Howie
Earning My Ears
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- Jan 19, 2000
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Mickey's 75th Celebration: InspEARations
Mickey Mouse Celebrates 75 Years as Pop Culture Icon, Entertainer & Friend
Michael D. Eisner to Kick-off the Festivities at Walt Disney World© Resort in Florida to Honor Mickey and Celebrate the Future of the World's Most Famous Mouse
BURBANK, Calif. (November 18, 2003) -- Ever since Mickey Mouse debuted in the first synchronized sound cartoon, "Steamboat Willie," on November 18, 1928, he has remained one of the most beloved and enduring characters while also presiding as the face of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) around the globe. Today, the company honored Mickey Mouse's 75th Anniversary by kicking off 18 months of celebration beginning at Walt Disney World Resort with the unveiling of 75 uniquely designed, 700-pound, 6-foot-tall Mickey statues -- a tribute to Mickey from an impressive group of friends.
"It's a true testament to Walt that he was able to create Mickey Mouse with such depth and personality that, on his 75th Anniversary, Mickey continues to take us on adventures, make us laugh and inspire us," said Eisner, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. "Mickey's relevance can even be seen in the diverse array of people who are participating in this statue program -- some have been working with Mickey for years and others are just true fans."
The statue program, appropriately deemed "Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations," brings together Disney legends, as well as artists, actors, athletes, performing artists and painters who lent their creative talent or simply creative inspiration to the program that culminated in 75 original statues of Mickey.
Whether deciding to use Mickey as a canvas or finding fun ways to dress him up, each artist's statue is a genuine work of art. Artists such as Raven, Wyland, David Willardson, Peter and Harrison Ellenshaw, Rosie O'Donnell and MEAR ONE chose to personally paint their Mickey statue. Otherwise, TivoliToo, a Minnesota-based design and sculpting studio, transformed each individual artist's design into the finished Mickey statue. TivoliToo also molded and sculpted each of the polyurethane statues.
After the unveiling, the statues will remain at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom through April 2004 for guests to enjoy. From there, the statues are presently scheduled to visit Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Houston, Dallas, Portland, Disneyland, Washington D.C. and New York City. In 2005, Sotheby's Auction House will auction off the statues for charity. All proceeds from the auction will go to the charity chosen by each artist.
The Walt Disney Company was able to bring "Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations" to fruition with the help of The Coca-Cola Company, the primary tour sponsor. In addition, The Home Depot® provided the Disney Color by Behr paint and all the supplies to bring the statues to life. Suddath Relocation Systems will transport the statues to each destination. Kodak will use its EasyShare system to offer digital photographs of tour guests with the statues in each city involved with the tour.
Mickey's Future
A star of stage, screen and ice, as well as the Chief Host at all of Disney's Parks & Resorts, Mickey has entertained kings and presidents, prime ministers and princes, sports stars, film stars, TV stars and millions of just-plain-folks. He will continue to dazzle and spread his special mouse magic for years to come.
Added Eisner: "No other single character has remained in the limelight like Mickey, no other single character has been at the definitive forefront of a global entertainment company, no other single character has such timeless, ageless appeal or has engaged the hearts of so many. Chances are, if you talk to a 4-year-old or a 70-year-old anywhere in the world, they consider Mickey a special friend."
Just try to get on his calendar! Following is a glimpse of Mickey's schedule for the next 18 months:
Fall/Winter 2003-2004
Mickey Mouse monthly comic books from Gemstone debuted in October
Mickey's PhilharMagic 3D Movie opened at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort
"Celebrate Mickey: 75 Years of Fun" logo debuts in Disney Channel programming
"Celebrate Mickey: 75 Years of Fun" Disney Visa card member sweepstakes
Nationwide Home Depot workshop for kids to feature Mickey Mouse project
Disney on Ice Presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey (global five year tour)
"Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations" statues unveiled at Walt Disney World and on display for six months around the entire resort
Mickey Mouse Statue Supersite launches on www.disney.com
Mickey on the cover of November's Disney Magazine
House of Mouse Marathon and "Music Magic Sweepstakes" on Toon Disney and Disney Channel
Mickey 75th seen on Walt Disney World Christmas TV Special on ABC
Mickey's Letter Time interstitial on Playhouse Disney
Mickey featured on the event car for NASCAR's Daytona 500
Spring/Summer 2004
"Project Playtime" featuring Mickey Mouse on Playhouse Disney
Walt Disney Treasures "Mickey Mouse in Living Color (Part 2)" DVD release
First day of issue for The Art of Disney United States Postal Service stamp program, featuring Mickey Mouse
Mickey, Donald and Goofy as "The Three Musketeers" characters in summer parade at Walt Disney World
"The Three Musketeers" Direct-to-Video Premiere. The first full-length feature film starring Mickey and Friends
"Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations" statues tour U.S. cities
Fall/Winter 2004-2005
Walt Disney Treasures "Mickey Mouse in Black and White (Part 2)" DVD launch
Twice Upon a Christmas Direct-to-Video Premiere, featuring Mickey Mouse and the gang in three-dimensional CGI animation for the first time
"Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations" statues displayed at Disneyland
Mickey 75th exposure in Walt Disney World Christmas TV Special
Spring/Summer 2005
The 75 Mickey Statues are auctioned in New York City for charity
First day of issue for The Art of Disney postage stamp, year two (June 2005)
No matter what he's up to, it's clear that Mickey will continue to spread joy and laughter to the young and young at heart.
