TM
Volume 7 Issue 8
HISTORY OF DISNEY
Walt Disney was born Walter Elias Disney on December 5, 1901 in Chicago Illinois. His father, Elias Disney, was an Irish-Canadian, and his mother, Flora Call Disney, was of German-American descent.
Walt was one of five children, four boys and a girl.
Most of his childhood, however, was in Marceline, Missouri. He was interested in drawing and art at a early age. He sold small sketches and drawings to neighbors when he was about 7 years old. Walt
would rather doodle pictures of animals and nature instead of doing his homework.
In 1918, at the age if 16, he attempted to enlist for military service. He was rejected because he was underage. He joined the Red Cross and was sent to France, where he drove an ambulance and chauf-
feured Red Cross officials for a year. His ambulance was covered, not with camouflage, from one end to the other, but with cartoon characters.
After returning from France, he pursued a career in commercial art, which lead to his experimentation in animation. He began to create "The Alice Comedies", which was about a girl and her adventures
in an animated world. But before he was able to finish, he ran out of money. His company, Laugh-O-Grams went bankrupt. Walt then took "The Alice Comedies" in hand and headed for Hollywood to start
a new business.
His brother, Roy, was already in California. Between the two of them, they combined their resources, $250 of Roy's money, and an additional $500 they borrowed, and set up shop in their uncle's garage.
An order from New York for their first animation was "Alice in Cartoonland", which was initially "The Alice Comedies", came in. They soon were able to expand their productions to the back of a Holly-
wood real estate office.
Walt Disney was involved in animation in 1920. In 1927 Disney produced, "Oswald the Rabbit". It was his first known character. Unfortunately, he did not own the rights and was eventually owned by
animator Walter Lanz.
Mickey Mouse's first appearance was in "Plane Crazy", a silent cartoon, in 1928. His third cartoon, "Steamboat Willie" was his first to be released on November 18, 1928. Mickey was a success from then
on. Minnie Mouse also appeared. Pluto did not appear until 1930, but was not known "Pluto" until 1931. Goofy first appeared in 1932 and Donald Duck in 1934.
Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Snow White and the Sever Dwarfs, and the Three Little Pigs dominated the Disney scene during the 30's.
During the 40's and 50's, Alice in Wonderland, Bambi, Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp, and Peter Pan were major characters in Disney movies.
Mickey Mouse toys were first produced in 1930. Walt and his brother Roy licensed the reproduction of their characters from the very beginning. The Disney characters are popular worldwide. The leading pro-
ducer of Disneyana is Belgium, along with England, France and Japan. The characters seem to take on the regional characteristics. The characters range from toys to watches to clothing and is most collectible.
In 1955, Disneyland Amusement Park was opened in Anaheim, California. The Walt Disney World Resort, including the Magic Kingdom Park, opened to the public on October 1, 1971. EPCOT Center opened
October 1, 1982, and on May 1, 1989, the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park opened. On April 15, 1983 Tokyo Disneyland opens in Urayasu, just outside Tokyo, Japan. It is operated by the Oriental Land Com-
pany under licence from Disney. It includes several themed areas: Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Westernland, and World Bazaar. And, finally, on April 12, 1992 the Euro Disney Resort featuring
the Euro Disneyland park, opens in Marne-la-Vallée, France, east of Paris. The US$4 billion complex has six hotels with 5200 rooms, and is staffed by 14,000 "cast members". Euro Disneyland park has 29
attractions in five themed lands: Adventureland, Discoveryland, Fantasyland, Festival Disney, Frontierland, and Main Street. 500,000 visitors were expected, but only 50,000 are admitted on opening day.
Adding more to his wide range of talent, Walt Disney was also a pioneer in television programming. He began television production in 1954. "The Mickey Mouse Club" was a very popular television favorite in the
1950's. In 1961, he was among the first to use full-color programming with "Wonderful World of Color".
A legend in his own time, Walt E. Disney died December 15, 1966. He is/has been greatly missed in our "Wonderful World of Color".
MARKS
Disney collectibles were marked either "Walt E. Disney" or "Walt Disney Enterprises" from the late 20's until about 1940. From that time on they were marked "Walt Disney Productions".
RESOURCES:
Warman's American & Collectibles-8th Edition
Garage Sale & Flea Market Annual-3rd Edition
Chronology of the Walt Disney Company
Just Disney.com
Collecting Toys by Richard O'Brien
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