1901 - Cartoonist Carl Barks is born to Arminta & William Barks on a farm in Merrill, Oregon. He will draw Donald Duck comic books (starting in 1943) for 3 decades and invent Duckburg and many of its inhabitants, such as Scrooge McDuck and Gladstone Gander. The quality of his scripts and drawings will earn him the nick names The Duck Man and The Good Duck Artist. (He will be inducted a Disney Legend in 1991.)

1930 - George Borgfeldt and Company issues its first Disney merchandising license to Walkburger, Tanner and Company of Switzerland. They will manufacture handkerchiefs featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

1940 - Actor Austin Pendleton - the voice of Gurgle in Disney/Pixar's 2003 Finding Nemo - is born in Warren, Ohio.

1952 - The first public announcement of Walt Disney's plans to build Disneyland are printed in the Burbank Daily Review with the headline: "Walt Disney Make-Believe Land Project Planned Here — $1.5 Million Dreamland To Rise On Site In Burbank." (At this time Walt's plans call for the park to be built near his studios in Burbank, California.)

1957 - The Disneyland television series airs "Donald's Award."

1957 - Although Disney's Cow Dog and Somoa are both nominated for Short Subjects, Two-Reel, The Bespoke Overcoat takes home the Oscar at the 1956 Academy Awards.

1959 - Mouseketeer Annette Funicello performs "Tell Paul" and "Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy" on TV's American Bandstand.

1959 - The TV series Walt Disney Presents airs the classic "Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom."

1970 - Actress Elizabeth Mitchell, Mrs. Claus/Carol Calvin in Disney's 2006 live-action feature The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, is born in Los Angeles, California. She first played Santa's wife in the 2002 The Santa Claus 2: The Mrs. Clause.

1988 - Actress, singer, and producer Brenda Song is born in Carmichael, California (a suburb of Sacramento). She is known for her role of the spoiled heiress London Tipton on Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Song also starred in the 2006 Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (one of the highest viewed Disney Channel movies - with over 5.7 million viewers on the night of its premiere). She is also part of the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, a music group that sings Disney songs.

1989 - The Walt Disney World Casting Center building opens in Florida.

1995 - Elton John and Tim Rice are presented with the Oscar for Best Song in a motion picture for The Lion King's "Can You Feel The Love Tonight." Disney's animated feature also receives an award for Original Score - by Hans Zimmer. David Letterman hosts the 67th Academy Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium.

1999 - The re-dedication of the E. P. Ripley, Disneyland Railroad's Steam Engine No. 2 takes place at Disneyland. The train - which has been in service since the park's opening day in 1955 - was considered Walt Disney's favorite attraction. It has been totally restored. Disneyland announces it has acquired a new locomotive, Disneyland Railroad engine No. 5, that will be dedicated under the name "Ward Kimball" in Ward's honor. The newly acquired engine is currently undergoing restoration and will have custom paintings of Jiminy Cricket by Mr. Kimball on either side of the headlamp.

2001 - Disney releases the CD Cruella's Favorite Villain Songs.

2001 - Disney's road version of its hit Broadway musical Aida debuts in Minneapolis.

2003 - The Atlanta Braves take on the Houston Astros in their last 2003 pre-season baseball game at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida.

2007 - The soundtrack for Meet The Robinsons is released on Walt Disney Records. Featuring performances by Rob Thomas, Rufus Wainwright, The All-American Rejects, Jonas Brothers, and Jamie Cullum, the album also includes a cover version of "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" by They Might Be Giants.

2008 - A baby giraffe named AJ enters the world at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The calf (the third giraffe to be born this year at the theme park) stands at about six feet tall, and weighs in at 145 pounds.

2009 - Disneyland's "Celebrate! A Street Party" debuts. The new seasonal parade (a high-energy feel reminiscent of the High School Musical films) features 48 dancers, 12 acrobats on stilts, 3 DJ's, 12 drivers of combination bicycle/drum kits, and 24 Disney characters.

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