Chronology of the Walt Disney Company

Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to create web links
to this site, not to copy these pages to other web sites.
URL: http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/

References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.


1961

January 1
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the Zorro episode The Postponed Wedding. [370.395] [384.142] [501.630]
January 8
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the seventh "The Swamp Fox" episode, A Woman's Courage. [370.396] [501.533]
January 15
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the eighth "The Swamp Fox" episode, Horses for Greene. [370.396] [501.533]
January 22
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, entitled A Salute to Father. [370.396] [501.483]
January 25
  • Buena Vista premieres Disney's animated feature film One Hundred and One Dalmatians in selected theaters. It cost US$4 million to make. The film is based on the book The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith. In one scene, a portion of Disney's film Flowers and Trees is shown on a television. [1] [7] [8] [11] [13] [15] [16] [25] [97.244] [113.304] [190.26] [191] [228.371] [229.106] [230.30] [249.27] [250.98] [370.181] [685.29] (cost US$3.6 million to make [49.268])
January 29
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the 14th "Texas John Slaughter" episode, The End of the Trail. [370.396] [501.548]
February 5
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the 15th "Texas John Slaughter" episode, A Holster Full of Law. [370.396] [501.548]
February 10
  • Disney generally releases the film One Hundred and One Dalmatians to theaters. [43.799] [23] [79.181] (March [111.380])
February 19
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the film Westward Ho the Wagons, part one. [370.396]
February 26
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the film Westward Ho the Wagons, part two. [370.396]
February 27
  • The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Goliath II for an Oscar Award in the category Short Subjects, Cartoons. [39.505]
  • The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Islands of the Sea for an Oscar Award in the category Short Subjects, Live-Action Subjects. [39.505]
  • The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film The Horse with the Flying Tail for an Oscar Award in the category Documentary, Features. [39.505]
March 5
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the animated film The Coyote's Lament. It is a compilation of Disney cartoons, with new coyote animation. Pluto also appears. [97.43] [370.396] [1378.159]
March 12
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring "Daniel Boone: Episode III. The Wilderness Road". [370.396] [1378.170]
March 16
  • Disney releases the animated short film The Saga of Windwagon Smith to theaters. [16] [23] [85.350] [501.482]

