Celebrating a Century of Magic: Warner Bros. Studios’ Remarkable Journey to 100 Years

The tower, parking lot, and sound stages at Warner Brothers studio in Burbank, CA.

Warner Bros., a powerhouse in the entertainment industry, is celebrating a noteworthy milestone as it reaches its 100th anniversary. The studio’s century-long journey has been marked by innovation, creativity, and a profound impact on popular culture. To commemorate this extraordinary achievement, Warner Bros. has embarked on a series of exciting initiatives and events that pay homage to its rich legacy while also looking ahead to the future.

Brief History of Warner Brothers

Founded in 1923 by four pioneering brothers – Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner – Warner Bros. Studios has since become an iconic name in the entertainment industry. 

The early years were challenging as the Warner brothers navigated the transition from silent films to “talkies,” a monumental change that they successfully embraced with the release of “The Jazz Singer” in 1927, which featured synchronized sound. In the 1930s, the studio saw the rise of its star-studded roster, including legendary actors like Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, and James Cagney. 

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Harley Davidson Celebrating 120th Anniversary in True HD Style

What better way to celebrate the 120th anniversary of a highly revered motorcycle company than to throw a 4-day festival? Harley-Davidson was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1903. They’ve trademarked their H-D Homecoming celebration and invited some of the biggest names in music to headline.

exterior of Harley-Davidson museum located in Wisconsin

Supporting a Cause

For Harley-Davidson, an anniversary celebration of this caliber supports their brand and image, including their support for US soldiers, law enforcement, and firefighters. The four-day schedule starts with a veteran’s charity ride co-sponsored by SAP. All proceeds for the run go to the Fisher House Foundation, a non-profit charity helping military families with housing near VA hospitals while their loved one is receiving treatment.

On day 2 they are hosting another ride to raise money for WI-COPS, a charity providing assistance to families of law enforcement officers who lost their lives while on duty. The last day includes a ride to raise money for the Milwaukee Fire Bell Club and Milwaukee Junior Fire Institute charities.

Introducing New Products

The Harley-Davidson product showroom will display the 2023 anniversary models during the event. Participants can take a test ride on e-Bicycles and see demos of a slew of products that H-D manufactures.

Anniversary Entertainment

Stunt shows, bike races, food trucks, and live music are lined up throughout the festival for everyone’s enjoyment. Band headliners include Green Day and the Foo Fighters. And of course, many vendors will sell the latest H-D merchandise and artwork.

Though Harley-Davidson is a huge brand and company, small businesses can also take some of their celebration ideas to create their own business anniversary plans. Finding a charity – or a few of them – that aligns with your organization’s values, and raising funds for their cause, is a beautiful way to celebrate your company. If you have a lifestyle brand or product, scheduling entertainment that aligns with your brand is another great idea for business anniversary fun.

Walt Disney World Celebrates 50 Years

Cinderella's castle at Walt Disney World lit in rainbow colors at night with fireworks in the sky above

Walt Disney World, long known as “The Most Magical Place on Earth”, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. 

Recognized all over the world as a vacation destination, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida was opened in 1971 as a companion to Disney’s first theme park built 16 years earlier, Disneyland, in Anaheim, California. Today Walt Disney World contains four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom — two water parks, 27 resort hotels, golf courses, camping, and numerous other entertainment venues.

The excitement is palpable at Walt Disney World as they start their 18-month celebration of magic, Mickey, and memories on October 1, 2021. Across all 4 parks, golden statues of 50 Disney characters are scattered, waiting to be discovered by visitors. 50th-anniversary food and drink specials, such as meals inspired by the early days of Walt Disney World, are available throughout Disney restaurants. In addition, special 50th-anniversary merchandise can be purchased in all parks.

Nighttime anniversary attractions include new additions to Walt Disney World’s entertainment. At the Magic Kingdom, the new show “Disney Enchantment” begins, which brings projection effects to Main Street USA and creates an immersive experience. At EPCOT, Harmonious premiers as one of the largest shows that Disney has ever produced. The performance includes pyrotechnics, fountains, and lighting, and includes 240 artists from around the globe.

If you aren’t able to visit Walt Disney World during their celebration, Disney Institute learning offers an on-demand digital course titled “50 Years of Magical Learnings from Walt Disney World Resort”. The course includes access to individual lessons covering teamwork concepts from past and current Disney leaders, digital downloads, and access to future lessons as they are added.

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Pleune Service Company Celebrates 45 Years

Pleune Service Company Work Van

For 45 years, Pleune Service Company has been serving Michigan’s lower peninsula with fast and quality HVAC services and repair. Over time, the company has evolved into a full-service mechanical contractor, with services including new construction, renovation, expedited equipment replacement, project planning, fabrication, and more.

A few unique characteristics set Pleune apart from its competitors:

  • Pleune Service company is 100% employee owned. Pleune touts that as a result, “every customer speaks directly to an owner,” creating more accountability and responsiveness.
  • The company’s HVAC technicians are EPA certified
  • Response is available 24/7/365
  • Fastrac expedited unit replacement department

Started in 1974, Pleune quickly grew, with 37 employees by 1979. About 10 years later, in 1988, Pleune introduced an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Another 10 years later, Pleune developed their Fastrac department, with the ability to evaluate, quote, approve and install equipment in just 3 days. In 2002, Pleune founder and owner John Pleune moved all of his remaining stock to the company’s ESOP, making it 100% employee owned. The Grand Rapids based company continues to grow, with a second office in Lansing, MI and a 10,000 square foot fabrication facility. Pleune is actively involved in community outreach, having sponsored a number of local organizations including Camp O’Malley, Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids, MiCareerQuets, and many, many more.

For its 45th anniversary, Pleune Service Company threw a party for all of its owners and their families, featuring live music, delicious food, and fall harvest decorations. Congratulations, Pleune, on 45 years in business!