# # #
"INSPEARATION" BY TITLE & CHARITY
Dave Koz - Saxophonic Mickey- Starlight Children's Foundation ®
Cody Reynolds for Walt Disney World- "I'm Going to Walt Disney World"- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Andreas Deja- Fruits of the Mouse- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Vanessa Hunt for The Disney Store- It Was All Started by a Mouse -Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Tuck Morgan for Disney Consumer Products- Mickey Through the Years- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Trey Hoyumpa for Parsons School of Design- Mickey's Shadow- Parsons School of Design Scholarship Fund
Elva Salinas for The Home Depot- You Can Do It -The Homer Fund
Michelle Kwan- Peace & Love- Children's Miracle Network ®
Anthony Rietta for Radio Disney- Tune In -Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Wyland- Undersea Mickey -Wyland Foundation
Luis Armand Garcia for George Lopez- Viva Mickey -Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Jamie Lee Curtis- The Original Mouse Pad -Children Affected by AIDS Foundation
MEAR ONE- Crazy Style Mickey- Reaching To Embrace Arts
Lori Tyminski for Disney Publishing Worldwide- Funny Pages -Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Paul Wenzel- Mickey Celebrates Our Freedom- Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Regis Philbin -Super Fan Mickey- Our Lady of Solace School, Bronx, New York
John Travolta -Jet Setter -Hollywood Education and Literacy Project
Jerry Bruckheimer- Slapstick Mouse- Ilitch Charities for Children
Ben Affleck- Home Run Hero -The Jimmy Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Lenox -Tuxedo -Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Ollie Johnston -All Aboard! -Verdugo Hills Hospital Foundation
David Willardson -Flying Colors #3- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Kelly Kozel & Sharon Noh for The Coca-Cola Company- Delivery Man -Mickey Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Fess Parker -FrontEAR Tales -Alzheimer's Association of Santa Barbara
Marlee Matlin- True Blue- Children Affected by AIDS Foundation
Christy Carlson Romano- Ready for Action -Children's Miracle Network ®
Ellen DeGeneres -Ellenland -Children's Action Network
Annette Funicello -Always My Angel, Mickey- National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Southern California Chapter
Shaquille O'Neal- Dunk Mouse- Real Model Foundation
Paul Wylie- IceskatEAR -The Jimmy Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Linda Cohn, Dan Patrick & Robin Roberts -ESPN Sports Center Mickey -The V Foundation for Cancer Research
Chris Berman & *beep* Vitale -ESPN 25th Anniversary Mickey -The V Foundation for Cancer Research
Susan Lucci -All the World's His Stage -Little Flower Children's Services of New York
Dennis Larkins for Kodak -Memories- Children's Miracle Network ®
Ming-Na -Mickey and the Nightingale -Starlight Children's Foundation ®
Sir Elton John -Music Royalty- Elton John AIDS Foundation
Wayne Brady -Extended Play- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Raven -Clouded Conscience -American Diabetes Association
Rosie O'Donnell -Mickey: In Yellow.- Rosie's Broadway Kids
Kermit Eisenhut- Lone Star- Texas Children's Cancer Center
Chris Fedun for Jump5- Let's Party- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Al Konetzni- Back to School- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Jeff Conine- Family Tree- Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Foundation
Al Michaels & John Madden- Monday Night Mickey- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Andre Agassi -Love All -Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation ®
Jeff Spohn for Otis College- Big Cheese Mickey- Otis College of Art and Design
Black Entertainment Television- Mickey in the Park- Minority Task Forces on AIDS, New York
Malcom Stone for Suddath Relocation Systems- Mickey on the Move- Dreams Come True
Kathryn E. Morgan -Wonderful World of Mickey- ALS Hope Foundation, Philadelphia
Thomas Knechtel -Patchwork Pal -Imagine It! Children's Museum of Atlanta
Tony Hawk- Mouseskateer- Tony Hawk Foundation
Jennifer Garner -UndercovEAR Mickey- Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
