Alice Davis, 1929 - 2022

Happy Birthday to Disney Legend Betty White!

Regis Philbin, 1931 - 2020

Happy 110th Birthday, Ruthie Tompson!

Disney Legend Ruthie Tompson is celebrating her 110th Birthday today! Ruthie lived down the street from Walt Disney’s uncle and was hired by Roy Disney to Star as an extra in the Alice Comedies. After Ruthie grew up, she took a job at the Disney Studios, where she worked for over forty years. She worked on classic films like Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Sleeping Beauty.

Happy Birthday, Ruthie! Thank you for sharing your talents with the world!

Happy Birthday, Alice Davis!

Today we’re wishing the happiest of birthdays to Alice Davis! Ms. Davis contributed her considerable talents to many of DISNEYLAND’s most beloved attractions, including it’s a small world, which has entertained hundreds of millions of children of all ages.

Her hard work, in conjunction with artist Mary Blair and Harriet Burns, brought to life the beloved attraction in record time- an attraction that continues to be loved by children who might never know her name. If that had been the only attraction she worked on, her legacy would be assured. Ms. Davis also worked on the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Happy 91st birthday, Alice- and thank you for creating countless magical memories- for me and the world.

Guest Star Day: Ruthie Tompson

You may not know her name, but you have definitely seen her work. Disney Legend Ruthie Tompson is one of the rare persons still alive who knew Walt Disney before he built  his empire. Ruthie grew up in Burbank, CA just down the street from Walt Disney’s Uncle Robert. When Walt first moved to California, he originally setup shop in his Uncle’s garage. When Walt went looking for child actors to star in his pre-Mickey cartoon series the Alice Comedies, Ruthie gratefully accepted a role. When she expressed interest in animation, Walt encouraged her to take art classes and promised to hire her when she was old enough. It was a promise he kept.

Ms. Tompson joined the ink and paint department, eventually supervising the inkers and painters. She would stay at Walt Disney Productions for almost forty years, working on classic films like Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Sleeping Beauty. In 2000, she was declared a Disney Legend and in 2017 she was honored by the Motion Picture Academy for her contributions to motion picture animation. Ms. Tompson currently resides in the Hollywood Retirement Home and will be celebrating her 110th Birthday this year.

Floyd Norman

Russi Taylor

Happy 96th Birthday, Glynis Johns!

Russi Taylor, 1944 - 2019

Russi Taylor, whose voice has been heard on countless hours of animated programming has passed away at age 75.

Ms. Taylor was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1944. As a child, one of her biggest dreams came true when her parents took her to DISNEYLAND. During their visit the family ran into Walt Disney himself one night and he asked Russi what she wanted to do when she grew up. She told Mr. Disney that she wanted to work for him.

Russi’s dream would come true after she arrived in Southern California to become an actress. She would attend a voice actor’s workshop in the late 1970’s that would lead her to her destiny- as a much sought after voice actress. She would become the official voice of Strawberry Shortcake and eventually get the job of her dreams, working for the Walt Disney Company as the voice of Minnie Mouse. In a sweet story out of a fairy tale, she actually fell in love with and married Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse.

Russi was a sweet woman who loved meeting with her fans and always gave them the biggest hugs and smiles. She provided voices for such beloved characters as Webbigail Vanderquack, Huey, Dewey and Louie, Martin Prince and Uter. She will be missed by her friends, family and billions of grateful fans around the world.

DISNEYLAND Anniversary Month: The Legends

On July 17, 1955 Walt Disney’s greatest dream- DISNEYLAND- opened to the world. While it appeared that Mr. Disney had singlehandedly willed the park into existence, there were so many people who helped bring the park to life; even if they didn’t quite realize it. Walt Disney fully acknowledged the contributions of those who had helped him make his dream come true; as he once said-

“You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality.”

On this, DISNEYLAND’s Anniversary Month, we will feature the stories of the people who helped make Walt Disney’s dream come true, as well as those whose contributions continue to ensure that DISNEYLAND is and always will be the one and only “Happiest Place On Earth”.

Happy 91st Birthday, Richard Sherman!

Disney Legend Tim Conway Passes Away At Age 85

Tim Conway at his Disney Legend Induction Ceremony In 2004.

Tim Conway
1933 - 2019