1891 - Carl W. Stalling, "the most famous unknown composer of the 20th century," is born. While working as the house organist at the Newman Theatre in Missouri, Stalling will come to the attention of Walt Disney. He will be hired as musical director for Walt's fledgling animation company; scoring two of the first three Mickey Mouse cartoons - Plane Crazy and The Gallopin' Gaucho.

1917 - Marie Worthey (the future wife of Disney animator Ollie Johnston) is born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. From 1940-1941 she will work in the ink and paint departments at both Warner Brothers and Disney.

1923 - Disney Legend Neil Beckett is born in New Zealand. In 1964, he will become Disney's sole merchandising representative in his home country.

1933 - The Fox Film Corporation releases the musical My Lips Betray (featuring actor Herman Bing - who will later voice the Ringmaster in Disney's 1941 Dumbo) to theaters. The first scene shows a portion of the Mickey Mouse film Ye Olden Days on a TV! (Disney has provided the clip for free.)

1944 - Lyricist & Disney Legend Tim Rice is born in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England. His contributions include Aida, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King. (Rice has also written lyrics for such classic musicals as Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.)

1948 - Character actor Vincent Schiavelli, who appears in Disney's 1995 television remake of Escape to Witch Mountain and the 1998 TV movie Bride of Boogedy, is born in Brooklyn, New York.

1953 - Walt Disney's True-Life adventure feature The Living Desert is released to theaters. It is because of RKO's refusal to distribute this film that Disney sets up the Buena Vista Distribution Company. (The film, made for only about half a million dollars, will make $5 million during its original release and later win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature!) Directed by James Algar, The Living Desert features the work of cinematographer Paul Kenworthy (who will later lend his skills to the 1954 The Vanishing Prairie.)

1954 - The Disneyland television series airs its 3rd episode. The program features James Algar, the producer-director of Disney's "True-Life Adventures" shorts. A behind-the-scenes look at how the feature-length Vanishing Prairie was filmed is shown. The Oscar-winning Seal Island (with Winston Hibler) is also featured.

1955 - The Mickey Mouse Club airs on ABC-TV. Today is Circus Day.

1959 - Disney's live-action/adventure movie Third Man on the Mountain is released. The film, about a young Swiss boy anxious to prove himself by climbing an unconquered peak, was shot on location in the Swiss Alps. Disney also releases the 21-minute animated short Noah's Ark. (It will be nominated for an Academy Award.)

1964 - Disney Legend Jimmie Dodd, best known as the MC of the popular 1950s Disney TV series, The Mickey Mouse Club, as well as the writer of its well-known theme song, "The Mickey Mouse Club March," passes away at age 54 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The heart and soul of the Mickey Mouse Club, Dodd often played his famous Mouse-guitar and sang self-composed songs containing positive messages for kids.

1986 - Actor/comedian Josh Peck is born in New York City. Best known for his starring role in the successful teen sitcom Drake & Josh, Disney fans know him as Robe from the 2001 live-action feature Max Keeble's Big Move.

1992 - The soundtrack to Disney's animated Aladdin is released on
Walt Disney Records.

1994 - Walt Disney Records releases the soundtrack to The Nightmare Before Christmas, featuring 10 songs by Danny Elfman.

1996 - The Annie Awards ceremony, hosted by Leonard Maltin, is held at the Pasadena Center in Pasadena, California. Toy Story takes home 8 awards including one for director John Lasseter and one for songwriter Randy Newman. Among the 3 winners of the Winsor McCay Award is the late Mary Blair (whose color stylings graced such Disney classics as Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Song of the South).

2000 - Phantom of the Megaplex, a Disney Channel Original Movie, first airs.

2001 - The winners of the 29th Annual Annie Awards are announced. Dale Baer wins Outstanding Indvidual Achievement For Character Animation for Disney's The Emperor's New Groove. David Hartley and Sting win Outstanding Individual Achievement For A Song In An Animation Production for "Perfect World" from The Emperor's New Groove. Eartha Kitt wins Outstanding Individual Achievement For Voice Acting By A Female Performer In An Animated Feature Production for her role as Yzma in The Emperor's New Groove.

2003 - The Travel Channel airs Great Hotels - Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, Disneyland Resort for the first time.

2004 - The first issue of The Incredibles comic book is published by Dark Horse Comics. The full color 32-page comic is adapted from the Disney-Pixar animated feature. (There will be 4 issues in all.)

2005 - The 2005 National Medal of Arts are presented by President and Mrs. Laura Bush in an Oval Office ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C. Among the 10 recipients is legendary Disney animator and artist Ollie Johnston!

2006 - The drama club at Severna Park High School becomes the first school in Maryland to perform Disney's High School Musical.

2006 - Festival of the Masters - an exhibit of 200 award-winning national and local fine artists - kicks off at Downtown Disney West Side in Florida. Festival of the Masters is a nationally recognized art show which is ranked among the country's best outdoor art festivals!

2006 - Walt Disney becomes the first honoree of Anaheim's Walk of Fame (which honors well-known celebrities, athletes and humanitarians who have shaped Anaheim and Orange County). The ceremony, honoring Walt, takes place under the Disneyland Resort marquee on Harbor Boulevard.

2006 - Soap opera stars Genie Francis and Anthony Geary appear at the Disney-MGM Studios in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the wedding of Luke and Laura on General Hospital, the most watched television event in daytime history.

2007 - ABC's Super Soap Weekend takes place at the Disney-MGM Studios. This marks the 12th anniversary of the popular 2-day event.

2007 - "Where There's Smoke" the 100th episode of That's So Raven debuts on Disney Channel.

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