This Week in Disney History: March 18-24, 2019

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:

55 years since Professor Ludwig Von Drake educated us on the art of fitness

Inspired by JFK’s famous physical fitness program, Ludwig introduced his own program on March 22, 1964 with In Shape with Von Drake. After Walt set up the show by playing a record entitled Von Drake And His Musical Muscles, the all-around authority dementedly delved into the world of sports and exercise. Showing his propensity for getting sidetracked, Ludwig used a dumbbell to create a not-so-hidden Mickey, making a makeshift Mouseketeer hat his own by singing “L-U-D-W-I-G  V-O-N  D-R-A-K-E.” Several Goofy cartoons are shown throughout to illustrate Von Drake’s teachings, with Ludwig’s narration subbing in for the originals.

March 18

1933 – Mickey’s Mellerdrammer (Mickey Mouse cartoon) debuts

1967 – Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and Blue Bayou Restaurant open at Disneyland Park

1973 – The Boy and the Bronc Buster (two-part television show) airs

1997 – Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves (direct-to-video live-action film) is released

2000 – Alley Cats Strike! (Disney Channel Original Movie) debuts

2001 – Bailey’s Mistake (television movie) debuts on The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC

2005 – Walt Disney Pictures releases Ice Princess

2005 – The Suite Life of Zach & Cody (television series) debuts on Disney Channel

2014 – Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe (television documentary) airs on ABC

March 19

1928 – Bright Lights (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon) debuts

1948 – Mickey Down Under (Mickey Mouse cartoon) airs

1958 – Magic and Music (television show) airs

1959 – Walt Disney Productions releases The Shaggy Dog

1959 – Nature’s Strangest Creatures (featurette) debuts

1959 – Cruise of the Eagle (People and Places featurette) debuts

1972 – Chango, Guardian of the Mayan Treasure (television show) airs

1988 – Save the Dog (Disney Channel Premiere Film) debuts

1995 – The Old Curiousity Shop (four-hour Disney Channel Premiere Film) debuts

2002 – The Hunchback of Notre Dame II (direct-to-video animated film) is released

2004 – Going to the Mat (Disney Channel Original Movie) debuts

2008 – Walt Disney World Boys and Girls Club opens in the Pine Hills area of Orlando, Florida

2009 – Tren-D opens at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort

March 20

1930 – Cannibal Capers (Silly Symphony) debuts

1942 – Symphony Hour (Mickey Mouse cartoon) debuts

1957 – The Adventure Story (television show) airs

1981 – Walt Disney Productions releases Amy

1987 – Captain EO opens at Tokyo Disneyland Park

2014 – The stage musical Aladdin officially opens on Broadway

2015 – Smokejumpers Grill opens at Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort

March 21

1927 – Alice in the Alps (Alice Comedy) debuts

1947 – Rescue Dog (Pluto cartoon) debuts

1952 – Two Chips and a Miss (Chip and Dale cartoon) debuts

1956 – The Goofy Sports Story (television show) airs

1968 – Walt Disney Productions releases The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band

1975 – Mission to Mars opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park

1975 – Walt Disney Productions releases Escape to Witch Mountain

1997 – Carnation Café opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park

2003 – Right on Track (Disney Channel Original Movie) debuts

2003 – Walt Disney Pictures releases Piglet’s Big Movie

2014 – Party Central (Pixar cartoon) debuts

2014 – Walt Disney Pictures releases Muppets Most Wanted domestically

March 22

1935 – The Golden Touch (Silly Symphony) debuts

1964 – In Shape with Von Drake (television show) airs

1970 – Disneyland Showtime (television show) airs

1972 – Walt Disney Productions releases The Biscuit Eater

1975 – Lake Buena Vista Village (now part of Disney Springs) opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

2008 – “Stitch Live!” opens at Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris Resort

2009 – Super Rhino (animated short) debuts with the DVD release of Bolt

2018 – The stage musical Frozen officially opens on Broadway

March 23

1951 – Home Made Home (Goofy cartoon) debuts

1951 – Corn Chips (Donald Duck cartoon) debuts

1967 – Scrooge McDuck and Money (special cartoon featurette) debuts

1969 – Herbie Day at Disneyland is hosted to promote the film The Love Bug

1973 – Walt Disney Productions releases Charley and the Angel

1985 – “Disneyland Is Your Land” stage show opens at Disneyland Park

1985 – Disney Clothiers opens on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park

1986 – Disney Goes to the Oscars (television show) airs

1992 – Disney’s Adventures in Wonderland (television series) debuts on Disney Channel

2012 – Disney Junior debuts as a standalone cable channel

2012 – Doc McStuffins (television show) debuts on Disney Junior

March 24

1934 – Funny Little Bunnies (Silly Symphony) debuts

1950 – Crazy Over Daisy (Donald Duck cartoon) debuts

1956 – Astro-Jetsopens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park

1972 – Country Bear Jamboree opens in Critter Country at Disneyland Park

1990 – Chips, the War Dog (television movie) airs on Disney Channel

1995 – Walt Disney Pictures releases Tall Tale

2005 – Beach Club Marketplace opens at Disney’s Beach Club Resort at Walt Disney World Resort

2006 – Hannah Montana debuts on Disney Channel

2006 – Cow Belles (Disney Channel Original Movie) debuts

2017 – Tangled: The Series debuts on Disney Channel

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