Disney’s 25th Anniversary Special on NBC

NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney, a two-part television special hosted September 13 & 17, 1978.  Each of the two broadcasts lasted 2 hours, both hosted by Ron Howard and Suzanne Somers, with various celebrities paying tribute to Disney’s television and film work.

In the first episode, Ron and Suzanne take us on a journey through the first 25 years of Disney animation and live-action television, with a long list of Special guests, each looking back at fond memories of performances and interactions with Walt himself.  It’s a wonderful time capsule of the first 25 years of the show that by 1978 had already seen four different names.  Walt Disney’s Disneyland (1954-1958), Walt Disney Presents (1958-1961), Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (1961-1969) & The Wonderful World of Disney (1969-1979).

Special guests in the first episode included: Ed Asner, Valerie Bertinelli, Big Bird, Bill Bixby, Ray Charles, Scatman Crothers, Buddy Ebsen, Crystal Gayle, Melissa Gilbert, Dan Haggerty, Phil Harris, Bob Hope, Bruce Jenner, Gavin MacLeod, Fred MacMurray, Richardo Montalban, and Fess Parker.

The second episode aired just 4 days later and featured highlights from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio and Cinderella ending with a full unaltered feature presentation of Dumbo.  The first full-length telecast of Dumbo; had previously been televised on September 14, 1955, but was edited down to fit an installment of the Disneyland Television show.

More Wonderful World of Disney: Tricks of the Trade (1957), Disneyland 4^th Anniversary Show, NBC Salutes 25 years of Wonderful World of Disney, Sandy Duncan Visits Disneyland 1976, Christmas at Disney World 1978, Disneyland the Park 1957, The best of Disney 50 years of Magic, Disneyland 25^th Anniversary, Disneyland After Dark 1963, Disneyland Showtime 1970