James Gandolfini- Funny Bones- Children Affected by AIDS Foundation
Bob Guiney -Good Catch -Starr Commonwealth
Syd Mead -TRON Mickey -Children of the Night
Brian Matson -Field Mouse -Chicago Children's Museum
Christina Grantham- Fountain of Fun- Boys Hope Girls Hope
Peter Ellenshaw & Harrison Ellenshaw- Mickey's Dream- Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Breanna Rowlette -Lobsta Mickey- Boston Arts Academy
Anita Hurst -Mickey Reigns- Community Transitional School, Portland, Oregon
Mario Vaiana -Rockin' Mickey- Newborn Hope, Colorado
Star Jones -Wild for Mickey- East Harlem School at Exodus House
Disneyland Resort Entertainment Art Department- Reflections on Mickey- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Kataneh Vahdani for California Institute of the Arts -Filmic Mickey -California Institute of the Arts
Gary Baseman -Base Mouse -Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Lamberto Alvarez- El Mickey -Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Andy Garcia -Mambo Mickey -Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Kevin Garnett -Believe in Your Dreams- 4XL-For Excellence in Leadership ®
Kelly Ripa- Big City Mouse -Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Major League Baseball ®- National Pastime Mickey- Major League Baseball Charity, Inc.
Janet Jackson -Mickey's Nation 1928 -A Place Called Home
Doris Roberts -Moustaccioli -Children Affected by AIDS Foundation
Brian McKnight- Music Mouse -LIFEbeat
Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor- I Speak for Mickey and Mickey Speaks for Me- Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Tom Hanks -Space Mouse- James Birrell Neuroblastoma Research Fund
Mickey Mouse Celebrates 75 Years as Pop Culture Icon, Entertainer & Friend
Michael D. Eisner to Kick-off the Festivities at Walt Disney World© Resort in Florida to Honor Mickey and Celebrate the Future of the World's Most Famous Mouse
BURBANK, Calif. (November 18, 2003) -- Ever since Mickey Mouse debuted in the first synchronized sound cartoon, "Steamboat Willie," on November 18, 1928, he has remained one of the most beloved and enduring characters while also presiding as the face of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) around the globe. Today, the company honored Mickey Mouse's 75th Anniversary by kicking off 18 months of celebration beginning at Walt Disney World Resort with the unveiling of 75 uniquely designed, 700-pound, 6-foot-tall Mickey statues -- a tribute to Mickey from an impressive group of friends.
"It's a true testament to Walt that he was able to create Mickey Mouse with such depth and personality that, on his 75th Anniversary, Mickey continues to take us on adventures, make us laugh and inspire us," said Eisner, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. "Mickey's relevance can even be seen in the diverse array of people who are participating in this statue program -- some have been working with Mickey for years and others are just true fans."
The statue program, appropriately deemed "Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations," brings together Disney legends, as well as artists, actors, athletes, performing artists and painters who lent their creative talent or simply creative inspiration to the program that culminated in 75 original statues of Mickey.
Whether deciding to use Mickey as a canvas or finding fun ways to dress him up, each artist's statue is a genuine work of art. Artists such as Raven, Wyland, David Willardson, Peter and Harrison Ellenshaw, Rosie O'Donnell and MEAR ONE chose to personally paint their Mickey statue. Otherwise, TivoliToo, a Minnesota-based design and sculpting studio, transformed each individual artist's design into the finished Mickey statue. TivoliToo also molded and sculpted each of the polyurethane statues.
After the unveiling, the statues will remain at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom through April 2004 for guests to enjoy. From there, the statues are presently scheduled to visit Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Houston, Dallas, Portland, Disneyland, Washington D.C. and New York City. In 2005, Sotheby's Auction House will auction off the statues for charity. All proceeds from the auction will go to the charity chosen by each artist.
