2005:
The Disney Magic returns home to Port Canaveral, Florida from its first-ever journey to the West Coast, completing a summer-long schedule of voyages to the Mexican Riviera in honor of the 50th anniversary of Disneyland.
"I started working with Yale Gracey in 1959 on all the illusions. Yale was a genius and all I did basically was just sort of build the boxes for him and help him build the illusions." -Imagineer Rolly Crump
1905:
Animator & Disney Legend Eric Larson, one of Walt's "Nine Old Men," is born in Cleveland, Utah. In 1915, his family will move to Salt Lake City where he will become interested in journalism
and drawing, and later graduate from the University of Utah. Larson will move to Los Angeles to work as a writer but
will instead be employed by Disney in 1933. Larson's long list of contributions will include Bambi, Cinderella, Alice
in Wonderland, Mary Poppins, The Aristocats, and The Great Mouse Detective. In 1986 he will become the last of
the "Nine Old Men" to retire.
1910:
Imagineer Yale Gracey, best known for his brilliant special effects in the
Haunted Mansion and the Pirates of the Caribbean park attractions, is born in
Shanghai, China (his father was an American Consul). Master Gracey, whose name can be
found on tombstones outside the Disneyland and Disney World mansions, gets his name from Yale! Gracey first
worked as a layout artist on such features as Pinocchio and Fantasia before becoming a special effects and
lighting artist at Walt Disney Imagineering (then called WED).
1939:
Britain and France declare war on Germany, two days after the Nazi invasion of Poland. British Prime Minister Chamberlain's War announcement interrupts a Disney Cartoon "Mickey's Gala Premiere" showing on the BBC television service.
Mouseketeer Larry Larsen, who joined The Mickey Mouse Club
for the 1956-1957 season & was the oldest of all the
Mouseketeers, is born.
1958:
The Disneyland television series airs on ABC for the last time as Disneyland.
Starting September 12 the series will be called Walt Disney Presents.
1988:
Live with Regis and Kathie Lee (a Disney production) debuts on TV.
1996:
The Disneyana Convention 1996 kicks off for 5 days at Walt Disney World.
The animated series Quack Pack, part of the Disney Afternoon weekday
program, debuts on Toon Disney. Featuring Donald Duck (voiced by Tony Anselmo) and his
nephews who are now rebellious teens, Quack Pack will run for 39 episodes.
2001:
"Walt Disney - The Man and His Magic," an exhibit using extraordinary items from the Walt Disney Family Foundation, ends it near 4-month run at the Ronald Reagan Library & Museum in California.
Disney's The Legend of Tarzan (a half-hour television series) premieres on UPN and in syndication.
2004:
The Tom Joyner Family Reunion, scheduled to play at Disney World this
weekend, is canceled due to the threat of Hurricane Frances.
Frances has weakened slightly as it passed into the vicinity of Abaco Island and directly over Grand
Bahama. The storm is downgraded from a Category 3 to 2 prior to passing over Grand Bahama and also
lessened in forward speed. But parts of South Florida will begin to be affected by squalls and the outer
rain bands of the hurricane - and gusts from 40 mph to as high as 87 mph!
1989:
Legendary drummer Louie Bellson and The Big Band Explosion perform at Disneyland for the first of an eight-day engagement. A composer, arranger, bandleader, and jazz educator, Bellson is credited with pioneering the use of two kick drums.
1919:
Red Cross volunteer Walt Disney leaves Paris, France for Marseilles and the
voyage back to the United States. Unfortunately a dock strike will prevent him
from sailing as scheduled and he will spend 23 days waiting out the strike.
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Imagineer Yale Gracey's
Haunted Mansion
tombstone reads:
Master Gracey laid to rest,
no mourning please at his request, Farewell
1962:
Syndicated reruns of The Mickey Mouse Club first air on New York's WNEW-TV.
2007:
Disneyland's 2nd Annual Half Marathon (“The Happiest Race on Earth")
takes place with more than 13,000 runners. The winner is Carlos Carballo,
24, of Cathedral City, California, with a posted time of 1:10:07!
1969:
The comedy motion picture The Trouble with Girls, starring Elvis Presley,
is released. Appearing in the film is the quartet vocal group The Mellowmen (best known to
Disney fans for their contributions to many features and park attractions). The quartet, which
includes Thurl Ravenscroft, plays the part of a gospel group called The Bible Singers.
2008:
The 11th annual Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards (given to the "Best of the Best" in the amusement industry) are handed out during a ceremony at Give Kids The World Village in Kissimmee, Florida. Disney is awarded Best Outdoor Night Show Production for Epcot's IllumiNations: Reflections of the Earth.
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SEPTEMBER 3
THIS DAY MADE
IN THE
USA
SEPTEMBER 3
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2009:
At about 12:45 AM the Disney Wonder rescues a 34-year-old man at sea who had fallen off a Carnival Cruise Lines ship during the night. While on its way into Port Canaveral, Disney's crew hears a call for help and plucks the man from the ocean off the Florida coast even before the Coast Guard can arrive. The man was aboard The Sensation, a Carnival Cruise Lines ship returning from the Bahamas.
2002:
Disney's Where The Toys Come From is released on DVD. This 1984 live-action film is directed & written by Ted Thomas (son of veteran animator Frank Thomas - one of Walt's Nine Old Men). Two comical toys, Peepers and Zoom (voiced by John Harvey & Larry Wright), curious about where they came from, embark on a journey - along with their owner Robin (Erin Young) - to discover their origins. (Thomas will win a Golden Gate Award for Best Children's Program.)
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Yale Gracey born
2nd Disneyland Half Marathon
