2004:
Oscar-winning composer Elmer Bernstein, who wrote the music for Disney's The Black Cauldron (and 250 other films and TV shows including The Magnificent Seven and To Kill a Mockingbird) passes away at age 82.
1922:
Actress Shelley Winters, who appeared in Disney's 1977 Pete's Dragon as Lena
Gogan, is born Shirley Schrift in an apartment on Newstead Ave. in St. Louis,
Missouri. A brassy actress and raconteur who appeared in more than 120 films and twice won the Academy
Award for supporting performances, Winters is probably most remembered for her roles in A Place in the Sun,
Alfie, and The Poseidon Adventure.
1930:
The Mickey Mouse cartoon short The Chain Gang is completed. It features the debut of Pluto (though he is not yet named). The film will be released September 5.
1931:
Disney's 7-minute black & white Mickey Mouse cartoon Blue Rhythm is
released. Mickey plays an orchestra leader in this take off of popular music man Ted Lewis.
1943:
Actor-comedian-musician Martin Mull is born in Chicago, Illinois. He was the voice of Governor Kevin for the Disney animated television series 'Teamo Supremo. First famous for playing twins Garth Gimble and Barth Gimble in the television nighttime absurdist soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Mull has appeared on many sitcoms including a 1990 episode of The Golden Girls.
1956:
At Disneyland, Carnation Plaza Gardens opens in the Plaza Hub next to Sleeping
Beauty Castle. An outdoor bandstand and dining locale, it will become a popular site for "Date Nite at Disneyland," the following year.
Emmy Award-winning composer John Cardon Debney, whose music can be
heard throughout the Disney theme parks and in such features as The Emperor's
New Groove, Chicken Little and Old Dogs, is born in Burbank, California. John is the
son of Disney Studios producer Louis Debney.
1957:
Comedian/actor Denis Leary - the voice of Francis in Disney's 1998 A Bug's Life - is born in Worcester, Massachusetts. Leary is the star and co-creator of the television series Rescue Me.
1986:
Crockett's Tavern opens in Walt Disney World's Fort Wilderness. Part of Trail's
End Restaurant, it is located at the northern end of the campgrounds.
1989:
Disney's live-action film Cheetah, starring Keith Coogan and co-produced by Roy E. Disney, is released.
2002:
The 5th Anniversary Disney Institute Animation Event - Drawn to Be Bad (a 6-day
event featuring workshops and visiting artist presentations) begins at Disney World.
2006:
High School Musical (which has been a huge sleeper hit for Disney
Channel) is performed at a kids' summer camp in the Catskill Mountains for
the very first time. The world premiere is held at a 300-seat theater near the town of
Liberty, New York, for proud parents, fellow campers and a few Disney representatives. Stagedoor Manor
summer camp won the license to mount the premiere because it has a record of working with Disney and
other producers on ''junior'' versions of musicals (such as Aida) that are licensed to high schools.
Winnie's Hometown Festival, an annual event celebrating the real-life bear who
inspired A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, kicks off for three days in White River,
Ontario.
"The Great American Concert: Walt Disney’s Fantasia with Fireworks" is performed
at the Hollywood Bowl in California. The concert marks only the second time that excerpts from
Fantasia has been screened with a live orchestral accompaniment.
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In 1941, Walt and Lillian Disney
along with sixteen colleagues spent
10 weeks visiting several Latin
American nations to gather story
material for a series of short films
with South American themes. The
result was Saludos Amigos and
The Three Caballeros.
2000:
The Disney Channel Original Movie Quints starring Kimberly J. Brown debuts.
The White River Historical Society and the community of White River hold the 12th Annual Winnie's Hometown Festival in White River, Ontario, Canada. The 3-day festival is a tribute to a black bear cub named Winnie who made an unforgettable contribution to children's literature.
1934:
While on holiday in Hawaii with his wife Lillian, Walt Disney attends a charity event - the opening game of the Army's baseball championship series between teams from Fort Shafter and Wheeler Field. Prior to the game Walt appears at Honolulu's Princess theater at 10 a.m., for the regular meeting of one of the many "Mickey Mouse Clubs" that are popular with children across the U.S.
1938:
Disney's first full length animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is released in Australia.
2008:
Jonas Brothers attend the unveiling of their very own wax figures at Madame Tussauds in Washington, D.C.
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AUGUST 18
THIS DAY
MADE IN
THE USA
AUGUST 18
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"Having a family is like having a bowling alley installed in your head." -Martin Mull
"I was very lucky. Two weeks after I graduated from CalArts, I got into the copying department at Disney. They needed a runner, someone who could paste scores, organize scores. One day (veteran Disney composer) Buddy Baker said, 'Hey kid, come in here.' Buddy would give me assignments -- arrange this little French song for musette, write a German polka. ... They were building Epcot and needed a lot of music for different pavilions and rides." -John Debney
1975:
The Platters (with 16 gold records to their credit) begin two weeks of performances at Walt Disney World. They will present two shows nightly with dinner seatings at 6:30 and 9:45.
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The Chain Gang released
Disneys visit Hawaii
2011:
Disneyland holds a special celebration to remember Wally Boag and Betty Taylor, who both passed away last June. This salute to "The True Legends of the Golden Horseshoe" kicks off with song and dance from the iconic show.
