Articles written by William Silvester

Since Disney first brought Tinker Bell to the screen in 1953 she has blossomed into an international celebrity with TV and film and Disneyland appearances.

May 18, 2010 - William Silvester

Based on the 1940 film, Pinocchio, this is the newest of the Fantasyland dark rides and it employs some spectacular special effects.

May 14, 2010 - William Silvester

Two films have been made about the exploits of the Greek hero, Perseus. Entitled Clash of the Titans neither of the movies tells the real story.

Mar 25, 2010 - William Silvester

Long before Disney decided to make a live action version of Alice in Wonderland there was an animated film by the same name and an attraction in Disneyland.

Mar 10, 2010 - William Silvester

In the three years after the country gained independence in 1962, three premiers died at the hands of assassins. The last fell while rebels stormed the king's palace.

Feb 6, 2010 - William Silvester

Conspiracy theories abounded when the young cosmonaut 's plane crashed on a routine training flight. Was it a plot or an accident?

Jan 15, 2010 - William Silvester

Statistics from the World Health Organization state that 12.5 deaths are from cancer. Using a postal tax stamp to fight cancer started in Ecudaor in 1938.

Dec 19, 2009 - William Silvester

Hudson was abandoned to his fate in the bay that bears his name. No trace was ever found, or was it? What happened to Hudson and his crew?

Dec 9, 2009 - William Silvester

Modern archeologists find a trove of artifacts at the site of Cartier's abandoned colony.

Nov 24, 2009 - William Silvester

Close on the heels of John Cabot, Corte-Real disappeared seeking Asia and new lands for Portugal.

Nov 20, 2009 - William Silvester

William Hall holds two firsts in the annals of Canadian VC history. He was the first Canadian sailor and the first Black Canadian to earn the highest valour award.

Nov 19, 2009 - William Silvester

Usually wars are fought by rival armies attacking each other on land, the First Anglo-Dutch War was fought entirely at sea.

Nov 18, 2009 - William Silvester

Under heavy fire from the enemy, John Simpson and his donkey made a dozen trips a day, carrying wounded Australians to aid stations.

Nov 15, 2009 - William Silvester

Claims for Nootka Sound would lead Spain and England to the brink of war.

Nov 13, 2009 - William Silvester

The authenticity of some of his claims have been questioned by later historians but the name of Cabot still stands high in the annals of early exploration.

Nov 12, 2009 - William Silvester

She was the first to demonstrate that while the Germans could capture a country they could not conquer the determination or spirit of the people.

Oct 28, 2009 - William Silvester

The global war touched even one of the world's tiniest states despite declarations of neutrality in this little known bit of military history.

Oct 24, 2009 - William Silvester

This one-time pirate was the first to explore North America's Atlantic Coast for France but his exploits are largely forgotten today.

Oct 21, 2009 - William Silvester

The Indian Nationalist Party sought the support of Nazi Germany to free India from British rule.

Jul 25, 2009 - William Silvester

Also known as 'The Gentleman Bandit' he achieved almost folk hero status due mainly to his demeanor and lack of violence in his robberies.

Jul 16, 2009 - William Silvester

Michael Jackson was one of Disneyland's biggest fans, constantly visiting the park both in and out of disguise, for him Captain EO was a natural.

Jul 9, 2009 - William Silvester

This is not the first time gold has gone missing from the high security vaults of the Royal Canadian Mint but this time no one knows where it has gone or how it was taken

Jul 8, 2009 - William Silvester

Famed for her beauty and fashion sense the reluctant Empress had little time for anything but traveling.

Jul 1, 2009 - William Silvester

A fond memory of re-enacting favourite scenes from a much loved book or movie is often a driving force behind collecting action figures.

Jun 23, 2009 - William Silvester

For five years he searched for the fabled North-West Passage only to suffer a mutiny and disappear in the bay that bears his name.

Jun 17, 2009 - William Silvester

Ponce de Leon has been long associated with the search for the Fountain of Youth, but was he really looking for it?

Jun 2, 2009 - William Silvester

The situation was critical, Shankland and his men were cut off and about to loose the position they had just won at a terrible cost in lives.

May 27, 2009 - William Silvester

By the simple act of moving a briefcase Heinz Brandt saved the life of one of the most despised men in history.

May 26, 2009 - William Silvester

Gorgo was one of the few women of ancient Greece who was named by historians. She was the daughter of a king, wife of a king and mother of a king of Sparta.

May 12, 2009 - William Silvester

As early as 1941 this decorated war hero began plotting against Adolf Hitler.

May 5, 2009 - William Silvester

The military was in his blood but he would need all of his experience to succeed in the liberation of Kuwait in 1990.

Apr 28, 2009 - William Silvester

Harry Potter construction sets topped LEGO's sales charts in 2002.

Apr 21, 2009 - William Silvester

The deaths of the heir apparent to the throne of Austria-Hungary and his lover was obviously a murder-suicide - or was it?

Apr 20, 2009 - William Silvester

Franz Joseph was destined to reign for 68 years but by the end of one of the longest reigns in European history, his empire would be on the verge of total destruction.

Apr 15, 2009 - William Silvester

The sacrifice of Leonidas, his valiant Spartans and their Greek allies, stopped the Persian invasion and their imperialistic intentions in Greece.

Apr 7, 2009 - William Silvester

Much of what has been written about Nicholas Flamel is shrouded in legend and mystery.

Apr 4, 2009 - William Silvester

Despite the major motion pictures and the vast amount of merchandise available, Harry Potter is first and foremost about the books.

Mar 22, 2009 - William Silvester

By the time he died, at the ripe old age of 60, he had made an indelible mark on the history of Great Britain and Normandy.

Mar 15, 2009 - William Silvester

King Saul appointed a young King David to the position of army general, but soon came to regret the decision.

Mar 12, 2009 - William Silvester

Adventurous Etienne Brûlé, paved the way for future explorations of the Canadian wilderness, covering his name in glory until his final act of treason.

Feb 25, 2009 - William Silvester

Her unenviable task was to mend the dynastic quarrels and unite her people before European influence destroyed their culture altogether

Feb 17, 2009 - William Silvester

She was abandoned to a certain death on a remote island because she dared to have an affair Roberval disapproved of.

Feb 13, 2009 - William Silvester

Pirate, colonist, Protestant rebel, Roberval added a colourful page to the early history of Canada.

Feb 3, 2009 - William Silvester

Seeking China he found Canada and the beginnings of the British Empire.

Jan 24, 2009 - William Silvester

In search of the north-west passage to the fabled lands of China he instead found the majestic beauty of Canada.

Jan 22, 2009 - William Silvester

As prince, king and finally emperor he brought his country out of the middle ages and into the 20th Century.

Jan 20, 2009 - William Silvester

His plotting and love of intrigue earned Louis XI many enemies but helped to form a united France under a strong monarchy.

Jan 17, 2009 - William Silvester

Isa bin Salman ruled a turbulent island for 38 years surviving riots and wars.

Jan 17, 2009 - William Silvester

There comes a time in some people's lives when they feel they must do something that has to be done no matter what the cost. Nat Turner had one of those times.

Jan 17, 2009 - William Silvester

The climb to power and meteoric fall of King Zog I of Albania is unique in the annals of 20th Century European royalty.

Jan 3, 2009 - William Silvester