The Disney Look... to the past! (June 11-17)

Have a look at this week's  glimpse to the past of the Walt Disney Company!:

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This Week in Disney History: June 11-17

June 16, 1955 - Walt Disney Pictures' "Lady and the Tramp" premieres in Chicago

Lady, a pampered cocker spaniel, has always enjoyed a quiet life with her owners, Jim Dear and Darling, so she doesn't understand why she suddenly starts getting the "outside dog" treatment. Her friends Jock (a feisty Scottish terrier) and Trusty (a laid-back bloodhound) explain that a baby is on the way. A mutt known as "the tramp" overhears the conversation, warning that the baby means nothing but trouble for Lady. It turns out he's right, and through a series of misadventures Lady experiences his gallivanting lifestyle - but it's the tramp who learns you really can go home. "Lady and the Tramp" was the first animated film released in CinemaScope, a widescreen format that nearly doubled the artists' canvas space in each frame. Legendary big band singer Peggy Lee penned several of the film's songs along with Sonny Burke, and although the celebrated dinner scene at Tony's Restaurant featuring "Bella Notte" is often parodied, for any lady spurned, it's Lee's vocal on "He's a Tramp" that says it all.

June 15, 1961 - First Grad Nite takes place at Disneyland Park

Walt Disney threw the original Grad Nite party at Disneyland Park for 8,500 high school seniors from Los Angeles and Orange counties, giving them a unique opportunity to experience the park after dark. Fifty years later, Grad Nite has grown into a Southern California tradition, and grads even can start the festivities early at a Blast-Off!pre-party inside Disney California Adventure Park.  Although the formal dress code of the early years - suits and ties for gentlemen, dresses and skirts for ladies - has given way to more casual attire, Disneyland Grad Nite remains the ultimate all-night graduation party. More than 5 million enthusiastic high school seniors have celebrated their accomplishments over the past half century in Walt Disney's original Magic Kingdom.

Also this week in Disney history:

June 11

1977 - The Main Street Electrical Parade debuts at Magic Kingdom Park

1993 - The Motor Boat Cruise closes at Disneyland Park 

1994 - Tomorrowland Transit Authority opens, replacing the WEDway People Mover at Magic Kingdom Park

2007 - Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage opens at Disneyland Park

2010 - World of Color, nighttime water spectacular, debuts at Disney California Adventure Park

June 12

1942 - "Donald's Garden" (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts

1957 - Monsanto House of the Future opens at Disneyland Park 

1994 - Sunset Boulevard officially opens at the Disney-MGM Studios; "Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage" debuts at the new Theater of the Stars 

1996 - Miles the giraffe is the first animal to arrive at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park facilities

June 13

1931 - "The Delivery Boy" (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts 

1998 - Leaders host the grand opening of Mickey's Retreat, formerly the Little Lake Bryan Cast Recreation Area

June 14

1958 - The Sailing Ship Columbia and Alice in Wonderland attractions open at Disneyland Park

1959 - Vice President Richard Nixon dedicates the Matterhorn, Monorail and Submarine Voyage at Disneyland Park

1959 - Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System begins operation at Disneyland Park

1974 - The "Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue" debuts at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort

1997 - Hercules Weekend takes place in Times Square in New York, with a special Electrical Parade and world premiere of the film

June 15

1967 - Club 33 opens in New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park

1990 - Touchstone Pictures releases "Dick Tracy"

2001 - Walt Disney Pictures releases "Atlantis: The Lost Empire"

June 16

1934 - The animated short "Mickey's Steam Roller" debuts

1956 - Tom Sawyer Island opens at Disneyland Park

June 17

1933 - The animated short "Mickey's Mechanical Man" debuts

1971 - The 100,000,000th Guest is welcomed to Disneyland Park

1972 - The Main Street Electrical Parade debuts at Disneyland Park 

2008 - Toy Story Midway Mania opens at Disney's California Adventure Park

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Thanks for reading!

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