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“Phineas & Ferb” creators say that art & creativity hold the key to kids making the most of their summer vacations

Jim Hilll — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill shares the wisdom of Dan Povenmire & Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, who use examples from their own childhood to show today's children how to have an enjoyable June, July & August...(read more)

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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Comic-Con Countdown: Getting right to the Heart (Box) of the matter

Jim Hilll — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill chats with Bryan Ono, President of eFX Inc. about the premiere Disney Gallery Collection item that they’ll be previewing at this year’s Comic-Con International ...(read more)

Hollywood bets big on “Beast,” considers remake of “My Fair Lady”

Jim Hilll — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill talks up the trio of “Beauties” that are either already in production and/or currently in development. He also considers CBS Films & Columbia Pictures’ plan to remake Warner Bros. Academy Award-winner from 1964...(read more)

When it comes to fun Fourth of July festivities, O-town is the “Oooh” & “Aaah” capital of the USA

Courtney Mills — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Courtney Mills of Orlando Fun Tickets takes a look at the fireworks displays & concerts that will be presented at Central Florida’s theme parks this Friday & Saturday...(read more)

Monday Mouse Watch: What’s in store for the Disney Stores?

Shelly Smith — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Shelly Smith shares some shots she took this past weekend of the new temporary Disney Store at Honolulu’s Ala Moana Center. She then talks about Disney Consumer Product’s ambitious plans for relaunching this brand...(read more)

Years for Fears: Advance planning really pays off when it comes to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando

Jim Hilll — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill talks with Michael Roddy, director of Show Development at the Universal Orlando Resort, about all the behind-the-scene effort that goes into pulling off a seasonal event of this size...(read more)

Toon Thursday : Tickets for Lasseter / Miyazaki event go on sale today at 9:01 a.m.

Jim Hilll — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill talks up this once-in-a-lifetime event. Where John Lasseter will play host to Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science ...(read more)

Disney's Imagination Park?! The Maleficent Movie?! It’s time to shine a spotlight on new Disney domain names

Jim Hilll — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill shares some of the more intriguing domain names that The Walt Disney Company has registered in recent weeks...(read more)

Tube Tuesday : Hutch Dano & Adam Hicks skateboard into the spotlight with “Zeke & Luther”

Jim Hilll — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill chats with the 17-year-olds who co-star in Disney XD’s newest series, which racked up record-breaking ratings during its primetime debut last Monday night...(read more)

Monday Mouse Watch : “Rapunzel” revealed; a “G-Force” sequel?

Jim Hilll — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill wonders why more people aren’t talking about Carmen Esquer’s article for Disney twenty-three magazine. Which features an in-depth interview with Nathan Greno & Byron Howard, “Rapunzel” ‘s new directors. PLUS Does Jerry Bruckheimer has another franchise in the works?...(read more)

“The Proposal” just isn’t all that engaging

Jim Hilll — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill reviews this new romantic comedy from Touchstone Pictures. Which – in spite of Sandra Bullock & Ryan Reynolds’ herculean efforts – can’t quite overcome its underwritten script...(read more)

Tune Thursday: Fresh faces add new fun to Broadway’s “The Little Mermaid”

Jim Hilll — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill talks up the talented trio of performers that have just joined the cast of this long-running Disney Theatrical production, which continues on at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre...(read more)

With “Toy Story 3,” “Cars 2” and “Monsters, Inc. 2” now in the works, why no “Incredibles 2” ?

Jim Hilll — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill’s back with even more tales from the 2009 Licensing International Expo. This time around, he talks about what’s been holding up development of an “Incredibles” sequel...(read more)

Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant celebrates 75 years of great service

Galen Simon — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Long before Walt Disney dreamed of turning an Anaheim orange grove into the Happiest Place on Earth, there was this berry stand in Buena Park.

Courtesy of the Orange County Historical Society

During the depths of the Great Depression, Walter & Cordelia Knott kept their 20-acre farm afloat by selling boysenberries out there along Highway 39. In an effort to increase sales, the Knotts began offering Cordelia’s homemade jams & jellies along with fresh-picked berries.

But even then Walter & Cordelia weren’t bringing in enough money to support their growing family. Which is why the Knotts decided to add a tea room to their farmhouse. Where they hoped to serve tea & jam to passersby.

Courtesy of the Orange County Historical Society

But then when the Knotts had trouble filling all five of those tables that they’d crammed into that tea room … Well, that’s when Walter suggested that they add Cordelia’s famous chicken to the menu. Which had always been a favorite with friends & family.

So on June 13, 1934, the first chicken dinner was served at what was then known as Knott’s Berry Place. And someone must have liked what was on the menu that day. For the business quickly out-grew that teeny tiny tea room. To the point where Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant eventually grew to become seven sprawling dining rooms that could feed 4,000 people on a typical Sunday night.

