I'll be Doing Whatever Snow Does in Summer
Greetings readers, and congratulations to all graduating seniors! School is officially out, and the first day of summer is just around the corner. We spent the weekend by the pool soaking up the Florida sunshine while trying not to get a Florida sunburn.
…A drink in my hand, my snow up against the burning sand
Probably getting gorgeously tanned in summerI'll finally see a summer breeze blow away a winter storm
And find out what happens to solid water when it gets warm
And I can't wait to see what my buddies all think of me
Just imagine how much cooler I'll be in summer…
Back by popular demand are the “This week in Disney History” posts, where we will unearth interesting and lesser known events in Disney history. These emails are typically published on Sundays, and I hope you enjoy them.
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This Week in Disney History: May 28th - June 3rd
Sunday, May 28, 1994: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Opens in Orlando, Florida
Located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, The Wilderness Lodge is located in the Magic Kingdom Resort area near the Fort Wilderness Camp Grounds. The Resort is modeled after the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park, and features an artificial geyser and hot springs, which are located on the resort grounds. The Resort reflects the atmosphere of the national parks of the western United States and features both natural and Native American elements. Here are some fun facts about the resort:
The resort has eight floors of lodge-pole pine imported from Oregon, as well as 55-foot authentic totem poles.
The resort also has an 82-foot fireplace representing the colorful rocks of the Grand Canyon.
Fun Fact, In the ABC sitcom Family Matters two-part episode "We're Going to Disney World" Steve Urkel and the Winslows stay at the Wilderness Lodge. Some scenes were filmed on location outside the main doors and inside the lobby.
Monday, May 29, 2019: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland
On May 29, 2019, George Lucas, Billy Dee Williams, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford attended the pre-opening launch event for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at in Disneyland. The new land was dedicated and open to the public the following day.
Tuesday, May 30, 1936: Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon Thru The Mirror is released
This Mickey Mouse short cartoon is based on the "Alice Through the Looking Glass" story.
Walt Disney gives an uncredited performance as the voice of Mickey Mouse.
Clarence Nash, the original voice of Donald Duck, can be heard as the nutcracking tool.
Although the title of the film is “Thru the Mirror”, the original film poster was misspelled to read, “Through the Mirror.
Wednesday, May, 31, 2008 Buzz Lightyear blasts off to the International Space Station
During the spring of 2008, Buzz Lightyear joined the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery and the STS-124 mission to the International Space Station. The toy space traveler was part of a program developed by Disney’s Youth Educational Series and NASA as part of the agency’s STEM Engagement Program. Buzz's mission coincided with the opening of "Toy Story Midway Mania!," at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Thursday, June 1, 1931: Swiss Artist Albert Hurter joins the Disney Staff
Albert Hurter is a name you may not have heard before, but nearly every Disney fan is familiar with his work. Albert Hurter is the Disney Studio's very first inspirational sketch artist, and is credited as a character designer on the films he worked on for Disney. As the "old man of the studio," his exposure to the European art world and his for detail made Hurter indispensable to the Disney staff.
Most notably, Hurter helped cultivate the European aesthetic behind Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Pinnochio (1940), as well as the look of several Silly Symphony short films in the 1930’s.
Among the animated shorts he'll influence are Babes in the Woods, Building a Building, Three Little Pigs, The Goddess of Spring, Water Babies and Music
Land.
In 1948, Simon and Schuster published He Drew As He Pleased, a sketchbook by Albert Hurter. Copies of this book are available for purchase on Amazon by clicking the link (I do not make proceeds from the sale of items through my blog). At the time of this posting, copies of this book were starting at $375.00.
Friday, June 2, 1944: Commando Duck is released in theaters
The Donald Duck short Commando Duck is a World War II cartoon released on June 2, 1944 by RKO Radio Pictures. Donald Duck parachutes into the jungle of a remote Pacific island to wipe out a Japanese airfield undetected.
This film is the last film in a series of World War II Army films produced by the Walt Disney Studios featuring Donald Duck.
June 3, 1984: Bistro de Paris restaurant in the France Pavilion at Epcot
One of Disney’s most critically acclaimed restaurants, Bistro de Paris was the brainchild of three of France’s most decorated chefs: Paul Bocuse, Roger Verge, and the late Gaston Lenotre.
Bistro de Paris was later renamed to Monsieur Paul in honor of chef Paul Bocuse.
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Stay optimistic, and see you real soon!
Sincerely,
Harper