Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
From Season 6 of Walt Disney's Disneyland Anthology program we have Episode 9: A Storm Called Maria which originally aired on November 27th, 1959. Co-produced by Ken Nelson Productions, this episode of Walt Disney Presents weaves together newsreel footage of several different storms to represent one huge and dangerous "big wind." Based on a book by George R. Stewart, professor of meteorology at the University of California and the man credited with the idea of "naming" storms, the episode traces the storm called Maria from its origins in Japan to the coast of California. Though professional storm trackers do their best to warn the populace and the local officials work overtime to prepare for Maria, widespread havoc, destruction and death is inevitable. The cast is comprised of "real" people, among them dam superintendent George Kritsky, telephone lineman Walt Bowen, and highway superintendent Leo Quinn. We even hear Thurl Ravenscroft singing title song!
Note: I don't have the Walt Disney lead-in to this rare episode and it appears to be a 16mm transfer from an educational film presentation, rather than the television episode; for example, no credits, just "The End" at the end, a shorter run length than 50 minutes and a few projector blips and skips. I inserted the Walt Disney Presents bumper at the beginning to create the TV feel.
From Season 6 of Walt Disney's Disneyland Anthology program we have Episode 9: A Storm Called Maria which originally aired on November 27th, 1959. Co-produced by Ken Nelson Productions, this episode of Walt Disney Presents weaves together newsreel footage of several different storms to represent one huge and dangerous "big wind." Based on a book by George R. Stewart, professor of meteorology at the University of California and the man credited with the idea of "naming" storms, the episode traces the storm called Maria from its origins in Japan to the coast of California. Though professional storm trackers do their best to warn the populace and the local officials work overtime to prepare for Maria, widespread havoc, destruction and death is inevitable. The cast is comprised of "real" people, among them dam superintendent George Kritsky, telephone lineman Walt Bowen, and highway superintendent Leo Quinn. We even hear Thurl Ravenscroft singing title song!
Note: I don't have the Walt Disney lead-in to this rare episode and it appears to be a 16mm transfer from an educational film presentation, rather than the television episode; for example, no credits, just "The End" at the end, a shorter run length than 50 minutes and a few projector blips and skips. I inserted the Walt Disney Presents bumper at the beginning to create the TV feel.
