On November 30, 1955, Walt Disney’s Disneyland television program aired “The Story of the Animated Drawing,” an hour-length exploration of the medium that had made Walt famous. The show presented a documentary of the history of animation—from its ancient origins to its more modern innovations. During the 1910s and 20s, one of the medium’s dominant artists was renowned cartoonist Winsor McCay.
The roots of the Disney family tree begin in earnest in Normandy, France, and make stops in Ireland and Canada before Walt's father, Elias, is born.
Nothing goes together better than Laugh-O-grams and candy-grams, right? Well, if that doesn’t do it for you, this list, which highlights the love in Walt’s life—particularly the love he shared with his wife, Lillian—might just help you and your special someone gain a new perspective on some of the stories that are mentioned only briefly in our galleries.
With a heavy heart and deep sadness, we share that Ron Miller, husband of Diane Disney Miller, son-in-law of Walt Disney, President of the Board of Directors at The Walt Disney Family Museum, and owner of Silverado Vineyards, has passed in Napa, California at the age of 85.
As we celebrate The Walt Disney Family Museum’s 10th Anniversary, we are continually looking for ways to share Walt Disney’s legacy with others. With this in mind, all proceeds from the sales of this limited edition, round 10th Anniversary pin will be applied toward the museum’s scholarship fund.
Though the museum has welcomed visitors since October 1, 2009, one of the questions we’re asked most frequently by guests remains: “Why is the museum here?” Well, for over a decade, Diane Disney Miller, Walt's daughter, considered how best to memorialize her father’s life story, and landed on what we now know as The Walt Disney Family Museum.
One Saturday morning in 1953, artist Herb Ryman sat down in front of Walt Disney and started to sketch. He had two full days to create a visual concept depicting an idea of Walt’s: an amusement park that would appeal to both children and adults.
With its charming Audio-Animatronics® and leafy adventures, the Jungle Cruise has long been a fan favorite. How did this attraction come to be?
The year was 1905. Theodore Roosevelt was president, a quart of fresh milk cost about 7 cents, and Eric Cleon Larson was born on September 3 in Cleveland, Utah. While Disney fans know Larson as one of Walt’s famous “Nine Old Men” of animation, his path to get there was hardly a straight line. In fact, during an interview not long before his retirement, he was asked how he ended up with Disney. His reply: “This is the last place I expected to be.”
Walt Disney’s Melody Time celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Released in May of 1948, it was one of the last of the so-called package features, which took precedent from Fantasia (1940) by combining more than a half dozen short subject cartoons, each musically inclined.