This Day in Disney History: FEB 03

2005:

It is announced that Rotten Tomatoes, the online source for gauging the critical reaction for movies, has given The Incredibles its Golden Tomato Award for 2004 in the Wide Release category. (The Golden Tomato Award is handed out annually by Rotten Tomatoes in recognition of the year's best-reviewed films.)

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and his entourage visit Walt Disney World.

It is reported that DisneyHand, worldwide outreach for The Walt Disney Company, WLS-Channel 7, WLS-AM (890), WZZN-FM (94.7), WMVP-AM (1000) and WRDZ-AM (1300), have committed $500,000 in cash and public service air time to the Museum of Broadcast Communications. The donation will support the development of the new Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.

"In the '60s, Disney was looking for a Piglet. Walt was watching TV with his wife. I came on in some show, and he shut his eyes and said,

That's Piglet!"

- actor John Fiedler (born This Day in Disney History 1925)

1925:

Actor John Fiedler, the voice of Piglet in many of Disney's Winnie the Pooh movies and TV programs, is born in Plattesville, Wisconsin. (TV fans may recognize him as Mr. Peterson, one of Dr. Hartley's more likable patients for five seasons on the 1970s The Bob Newhart Show, a classic CBS sitcom.)

1930:

Roy Disney signs a deal with M. George Borgfeldt Co. of New York to sell figurines of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. (Many will consider this the beginning of Disney merchandising.)

1931:

Disney's Silly Symphony cartoon Birds of a Feather is released.

1941:

Disney's animated feature Pinocchio is released in Sweden.

1945:

Disney's 7th (animated and live-action) feature film

The Three Caballeros is released in the U.S. It will

earn 2 Academy Award nominations. (Though after a brief initial run, Walt will pull the film from general release, due to bad press reviews.)

1956:

Tony Award-winning actor Nathan Lane, the voice of Timon in Disney's 1994 The Lion King and the voices of Spot & Scott in Disney's 2004 Teacher's Pet, is born Joseph Lane in Jersey City, New Jersey. Lane is also the voice of Tom Morrow, the Audio-Animatronic host of Epcot's Innoventions.

1963:

The NBC-TV series Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color airs "Greta, the Misfit Greyhound."

1965:

WED Enterprises (personally owned by Walt Disney himself since 1952) is incorporated as a subsidiary of Walt Disney Productions.

1967:

The article "Disneyworld Amusement Center with Domed City Set for

Florida" appears in the New York Times the day after Walt Disney

Productions announces plans to build the world's first glass-domed city.

1969:

Cartoonist Al Taliaferro - known as the first artist of Donald Duck newspaper comics - passes away in Glendale, California.

1993:

CBS-TV airs the Disney special

"The Best of Disney Music: A Legacy in Song."

Disney's live-action feature Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is released. The voices for the animals are provided by Michael J. Fox (as Chance), Sally Field (as Sassy), and Don Ameche (as Shadow).

1998:

The soundtracks to the animated features Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Peter Pan are both reissued on CD.

2001:

The animated series Disney's House of Mouse airs the 3rd episode

"The Three Caballeros." When no one remembers Donald Duck is the third member of the Three Caballeros, he sets out to redefine himself as the big star of the group... much to the chagrin of Mickey and everyone else!

A smoking electrical panel triggers a fire alarm at Disneyland, prompting an evacuation of the new California Adventures attraction. Employees evacuate a movie theater and simulation ride when smoke coming from a ventilation system clouds an IMAX giant screen. Moviegoers experiencing the "Soarin' over California" hang-gliding film are ushered out. Firefighters are called but thankfully no one is hurt.

2002:

Super Bowl XXXVI MVP Tom Brady of the New England Patriots proclaims "I'm going to Walt Disney World!" following his team's 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams in New Orleans. The twenty-four-year-old quarterback tapes the 32nd episode of the famous Disney commercial following the game.

2004:

Disney's The Lion King 1 1/2: Songs from Timon & Pumbaa's Hilarious Adventure is released on Walt Disney Records. The collection includes a pop rendition of "Grazing in the Grass" performed by Raven, and a new track "That's All I Need" by Elton John and Tim Rice.

1989:

Disney issues new $1 and $5 Disney Dollars at Disneyland and Walt Disney

World. The $1 bill depicts Mickey Mouse on one side, and Sleeping Beauty

Castle on the other. The $5 bill features Goofy on one side, and EPCOT

Center's Spaceship Earth & the Empress Lilly Riverboat on the other.

Actor Ryne Sanborn - known to fans of High School Musical as Jason Cross - is born in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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1982:

Actress Ashley Brown is born in Gulf Breeze, Florida (near Pensacola). Her Disney credits include the live stage shows On the Record (as Kristen), Beauty and the Beast (as Belle), and Mary Poppins (as the title character).

2007:

The Walt Disney Company announces a $50,000 donation to the

American Red Cross to aide in relief efforts following the severe

storms and tornados that struck Central Florida the night before.

In Los Angeles, the DGA Awards are presented by Directors Guild of America. Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs goes to Kenny Ortega, Don Schain, Matias Alvarez & Tobijah Tyler for High School Musical.

Walt Disney World's

Magic Kingdom

Fire Department

is company number 71 -

for the year the park

opened ... 1971!

FEBRUARY 3

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2008:

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning declares, "I'm going to Disneyland!" following his team's dramatic 17-14 win over the New England Patriots at Super Bowl XLII.

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