    vvv advertisement vvv

    ^^^ advertisement ^^^
  • Buena Vista releases Disney's live-action feature film The Absent Minded Professor to theaters. The film is based on a story by Samuel W. Taylor. [13] [17] [23] [43.1] [40.267] [209.30] [232.84] [370.185] [1378.2]] (April [111.328])
March 19
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring "Daniel Boone: Episode IV. The Promised Land". [370.396] [1378.170]
March 26
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the film Man in Flight. [370.396]
March 27
  • The Snow White Wishing Well and Grotto opens in Fantasyland at Disneyland. [9] [26.26] [501.509] [1300.382]
April 2
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the Zorro episode Auld Acquaintance. [370.396] [384.142] [501.630]
April 9
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, entitled Battle for Survival. [370.396] [1378.61]
April 10
  • The Monorail is temporarily shut down for extension to the Disneyland Hotel. [1300.291]
April 16
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the 16th "Texas John Slaughter" episode, A Trip to Tucson. [370.396] [501.549]
April 17
  • The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Documentary, Features) for the film The Horse with the Flying Tail. [23] [38.326] [39.505]
  • The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar (Honorary Award) to Hayley Mills for most outstanding juvenile performance of 1960, in the film Pollyanna. [39.505]
April 19
  • Disneyland welcomes its 25-millionth guest, Dr. Glenn C. Franklin. [228.134] [910.27]
April 23
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the 17th "Texas John Slaughter" episode, Frank Clell's in Town. [370.396] [501.549]
April 25
  • Walt and Roy Disney pay off all existing loans. [48.295] [49.268] [267.250]
April 30
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, entitled Flash, the Teenage Otter. [228.187] [370.396]
May 7
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring "Andrews' Raiders, episode 1: Secret Mission". It is a TV version of the film The Great Locomotive Chase. [370.396] [1378.31]
May 14
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring "Andrews' Raiders, episode 2: Escape to Nowhere". [370.396] [1378.31]
May 21
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, entitled Wonders of the Water World. [370.396] [501.618]
May 28
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring Disneyland '61 and Olympic Elk. [228.137] [370.396]
June 1
  • The Disneyland Monorail re-opens, extended to the Disneyland Hotel, crossing over West Street. This extends the line from 0.8 to 2.5 miles. A third train is added. All engines are replaced by Mark II versions. [9] [23] [29] [267.254] [328.298] [757.37] [1300.291]
June 11
  • The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring The Title Makers, the film Nature's Half Acre, and a preview of the film The Parent Trap. [370.396] [501.559]
June 15
  • The first Disneyland Grad Nite Party is held. About 8500 students attend from 28 Los Angeles schools, the largest high school graduation party ever in the US. [228.214] [757.37] [1300.192] [1364.77]
June 21
  • Disney releases the Donald Duck film Donald and the Wheel to theaters. [16] [23] [85.350] [228.143]
  • Disney releases the Donald Duck film The Litterbug to theaters. [16] [23] [85.350] [228.290]
  • Buena Vista releases Disney's live-action feature film The Parent Trap to theaters. The film is based on the book Das Doppelte Lottchen by Erich Kastner. [13] [23] [15] [43.824] [111.382] [228.379] [246.91] (June 12 [370.188]) (July [79.188])
(month unknown)
  • The Buena Vista International company is incorporated. [228.71]
  • Dick Nunis becomes director of Operations for Disneyland. [228.363] [409.2]
  • Marc Davis retires from animation work, and switches to designing Disneyland park attractions. [259.72]
  • Work on a stop-motion version of The Emperor's Nightingale is suspended. [176.70]
  • Disney releases the film Greyfriars Bobby to theaters in Great Britain. [43.433]
  • Disneyland welcomes its 24 millionth guest. [26.26]
  • The American Humane Association awards a PATSY award (Third Place (Motion Picture), tied) to Mr. Stubbs, the monkey from the film Toby Tyler. [45.612]
  • Walt Disney buys the rights to A.A. Milne's "Winnie the Pooh" characters. [1] [193.70] (Ron Miller buys rights in 1965 [1])
  • Disney produces the Circle-Vision film Italia '61 - Circling Italy with Circarama for Fiat. The film is shown at the 1961 Exposition in Turin. [23] [228.258]
  • Disney releases the live-action feature film The Magnificent Rebel to theaters in Europe. [23] [85.361]
  • Disney creates the animated mad scientist duck Ludwig Von Drake. [1]
  • Tinker Bell makes her debut at Disneyland. The part is performed by Tiny Kline, a 71-year old circus aerialist from Europe. [4] [26.26] [450.109]
  • A study for a location of a second Disney park recommends Ocala or Orlando in Florida. [23] [48.333]
  • Disney releases the live-action feature film The Horsemasters to theaters in Europe. [23] [85.360]
  • Disney releases the animated film compilation Mickey Mouse Cartoon Festival to theaters in Panama. [23]
  • Disney officially retires Donald Duck from animated short films. [108.vii] [434.33]
  • The Submarine Voyage attraction at Disneyland is updated with new animation. [501.529]
July 12
  • The first draft of a screenplay is completed for the film Mary Poppins. [48.318]
  • Buena Vista releases Disney's live-action feature film Nikki, Wild Dog of the North to theaters. The film is based on the novel Nomads of the North by James Curwood. [13] [23] [43.772] [85.190] [111.379] [228.359]
August 6
  • The Flying Saucers ride opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [9] [4] [26.26] [193.16] [228.189] [245.92] [757.37] [1300.173] (Flying Saucer Ride [910.36])
September
  • The Holidayland picnic area at Disneyland closes. [228.237] [1300.209]
  • Don DeFore's Silver Banjo Barbecue food facility at Disneyland closes. [228.143] [1300.146]
  • Disney releases the 16-mm film Japan Harvests the Sea for educational use. The film was previously released as The Ama Girls. [23] [228.262]
  • Disney reaches an initial agreement with General Electric for the Carousel of Progress attraction for the New York World's Fair in 1964. [1102.576]
September 17
  • The ABC TV network airs the last Walt Disney Presents show. [381.24] [501.593]
September 24
  • The NBC TV network debuts the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, on Sunday nights from 7:30 to 8:30. The first show is entitled An Adventure in Color, Mathmagic Land. A new character, Ludwig von Drake, is introduced. This show airs the previously released film Donald in Mathmagic Land. [24] [34.250] [48.287] [57.48] [58.44] [83.697] [84.898] [97.125] [370.396] [381.71] [387.182] [501.597] [1102.570] [1248.43] [1378.7] (September 21 [40.267]) (1960 [47.140]) (on ABC [23])
September 30
  • Louis Armstrong performs at Disneyland for the first time, for the second Dixieland at Disneyland show. [228.29] [756.42]
October 1
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, featuring The Horsemasters, part one. [228.242] [370.396]
October 8
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, featuring The Horsemasters, part two. [228.242] [370.396]
October 11
  • Buena Vista releases Disney's live-action feature film Greyfriars Bobby to theaters. The film is based on the book by Eleanor Atkinson. [13] [23] [43.433] [79.192] [111.356] (September 28 [85.192]) (July 17 [228.219])
October 15
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Chico, the Misunderstood Coyote. [370.396] [1378.132]
October
  • Disney releases the 16-mm film Christmas Capers. It was previously released as Toy Tinkers. [1378.134] (1960 [23])
October 22
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled The Hunting Instinct, with Ludwig von Drake. [228.247] [370.396]
November 5
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Inside Donald Duck, with Ludwig von Drake. [228.256] [370.396]
November 12
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Return of True Son. This is part one of the film The Light in the Forest. [370.396]
November
  • NBC renews its Disney TV show for two more years. [1102.571]
November 19
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled True Son's Revenge. This is part two of the film The Light in the Forest. [370.396]
November 26
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Holiday for Henpecked Husbands, with Goofy. [228.236] [370.396]
December 3
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled A Fire Called Jeremiah. [228.185] [370.396]
December 10
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Kids is Kids with Ludwig von Drake. [228.274] [370.396]
December 14
  • Buena Vista releases Disney's first live-action musical feature film Babes in Toyland to theaters. The film is based on the operetta by Victor Herbert and Glen McDonough. [13] [23] [37.120] [43.52] [111.331] [230.30] [370.194] [1378.51]
December
  • Disney releases the live-action feature film Gunfight at Sandoval to theaters in Germany. The film is a compilation of TV episodes of "Texas John Slaughter". [23] [228.222]
December 17
  • The Babes in Toyland exhibit opens at the Opera House on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. It shows sets from the movie of the same name. [9] [4] [26] [1300.61] [1378.52]
  • The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Backstage Party, to promote the Babes in Toyland film. [23] [370.396] [1378.54]
December
  • A 24-foot Christmas star is added to the top of the Matterhorn Mountain in Disneyland. [4]
December 20
  • Disney releases the Goofy film Aquamania to theaters. [16] [23] [85.350] [1378.38] (1952 [15])

