Walt Disney Productions has produced an anthology television series under several different titles since 1954. The original version of the series premiered on ABC, Wednesday night, October 27, 1954. The show, which was hosted by Walt Disney until his death and then from 1996 to 2002 by then-CEO Michael Eisner (with one-off hosts or no hosts during other periods) has since aired continually as either a weekly program or an irregular series of specials on several networks and streaming services, most recently on ABC and Disney+. The show is the second longest showing prime-time program on American television, behind its rival, Hallmark Hall of Fame. However, Hallmark Hall of Fame was a weekly program only during its first five seasons, while Disney remained a weekly program for more than forty years.
The Wonderful World of Disney (Season 3)
Antarctica: Past and Present (Episode 1)
Air date: 1956-09-12
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Walt Disney hosts a look at his plans for a brand new documentary on Antarctica.
The Great Cat Family (Episode 2) 6.0
Air date: 1956-09-19
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Walt talks about the cat family, primarily focusing on lions and domestic cats. It is explained particularly on the cats' importance to ancient Egypt and how some people would respect them, and others would fear them as superstitious beings.
Searching for Nature's Mysteries (Episode 3)
Air date: 1956-09-26
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Once again, Disneyland plays host to Winston Hibler, the familiar narrator (and sometimes writer/director) of Disney's ""True-Life Adventures"" short subject series. Hibler describes the various techniques used for making such up-close-and-personal nature documentaries as the then-upcoming Disney theatrical feature Secrets of Life, including the development of miniature lense and stroboscopic ""cold"" light. Highlights include a foray into a beehive and a visit to an ant colony, and a time-lapse-photography sequence of blossoming plant life to the tune of Maurice Ravel's ""Bolero"". Searching for Nature's Mysteries originally aired 2 months before the official November 20, 1956 release of Secrets of Life.
Rob Roy: Part 1 (Episode 4)
Air date: 1956-10-03
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue (1953) re-edited into a two-part television presentation.
Rob Roy: Part 2 (Episode 5)
Air date: 1956-10-10
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue (1953) re-edited into a two-part television presentation.
Goofy's Cavalcade of Sports (Episode 6)
Air date: 1956-10-17
Runtime: 60 min
Behind the Cameras at Lapland/The Alaskan Eskimo (Episode 7)
Air date: 1956-10-24
Runtime: 60 min
The Plausible Impossible (Episode 8)
Air date: 1956-10-31
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Walt explains a principle of his style of animation called ""the plausible impossible,"" in which things that cannot be done in reality can be done in animation if there is a plausible basis for it. He uses clips from several cartoons and features to demonstrate.
Cameras in Samoa/The Holland Story (Episode 9)
Air date: 1956-11-07
Runtime: 60 min
Along the Oregon Trail (Episode 10) 8.0
Air date: 1956-11-14
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Walt takes us on the famous Oregon Trail, a pathway from Kansas City to Oregon, where the settlers moved westward. And speaking of westward, We also go behind the scenes of the new Disny feature Westward Ho the Wagons! with the famous Fess Parker himself.
At Home with Donald Duck (Episode 11)
Air date: 1956-11-21
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: It's Donald's birthday, and Huey, Dewey, and Louie are thrown a party by their uncle in honor of his own birthday! He treats the boys to special home screenings of his own movies on 8mm film reels, but they want to watch the Mickey Mouse and Goofy cartoons. Adding insult to injury, the boys would rather watch the Mickey Mouse Club on TV.
Pluto's Day (Episode 12)
Air date: 1956-12-12
Runtime: 60 min
Your Host, Donald Duck (Episode 13)
Air date: 1957-01-16
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Donald Duck convinces Walt Disney to let him take over the hosting duties for one episode. Then he goes on to host an episode that he calls "The Duckland Four-In-One Show", where he goes through his own versions of the lands of Disneyland.
Our Friend, the Atom (Episode 14)
Air date: 1957-01-23
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: "Our Friend the Atom" is a 1957 episode of the television series Disneyland describing the benefits of atomic power.
All About Magic (Episode 15)
Air date: 1957-01-30
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Walt Disney explores the Basement of the Disney Studios to show us the art of magic with the help of the magic Mirror from Snow White.
Tricks of Our Trade (Episode 16)
Air date: 1957-02-13
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Walt explains the methods by which motion picture animation is made, using recreations of studio study sessions, clips from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Bambi, and Fantasia and some new footage of Mickey Mouse.
The Crisler Story/Prowlers of the Everglades (Episode 17)
Air date: 1957-02-27
Runtime: 60 min
Man in Flight (Episode 18)
Air date: 1957-03-06
Runtime: 60 min
The Adventure Story (Episode 19)
Air date: 1957-03-20
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Goofy? An Adventure Story? That's the theme for today's episode.
Donald's Award (Episode 20)
Air date: 1957-03-27
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Walt finds himself troubled by Donald Duck's constant outbursts; he then promises his feathered star a medal if an entire week passes without any complaints about his behavior.
Disneyland the Park/Pecos Bill (Episode 21)
Air date: 1957-04-03
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Walt treats the audience to a tour of Disneyland, followed by the Pecos Bill segment of Melody Time (1948), which had been re-edited for television presentation.
People of the Desert (Episode 22)
Air date: 1957-04-10
Runtime: 60 min
More About the Silly Symphonies (Episode 23)
Air date: 1957-04-17
Runtime: 60 min
The Yellowstone Story/Bear Country (Episode 24)
Air date: 1957-05-01
Runtime: 60 min
The Liberty Story (Episode 25)
Air date: 1957-05-29
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: The first half of this story is an excerpt from the upcoming theatrical release ""Johnny Tremain."" The second half is an airing of the 1953 cartoon ""Ben and Me,"" in which a church mouse named Amos befriends Benjamin Franklin.
Antarctica: Operation Deep Freeze (Episode 26)
Air date: 1957-06-05
Runtime: 60 min
