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Looking Back

While the kids don't care too much yet about Walt, Roy, and their hope and dreams, those of us who grew up watching their rise to fame and playing in their theme parks always want to know more about how it happened and how we got from the "Florida Project" to what we have today. The column will be dedicated to history, Disney-style.

Articles

POSTED Thu, 01/31/2013 - 06:05 | POSTED BY Kristen Kirk
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Profile of an Imagineer: Roger Broggie Jr.

Roger Broggie Jr. was the son of Walt Disney's original Imagineer. As a young boy of 11 he began working for the man he called "Uncle Walt" when he, and his brother Michael, tended Disney's backyard railway the Carolwood Pacific. He spent his teen years in the brand new Disneyland, watching it evolve, take shape, and giving a kid stamp of approval.

POSTED Mon, 12/31/2012 - 06:05 | POSTED BY Kristen Kirk
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Disney Celebrates “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” at the 124th Rose Parade

The 124th Rose Parade on January 1, 2013, marks 75 years of the Walt Disney Company's involvement with the Pasadena, California New Year's Day institution.

POSTED Mon, 12/03/2012 - 06:05 | POSTED BY Kristen Kirk
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Disney and the Toys for Tots Foundation

Toys for Tots has been around since 1947 and has served tens of thousands of children in need over the last 64 years. In 1948, Walt Disney and his animators designed a logo for Toys for Tots that is still used to this day. This magical team designed the first poster used and distributed to promote awareness of the foundation.

POSTED Thu, 11/22/2012 - 06:05 | POSTED BY Kristen Kirk
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Mickey, Donald, and Goofy in 'The Turkey Catchers'

Another holiday, another Disney animated short film! I went hunting for something to help celebrate Thanksgiving and discovered that in 1938 Walt Disney went through a lengthy pre-production on a cute piece entitled 'Pilgrim Mickey' that never got off of the ground and was canceled by the spring of 1939.

POSTED Tue, 10/16/2012 - 05:05 | POSTED BY Kristen Kirk
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Looking Back: Walt Disney and the Alice Comedies

October 16th, 1923 is an important date for Walt Disney fans; it's that day that Walt signed a contract with M. J. Winkler to produce a series of Alice Comedies. Looking back through history it is widely considered to be the start of Walt Disney's success in its first incarnation as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. 89 years ago today, the Walt Disney Company was born.

POSTED Mon, 07/30/2012 - 05:05 | POSTED BY Kristen Kirk
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The Original Space Mountain

This space-themed roller coaster, and fan favorite, can be found in all five of Disney's Magic Kingdom-style Parks. All five versions of the attraction have different queues and tracks, but all of them share that famous domed exterior, a space age exterior facade reaching into the sky. After seeing the popularity of the Matterhorn in Disneyland, Walt Disney was convinced that thrill rides had a place in his park and had plans drawn plans drawn up for the Space Mountain attraction.

POSTED Thu, 05/31/2012 - 05:05 | POSTED BY Kasey O'Connor
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Profile of an Imagineer: Marc Davis

The creative of genius of Marc Davis created some of the most memorable Disney animated characters. Working as an animator, an artist, and an Imagineer Davis helped Walt Disney bring countless Disney characters to life on screen and was one of the creative forces behind Disneyland.

POSTED Mon, 04/02/2012 - 05:05 | POSTED BY Melissa W.
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John Carter Disappoints at Box Office

For the time being, Disney may just have to stay away from any movies mentioning the word Mars. After a disappointing opening weekend of only $30.2 million, Disney's John Carter stands to lose Disney $200 million.

POSTED Mon, 03/05/2012 - 06:05 | POSTED BY Kasey O'Connor
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A Look at the Past and Present Incarnations of Journey into Imagination

Over the years there have been three incarnations of the much beloved Journey into Imagination attraction at the Imagination Pavilion in EPCOT's Future World.

POSTED Tue, 02/28/2012 - 06:05 | POSTED BY Kasey O'Connor
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Profile of an Imagineer: Bill Martin

Can you imagine getting a phone call asking you to help out with Walt Disney's newest venture, building a new theme park? That is exactly what happened to Bill Martin.