1789 - George Washington, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York, takes his oath of office as the very first President of the United States. (At this time the capital is located in New York City.)

1923 - Actor Al Lewis is born in New York. Famously known as Grandpa from the hit 1960s television series The Munsters, Lewis appears in Disney's 1970 live-action film The Boatniks as Bert.

1926 - ;happybday Actress Cloris Leachman, Nurse Spex in Disney's 2005 live-action feature Sky High, is born in Des Moines, Iowa. Her Disney credits also include The North Avenue Irregulars (1979) as Claire Porter and Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) as Aunt Louise. (An eight-time Emmy Award winner, Leachman is best known for her roles on the classic TV sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show and later the spinoff series, Phyllis.)

1928 - Disney's Oswald the Lucky Rabbit black & white silent short Ozzie of the Mounted is released through Universal Pictures.

1939 - The New York World's Fair, "Building the World of Tomorrow," opens in Flushing Meadows. Disney is represented by a specially commissioned Mickey Mouse cartoon developed for the Nabisco Pavilion. (The World's Fair of 1964-65 will take place at this same location.)

1949 - Disney's The Bone Bandit is released.

1958 - The Disneyland TV series airs episode 98 - "An Adventure in Art."

1961 - The TV series Walt Disney Presents airs "Flash, the Teenage Otter."

1969 - During a press conference at the Ramada Inn on Highway 50 in Ocoee, Florida (a little suburb on the outskirts of Orlando), Donn B. Tatum (president of Walt Disney World Co.) details the more than 3 years of planning for a "Destination Vacation". It has been two years since special legislation had been passed to allow Disney to build its Florida project, and now the Disney Company has rented out the entire Ramada Inn for Walt Disney World's official first press event. A large circus tent outside the hotel is filled with models and artist renderings of Walt Disney World for this three-day gala. Among the Disney officials in attendance is Walt's brother Roy O. Disney and Disney publicist Charlie Ridgway. A 16-mm 17-minute film titled Walt Disney World - Phase 1 is screened at the Parkwood Cinema Theater. It shows the master plan and artists' depictions for a theme park (which will open in 1971).

1976 - Disney animator Milt Kahl, one of Walt's "Nine Old Men," retires. His work ranged from the 1935 Mickey's Service Station to the 1977 The Rescuers.

1982 - Actress Kirsten Dunst, who appears in the 1997 TV movie Tower of Terror (inspired by the theme park attraction) is born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

1989 - The Magical World of Disney airs the TV special "The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening" the night before the park's actual grand debut. The program features such TV stars as Harry Anderson, Stefanie Powers, Kate Jackson, Rue McClanahan, Ann Miller, Tony Randall and Hollywood legend George Burns. The show opens with a big musical number starring singer Smokey Robinson, as he and numerous dancers make their way down Hollywood Boulevard. The ending dance number "Horray for Hollywood" will win an Emmy for Best Choreography!

1995 - At Disneyland's Fantasyland, the Beauty and the Beast stage show closes.

2000 - The L.A. Times reports that Walt Disney World has disbanded its marching band, a Magic Kingdom fixture for nearly 30 years. The band's 18 musicians, dressed in signature red coats, white pants and plumed hats, were abruptly fired last week. They will be replaced by smaller musical groups throughout the Florida park.

2002 - At Epcot, singer Eddie Money performs 3 shows as part of the Flower Power concert series at America Gardens Theatre. (He will appear through May 2.)

2002 - Monsters, Inc. is among the winners for Top Box Office Films at the ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards, held in California.

2003 - The ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards are presented at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, California. Among the winners for Top Box Office Films is Lilo & Stitch.

2004 - ABC-TV airs the George Lopez episode, "George Goes to Disneyland." Viewers keep track of hidden Mickeys during the 30-minute show for a special "Mousehunt" contest.

2007 - Legendary comedian Don Rickles appears at the Dolphin Hotel at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Rickles is the voice of Mr. Potato Head in Disney/Pixar's Toy Story films and the voice of William in Disney World's Enchanted Tiki Room attraction.)

2007 - Starting on this day, Disneyland Resort tickets can be purchased online and printed at home.

2007 - Veteran comedic actor Tom Poston passes away in Los Angeles at age 85. Best known for his role on the series Newhart, Poston's Disney credits include The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and the film Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

2008 - The Newport Beach Film Festival holds a special event - "An Evening of Disney Rarities" featuring rarely seen Disney animated shorts and experimental films with commentary by Roy E. Disney, Don Hahn and Dave Bossert.

2008 - The Jonas Brothers take a spin on "Toy Story Mania!" - the newest attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The trio are on property taking part in the "Disney Channel Games," a made-for-TV, Olympic-style event that will be shown on Disney Channel in summer 2008.

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