This Day in Disney History: FEB 09

2001:

"Believe There's Magic in the Stars" returns to Disneyland. This fireworks show (originally staged during Disneyland's 45th anniversary) features some all new pyrotechnics, many low level fireworks and crisscrossing comets.

It is reported that attendance for the opening of Disney's California Adventure on February 8, fell far below the estimate of 33,000. By 2 p.m. (usually Disney's peak hour) 14,000 tickets had been purchased and roughly 10,000 people were inside the park. When the gates opened at 8 a.m., only 3,000 were waiting to get in. Officials had prepared for more than four times as many.

Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3D debuts at Disney's

California Adventure.

The Lizzie McGuire episode "I've Got Rhythmic" airs for the

first time on Disney Channel.

2005:

"DisneyWar" by James Stewart hits bookshelves. Stewart details the scandals of CEO Michael Eisner's management.

"Disney was a great infiltrator, a champion of animal rights.

He taught us against cruelty to animals. He made us sympathize so much with animals. He made us realize we've all got a mother. He gave us a compassion for animals. I credit him a lot." - musician Paul McCartney

1914:

Disney Legend Bill Justice is born in Dayton, Ohio. He will go on to work for Disney as a programmer for Audio-Animatronics figures (for the theme parks) and as an animator for Mickey Mouse. Justice will also design the floats and costumes for one of the first Disneyland Christmas Parades.

1940:

Disney's animated feature film, Pinocchio opens in Los Angeles theaters (2 days after premiering in New York). Actor Dickie Jones supplies the voice of the living puppet. The film will win 2 Academy Awards. (Although it is Disney's first treatment of the classic story it is actually the second filmed version of it. In 1911 a silent black-and-white Pinocchio was produced in Italy.)

1951:

Disney's Pluto cartoon Cold Storage is released.

1955:

The Disneyland television series airs A Progress Report about the Anaheim theme park's construction and the True Life Adventure Nature's Half Acre.

1964:

Singer-actor Scott Craig, a member of the 70s TV series The New

Mouseketeers, is born in Los Angeles, California.

Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color airs part one of a

3-part story called "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh" (a combination of the Robin Hood and Scarlet Pimpernel stories). The 1-hour episode features

Patrick McGoohan as the Reverend Doctor Christopher Syn.

(Unfortunately for Disney more than 73 million television viewers are watching the much anticipated debut of The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show.)

1979:

Disney's live-action The North Avenue Irregulars (starring

Edward Hermann, Barbara Harris, Karen Valentine, Michael

Constantine, and Cloris Leachman) is released in theaters.

1986:

Magic Journeys, located in Epcot's Journey Into Imagination Pavilion, closes.

1996:

The Disney Institute opens at Walt Disney World, Florida. The Institute (inspired by the Chautauqua Institution in Jamestown, New York) offers more than 60 programs in 8 interest areas such as animation, culinary arts, rock climbing and wilderness exploration. Guests stay in Villas (previously part of the Disney Village Resort) on a 75 acre, 457 room resort. The Institute is an attempt to allow guests to have a vacation ... with a dose of educational entertainment.

1999:

Disney's Mulan receives an Academy Award nomination for Best Score.

2003:

Disney's The Jungle Book 2 has its premiere at the El Capitan

Theatre in Hollywood, California.

2006:

The Walt Disney Company re-acquires the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit back from NBC Universal along with sports considerations for ESPN. The rights are obtained as part of a transaction permitting football play-by-play analyst Al Michaels to contract with NBC.

1946:

Vincent Francis Papale, a former part-time bar tender/substitute teacher who went on to play professional football with the Philadelphia Eagles, is born in Pennsylvania. Despite playing just one year of high school football and having no college football experience, Papale went on to play in the NFL at age 30 - making him the league's oldest rookie! His story is the basis for the 2006 Disney live-action film Invincible.

FEBRUARY 9

Get your Disney tickets at Maple Leaf Tickets!

2007:

Disney World's Pleasure Island becomes Sweetheart Island today,

tomorrow and February 14 in honor of Valentine's Day.

Singer-songwriter Paul McCartney (best known as one of The Beatles) names Lady and the Tramp

as his all-time

Disney favorite!

FEBRUARY 9

FEB

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