The Walt Disney Company was able to bring "Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations" to fruition with the help of The Coca-Cola Company, the primary tour sponsor. In addition, The Home Depot® provided the Disney Color by Behr paint and all the supplies to bring the statues to life. Suddath Relocation Systems will transport the statues to each destination. Kodak will use its EasyShare system to offer digital photographs of tour guests with the statues in each city involved with the tour.
Mickey's Future
A star of stage, screen and ice, as well as the Chief Host at all of Disney's Parks & Resorts, Mickey has entertained kings and presidents, prime ministers and princes, sports stars, film stars, TV stars and millions of just-plain-folks. He will continue to dazzle and spread his special mouse magic for years to come.
Added Eisner: "No other single character has remained in the limelight like Mickey, no other single character has been at the definitive forefront of a global entertainment company, no other single character has such timeless, ageless appeal or has engaged the hearts of so many. Chances are, if you talk to a 4-year-old or a 70-year-old anywhere in the world, they consider Mickey a special friend."
Just try to get on his calendar! Following is a glimpse of Mickey's schedule for the next 18 months:
Fall/Winter 2003-2004
Mickey Mouse monthly comic books from Gemstone debuted in October
Mickey's PhilharMagic 3D Movie opened at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort
"Celebrate Mickey: 75 Years of Fun" logo debuts in Disney Channel programming
"Celebrate Mickey: 75 Years of Fun" Disney Visa card member sweepstakes
Nationwide Home Depot workshop for kids to feature Mickey Mouse project
Disney on Ice Presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey (global five year tour)
"Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations" statues unveiled at Walt Disney World and on display for six months around the entire resort
Mickey Mouse Statue Supersite launches on www.disney.com
Mickey on the cover of November's Disney Magazine
House of Mouse Marathon and "Music Magic Sweepstakes" on Toon Disney and Disney Channel
Mickey 75th seen on Walt Disney World Christmas TV Special on ABC
Mickey's Letter Time interstitial on Playhouse Disney
Mickey featured on the event car for NASCAR's Daytona 500
Spring/Summer 2004
"Project Playtime" featuring Mickey Mouse on Playhouse Disney
Walt Disney Treasures "Mickey Mouse in Living Color (Part 2)" DVD release
First day of issue for The Art of Disney United States Postal Service stamp program, featuring Mickey Mouse
Mickey, Donald and Goofy as "The Three Musketeers" characters in summer parade at Walt Disney World
"The Three Musketeers" Direct-to-Video Premiere. The first full-length feature film starring Mickey and Friends
"Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations" statues tour U.S. cities
Fall/Winter 2004-2005
Walt Disney Treasures "Mickey Mouse in Black and White (Part 2)" DVD launch
Twice Upon a Christmas Direct-to-Video Premiere, featuring Mickey Mouse and the gang in three-dimensional CGI animation for the first time
"Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations" statues displayed at Disneyland
Mickey 75th exposure in Walt Disney World Christmas TV Special
Spring/Summer 2005
The 75 Mickey Statues are auctioned in New York City for charity
First day of issue for The Art of Disney postage stamp, year two (June 2005)
No matter what he's up to, it's clear that Mickey will continue to spread joy and laughter to the young and young at heart.
