The Disney Look... to the Past! (09/20 - 09/26)

Here you are this week's look at the past of the (Disney) World, land and company!:

This Week in Disney History: September 20-26

September 24, 1961 - "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" debuts on NBC

The original "Disneyland" show in 1954 was one of the considerations given to ABC in exchange for helping financing the first Disney theme park in Anaheim. By 1960, Disneyland had turned enough of a profit for Walt Disney to buy out ABC's stake in the park, and Walt wanted to take advantage of the latest technology for the television medium. General Electric's NBC network had the ability to broadcast in color, and many episodes of "Walt Disney Presents" had been shot in color for the still-black & white ABC. In 1961, Walt relaunched the show on the Peacock Network, featuring the classic kaleidoscopic title sequence and theme music penned by Richard and Robert Sherman. The first episode also marked the debut of Ludwig von Drake, the bumbling professor/renaissance duck of alleged expertise in many subjects. The program, which continued through 1969, is now the namesake of the World of Color nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure, which also features the original Sherman Brothers theme.

Also this week in Disney history:

September 20  

1940 - The Donald Duck cartoon short "Window Cleaners" debuts

1999 - Mouse Gear, the largest in-park merchandise shop at the Walt Disney World Resort, opens at Epcot

   

September 21  

1951 - The Pluto cartoon short "Cold Turkey" debuts

1987 - "Ducktales" debuts in syndication

2001 - The "Share a Dream Come True" parade soft-opens at Magic Kingdom Park

   

September 22  

1965 - The animated short "Goofy's Freeway Trouble" debuts

1984 - The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors elects Michael Eisner Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and Frank Wells is elected President 

1999 - "IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth" soft opens at Epcot

   

September 23  

1938 - The Mickey Mouse cartoon short "The Brave Little Tailor" debuts

1980 - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad soft opens at Magic Kingdom Park

1990 - "The Magical World of Disney" moves to the Disney Channel

2001 - Tapestry of Dreams, Disney Stars and Motor Cars and Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade soft-open at Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom (respectively) 

2004 - Castle-topping ceremony takes place at Hong Kong Disneyland

   

September 24  

1984 - The Frontierland Shootin' Arcade opens at Magic Kingdom Park 

1993 - "Boy Meets World" (television series) debuts on ABC

1995 - The Mark Twain Riverboat is the setting for the first wedding on a Disneyland attraction

   

September 25  

1959 - "Mickey Mouse Club" concludes its regular run on ABC

1999 - Tapestry of Nations soft opens at Epcot

2009 - The final performance at the Adventurers Club takes place during a private event in Downtown Disney 

   

September 26  

1936 - The Silly Symphony short "Three Blind Mouseketeers" debuts

2001 - The television series "According to Jim" debuts on ABC

Thanks for reading!

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