As part of the History Channel’s series The Mega-Brands That Build America, the spotlight turns to Walt Disney. How Disney Built America looks at the genesis of the Disney company.

Episode One

Beginning with the birth of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney turned animated shorts from just fillers into actual entertainment. For Walt, the initial design was all about the ears. Sound familiar? Well, when the Oswald shorts became popular, Walt Disney’s business reached a climax. He could either stay with the studio or keep Oswald. Apparently, according to his contract, Disney did not own Oswald. So, what did this enterprising and talented man do? He came up with another character and the rest is history. Kind of…

Mickey Mouse was going to be called Mortimer Mouse, but thanks to Walt’s wife Lillian, a more fun-loving and personable name was decided on. Ub Iwerks, the lead animator, began drawing the iconic mouse who soon took off as a relatable animated character.

Then Walt decided to do something completely different for an animated animal. He made him talk, whistle, and added sound effects. But how he did this was a feat unto itself. His creative genius overtook the way The Jazz Singer was created, where the sound was on a different recording than the video. Walt came up with a way to add the correct sound to the video itself. And the rest is history. Kind of…

There was even more for the Disney brothers. Roy, the business man of the two, and Walt, the creative brother, soon had their own studio and were off and running. 

Walt initially supplied the voice of Mickey. Walt and Mickey were almost inseparable, figuratively and literally. Their personas were linked forever. As the world changed, Mickey provided not only entertainment, but a positive outlook through the depression and hard times. Walt was insistent Mickey always remained a good guy. So to add some conflict, Donald Duck was born. Then gradually more and more of the characters we know today joined Mickey and the Disney family.

The Disney empire was started by a mouse, after a rabbit was jettisoned from Walt’s control. Oswald can still be found in various Disney locations, including Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California. But it is Mickey who is the iconic character and his outline is recognized worldwide. 

From the Mickey shorts came the first animated feature with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. And the rest is history. Kind of…

Animated films are part of American cinema and the characters are embedded in American culture. And world wide culture for that matter. What Walt Disney did was give America entertainment, hope, enjoyment, and a lot of laughs and smiles, with a few tears here and there, all through animation. The Disney brand is synonymous with entertainment. And it’s all thanks to a mouse. Well, actually, it’s all thanks to the foresight, intelligence, and creativity of Walt Disney.

That’s what the first episode covers. There are six episodes in all. How Disney Built America premieres April 28, 2024 on the History Channel. The next episode, airing May 5, focuses on Walt’s determination to make a full-length animated feature. His genius turned animation into an art form and he invented the multi-plane camera and instituted animation training. Walt was the first to use storyboards, which are a must in today’s world of not only animated films but also live-action movies as well.  The series concludes June 9.

The History channel is available on various services. The series is also available to stream the next day on The HISTORY Channel app, history.com, and across major TV providers’ VOD platforms. It will also be available to own on Amazon Prime Video or wherever you purchase your favorite series.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Image courtesy HISTORY

Personal note: I love manatees. So, when I read the information about this show Harmony in Paradise, I was eager to check it out.

Amelia (Liliana Tandon) is a wildlife journalist who is anxious to have her own column. She has written about wildlife around the world and has a good reputation as a journalist. The thing is, Amelia has never left the east coast of the United States. She is not comfortable out of her “comfort zone.” So when she is given the assignment to cover the release of two baby manatees in Puerto Rico, she is happy to take on this assignment. But then her editor Madelyn (Vivica A. Fox) informs her she has to go to Puerto Rico to cover the event in person. That’s not the best news for Amelia.

Nevertheless, this intrepid journalist sets out for the island with her computer, note pads, and plenty of books about manatees. There she meets Fernando (Thony Mean) who heads the wildlife conservation clinic and who is initially unhappy with the idea of a journalist coming into his world. He immediately recognizes Amelia is not prepared for all that the island offers.

Fernando takes Amelia snorkeling, kayaking, and exploring the beauty surrounding them. For once Amelia has her head out of her books and her eyes off of her monitor. She is, for the first time in her life, really exploring the world and she is loving every minute of it.

The piece de resistance are the two little manatees: Moana and Oceano whose mother died during the big hurricane. They are adorable however do not have as big a role in the film as I would have liked. 

So, as the days go on and the goal is to release the manatees into their natural habitat, Fernando and Amelia form a close bond. When an issue arises with the release date, it looks like Amelia might not get the story she is after. But being the journalist she is and having discovered the wonders of the outside world – outside of her apartment – she rises to the challenge.

For manatee lovers, it would have been a better story if there was more interaction with the two little manatees.

This 2022 movie was filmed in Puerto Rico. It is available to stream on UP Faith and Family. 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Love is in the air in Love, Alaska. Yes, the name of the town is Love and every year they have a Love festival where singles from around the world come to hopefully find their love match. But that’s not the main story of the movie Love, Alaska.

Maggie (Sarah Podemski) grew up in Love but left fifteen years ago. Her uncle Tobias was the town’s doctor and now that he died Maggie learns she inherited his clinic. She is a doctor, yes, but she has never run her own clinic. Can she do it? 

Finn (Victor Zinck, Jr.) also grew up in Love. He and Maggie were sweethearts back in the day. After tragedies in his family, Finn left and joined the military only to return a broken man. He has extreme PTSD from combat but is back in Love to help his brother Declan (John Bregar) with his air charter business. 

When Maggie returns to Love to take over the clinic, she and Finn discover he has inherited some money providing he helps her set up her new medical practice. With the air charter business sadly in need of money, Finn reluctantly agrees to work with Maggie but insists once the clinic is up and running, he is on his way out of town. His PTSD is driving a wedge between himself and everyone he loves, which includes Maggie, and he wants to spare them of his moods and PTSD episodes.

Although they have been apart for years, the love between them has not dimmed. So, while they work together and Finn fights his inner demons, Maggie wonders if the two have a future together.

The whole town is pulling for them, even the newcomers who have come for the Love festival. It’s clear Finn and Maggie are still in love, but will her stubbornness and determination not to fall for him again and his stubbornness not to let himself get involved again, put a damper on their future together?

Grab some hot chocolate and bundle up, because the cold and the snow of Alaska is chilly. Spoiler – the movie was actually filmed in Ontario, Canada. But who’s nitpicking? 

This is a romantic film based on a Harlequin novel, so viewers know how their love story will end. This 2019 movie is streaming on UP Faith and Family and will air again on UP TV on June 8, 2024 for those who do not subscribe to the streaming channel.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.