# # #
"INSPEARATION" BY TITLE & CHARITY
Dave Koz - Saxophonic Mickey- Starlight Children's Foundation ®
Cody Reynolds for Walt Disney World- "I'm Going to Walt Disney World"- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Andreas Deja- Fruits of the Mouse- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Vanessa Hunt for The Disney Store- It Was All Started by a Mouse -Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Tuck Morgan for Disney Consumer Products- Mickey Through the Years- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Trey Hoyumpa for Parsons School of Design- Mickey's Shadow- Parsons School of Design Scholarship Fund
Elva Salinas for The Home Depot- You Can Do It -The Homer Fund
Michelle Kwan- Peace & Love- Children's Miracle Network ®
Anthony Rietta for Radio Disney- Tune In -Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Wyland- Undersea Mickey -Wyland Foundation
Luis Armand Garcia for George Lopez- Viva Mickey -Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Jamie Lee Curtis- The Original Mouse Pad -Children Affected by AIDS Foundation
MEAR ONE- Crazy Style Mickey- Reaching To Embrace Arts
Lori Tyminski for Disney Publishing Worldwide- Funny Pages -Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Paul Wenzel- Mickey Celebrates Our Freedom- Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Regis Philbin -Super Fan Mickey- Our Lady of Solace School, Bronx, New York
John Travolta -Jet Setter -Hollywood Education and Literacy Project
Jerry Bruckheimer- Slapstick Mouse- Ilitch Charities for Children
Ben Affleck- Home Run Hero -The Jimmy Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Lenox -Tuxedo -Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Ollie Johnston -All Aboard! -Verdugo Hills Hospital Foundation
David Willardson -Flying Colors #3- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Kelly Kozel & Sharon Noh for The Coca-Cola Company- Delivery Man -Mickey Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Fess Parker -FrontEAR Tales -Alzheimer's Association of Santa Barbara
Marlee Matlin- True Blue- Children Affected by AIDS Foundation
Christy Carlson Romano- Ready for Action -Children's Miracle Network ®
Ellen DeGeneres -Ellenland -Children's Action Network
Annette Funicello -Always My Angel, Mickey- National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Southern California Chapter
Shaquille O'Neal- Dunk Mouse- Real Model Foundation
Paul Wylie- IceskatEAR -The Jimmy Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Linda Cohn, Dan Patrick & Robin Roberts -ESPN Sports Center Mickey -The V Foundation for Cancer Research
Chris Berman & *beep* Vitale -ESPN 25th Anniversary Mickey -The V Foundation for Cancer Research
Susan Lucci -All the World's His Stage -Little Flower Children's Services of New York
Dennis Larkins for Kodak -Memories- Children's Miracle Network ®
Ming-Na -Mickey and the Nightingale -Starlight Children's Foundation ®
Sir Elton John -Music Royalty- Elton John AIDS Foundation
Wayne Brady -Extended Play- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Raven -Clouded Conscience -American Diabetes Association
Rosie O'Donnell -Mickey: In Yellow.- Rosie's Broadway Kids
Kermit Eisenhut- Lone Star- Texas Children's Cancer Center
Chris Fedun for Jump5- Let's Party- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Al Konetzni- Back to School- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Jeff Conine- Family Tree- Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Foundation
Al Michaels & John Madden- Monday Night Mickey- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Andre Agassi -Love All -Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation ®
Jeff Spohn for Otis College- Big Cheese Mickey- Otis College of Art and Design
Black Entertainment Television- Mickey in the Park- Minority Task Forces on AIDS, New York
Malcom Stone for Suddath Relocation Systems- Mickey on the Move- Dreams Come True
Kathryn E. Morgan -Wonderful World of Mickey- ALS Hope Foundation, Philadelphia
Thomas Knechtel -Patchwork Pal -Imagine It! Children's Museum of Atlanta
Tony Hawk- Mouseskateer- Tony Hawk Foundation
Jennifer Garner -UndercovEAR Mickey- Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
James Gandolfini- Funny Bones- Children Affected by AIDS Foundation
Bob Guiney -Good Catch -Starr Commonwealth
Syd Mead -TRON Mickey -Children of the Night
Brian Matson -Field Mouse -Chicago Children's Museum
Christina Grantham- Fountain of Fun- Boys Hope Girls Hope
Peter Ellenshaw & Harrison Ellenshaw- Mickey's Dream- Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Breanna Rowlette -Lobsta Mickey- Boston Arts Academy
Anita Hurst -Mickey Reigns- Community Transitional School, Portland, Oregon
Mario Vaiana -Rockin' Mickey- Newborn Hope, Colorado
Star Jones -Wild for Mickey- East Harlem School at Exodus House
Disneyland Resort Entertainment Art Department- Reflections on Mickey- Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Kataneh Vahdani for California Institute of the Arts -Filmic Mickey -California Institute of the Arts
Gary Baseman -Base Mouse -Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Lamberto Alvarez- El Mickey -Make-A-Wish ® Foundation
Andy Garcia -Mambo Mickey -Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Kevin Garnett -Believe in Your Dreams- 4XL-For Excellence in Leadership ®
Kelly Ripa- Big City Mouse -Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Major League Baseball ®- National Pastime Mickey- Major League Baseball Charity, Inc.
Janet Jackson -Mickey's Nation 1928 -A Place Called Home
Doris Roberts -Moustaccioli -Children Affected by AIDS Foundation
Brian McKnight- Music Mouse -LIFEbeat
Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor- I Speak for Mickey and Mickey Speaks for Me- Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Tom Hanks -Space Mouse- James Birrell Neuroblastoma Research Fund
