The Disney Look... to the past! (May 21 - 27)

It's once again Monday. Time to go to work or to school, and to start thinking about what to do next weekend. It is also time to take a glimpse to the past of the Walt Disney Company, to see what they've achieved on this very week... but years ago. Take a look:

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This Week in Disney History: May 21-27

May 23, 1922 - Walt Disney incorporates Laugh-O-Gram Films

After working as a Red Cross truck driver in Europe at the end of World War I, Walt Disney returned home to Kansas City, Mo., where he took a job with an ad company and began to learn the tools and tricks of animation. As a 20 year-old, he struck out with fellow cartoonists including Fred Harman, Hugh Harman and Ub Iwerks - all animation pioneers in their own rights - to leave the ad company and start Laugh-O-Gram Films. Several "Laugh-O-Gram" original shorts were produced and screened in Kansas City, which led to a local distributor commissioning the studio to produce seven fairy tale shorts. However, the distributor went bankrupt, and the studio was unable to make ends meet, forcing its closure in July 1923. The final Laugh-O-Gram production was "Alice's Wonderland," an innovative short mixing animation with live action. Walt moved to Los Angeles and persuaded his creditors to release the short to show to potential distributors, including Margaret Winkler, who, upon seeing it, ordered a series of "Alice Comedies" - the first production of The Walt Disney Company.

May 22, 1998 - New Tomorrowland opens at Disneyland Park

Tomorrowland was the final land completed for the opening of Disneyland Park in California, and as visions of the future continue changing, it has been in a near-constant state of transformation. Its 1998 makeover was a Jules Verne-inspired retro spin on the future, draping Tomorrowland landmarks like Space Mountain in shades of bronze and gold. Inside the rockwork-surrounded entrance was the attraction Rocket Rods, a drag racing-inspired, 40 mph jaunt along the former Peoplemover track, while the 3-D film "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" made its west coast debut at the Imagination Institute. As per tradition, the unique ideas incorporated into New Tomorrowland were short-lived. Rocket Rods closed in 2001, and Space Mountain reclaimed its white sheen as the land was remodeled for the park's 50th anniversary, with the Astro Orbitor and Redd Rocket's Pizza Port among the last remaining vestiges. Star Tours - The Adventures Continue, opening June 3, is the latest add to a land that's always reinventing itself.

Also this week in Disney history:

May 21

1948 -- The animated short "Donald's Dream Voice" debuts

2001 -- Touchstone Pictures shows the world premiere of "Pearl Harbor" in Hawaii

May 22

1998 -- DisneyQuest soft opens to guests in Downtown Disney at the Walt Disney World Resort

May 23

1983 -- A renovated Fantasyland opens at Disneyland Park

1997 -- Light Magic debuts at Disneyland Park

2001 -- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin opens at Magic Kingdom Park

May 24

1968 -- President Lyndon B. Johnson presents a Congressional Gold Medal to Lillian Disney, commemorating Walt Disney's "distinguished public service and outstanding contributions to the United States and  the world"

2004 -- Toontown Online, a new Internet multiplayer game from Disney Interactive, debuts

May 25

1932 -- The animated short "Mickey's Revue" debuts, featuring the first appearance of a character called Dippy Dawg (whose name later became Goofy)

1983 -- Pinnochio's Daring Journey opens at Disneyland Park

May 26

1986 -- Spaceship Earth reopens at Epcot featuring a new narration by Walter Cronkite

1990 -- Mickey's Starland (formerly Mickey's Birthdayland) opens at Magic Kingdom Park

2006 -- Disney-Pixar's "Cars" premieres at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.

2010 -- Art Linkletter, host of the opening day television broadcast from Disneyland Park, dies at age 97

May 27

1933 -- The Silly Symphony short "Three Little Pigs" debuts

1948 -- Walt Disney Pictures releases "Melody Time"

1977 -- Space Mountain opens at Disneyland Park

1985 -- Epcot is the host site for the presidential inaugural parade for Ronald Reagan

1995 -- Casey's Corner opens at Magic Kingdom Park

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All these information and pictures are subject to the copyright of the Walt Disney Company. All rights reserved.