This Week in Disney History: February 23-March 4

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: 55th anniversary of Ludwig Von Drake’s “Square Peg in a Round Hole”

He had taught us about color, outer space and music, and on March 3, 1963, Professor Ludwig Von Drake hosted a lesson in psychology. Using several Donald Duck and Goofy cartoon shorts as examples, the “self-appointed expert on everything” takes us inside his Research Institute for Human Behavior. Ludwig Von Drake is the eccentric uncle of Donald Duck, and first debuted in “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color: An Adventure in Color” in 1961. Ludwig’s iconic, heavily-accented voice was supplied by Disney Legend Paul Frees, who also contributed his vocal talents to attractions like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Feb. 23

1935 – “The Band Concert” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts

1939 – Walt Disney receives a special Academy Award for the creation of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”

1955 – “Davy Crockett at the Alamo” (television show) airs

1986 – “The Girl Who Spelled Freedom” (television movie) airs

2010 – “Captain EO” returns to Disneyland Park for a limited engagement

Feb. 24

1939 – “The Practical Pig” (Silly Symphony) debuts

1950 – “How to Ride a Horse” (Goofy cartoon short) debuts

1956 – “Chips Ahoy” (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts

1960 – Walt Disney Productions releases “Kidnapped”

1985 – Disney Clothiers opens at Magic Kingdom Park

2017 – Village Haus Restaurant at Disneyland Park becomes Red Rose Taverne

Feb. 25

1938 – “Boat Builders” (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts

1968 – “The Young Loner” (two-part television show) airs

2003 – “Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show” debuts at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World Resort

Feb. 26

1991 – Prairie Outpost & Supply opens in Magic Kingdom Park

2000 – “The Weekenders” (television show) debuts on One Saturday Morning on ABC

2002 – “Cinderella II: Dreams Come True” (direct-to-video animated movie) is released

Feb. 27

1959 – “The Adventures of Chip ‘n’ Dale” (television show) airs

1966 – “Ballerina” (two-part television show) airs

1995 – “Alien Encounters from New Tomorrowland” (syndicated television special) airs

2001 – “Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure” (direct-to-video animated movie) is released

2007 – Muppet Mobile Lab is first tested at Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort

2009 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience”

2017 – “When We Rise” (8-part television mini-series) airs on ABC

Feb. 28

1942 – “Pluto, Junior” (Pluto cartoon short) debuts

1993 – “Bonkers” debuts on Disney Channel

1996 – The Walt Disney Company acquires Gorda Cay, a Bahamian island that will become Castaway Cay for Disney Cruise Line

March 1

1924 – “Alice’s Day at Sea,” the first Alice Comedy, debuts

1964 – “The Legend of Two Gypsy Dogs” (television show) airs

1970 – “Menace on the Mountain” (two-part television show) airs

1986 – Safari Outpost opens in Disneyland Park

1996 – Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort (a Disney Vacation Club resort) opens in Hilton Head, South Carolina

1998 – “Bug Juice” (18-episode documentary series) premieres on Disney Channel

1999 – Kali River Rapids and Maharajah Jungle Trek officially open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

2012 – The Disney Fantasy cruise ship is christened in New York City

March 2

1951 – “Dude Duck” (Donald Duck cartoon short) debuts

1955 – “From Aesop to Hans Christian Andersen” (television show) airs

1969 – “Nature’s Better Built Homes” (television show) airs

1976 – Magic Kingdom Park welcomes its 50 millionth Guest

2007 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “Wild Hogs”

2009 – Construction begins on the Disney Dream at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany

March 3

1934 – Playful Pluto (Mickey Mouse cartoon short) debuts

1950 – “The Brave Engineer” (special cartoon) debuts

1963 – “Square Peg in a Round Hole” (television show) airs

1967 – Walt Disney Productions releases “The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin”

1974 – “Ringo, the Refugee Raccoon” (television show) airs

1984 – “The Edison Twins” (television series) debuts on Disney Channel

1995 –  Indiana Jones Adventure opens at Disneyland Park

1995 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “Man of the House”

2015 – “Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast” is released on video

March 4

1949 – “Pluto’s Surprise Package” (Pluto cartoon short) debuts

1962 – “Carnival Time” (television show) airs

1973 – “Chester, Yesterday’s Horse” (television show) airs

1989 – “Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers” (television series) debuts on Disney Channel

2005 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “The Pacifier”

2016 – Walt Disney Pictures releases “Zootopia”

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