About this season
Walt Disney Productions has produced an anthology television series under several different titles since 1954. The original version of the series premiered on ABC, Wednesday night, October 27, 1954. The show, which was hosted by Walt Disney until his death and then from 1996 to 2002 by then-CEO Michael Eisner (with one-off hosts or no hosts during other periods) has since aired continually as either a weekly program or an irregular series of specials on several networks and streaming services, most recently on ABC and Disney+. The show is the second longest showing prime-time program on American television, behind its rival, Hallmark Hall of Fame. However, Hallmark Hall of Fame was a weekly program only during its first five seasons, while Disney remained a weekly program for more than forty years.
Episodes (27)
1. The Nine Lives of Elfago Baca
Aired 3 October 1958 • 60 min
Wherever this man went--there was trouble. Death stalked him at every turn. Elfego Baca is "The man who couldn't be killed!" Incredible...but every astounding incident actually happened.
2. The Pigeon That Worked a Miracle
Aired 10 October 1958 • 60 min
This is a story of a young boy who raises pigeons. This boy can't walk and is in a wheelchair. One day, the life of one of the pigeons was in jeopardy from a cat and the boy shows his courage and loyalty by getting up from his wheelchair and walking to save the pigeon's life.
3. Four Down and Five Lives to Go
Aired 17 October 1958 • 60 min
4. Rusty and the Falcon
Aired 24 October 1958 • 60 min
5. Texas John Slaughter
Aired 31 October 1958 • 60 min
Texas John Slaughter arrives in the town of Friotown and soon finds himself attacked by two gunmen, who he is forced to kill in self-defense. It turns out that the outlaws thought Slaughter was Texas Ranger Ben Jenkins. Impressed with Slaughter's gun-handling skills, the Rangers offer him a position, but he turns them down, as he wants to set up a cattle ranch. However, his plans are put on hold by the actions of a murderous outlaw gang leader named Frank Davis.
6. His Majesty, King of the Beasts
Aired 7 November 1958 • 60 min
7. Texas John Slaughter: Ambush at Laredo
Aired 14 November 1958 • 60 min
Texas John Slaughter, who has now joined the Texas Rangers, has managed to bring in the last members of Frank Davis' outlaw gang. Davis, who has been let out on bail, flees to Laredo. Slaughter and Ranger Ben Jenkins arrive in Laredo to arrest him, only to find out that he has gathered the bosses of five other outlaw gangs and is planning to start a new criminal empire with himself as the head.
8. Johnny Tremain (1)
Aired 21 November 1958 • 60 min
9. Johnny Tremain (2)
Aired 28 November 1958 • 60 min
10. Elfago Baca: Lawman or Gunman
Aired 5 December 1958 • 60 min
11. Elfago Baca: Law and Order, Incorporated
Aired 12 December 1958 • 60 min
12. From All of Us to All of You
Aired 19 December 1958 • 60 min
Jiminy Cricket, the show's special Christmas guest, tells viewers that he has arranged a visit to the North Pole to see Santa's Workshop (as seen in a classic short cartoon). The show continues with clips from various short cartoons and features.
13. Texas John Slaughter: Killers from Kansas
Aired 9 January 1959 • 60 min
14. Noik
Aired 16 January 1959 • 60 min
15. Texas John Slaughter: Showdown at Sandoval
Aired 23 January 1959 • 60 min
16. The Peter Tchaikovsky Story
Aired 30 January 1959 • 60 min
The story of young Tchaikovsky through the premiere of his "Sleeping Beauty" ballet.
17. Elfago Baca: Attorney at Law
Aired 6 February 1959 • 60 min
18. Duck Flies Coop
Aired 13 February 1959 • 60 min
When Walt learns via telegram that Donald Duck is quitting, he sends the studio publicity department to give the duck a taste of his own medicine.
19. Elfago Baca: The Griswold Murder
Aired 20 February 1959 • 60 min
Elfego defends a rancher who has been unjustly accused of murder. It is up to Elfego to track down the real murderer, and in doing so, he wins his first case in Santa Fe.
20. The Adventures of Chip 'N Dale
9.0Aired 27 February 1959 • 60 min
Walt has left a message on a tape recorder on his desk, explaining that because he is unable to be there personally, he arranged for guest hosts - Chip 'n' Dale to fill in. The two chipmunks have a book with them filled with stories of their exploits.
21. Texas John Slaughter: The Man from Bitter Creek
Aired 6 March 1959 • 60 min
22. Highway to Trouble
Aired 13 March 1959 • 60 min
23. Texas John Slaughter: The Slaughter Trail
Aired 20 March 1959 • 60 min
24. Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom
25. The Wetback Hound
Aired 24 April 1959 • 60 min
Originally released as a 20-minute short subject in 1957, Disney's Oscar-winning The Wetback Hound was expanded to 48 minutes for this Walt Disney Presents TV presentation. The titular hound is Paco, descended from a long and distinguished line of lion-hunting dogs. But much to the dismay of his master, a Mexican barber, Paco is all too easily distracted by other animals whenever he goes out on a hunt. Cowboy star Rex Allen provides the folksy narration for this gentle, laid-back nature study. The ""new"" footage of The Wetback Hound was trimmed for its 1962 rebroadcast to accommodate a lenghty promo for the upcoming Disney theatrical feature Big Red; 4 years later, the same thing happened so that Disney could advertise its new release Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N
26. I Captured the King of the Leprechauns
Aired 29 May 1959 • 60 min
Behind the scenes of Darby O'Gill and the Little People.
27. Episode 27
Aired 5 June 1959