paradise Dance Academy. The series lasted for 18 episodes, being cancelled after one season. It was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Lamar Damon. It starred Sutton Foster as Michelle Simms, Kelly Bishop as Fanny Flowers, Kaitlyn Jenkins as Bettina Jordan, Julia Goldani Telles as Sasha Torres, Bailey Buntain as Virginia Thompson, and Emma Dumont as Melanie Segal.

May 23

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May 23, 2013 – The Premiere Event of Mickey and the Magical Map Takes Place

MickeyandtheMagicalMap

“Join Mickey for a live musical show that takes you to exciting worlds of imagination!”

On May 23, 2013, the premiere event of the new Fantasyland Theater show Mickey and the Magical Map took place in Disneyland. This special showing of the new live-action show was for invited guests and members of the media, with the premiere for the public taking place on May 25th. Almost two-years in the making, the show stars Mickey Mouse, wishing to become one of Yen Sid’s mapmakers, who takes guests through several lands of imagination, including the Adventure Islands, Dream Village, Celebration Peaks, and Friendship Woods, occupied with several favorite Disney characters such as Pocahontas, Tiana, and Mulan. The show takes place in the revamped Fantasyland Theater, which is now equipped with technical upgrades including LED screens and special effects. For this show, over 50 singers and dancers were chosen from over 900 performers. The map, made of six sections weighing at over 9,000 pounds each, uses over a million pixels for the images of each magical land.

May 16

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May 16, 2008 – The Reality Series Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream Premieres on Disney Channel

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“The Jonas Brothers are about to hit the road for a sold-out tour, but before we take off, we have a monster to-do list.”

On May 16, 2008, the reality television series Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream premiered on the Disney Channel. The series took a behind-the-scenes look of the popular band The Jonas Brothers, and how they cope with being famous. The episodes were four to six minute vignettes about the boys’ lives. The show had two seasons, with a total of 27 episodes released.

The first episode, “To-Do List,” focuses on brother Nick, who notes that the band has quite a bit to do before they can head out on tour. The first task is a photo shoot for their new Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock alongside Demi Lovato. Afterwards, they have to meet their stylist for the tour, with Nick admitting that he’s nervous, but excited about their first headlining show. This is followed by shopping for a new pair of sneakers. They only have two hours to pack before heading out on tour, and quickly rush to get everything together. Unfortunately, right before they go, they have to help their parents move things around the house. Nick notes that they’re just like regular kids in terms of having to listen to their parents and do their chores. Right before they go, Nick has to watch his little brother, as he seems to have problems packing. Finally, they get ready to go on tour, and set off in their plane.