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Walt Disney is born
Walt Disney was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 5, 1901. His father was Elias Disney. His mother was Flora Call Disney. Walt was one of five children, four boys and a girl. -
Walt Becomes interested in drawing
Walt started selling his first sketches to neighbors when he ws only seven years old. At McKinley High School in Chicago, Disney divided his attention between drawing and photography. He contributated both to the school paper. During the night, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts. -
Enlisting
Walt attempted to enlist for military service but was rejected because he was only 16. He then joined the Red Cross and went overseas to drive an ambulance. His ambulance was covered not with camouflauge, but with drawings and cartoons. -
Adversing Cartoonist
When the war was over, he returned to Kansas City and began a career as an advertising cartoonist. He created and sold his first original animated cartoons, and later perfected a new method for combining live-action and animation. -
Marrage
Walt married one of his first employees, Lillian Bounds, and they had two daughters. Diane had seven children. Sharon had three. -
Camera Stand
Walt Disney left Kansas for Hollywood with 40$ in his pocket. He met his brother who had 250$ and they pooled their money, borrowed 500$ and they built a camera stand in their uncle's garage. Soon they moved two blocks away to a Hollywood studio. -
Mickey Mouse
Click here to see "Plane Crazy"
Mickey Mouse was created in 1928 while Walt was on a train heading back from Hollywood. The cartoon was going to be silent, but before it could released, sound for animation cane out. Sound was quickly added to the cartoon and it was released as Plane Crazy. -
Technicolor
Technicolor was introduced to animation during the production of his "Silly Symphonies." In 1932, the film called "Flowers and Trees" won Walt one of his 32 Academy Awards. In 1937, he released "The Old Mill," the first short subject to utilize the multiplane camera technique. -
First Movie
Click here to see the first part of Snow WhiteSnow White was released later that same year. It was the first full length animated feature. It cost $1,499,000 to make. People were shocked at this tremendous price during the dirty thirties. -
Employees
His staff increased to over 1,000 members. During WWII, 94% of his staff was involved in military operations. That included making training videos. -
TV Shows
Disney began production in 1954, and was one of the first to present full-color programming with his "Wonderful World of Color" in 1961. "The Mickey Mouse Club" and "Zorro" were favorites in the 1950s. -
The World Begins
Disney World started with $17 million Magic Kingdom. Soon after, more than 250 million people were entertained. That included presidents, kings and queens, and royalty from all over the globe -
EPCOT Center
In 1965, Walt Disney changed his focus for improving life in America. He personally directed the design on an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, or EPCOT, planned as a living showcase for the creativity of American industry. -
Death
SourceBefore his death on December 15, 1966, Walt Disney took a deep interest in the establishment of California Institute of the Arts, a college level, professional school of all the creative and performing arts. Of Cal Arts, Walt once said, "It's the principal thing I hope to leave when I move on to greener pastures. If I can help provide a place to develop the talent of the future, I think I will have accomplished something." -
After Death
Source copied fromWalt Disney is a legend; a folk hero of the 20th century. His worldwide popularity was based upon the ideals which his name represents: imagination, optimism, creation, and self-made success in the American tradition. He brought us closer to the future, while telling us of the past, it is certain, that there will never be such as great a man, as Walt Disney.
