Happy 78th Birthday!

Today marks the birthday of one of Disney's most beloved: "Donald Fauntleroy Duck"!
It was on this day in 1934 Donald made his debut in film with "The Wise Little Hen". In this film, a piggy and Donald fake like they are sick, so they don't have to go to work...that is until Miss Hen finds out what is really going on...

 Donald's fame quickly rose during WWll ,in fact, that is where Donald's full name is revealed. The films were "Donald Gets Drafted" and on a "Quack Pack" episode entitled "All Hands on Duck"!
 Donald "starred" in numerous wartime films including: "Der Fueher's Face", "Nutzi Land", "Home Defense", and "Commando Duck". "Der Fueher's Face" won an academy award of animated short films in 1942.

 The Donald Duck cartoons got much notoriety when it gave credence to the artwork displayed on every type of WWII aircraft...on the nose of the planes. Later, in the movie "The Memphis Belle", based on a real life Bombardment Squad, it shows the importance and gave significance of such artwork.
 In fact, Donald Duck became the mascot for numerous Fighter Squadrons including the 309th, the 415th, the 438th, the 479th Bombardment Squadron and the 531st as well. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary during WWll displayed Donald as a fierce-looking pirate, ready to defend America's homeland.
 In the film, "Donald Gets Drafted", it becomes national news that Donald has "flat feet" and is color blind!

The story goes the origin of Donald Duck was created when Walt Disney heard Clarence Nash doing his "duck voice" while reciting the poem "Mary had a Little Lamb". Clarence "Ducky" Nash was the voice actor behind Donald Duck for over 50 years, until 1985 when he sadly passed from his fight with leukemia. Tony Anselmo took over as the voice of Donald Duck, being trained by Nash himself.
 In 1969, Disney hired Ellard Davis to do the voice of Donald Duck for the "Disney on Parade" tours, which traveled through the U.S. and Canada.

 In 1978, an "extensive debate" arose over a morality issue with Donald Duck. Donald had been criticized for living with Daisy and not being married to her. There was also the question why Donald rarely "wore trousers".
 Fortunately, a Library Journal revealed Donald had been "secretly married" to Daisy since 1950. And the trouser thing....people just "got over it".
 Other notes of interest: In Mickey Mouse's "Christmas Carol", this was the last time Charles "Ducky" Nash voiced Donald Duck. Daisy Duck was originally referred to as "Donna Duck" in a 1937 film. Donald's father was named "Quackmore Duck" and his mother's name was "Hortense McDuck". Donald also had a twin sister named "Della Thelma Duck".

 Many Scandinavian countries embraced this beloved cartoon character. In Sweden, he is "Kalle Anka", in Denmark "Anders And", in Iceland "Andres Ond", in Norway "Donald Duck", and in Finland "Aku Ankka".
 Germany also loved Donald Duck, and it is reported to sell over 250,000 comics per week about the beloved duck. Donald's dialogue in German has a little more philosophical appeal to it, Donald even quotes from German literature and speaks in complex sentences!

 Although the "height of his glory" was during WWll, Donald Duck has been a staple in society since his conception in 1934.

He is well -known for his "flabbergasted" reactions to events happening in his life and of course his "fits of anger" Donald often displays when things don't work out for him...which are quite often.

 Some refer to his birthday as simply "Friday the 13th" because of all his "bad-luck" in life.

God bless....Donald Duck!