Turner Classic Movies Shows Classic Live-Action Disney Films Through December

A TCM Documentary About These Films Called Age of Believing Debuts Dec. 14

When was the last time you saw some of those old 1950s, 60s and 70s Disney live-action movies like Old Yeller, Freaky Friday, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes or The Apple Dumpling Gang? If you were a little kid in the 1970s and early 80s or an avid watcher of The Disney Channel up until about five years ago, then you'd have to admit to saying it's been anywhere from five to thirty years since you've seen some of these movies. For those old enough to remember the original theatrical runs, it could be as much as 40 years since seeing a few of them. Not being around then, I remember most of them from their 1970s and 80s showings on TV, either on NBC's "Wonderful World of Disney" or on local stations--up until they were exclusive to The Disney Channel by the 90s.

After then, Vault Disney on TDC gave us a chance to see these fun films once in a while...if you were apt to be up at 3 o'clock in the morning.

Then they all vanished from TV when the suits at Disney decided to remove Vault Disney from TDC's programming schedule about five years ago. Even though many fans of classic Disney complained, the Disney Company has yet to revive Vault Disney on the channel or start a Classic Disney channel for the fans who loved many of the live-action movies produced by Walt Disney himself. When Walt died in 1966, his live-action division at the studio had been in operation for close to twenty years and had a set production formula that would continue to operate almost by clockwork for years afterward.

Arguments could be made that some or many of the live-action movies made after Walt Disney's death weren't as high quality as the ones produced prior. Nevertheless, many of the post-Walt movies have their strong share of devoted fans who find them better than anything done in the 50's or 60's. No matter if you're a fan of the films Walt produced or the ones done after, a healthy mix of all will be shown every Sunday through December on Turner Classic Movies under the umbrella title "The Family Classics."