End of 1961. Next: 1962.

vvv advertisement vvv

^^^ advertisement ^^^

1919-1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943
1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953
1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963
1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973
1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
2004 2005 2006 2007-2008 2009 2010-2011 2012-end


A list of references to all source material is available.


Last updated: 2023 December 20.
Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/
Link to Ken P's home page.

vvv advertisement vvv

^^^ advertisement ^^^
History Timelines Postage Stamps Today in History
PCs Video Games Timeline Today
Amiga World Silly This Day
Apple Space Coins Sports
Commodore 64 Impacts Corvettes Disney
Processors Sports Cruise Ships USA
Corvettes Gambling Disney Music
World War II Weather Errors PC and Game
Sweden Earthquakes Novelties TV and Movies
A&W USA Births Finder Anniversaries
A&W Canada Deaths
Postage Stamps Dow Jones Coins Chevrolet Corvettes
Walt Disney Co. Television Timeline: Canada Timeline
Disneyland Cruise Ships Timeline: USA Racing Success
Walt Disney World Oak Island Timeline: World On Stamps
Disney Cruise Line Killing JFK Novelties Pop Culture
Canada coins On Stamps
USA coins Other
World coins Mug Shots(A&W)
Stuff For Sale

Privacy Policy

kpolsson.com does not collect or share personal information. I have better things to do. There are links to advertiser sites that are beyond my control, from which I may receive a placement fee or a sale commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.