2004:
A blackout forces Tokyo DisneySea (the newer addition to Disney's Japanese theme park) to shut its doors 4 hours early. Seven of the park's 23 attractions come to a gradual halt as the lights slowly dim.
1946:
Linda Hughes, who joined the cast of Mickey Mouse Club for
the 1957-1958 season, is born in San Diego, California.
1961:
The NBC-TV series Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color airs "The Hunting Instinct." Ludwig Von Drake hosts this episode along with his assistant Herman the Bootle Beetle to help demonstrate the finer points of hunting.
1963:
Figure skating champion Brian Boitano, who appeared as himself in Disney's 2005 live-action feature Ice Princess, is born Sunnyvale, California.
1979:
At the Magic Kingdom, 8-year-old Kurt Miller from Maryland, Walt
Disney World's 100-millionth guest, passes through the turnstiles!
1991:
Actor Sterling Holloway, the original voice of Winnie the Pooh, and Donald Duck illustrator/writer Carl Barks are among the 9 honored as Disney Legends.
1996:
The CD A&E: An Evening With Mel Tormé at the Disney Institute is released.
1997:
The Orlando Sentinel reports that Walt Disney World sources have revealed plans to close the Fantasyland staple Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in favor of a trip through the Hundred Acre Woods with Pooh and his friends.
2003:
A 60th anniversary presentation of Disney's 1943 feature Victory Through Air Power is screened at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in Beverly Hills, California.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affair holds a business
meeting at 10:30 am in Room 342 of the Dirksen Senate Office
Building. Among matters discussed:
H.R. 1610, to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal
Service, located at 120 East Ritchie Avenue in Marceline, Missouri,
as the "Walt Disney Post Office Building."
Dick Clark, one of the driving forces behind popular music in America, tours Disney's Pop Century Resort (which will officially open to guests December 14)
at Walt Disney World. Dave Vermeulen, the hotel's general manager tours Clark through the resort grounds on a golf cart built to resemble a '57 Chevy.
1942:
Actress/singer and original Mouseketeer Annette Funicello is born in Utica, New York. She and her family moved to Southern California in 1946. Walt Disney first saw 12-year-old Funicello dancing
the lead in Swan Lake at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank, California, and later invited her to audition for his new children's show, Mickey Mouse Club. She was a featured Mouseketeer on the hit series and took part (along with the other original Mouseketeers) in Disneyland's grand opening in 1955. She later starred in several Disney features, including The Shaggy Dog, Babes in Toyland, The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, and The Monkey's Uncle. Her Disney television credits included Zorro, Elfego Baca and The Horsemasters. As an adult, Funicello was one of many celebrities who took part in Walt Disney World's three-day opening festivities in October 1971. In 1977, Funicello guest starred as the Blue Fairy in Disneyland's Main Street Electrical Parade! Named a Disney Legend in 1992, her autobiography A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: My Story was published two years later.
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1990:
Buena Vista Records releases the soundtrack to the Disney classic Fantasia.
2006:
Golfer Joe Durant shoots a bogey-free 7-under 65 in the final round of the FUNAI Classic at Walt Disney World Resort, finishing 25
under and picking up his first PGA Tour victory since March 2001.
1908:
Imagineer and mechanical engineer Roger E. Broggie is born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He first joined Disney in 1939 as a precision machinist where his initial assignments included installing the famous multiplane camera at the new Burbank studio, and working with Ub Iwerks on special effects. In 1949, Broggie worked closely with Walt Disney himself to create model trains for the 1/2 mile-long Carolwood Pacific Railroad located in the Disney's backyard. (Broggie is credited with supervising the building of the Lilly Belle, a one-eighth scale miniature working live steam locomotive named for Walt's wife Lillian.) After the success of the Carolwood Pacific, Disney again asked Broggie for his help, this time in designing and building Disneyland. Broggie was one of the first Imagineers at WED (now better known as Walt Disney Imagineering). Broggie was also promoted to head of the Disney Studios Machine Shop and went on to create the special effects for the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and as well as the attractions for the 1964 New York World's Fair. In 1973, he turned his attention to EPCOT Center until his retirement in the mid-1970s, after dedicating more than 50 years to the Company. Broggie was named a Disney Legend in 1990 (a year before his death). Today engine No. 3 of the Walt Disney World Railroad is named Roger E. Broggie because of his contributions to the Disney park railroads.
1969:
A contract is signed between WED Enterprises and the Florida Citrus Commission, formalizing the FCC's sponsorship of a future Magic Kingdom attraction at Disney World. The "tropical bird show" (later named the Tropical Serenade) will cost $3 million. (In 1970, WED Enterprises will create the Orange Bird character - "the friendly face of Florida sunshine and fresh squeezed Florida orange juice" - to serve as the FCC's official mascot in promotional campaigns.)
Actress Angela Lansbury sends a handwritten note to Disney producer/director Bill Walsh in reference to her earlier visit to the studio to be considered for the lead role of Miss Price in a new feature film called Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
"I think the script has so many marvelous facets, character, humor, heart and an opportunity for rare inventiveness in so many areas…. And the songs Dick and Bob have written for Eglantine are charming and just what was needed. So, all things being equal, do hope I'm 'Your Girl'."
Nine days later Walsh will announce that Miss Lansbury will indeed be signed for the role of Miss Price.
"I have always thought of Walt Disney as my second father." -Annette Funicello
"I want to thank all the kids that bought my comic books for a dime and are now selling them for $2,000."
-92-year-old Carl Barks
1971:
Actress & singer Sarah Litzsinger, who played the Broadway role of Belle
in two separate runs for Disney's Beauty and the Beast, is born in Indiana.
Litzsinger holds the distinction of being Broadway's longest-running Belle!
Down in Florida, inaugural service to Walt Disney World's own
airport STOLport, by both Shawnee and Executive airlines, begin. The occasion is
marked by a luncheon ceremony, with the state of Florida presenting Disney with STOLport license No. 1. A
group of local and state politicians and officials are on hand, as well as executives from the airlines. Disney
announces that STOL service will commence with around 26 flights daily. A single airstrip located not too far
from the Contemporary Resort, the Lake Buena Vista STOLport, consists of a 2000-foot runway (and plans
for a terminal building). Disney has high hopes for the service. (Unfortunately by December 1972, the idea
of affordable short-range air routes became completely impractical and STOLport closed.)
OCTOBER 22
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THIS DAY MADE IN THE USA
OCTOBER 22
Annette Funicello born
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Although uncomfortable being thought
of as a singer, original Mouseketeer
Annette Funicello had a number of pop record hits in the late 1950s and early
1960s, including: "Tall Paul" (written
by the Sherman Brothers), "First Name
Initial" (by Martin Kalmanoff and Aaron
H. Schroeder),
"O Dio Mio" (by Al
Hoffman) and
"Train of
Love" (by
Paul Anka).
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1991 Disney Legends
1982:
At Walt Disney World, the formal grand opening of EPCOT Center begins.
To be held over the next three days, the official Future World dedication takes place on this day.
AIRPORT OF THE FUTURE
2010:
At Disney's Hollywood Studios, "Disney Channel Rocks!" a live show
based on music from Disney Channel hit shows debuts. Taking place in front of the
Sorcerer's Hat, the show features music from High School Musical, Camp Rock, Cheetah Girls, Star
Struck and Jump In.
