The Disney Look... to the past! (Dec.25-Jan. 7)

This week's "Look to the Disney Past" is being posted today, as it is a special edition that covers two weeks!

Here you'll see that some of our beloved Epcot and Magic Kingdom attractions closed forever on these same weeks... Take a look at what happened:

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This Week in Disney History: Dec. 25 - Jan. 7, 2011

Dec. 25, 1950 - Disney airs its first television show

Sponsored by Coca-Cola and airing at 4 p.m. on NBC, "One Hour in Wonderland" was the first-ever television program produced by Walt Disney. Starring as the host of a Christmas party on the Studios lot, Walt used the show as a promotional vehicle for the upcoming "Alice in Wonderland," sharing a first look at the film and introducing the voice of the title character, 12-year-old Kathryn Beaumont, who wore the dress she modeled in reference films for the animators. Also appearing was Bobby Driscoll, who later starred with Beaumont in "Peter Pan" (1953), plus performances by ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and the jazz band Firehouse Five Plus Two, which was composed of Studios personnel including Ward Kimball, Harper Goff and Frank Thomas. Four years later, Walt would premiere his first regular television series, "Disneyland," for ABC. The entire "One Hour in Wonderland" program is included on the Special Un-Anniversary Edition DVD of "Alice in Wonderland."

Jan. 1. 1966 - Walt Disney is grand marshal of the Tournament of Roses Parade

When floats adorned in flower petals form a caravan down Colorado Blvd., it's New Years Day in Pasadena, but the 1966 Tournament of Roses Parade was a special one indeed. The theme was "It's a Small World," recognizing the effects of advances in transportation and communication - although not coincidentally, the 1964 World's Fair attraction of the same name was making its way to Disneyland Park later in the year. Fittingly, the grand marshal was none other than the beloved southern California showman who oversaw the creation of both. Walt joined a long roll call of distinguished public figures, renowned entertainers and star athletes to have held the title; other Disney luminaries bestowed this honor include Walt's nephew Roy E. Disney in 2000, and Mickey Mouse himself in 2005. (And for readers more interested in football - the UCLA Bruins upset #1-ranked Michigan State in the 1966 Rose Bowl, 14-12.)

Also this week in Disney history:

Dec. 25

1957 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Old Yeller"

1963 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "The Sword in the Stone"

2002 - Miramax Films releases "Gangs of New York"

2004 - Miramax Films releases "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou"

Dec. 26

1941 - "The Art of Self Defense" (Goofy cartoon short) debuts

1947 - "Pluto's Blue Note" (Pluto cartoon short) debuts

Dec. 27

1940 - "Pantry Pirate" (Pluto cartoon short) debuts

Dec. 28

1998 - Character breakfast at Fulton's Crab House officially closes

Dec. 29

1995 - Hollywood Pictures releases "Mr. Holland's Opus" in Los Angeles

Dec. 30

1890 - Raymond Arnold Disney (Walt's brother) is born

1928 - "Gallopin Gaucho" (Mickey short with sound) premieres in New York

Dec. 31

1936 - Walt and Lillian Disney adopt their second daughter, Sharon Mae Disney

1992 - 8TRAX nightclub opens at Pleasure Island

Jan. 1

1888 - Elias Disney and Flora Call (Walt's parents) marry in Akron, Fla.

1943 - "Der Fuehrer's Face" (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts

1959 - Fantasyland's Autopia opens at Disneyland Park 

2000 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Fantasia 2000"

Jan. 2

1937 - "The Worm Turns" (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts

1977 - Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland closes at Disneyland Park

1996 - World of Motion closes at Epcot

2001 - Disney's Grand Californian Hotel at the Disneyland Resort welcomes its first guests

Jan. 3

1964 - "Disneyland's 10th Anniversary" TV special airs on "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" (television series) 

1984 - The Astuter Computer Revue closes at Epcot

1994 - Kitchen Kabaret closes at Epcot 

2001 - The Downtown Disney District soft opens at the Disneyland Resort

Jan. 4

1936 - "Mickey's Polo Team" (cartoon short) released

1989 - Sunkist Citrus House closes at Disneyland Park

1994 - The Disney Inn closes at the Walt Disney World Resort (to become Shades of Green)

1996 - Disney shareholders approve the acquisition of Capitol Cities/ABC

1999 - Disneyland Paris begins accepting the new euro currency (aka "E-day") in the form of credit cards, checks and travelers checks 

2003 - The final performance of the Polynesian Revue takes place at Disney's Polynesian Resort

2010 - Honey, I Shrunk the Audience closes at Disneyland Park

Jan. 5

1935 - "The Tortoise and the Hare" (Silly Symphony) is released 

1998 - Take Flight (longtime Tomorrowland attraction, originally named If You Had Wings) closes at Magic Kingdom Park

Jan. 6

1950 - Pluto's Heart Throb (cartoon short) debuts 

1997 - Rocket Jets closes at Disneyland Park

Jan. 7

1933 - "Building a Building" (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts

1992 - Voyage of the Little Mermaid opens at Disney's Hollywood Studios

2008 - Disney-MGM Studios officially is renamed Disney's Hollywood Studios

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