History and background of The Walt Disney Company

The first step and foundation

Oct 16, 1923

Walt Disney signed a contract with M. J. Winkler to produce a series of “Alice Comedies” — the date used as the start of the Disney company first known as “The Disney Brothers Studio”. [

From "Disney Brother Studios" to "Walt Disney Studios"

1926

The Disneys move to their new studio at 2719 Hyperion. The name of the company is changed from “The Disney Brothers Studio” to “Walt Disney Studios”.

Mickey Mouse

Dec 18, 1928

Steamboat Willie is released at the Colony Theatre in New York — the first Mickey Mouse cartoon released, also the first appearance of Minnie Mouse.

Division into four companies

Dec 16, 1929

The Disney brothers’ partnership is replaced by four companies: Walt Disney Productions, Ltd.; Walt Disney Enterprises; Liled Realty and Investment Company; and the Disney Film Recording Company.

First Disney's book

1930

First Disney's book was the "Mickey Mouse Book".

Comic strip

Jan 13, 1930

Mickey Mouse comic strip begins.

First full-color cartoon: "Flowers and trees"

Jul 30, 1932

Flowers and Trees, first full-color cartoon and first Academy Award winner, is released.

First feature-length animated film

Dec 21, 1937

Release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, first feature-length animated film, at the Carthay Circle Theatre.

First stock

Apr 2, 1940

Walt Disney Productions issues its first stock.

New location

Jun 5, 1940

Move of the Disney Studio to Burbank, California, is completed.

New Music Company

1949

Walt Disney Music Company formed.

First completely live-action feature

Jul 19, 1950

Release of Treasure Island, first completely live- action feature.

First television show

Dec 25, 1950

One Hour in Wonderland first television show.

WED Enterprises

Dec 16, 1952

WED Enterprises (Walt Disney Imagineering) founded by Walt.

First television show

Oct 27, 1954

First airing of Disneyland television show.

Disneyland

Jul 17, 1955

Opening of Disneyland.

Theaters: Mary Poppins

Aug 29, 1964

Mary Poppins, Walt's Disney most successful live action, opened in theaters.

Walt Disney dies

Dec 15, 1966

The founder, Walt Disney, died because of a lung cancer.

Walt Disney World

Oct 1, 1971

Opening of Walt Disney World by ROy O. Disney, who was Walt E. Disney's brother.

EPCOT

Oct 1, 1982

EPCOT Center opens.

Tokyo Disneyland

Apr 15, 1983

Tokyo Disneyland, Disney's first international park, opens.

Disney Channel

Apr 18, 1983

The Disney Channel begins broadcasting.

Touchstone: Splash

Mar 9, 1984

Disney was not meeting the competition for films that attracted the huge teenage and adult market. To reverse that trend, Disney established a new label, Touchstone Pictures. The first release of first Touchstone film, Splash.

New name: The Walt Disney company

Feb 6, 1986

Walt Disney Productions name changed to The Walt Disney Company.

Euro Disney

Apr 12, 1992

Euro Disney opens at Paris, France.

Capital Cities/ABC merge

Jan 4, 1996

Stockholders approve Disney merger with Capital Cities/ABC for $19 billion.

Robert Iger

Oct 1, 2005

Robert A. Iger becomes Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company.

Pixar Animation Studios

May 5, 2006

Disney purchases Pixar Animation Studios.

Club Penguin

Aug 1, 2007

Club Penguin acquired.

Marvel Entertainment

Dec 31, 2009

Disney’s acquisition of Marvel Entertainment is completed.

Lucasfilm

Oct 30, 2012

The Walt Disney Company announces its agreement to purchase Lucasfilm Ltd.

21st Century Fox

2018

Walt Disney Company and 21st Century Fox agreed to a $71.3 billion purchase.