1901 - Legendary Disney animator and pioneer Ub Iwerks is born Ubbe Ert Iwwerks in Kansas City, Missouri. (His unusual name is of Dutch origin.) He will be Walt Disney's right hand man in the creation of the early Mickey Mouse cartoons and later develop many special visual effects for features such as Song of the South. Iwerks will be known for his fast work at drawing and animation ... and his wacky sense of humor. (He will be named a Disney Legend in 1989.)

1905 - French novelist Jules Verne, author of such classics as From the Earth to the Moon, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Around the World in 80 Days, passes at age 77 in France. Often referred to as the "Father of Science Fiction," Verne's work will inspire many Disney films and theme park attractions.

1922 - Classically trained ballerina-turned-choreographer Onna White is born in Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her Disney credits includes the 1977 musical feature Pete's Dragon.

1925 - Disney's Alice comedy film Alice Solves the Puzzle premieres at the Rivoli Theater in New York City.

1934 - Disney's Silly Symphony Easter-themed cartoon Funny Little Bunnies is released.

1949 - An Academy Award in the Short Subjects/Two Reels category is won by Disney's True-Life Adventure film Seal Island, at the 21st annual event (held at the Academy Theatre in Los Angeles). Mickey and the Seal and Tea for Two are both edged out by MGM's The Little Orphan for Short Subjects, Cartoon.

1950 - Disney's Donald Duck short Crazy Over Daisy is released.

1954 - Actor Robert Carradine - Sam McGuire on Disney's TV sitcom Lizzie McGuire - is born in San Mateo, California. Carradine also plays the part of Maxwell Dwebb in Disney's 1988 TV presentation Totally Minnie & is the voice of Aladdin in Disney's 1984 Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp.

1954 - Actress Donna Pescow, the mother on Disney Channel's Even Stevens, is born in Brooklyn, New York. She's also appeared on an episode of That's So Raven. (Movie fans will know her as Annette from the classic Saturday Night Fever.)

1956 - At Disneyland, the Astro Jets open for business in Tomorrowland.

1963 - The TV series Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color airs part 2 of the feature film Kidnapped.

1973 - Disneyland's seventh themed land Bear Country opens. The Country Bear Jamboree attraction is the first to be imported to Anaheim from Walt Disney World.

1986 - The Sword in the Stone becomes the fourth "Walt Disney Classic" to be released on video.

1998 - Mercury Records releases the official soundtrack to Disney's live-action feature Meet The Deedles.

1998 - CMH Records releases Heigh Ho Banjo: Bluegrass Salutes Favorite Disney Songs.

2001 - The animated series Disney's House of Mouse debuts the 10th episode "Donald's Lamp Trade."

2002 - Randy Newman's "If I Didn't Have You" - from Disney's Monsters, Inc. - is awarded an Oscar for Best Song at the 2001 Academy Awards (held at the Kodak Theatre). Although it is nominated for Best Animated Picture, Monsters, Inc. is edged out by Shrek.

2003 - Starting this day, the El Capitan Theatre presents Piglet's Big Movie.

2003 - Business Week magazine publishes an image of Disney's Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket characters for an article about lying on applications to business schools.

2005 - Disney Store North America announces that it is expanding into the retail outlet arena and will officially open its first outlet location in New York at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.

2006 - Actress Miley Cyrus (the 13-year-old daughter of actor & singer Billy Ray Cyrus) stars on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana with the debut episode "Lily, Do You Want To Know a Secret?". Miley plays 14-year-old Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana, who leads a double life. She lives with her older brother and widower father (played by her real-life dad Billy Ray).

2006 - Also debuting on Disney Channel is the original movie Cow Belles - starring Alyson Michalka and Amanda Michalka, better known as sister duo Aly & AJ.

2006 - Disney's new Broadway musical Tarzan gives its very first preview performance at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The show officially opens May 10.

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