This week in Disney history: February 16-22

There’s always a great, big, beautiful tomorrow at The Walt Disney Company, because every day is tied to a milestone in the heritage and rich history of a company that has been entertaining millions of people every year. Published every week, this interesting series features highlights from all the divisions of The Walt Disney Company. Let's see what happened this week:

This week: 65th years of People and Places

This week in Disney history marks the 65th anniversary of “The Alaskan Eskimo,” the first in a 17-episode series called People and Places. This documentary series consisted of travelogues about unique places and cultures from around the world. When filmmakers and Disney Legends Alfred and Elma Milotte were sent to Alaska, they captured footage of the native seals as well as the local villagers. When Walt Disney saw the footage, he tasked director James Algar to create two separate documentaries: the 1949 True-Life Adventures film “Seal Island” and a piece for the new featurette series People and Places. “The Alaskan Eskimo” won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject in 1954.

Feb. 16

1955 – “Cavalcade of Songs” (television show) airs

1986 – “The Last Electric Knight” (television movie) kicks off the new series “Sidekicks” on ABC

1996 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “Muppet Treasure Island”

2009 – “Dadnapped” (Disney Channel Original Movie) debuts

2018 – Marvel Studios releases “Black Panther”

Feb. 17

1934 – “Camping Out” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts

1995 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “Heavyweights”

2006 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “Eight Below”

2012 – “Minnie’s Fly Girls Charter Airline” musical show debuts at Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort

2012 – “Radio Rebel” (Disney Channel Original Movie) debuts

2017 – “Rivers of Light” nighttime show officially opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort

Feb. 18

1933 – “Mickey’s Pal Pluto” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts

1939 – “Mickey’s Surprise Party” (cartoon commercial) is delivered to the National Biscuit Co. for showing at the 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair

1953 – “The Alaskan Eskimo” (People and Places featurette) debuts

1960 – The Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony, produced by Walt Disney, is held in Squaw Valley, California

1995 – “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes” (two-hour television movie remake) airs on ABC

2000 – The “45 Years of Magic Parade” and “Believe… There’s Magic in the Stars” fireworks show debut at Disneyland Park

Feb. 19

1943 – “Pluto and the Armadillo” (Pluto cartoon short) debuts

1967 – “The Boy Who Flew with Condors” (television show) airs

Feb. 20

1928 – “Africa Before Dark” (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon short) debuts

1937 – “Moose Hunters” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts

1972 – “The City Fox” (television show) airs

1977 – “Go West, Young Dog” (television show) airs

1982 – “Beyond Witch Mountain” (television show) airs

2004 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen”

2015 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “McFarland, USA”

Feb. 21

1927 – “Alice’s Rodeo” (Alice Comedy) debuts

1947 – “Pluto’s Housewarming” (Pluto cartoon) debuts

1965 – “An Otter in the Family” (television show) debuts

1996 – Disney.com launches on the Internet

1997 – The first Club Disney entertainment complex opens in Thousand Oaks, California

2004 – “Snow White – An Enchanting New Musical” premieres at the Fantasyland Theater at Disneyland Park

Feb. 22

1964 – The below decks exhibit on the Sailing Ship Columbia opens at Disneyland Park

2012 – The interactive role-playing game Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom debuts at Magic Kingdom Park

2018 – Previews begin for the stage musical “Frozen” at the St. James Theatre on Broadway

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