VIDEO: On This Day 12/5 - Walter Elias Disney Is Born

Welcome to BWW TV World's new daily ON THIS DAY series celebrating series premieres and special events that took place on this day in television history!

On November 5, 1901, Walter Elias Disney was born to Flora and Elias Disney in Chicago, Illinois. Since that day, Disney has brought his magic to millions and millions of people all over the world.

In 1954 The Walt Disney anthology television series debuted on TV. It was produced by the Walt Disney Company under several different titles including Disneyland (1954–1958), Walt Disney Presents (1958–1961), Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1961–1969), The Wonderful World of Disney (1969–1979), Disney's Wonderful World (1979–1981), Walt Disney (1981–1983), The Disney Sunday Movie (1986–1988), The Magical World of Disney (1988–1996), then finally back to The Wonderful World of Disney (1997–2008, 2012–present), and The Magical World of Disney Junior (2012–present). Below, watch the opening moments from a 1979 broadcast of "The Wonderful World of Disney", a beloved Sunday evening family staple for decades.

The first incarnation of the show premiered on ABC, Wednesday night, October 27, 1954. The same basic show has since appeared on several networks. The series supposed finale aired Christmas Eve 2008 on ABC, but it was revived in 2012 on Disney Junior. The show is the second longest showing prime-time program on American television, behind its rival, HallMark Hall of Fame. 

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