Happy 57th Birthday Disneyland!

Walt Disney's Dedicates Disneyland - July 17, 1955

At 2:30pm on July 17, 1955, Disneyland's gates opened, welcoming guests into the theme park for the first time. ABC broadcast the historic event with a LIVE telecast and at 4:43pm, a 57 year-old Walt Disney delivered his famed dedication.

"To all who come to this happy place... Welcome! Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America... with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."

Dedication Day was initially conceived as an International Press Review for media, celebrities and invited guests. However, brand new Cast Members in a brand new park were overrun, as more than 28,000 people attended the unofficial opening. Counterfeit tickets and passes allowed an estimated 12,000-14,000 people to crash the private Sunday event.

Disney Archivist Dave Smith presents a Disneyland International Press Preview Ticket

Disney Archivist Dave Smith presents a Disneyland Parking Pass from Dedication Day

On Disneyland's official opening day, July 18th, Cast Members welcomed approximately 50,000 guests to the Anaheim park. Walt's brother, Roy O. Disney, symbolically purchased Disneyland's first ticket, celebrating the success shared since moving to California in the 1920's.

From the Walt Disney Archives, Dave Smith presents Disneyland Ticket #1 purchased by Roy E. Disney in 1955 for one dollar.

When Disneyland opened in 1955, Disney didn't know if his theme park would be a success. The first year of operation, Disneyland drew more than a million guests to Anaheim, California. In 1956, attendance jumped to 4 million guests. After 57 years Disneyland boasts an annual attendance of nearly 16 million, following Walt Disney World as the second most visited theme park in the world.

Although more people visit the resort in Orlando, the original Disneyland remains the only place where guests can walk in Walt's footsteps and experience the magic Disney crafted firsthand.

Update on Friday, July 20, 2012 at 8:40PM by Admin

A new Disney Detail inside Disney California Adventure Park is directly tied to Disneyland's opening. Travelling a route that connects Buena Vista Street and Holltwoodland, Red Car Trolley #717 is numbered to honor Disneyland's Dedication Day, July 17.

Red Car Trolley #717 - Disney California Adventure Park

Red Car Trolley #717 - Disney California Adventure Park

Hidden Mickey Monday ºoº - Radiator Springs Powerline Hidden Mickey

Luigi's Casa Della Tires & Route 66 - Radiator Springs - Cars Land

In Disney California Adventure Park's Cars Land, the Radiator Springs storefronts along Route 66 feature fresh paint, new neon and a Hidden Mickey.

Powerline Hidden Mickey - Radiator Springs Courthouse - Cars LandWhile driving along Route 66 towards the municipal building and Radiator Springs Racers, look left to find an odd knot in the powerline. In the line that connects to Red's firehouse, the looped wire creates a perfectly proportioned Hidden Mickey.

Fix-It Felix Jr. Arcade Game at 2012 San Diego Comic-Con

On Thursday @wreckitralph via Twitter teased, "If you're at ‪#ComicCon‬, rumor has it that a Gaslamp area arcade has some of the last Fix-It Felix, Jr. games...‪ #SDCC‬ pic.twitter.com/WoU0lglm." The vintage style Fit-It Felix Jr. cabinets were discovered at the TILT arcade in the Horton Plaza shopping center in downtown San Diego.

Through Sunday, comic-con attendees can play to win Wreck-It Ralph swag. 5000 points earns players a Wreck-It Ralph T-shirt, poster and game download. In a panel on Friday, Wreck-It Ralph movie director Rich Moore confirmed there is a kill screen!

Frankenweenie - The Art of Exhibition at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con

Frankenweenie - The Art of Exhibition at the San Diego Comic-Con International is on its second stop of a worldwide tour. The exhibition features characters, sets and props from Tim Burton's upcoming stop-motion animated film, Frankenweenie. A recreation of Tim Burton's desk is also on display as part of the exhibit, complete with doodles and art supplies. The exhibit runs the duration of this year's comic-con, June 11-15 at booth 3635 in hall E. SDCC attendees are required to obtain return time tickets from the booth for entry into the exhibit.

For more pictures of this exhibit please visit our Frankenweenie - The Art of Exhibition gallery.

Frankenweenie - The Art of Exhibition Worldwide Tour Schedule

CineEurope, Barcelona: June 18-21

Comic-Con, San Diego: July 11-15

Plaza Universidad, Mexico City: July 27-Aug 7

Fan Expo, Toronto: Aug 23-26

Disney California Adventure Park: Sept 14-Nov 5

Madrid: Sept-Oct

Paris: Oct-Nov

Tokyo: Dec

Disney's Frankenweenie, a full-length feature film by Tim Burton, will premiere in theaters on October 5, 2012.

Update on Friday, July 20, 2012 at 9:27PM by Admin

An official Disney Studios video clip about the Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition.

Marvel Hosts Iron Man 3 Kids' Costume Event at SDCC 2012

MARVEL HOSTS “IRON MAN 3” KIDS’ COSTUME EVENT AT COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL 2012

All Kids Dressed as Iron Man Treated to Group Photo and Robert Downey Jr.  Autographed Poster

Burbank, CA (July 9, 2012) –Marvel Studios announced today that they will be hosting an “Iron Man 3” Kids’ Costume Event on Saturday, July 14, at 12:30 p.m. at the Marvel booth (#2329), at Comic-Con International in San Diego. The event is open to all children ages 2-14 who come dressed as Iron Man—Marvel’s iconic Super Hero featured in the upcoming “Iron Man 3.”  Anyone looking to participate in the costume event should arrive at the Marvel booth by 12:10 to prepare for the event.

A group photo of all the costumed children will be taken on stage and featured on Marvel.com. All participating children will also receive a poster autographed by Robert Downey Jr., who reprises his role of Tony Stark/Iron Man in the fan-favorite franchise.

“Iron Man 3” continues the epic, big-screen adventures of the world’s favorite billionaire inventor/Super Hero, Tony Stark aka “Iron Man.” Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, “Iron Man 3” stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, along with franchise staples Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rhodes with Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan.

Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing the film from a screenplay by Drew Pearce and Shane Black with Shane Black directing.   Executive producers on the project include Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard and Dan Mintz.

Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” is slated for release in the U.S. on May 3, 2013.

[official press release]