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 5)
The Nine Lives of Elfago Baca (Episode 1)
Writer: Norman Foster
Air date: 1958-10-03
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Wherever this man went--there was trouble. Death stalked him at every turn. Elfego Baca is "The man who couldn't be killed!" Incredible...but every astounding incident actually happened.
The Pigeon That Worked a Miracle (Episode 2)
Writer: Otto Englander
Air date: 1958-10-10
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: This is a story of a young boy who raises pigeons. This boy can't walk and is in a wheelchair. One day, the life of one of the pigeons was in jeopardy from a cat and the boy shows his courage and loyalty by getting up from his wheelchair and walking to save the pigeon's life.
Four Down and Five Lives to Go (Episode 3)
Air date: 1958-10-17
Runtime: 60 min
Rusty and the Falcon (Episode 4)
Air date: 1958-10-24
Runtime: 60 min
Texas John Slaughter (Episode 5)
Air date: 1958-10-31
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Texas John Slaughter arrives in the town of Friotown and soon finds himself attacked by two gunmen, who he is forced to kill in self-defense. It turns out that the outlaws thought Slaughter was Texas Ranger Ben Jenkins. Impressed with Slaughter's gun-handling skills, the Rangers offer him a position, but he turns them down, as he wants to set up a cattle ranch. However, his plans are put on hold by the actions of a murderous outlaw gang leader named Frank Davis.
His Majesty, King of the Beasts (Episode 6)
Air date: 1958-11-07
Runtime: 60 min
Texas John Slaughter: Ambush at Laredo (Episode 7)
Air date: 1958-11-14
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Texas John Slaughter, who has now joined the Texas Rangers, has managed to bring in the last members of Frank Davis' outlaw gang. Davis, who has been let out on bail, flees to Laredo. Slaughter and Ranger Ben Jenkins arrive in Laredo to arrest him, only to find out that he has gathered the bosses of five other outlaw gangs and is planning to start a new criminal empire with himself as the head.
Johnny Tremain (1) (Episode 8)
Air date: 1958-11-21
Runtime: 60 min
Johnny Tremain (2) (Episode 9)
Air date: 1958-11-28
Runtime: 60 min
Elfago Baca: Lawman or Gunman (Episode 10)
Air date: 1958-12-05
Runtime: 60 min
Elfago Baca: Law and Order, Incorporated (Episode 11)
Air date: 1958-12-12
Runtime: 60 min
From All of Us to All of You (Episode 12)
Air date: 1958-12-19
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Jiminy Cricket, the show's special Christmas guest, tells viewers that he has arranged a visit to the North Pole to see Santa's Workshop (as seen in a classic short cartoon). The show continues with clips from various short cartoons and features.
Texas John Slaughter: Killers from Kansas (Episode 13)
Air date: 1959-01-09
Runtime: 60 min
Noik (Episode 14)
Air date: 1959-01-16
Runtime: 60 min
Texas John Slaughter: Showdown at Sandoval (Episode 15)
Air date: 1959-01-23
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Slaughter and a group of Rangers pose as the Barko gang to get the confidence of a major outlaw. The deception works but Slaughter has to duel with the outlaw and then steal their booty out from under their noses.
The Peter Tchaikovsky Story (Episode 16)
Air date: 1959-01-30
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: The story of young Tchaikovsky through the premiere of his "Sleeping Beauty" ballet.
Elfago Baca: Attorney at Law (Episode 17)
Air date: 1959-02-06
Runtime: 60 min
Duck Flies Coop (Episode 18)
Air date: 1959-02-13
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: When Walt learns via telegram that Donald Duck is quitting, he sends the studio publicity department to give the duck a taste of his own medicine.
Elfago Baca: The Griswold Murder (Episode 19)
Air date: 1959-02-20
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Elfego defends a rancher who has been unjustly accused of murder. It is up to Elfego to track down the real murderer, and in doing so, he wins his first case in Santa Fe.
The Adventures of Chip 'N Dale (Episode 20) 9.0
Air date: 1959-02-27
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Walt has left a message on a tape recorder on his desk, explaining that because he is unable to be there personally, he arranged for guest hosts - Chip 'n' Dale to fill in. The two chipmunks have a book with them filled with stories of their exploits.
Texas John Slaughter: The Man from Bitter Creek (Episode 21)
Air date: 1959-03-06
Runtime: 60 min
Highway to Trouble (Episode 22)
Air date: 1959-03-13
Runtime: 60 min
Texas John Slaughter: The Slaughter Trail (Episode 23)
Air date: 1959-03-20
Runtime: 60 min
Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom (Episode 24)
Runtime: 60 min
The Wetback Hound (Episode 25)
Air date: 1959-04-24
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Originally released as a 20-minute short subject in 1957, Disney's Oscar-winning The Wetback Hound was expanded to 48 minutes for this Walt Disney Presents TV presentation. The titular hound is Paco, descended from a long and distinguished line of lion-hunting dogs. But much to the dismay of his master, a Mexican barber, Paco is all too easily distracted by other animals whenever he goes out on a hunt. Cowboy star Rex Allen provides the folksy narration for this gentle, laid-back nature study. The ""new"" footage of The Wetback Hound was trimmed for its 1962 rebroadcast to accommodate a lenghty promo for the upcoming Disney theatrical feature Big Red; 4 years later, the same thing happened so that Disney could advertise its new release Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N
I Captured the King of the Leprechauns (Episode 26)
Air date: 1959-05-29
Runtime: 60 min
Overview: Behind the scenes of Darby O'Gill and the Little People.
Episode 27 (Episode 27)
Air date: 1959-06-05
