2011 D23 Expo Day 1 – Legends Awards

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Here’s some more photos from the Legends ceremony on Friday.

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

Bob Iger spoke in a recorded message:

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

Tom Bergeron was the host:

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

There was a “Disney Legends In Memoriam” segment, recognizing those no longer living:

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

Anika Noni Rose was honored for her role as Tiana.

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

And Linda Larkin was Jasmine’s speaking voice:

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

While Lea Salonga was Jasmine’s singing voice, as well as the voice of Mulan (and she commented how grateful she was that Linda Larkin doesn’t sing!):

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

Paige O’Hara said that she is still recognized as the voice of Belle – even though Belle never ages and she does. 🙂

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

Jodi Benson proudly showed off her Disney Cast Member id card:

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

Here are Paige O’Hara and Lea Salonga performing some of the signature songs for their characters.

And Anika Noni Rose and Jodi Benson:

Ray Watson was Disney’s Chairman of the Board in 1983, and during his career was recognized as a real estate development visionary.

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

Barton “Bo” Boyd was THE merchandising guy, eventually named Chairman of Disney Consumer Products. Two of his daughters accepted on his behalf and shared some wonderful stories about their dad.

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

I already shared this photo of Guy Williams’ family accepting his award. I was very happy to be in attendance for this one, since I’ve always loved Zorro.

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

Jack and Bonita (Granville) Wrather were both recognized for their contributions in building the Disneyland Hotel (apparently Jack thought the chances for something in “Anaheim…ANAHEIM???” to succeed were not very good.)

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

Kelly Ripa, in a recorded video, shared some of her favorite memories of Regis Philbin.

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

And Regis? Well, I think he was honored for just being Regis. 🙂

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

Jim Henson was the final honoree this year, and two of his kids, including son Brian, who has taken over as Kermit the Frog, accepted and shared some great stories about growing up with Jim Henson as their father.

D23 Expo Day 1 - Legends Awards

And then Brian performed that wonderful Rainbow Connection number that I have already shared here: http://youtu.be/IUUNumejg4w

But he also performed this funny little classic that his parents developed in 1956:

It was a warm, wonderful, and heartfelt ceremony – I’m very glad to have seen it.

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Laura Gilbreath is a native of San Diego, CA. She has been making the trek up Interstate 5 to Disneyland since she was a small child and terrified of talking tikis and hitchhiking ghosts. She and her husband Lee enjoy trips to Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well as sailings on the Disney Cruise Line.

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3 Replies to “2011 D23 Expo Day 1 – Legends Awards”

  1. A-MAZ-ING!!! I love love loved seeing and hearing Lea Salonga and Jodie Benson singing! They sound just like they did years ago when they made the movies. Awesome and thanks so much for sharing what most of us didn’t get to see in person!

  2. Thank you for sharing the videos. I’d seen the pictures of four Princesses on stage, and I was dying to hear it.

  3. I guess I’m still a little bitter, but I don’t see how doing one movie puts you in the same category as John Hench and Marc Davis.