Banning’s Restaurant & Pie House Celebrates 40 Years

Banning's 40th Anniversary

Made famous by their large selection of cakes and pies, Banning’s Restaurant in Tigard, just outside of Portland, OR, marks it’s 40th anniversary this year.

The restaurant was opened in 1979 by brothers Craig and Mark Banning. The restaurant met the demand of customers in the 1980’s by staying open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with Christmas Day being the only exception.

This year, the family restaurant celebrates its 40th year in business. 40th anniversary signs are displayed throughout the restaurant and on its website. In addition, the restaurant ran a special contest in celebration of the occasion. Facebook fans were asked to leave a comment with their favorite memory of Banning’s Restaurant.

The restaurant then awarded their favorite story with a $100 Banning’s gift certificate, and 3 names were randomly selected from all comments to each win a $40 gift certificate. The winning story involved one fan having a Monte Cristo sandwich from Banning’s just before heading to the hospital to give birth! Another fan shared how ordering a sandwich from Banning’s led to her meeting her now-husband.

With so many memories, we aren’t surprised this restaurant is in its 40th year of business. Congratulations, Bannings, and we look forward to seeing you celebrate for many years to come!

Paws With A Cause Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Paws with a Cause 40th Anniversary Logo

June, 2019 – Paws With A Cause, an organization that trains assistance dogs and places them with the disabled, is celebrating their 40th Anniversary this year! According to the website, “Paws With A Cause® enhances the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities nationally through custom-trained Assistance Dogs.”

Paws With A Cause is headquartered in Wayland, Michigan. The organization was founded in 1979, and was originally named Ears for the Deaf® until 1989. The founders, Michael Sapp and his wife Antoinette, created the organization to help train their friend’s dog -their friends were deaf and had just adopted a deaf baby – in hopes that the dog could alert the couple to various sounds like their baby crying. As time went on, more and more deaf and disabled people began asking for trained dogs to help them with their daily life, too.

Paws With A Cause now trains 4 different types of assistance dogs:

  • Service Dogs for people with physical disabilities
  • Hearing Dogs for people who are Hearing Impaired/Deaf
  • Seizure Response Dogs for people with seizure disorders
  • Service Dogs for Children with Autism

Over the last 40 years, Paws With A Cause has trained over 2,500 assistance dogs. The organization has also helped work with the Michigan Legislature to ensure laws are in place that benefit Service Dogs and other assistance dogs.

Paws With A Cause created this 40th Anniversary Video to showcase just some of the incredible work the organization has done in the community over the last 40 years.

In addition, Paws With A Cause held a 40th Anniversary Open House at their headquarters in Wayland, MI. The event showcased its new grooming facilities and included guided tours of the facility, assistance dog demonstrations, and plenty of food and fun.

We’d like to congratulate Paws With A Cause on 40 years of changing lives and assisting the community. If you’d like to get involved please see how you can help!

West Michigan Whitecaps Celebrate 25 Seasons

West Michigan Whitecaps 25 Seasons Logo
Grand Rapids based minor league baseball team, the West Michigan Whitecaps, are celebrating 25 seasons of baseball this year. The team was founded in 1993, and was named by Brian Glass in a “Name the Team” contest. This same year, Old Kent Park ballpark and stadium was constructed. The Whitecaps’ inaugural season was in 1994, with their first home game at Old Kent Park held in April against the Burlington Bees. The Whitecaps won, with a score of 5-2.

Since then, the team has seen many changes and accomplishments, including:

  • 13 Managers, including former major league player & manager and 2000 Olympic baseball coach Phil Regan, Former Detroit Tigers third baseman Tom Brookens, former Tigers and major league manager Larry Parrish, and former Tigers catcher Lance Parrish (current team manager).
  • Six MWL Championship wins
  • Renaming of the team’s home field, from Old Kent Park to Fifth Third Ballpark.

This year mark’s The Whitecaps’ 25th Season. Some of the planned celebrations include:

  • 25th season logo
  • 25th Season commemorative t-shirts, sweatshirts, and lapel pins available for purchase in the “Capsized Shop.”
  • A 2018 Ticket kickoff sale featuring a free 25th season t-shirt for the first 50 ticket purchasers, as well as a bounce house, speed pitch game, the Whitecaps Mascots, and free popcorn, cocoa, and Dippin’ Dots.
  • A 25th Season Replica Jersey giveaway for the first 1,000 guests at the Whitecaps’ opening day on April 5th.

More celebrations are expected to be announced in the coming months. Congratulations to the West Michigan Whitecaps on 25 Seasons of Minor League Baseball!

Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce Celebrates 125 Years

Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce 125th Anniversary Logo

The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1893 by Charles Hackley. Previously known as the Muskegon Board of Trade (est. 1979), Hackley and other pertinent members of Muskegon’s lumber industry worked to create an organization that would support economic development and revitalize Muskegon, Michigan.

Since then, the chamber has continued that mission. Major efforts have included establishing the Muskegon County Airport, raising funds to construct the L.C. Walker Arena, and promoting the Milwaukee Clipper ferry.

MLCC January Hist-o-gram story featuring chamber founder Charles Hackley
MLCC January Hist-o-gram Story featuring chamber founder Charles Hackley

Additionally, the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce has been recognized for numerous achievements, including the “Freedom Week” program in 1953, and being commended by the US Chamber of Commerce for having one of the country’s top safety programs in 1957.

The MLCC is celebrating its 125th year by highlighting historic moments in its history each month using “Hist-O-Gram Stories,” a cute play on Instagram Stories. You can learn more about the MLCC’s history and 125th anniversary celebration at www.muskegon.org.

Congratulations on 125 exciting years, and we wish you an even brighter future!