Today in Disney History 2/14
Feb. 14, 1903 – Actor Stuart Erwin was born in Squaw Valley, Ca. His Disney credits include “The Misadventures of Merlin Jones,” “Son of Flubber,” and “Moochie of the Little League.”
Feb. 14, 1913 – Disney Legend Roberto de Leonardis was born in Naples, Italy. Starting in 1947, he would go to work for Disney to translate and dub films like Bambi and Pinocchio for Italian audiences.
Feb. 14, 1929 - The Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant opened at 1624 Vine St. and is now an inspiration for Disney-MGM Studios Restaurants.
Feb. 14, 1941 – Disney’s Mickey Mouse cartoon “The Little Whirlwind” was released.
Feb. 14, 1957 – Disney re-released “Cinderella” in theaters for a second time.
Feb. 14, 1973 – Disney’s live-action film “The World’s Greatest Athlete,” starring Tim Conway, Jan-Michael Vincent, and John Amos, was released in theaters.
Feb. 14, 1995 – A couple got married at WDW’s Tower of Terror attraction, as part of a Disney promotion featuring Valentine’s Day.
Feb. 14, 2001 – Dick Cook, chairman of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, announced that its Academy Award winning animated motion picture “Beauty and the Beast” would be released in IMAX and other large-format venues around the world in March 2002. Walt Disney Feature Animation has spent a year in production on the film, enhancing the image and refining characters faces, backgrounds, and special effects, in order to let the film shine brightly on the giant screen. In addition, the filmmakers have added an extraordinary, never-before-seen musical sequence. (The film will windup being released in Jan. 2002.)
Feb. 14, 2006 – A groundbreaking ceremony for a new hotel in Tokyo Disneyland took place. Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Chip and Dale appeared in a safety prayer festival held at the planned construction site in front of the entrance of the park. The Tokyo Disneyland Hotel is scheduled to open 2008 and will have about 700 guest rooms.
