1994:
A new sports tradition at Walt Disney World begins on this cold morning
when approximately 12,000 runners from around the world line up for the very first
annual Walt Disney World Marathon. The 26.2-mile route runs along normal and backstage
roads, past several resorts, and literally through all three theme parks. Leonid Shetsov of Russia (at 2:14:27)
and Judit Nagi (at 2:32:32) of Hungary are the overall winners.
Other 1994 winners include:
Men’s Masters: Paul Cummings, Lehl, Utah, 2:27:50
Women’s Masters: Carol Virga, Delray Beach, Fla., 2:49:53
Men’s Chair: David Bailey, Vista, Calif., 1:52:29
Women’s Chair: Katherine Hunter, Orlando, Fla., 2:31:47
1977:
The New Mouseketeers appear on Wonderama (a long-running children's television program). These Mouseketeers are the stars of a new daily series, titled The New Mickey Mouse Club, to be released in television syndication the following day (Monday January 17). Much like Wonderama, The New Mickey Mouse Club will run on such Metromedia-owned stations as WTTG in Washington D.C., KMBC-TV in Kansas City, KTTV in Los Angeles, WXIX-TV in Cincinnati, and WNEW-TV in New York City.
1890:
Edna Francis is born to pioneer parents in Reece, Kansas. She worked, in the early days of the Disney Studios, as an ink artist. In April 1925 Edna married Roy O. Disney (a friend of her brother's) and five years later gave birth to their only son Roy E. Disney. She was named a Disney Legend in 2003 (nineteen years after her death).
2005:
Starting on this day the NFFC (the Club for Disneyana Enthusiasts) host a Strictly
Disneyana Show & Sale at the Radisson Parkway Hotel in Kissimmee, Florida.
1932:
Disney's Silly Symphony cartoon The Bird Store, directed by Wilfred Jackson, is released.
1936:
The New York Journal reports that film director René Clair feels that Charlie
Chaplin and Walt Disney are both outstanding figures in the movies at this
time. "They have no outside interference," he explains, "they act as their own producer, director,
and even attend to their own stories and musical scores. Their artistry is sublime."
1949:
Actor Roger Mobley, the star of Disney's Gallegher television serial, is born in Evansville, Indiana. His Disney credits also include The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again and Emil and the Detectives.
1957:
The Disneyland television series airs "Your Host, Donald Duck." Donald
Duck convinces Walt to let him take over the hosting duties for this episode!
1959:
The TV series Walt Disney Presents airs the episode "Noik."
1963:
Disney's live-action black-and-white feature film Son of Flubber (a sequel to the film
Stevenson, Professor Ned Brainard (played by MacMurray) gets into trouble again because of his experiments
with a gravity defying substance. The cast includes Nancy Olsen (as Betty Brainard), Tommy Kirk (as Biff Hawk),
and the father-and-son team of Ed and Keenan Wynn (as A. J. Allen & Alonzo Hawk). The film will be generally
released January 18.
2002:
The Writers Guild of America TV program nominations are announced with the
Disney-owned network ABC taking 5 nominations and Disney itself receiving 1
nomination for the children's pilot "Lizzie McGuire."
(Winners will be announced in March.)
2003:
It is announced that Walt Disney Records will release two of their best-selling children's titles in Spanish for the very first time. The first album, "Favoritas de las Princesas de Disney," spotlights Disney's most beloved heroines with Spanish versions of classic songs from films such as Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. The second release, "Disney Presenta Cantar y Jugar," is a collection of children's favorite playtime songs from Latin America.
Disneyland Resort officially premieres Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular.
2004:
Disney's animated Teacher's Pet is released. Based on the animated television series, it features the voices of Nathan Lane, Kelsey Grammer, Debra Jo Rupp, David Ogden Stiers, and Jerry Stiller.
Pixel Perfect, the 50th Disney Channel Original Movie, first airs. When a teen named Roscoe (played by Ricky Ullman) uses holography to create a new pop star, things start to go awry.
 | ||||||
In 1934, the Encyclopedia
Britannica gave Mickey Mouse
his very own entry. First
published between 1768 and
1771, The Britannica is the
oldest English-language
encyclopedia still in print!
JANUARY 16
"Roy and I were just going together ... We stopped at a drugstore to get a soda, and Walt came to see Roy because he wanted a quarter or a half-dollar for paper to draw on. Even then, Roy provided the money for Walt's artistic ambitions." -Disney Legend Edna Francis Disney
1952:
Walt Disney presents cartoonist George McManus, creator of the comic strip Bringing Up Father, with Banshee's Silver Lady award at a luncheon in Beverly Hills.
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WDW Marathon debuts
advertisement
JANUARY 16
THIS DAY MADE
IN THE
USA
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Son of Flubber debuts
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1930:
Summer, a Silly Symphony short, is released. Directed by Ub Iwerks, it is the second
"4 seasons Symphony."
1942:
Disney's Donald Duck short The Village Smithy, directed by Dick Lundy, is released.
Donald's patience, as a blacksmith, is put to the test when he attempts to shoe a donkey named Jenny.
SEASON 3 EPISODE 13
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2010:
Movie critic and author Leonard Maltin receives the very first Heritage Award presented by the NFFC-Disneyana Fan Club. The award was established to honor individuals outside the Walt Disney Co. who have made significant contributions to promoting the awareness and preservation of Disney history. Composer Richard Sherman makes the presentation to Maltin at the Disneyana Fan Club luncheon (part of its convention that is being held over this weekend at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Garden Grove, California).
1970:
Legacy of Walt Disney opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. It features a display of Walt Disney’s awards and other memorabilia along with an exhibit on the California Institute of the Arts.
2011:
Wild Africa Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom begins operation. For the first time ever, small
groups of guests can get up close and personal with the animals that call DAK home. The adventure includes
trekking with experienced guides through areas of Harambe Wildlife Reserve (not typically opened to park
guests), crossing a seemingly precarious rope bridge over the Safi River and cliff-hanging at the edge of gullies
that are home to hippos and crocodiles!
Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun!, a new parade debuts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
in Walt Disney World. It replaces Block Party Bash, which had its last performance on January 1.
Toy Story 3 wins Best Animated Feature Film at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Singer Justin Bieber and actress Halley Steinfeld present the award to director Lee Unkrich - "Were you two even born when the first Toy Story came out?"
"Thank you to Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Pixar, Disney
and especially John Lasseter who trusted me with Toy Story 3, my incredible cast anchored by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. I love you for the humor and emotional honesty your brought to the film. Thanks to the audience who came out in record numbers and embraced an animated movie that beat with a human heart." -Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich
JAN
JAN
