Here's good ol' Mr. Johnson, from Mission to Mars. Before Mr. Johnson was helping people travel to Mars, he was Tom Morrow, also voiced by George Walsh, helping people fly to the moon. Today's Tom Morrow is the robot, voiced by Nathan Lane, that greets you as you enter Disneyland's Innoventions. The character of Tom Morrow, had also been heard being paged in "Star Tours." If you listen closely in "Star Tours" today, you'll still hear his name, but now it's backwards! Mot Worrom!

Although much has been written recently about Walt Disney World's 40th anniversary, a Disney character also celebrated his 40th on October 1st. Orange Bird was introduced at Magic Kingdom, where he was seen at the Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland. Here's a fun article from 1971 that tells the "story" of Orange Bird!

On October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World opened its gates officially for the first time. While the grand-opening festivities occurred later that month, today is indeed a day of historical significance… the 40th anniversary of that magic day when the public was able to experience a Disney Resort as it began its journey to become the premier family destination in the world.

This is the day it all began for me with Disney, March 28, 1988. I was hired as a production assistant in Walt Disney Television Animation and was to work on a series called "Magic Kingdom," in which Disney's classic characters would board a Disney park attraction, such as "Pirates of the Caribbean" or "Haunted Mansion," and they would be transported into real-life adventures. While that show never got off the drawing board, so to speak, I ended up working on the second season of "DuckTales."

Also in this photo is TV Animation producer Bob Taylor. One of my favorite memories of Bob is that we both had heard about this "Disney Morgue," which housed all the original artwork from Disney's animated features. Bob and I took a trip over to the Morgue and were greeted by Leroy Anderson, the man who ran it. Leroy was a kind gentleman and I think he enjoyed our enthusiasm. He pulled out entire sequences of pencil drawing animation from classic films, and even original backgrounds from "Lady and the Tramp." I remember Bob pointing out to me how they were all designed from the perspective of a dog, low to the ground.

Also in our orientation group was Tom Schumacher who went on to head up Disney Feature Animation and later Disney Theatrical Productions.

For me, this day began a life's journey that I am so happy to be on.

All of these ladies have been a Disneyland Ambassador, and each has kindly shared their stories with me. Pictured are Leona Dombroske Ross (1979), Christina Schendel Walker (1976), Kathleen Mitts Micalizzi (1993), Willie Vander Zwaag Burckle (1981) and Mindy Wilson Fisher (1983).

The first time a Disneyland Ambassador was chosen was in 1962, and the Ambassador program that continues today began in 1965. According to a 1973 brochure, the Ambassador was to serve as “an official spokeswoman for the entire Disney organization, and representing Disneyland while hosting VIPs, participating in special events and celebrations and traveling throughout the United States and foreign countries.”

It was a pleasure getting the chance to interview each of these wonderful Ambassadors and I look forward to sharing their stories with you in the future. 

 

Recently I had the honor of being hired by Disneyland for my archival knowledge as they planned a special tribute to Wally Boag and Betty Taylor, both of whom starred in Disneyland's long-running "Golden Horseshoe Revue." Wally was in the show from 1955 to 1982, and he passed away on June 3, 2011. Betty was in the show from 1956 to 1986 and amazingly passed away a day after Wally on June 4. In 2007, the third member of the group, Fulton Burley passed away. He performed in the show from 1962 to 1986. 

If this pirate looks familiar to you, it might not be that you've seen him in the Pirates of Caribbean as pictured here. This Audio Animatronics figure got his start in Florida in the World of Motion attraction at Epcot, as a seafaring explorer staring through his telescope at a sea serpent, who was staring right back. 

For Father's Day today I thought I'd post something about a Disney dad, and then I thought, what better "Disney dad" than Walt Disney himself. After all, he created Disneyland because he'd go to a park with his daughters and didn't feel completely fulfilled, he wanted a place where parents and children could have fun together. His dream continues to live on with Disneyland, Walt Disney World, other international Disney Resorts and the Disney Cruise Line.

Here's a newspaper clipping, of Walt Disney, proud father.

Did you know that the Main Street Electrical Parade debuted at Disneyland on this day in 1972? Described perfectly by Disneyland Vice President of Entertainment Bob Jani, it's a “spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination, in thousands of sparkling lights and electro-synthe-magnetic musical sounds… the Main Street Electrical Parade!” When it was originally used, that phrase was spoken by Disneyland announcer Jack Wagner, it wasn't the melodic synthesized version of Jack that continues to be heard today at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.