Animation Fun Facts for Dec 20, 2012

Birthdays: Bonnie Prince Charlie, Branch Rickey, George Roy Hill, Dr. Samuel Mudd, Jenny Aguitter, Uri Geller, Irene Dunne, Cecil Cooper, Albert Dekker, Amby Paliwoda, Charlie Callas, John Spencer, Harvey Firestone, John Spencer, Elsie De Wolfe, Jonah Hill is 29. 1892- According to Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days this was the day Phileas Fogg completed his trip. 1920- English song & dance man Leslie Downes became an American citizen and changed his name to Bob Hope. 1937- Nazis Josef Goebbels noted in his diary that this day he sent his boss Adolph Hitler a Christmas present of a dozen Mickey Mouse Cartoons from America. Officially der Fuehrer called Mickey ‘vermin’ but privately enjoyed his animated antics. 1950- Harvey premiered starring James Stewart and a 6 foot invisible rabbit. 1952- Bridgette Bardot married director Roger Vadim. 1955- Sir Lawrence Olivier’s film version of Richard III premiered. 1962- The Osmond Brothers premiered on the Andy Williams Show. 1957- Elvis Presley received his draft notice. G.I. Blues! 1968- Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day premiered. 1971- Twentieth Century Fox chief Darryl F. Zanuck blames his own son CEO Richard Zanuck for Fox's monetary problems and fires him. This sets off a power struggle among the board of directors. When Zanuck's estranged wife Libby throws her support against the mogul, Darryl F. Zanuck is overthrown and fired from his own company. He was the last of the original Hollywood moguls.