Courtesy of the Orange County Historical Society

“And who exactly served all of that chicken?,” you ask. Why the army of waitresses that Walter & Cordelia hired over the years. Many of whom return to Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant this past Saturday for a special 75^th anniversary reunion / luncheon.

There were employees on hand from every decade that the restaurant had been in operation. As music played …

Photo by Alice Hill

… Guests dined on – what else – Mrs. Knott’s fried chicken, rhubarb and boysenberry pie. And state & city resolutions were read, honoring the restaurant’s 75^th anniversary, Snoopy went from table to table. Working the room like a well-seasoned politician.

Photo by Alice Hill

But the real guest of honor at Saturday’s event was Marion Knott, was Walter & Cordelia’s last surviving daughter.

Photo by Alice Hill

During her remarks, Marion said that “… I was afraid that – when we sold the Park to (Cedar Fair L.P. back in 1997) – that Knott’s Berry Farm would be a cold plastic corporate place. But I think that they’ve done a tremendous job of keeping up the warm family atmosphere.”

And given all of the hugs and the tears that I saw in that banquet hall this past Saturday afternoon, that family feeling really does live on at Knott’s.

After lunch, Marion and all of the Chicken Restaurant vets trouped outside for a brief rededication ceremony (which recognized Knott’s status as an Orange County historic landmark) as well as a group photograph.

Photo by Alice Hill

But for all the Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant employees who were looking on, this was just another Saturday. And as soon as this 75^th anniversary party cleared out of the Courtyard, it was back to business as usual. Which – these days – means cooking up & then serving, on average, 1,000 chicken a day.

And speaking of serving … On June 22^nd, as a special fundraiser for the Cordelia Knott Wellness Center, Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant will be holding a local celebrity server night. So if you’d like to get in all the 75^th anniversary fun as well as help out a really great cause, drive on out to Buena Park next Monday night.

You’ll be berry glad that you did.

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Summer Nightastic! brings an exciting new look to some old Disneyland Resort favorites

Shelly Smith — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Shelly Smith recently in took several of the shows that have recently been plussed at the Disneyland Resort and really liked what she saw...(read more)

Don’t duck out on this opportunity to become Donald’s official portrait artist

Jim Hilll — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill reminds all D23 members that the deadline is rapidly approaching for submitting sketches for the Donald Duck Portrait Contest. He also reviews this once-in-a-lifetime competition's somewhat convoluted entry process...(read more)

Tune Thursday: Christopher Sieber kneels to get a rise out of Broadway audiences

Jim Hill — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill chats with this Tony nominee about the physical challenges involved with playing Lord Farquaad in “Shrek The Musical”...(read more)

"The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World" will give you a renewed appreciation of the WDW Resort

Jim Hill — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill reviews Susan Veness’ new paperback, which features over 600 seldom-told tales about the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom...(read more)

Julien's 2009 Summer Sale features genuine pieces of Hollywood history

Jim Hill — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill preview some of the 700+ items that will coming up for bid later this month at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino...(read more)

Licensing International Expo 2009 offers sneak peeks at new films from Fox, Pixar, DreamWorks Animation and Universal Studios

Jim Hill — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill shares some shots that he took while wandering the aisles at Mandalay Bay's convention center. Which is where many of the major studios promoted their upcoming motion pictures last week...(read more)

Disney Interactive’s “Split/Second” wows the crowds at this year’s E3 Expo

Alice Hill — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Alice Hill was one of the gamers gawking at this new racing simulation game. Which is expected to hit store shelves in 2010...(read more)

It's Handy Manny to the rescue at the 2009 Licensing Show

Jim Hilll — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill checks in from the convention center at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Where the Disney Channel just announced its expansion plans for this hit preschool series...(read more)

It's time to cash in those Disney Dollars. D23 Expo tickets go on sale today

Jim Hill — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:05:00 GMT

Jim Hill talks up some of the high points of this first-ever "Ultimate Disney Fan Experience." Which will be presented at the Anaheim Convention Center September 10 - 13th...(read more)

D23 members enjoy an exclusive Epcot experience at Sunday's Flowers & Fireworks Celebration

Jeff Lange — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jeff Lange shares some photos that he took at this past weekend's event, where charter members of The Official Community for Disney Fans gathered at World Showcase for a unique evening of entertainment...(read more)

The parade passes WALL-E by : Pixar star's appearance cut from Sunday's Tonys telecast

Jim Hill — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Jim Hill reveals how the Living Character Initiative version of WALL-E ALMOST got to take part in a televised tribute to composer Jerry Herman...(read more)