-
Birth of Walt Disney
Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. His father was Elias Disney, and his mother was Flora Call Disney. Walt was one of five children, four boys and a girl. http://www.justdisney.com/walt_disney/biography/w_bio_short.html -
Married to Lillian
Lillian Bounds moved from Idaho to Los Angeles and won a job at the fledgling Walt Disney Studio as a secretary and "inker" of animated cels. The two got married the same year. Walt's original name for Mickey Mouse was "Mormiter Mouse" but Lillian decided it was too formal and offered up "Mickey". http://www.disneydreamer.com/Lillian.htm -
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was created by Disney and had his first appearance in Trolly Troubles in 1927. Walt Disney signed a contract with distributer Charles Mintz who cut a deal with Universal Studios to make cartoons starring Oswald. In 1928, Walt found out that he no longer owned rights to Oswald since Mintz secretly signed a contract giving him the rights. It took 78 years for Disney to reobtain the rights to Oswald. https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/blog/happy-85th-anniversary-oswald-lucky- -
Steamboat Willie
Walt Disney's animated cartoon "Steamboat Willie" debuted in New York City. This cartoon was among the first animations to feature synchronized sound. It was the first public appearance of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. It runs for about 8 minutes. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/extras/2011/11/18/nov-18-steamboat-willie-premieres-1928-aggie-bonfire-collapse-1999/ -
Orphan's Benefit
Orphan's Benefit is a performance by Mickey Mouse and friends for some unruly orphans. It includes Horace, Goofy, and Clarabelle performing a dance number, and Mickey playing a piano. This was the first time Donald Duck appeared alongside Mickey Mouse. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033985/plotsummary -
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
DIsney based Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on the famous fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, Snow White. People including Lillian, warned Walt that audiences, especially adults, wouldn't sit through a cartoon about dwarfs. But Walt continued his work and Snow White premiered in Hollywood on December 21, 1937, earning a standing ovation from the star-studded crowd. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/disney-releases-snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs -
Peter Pan
Peter Pan was a pet project of Walt Disney's since 1939, this animated version of James M. Barrie's Peter Pan reached full fruition in 1953. Avoiding much of Barrie's gentle whimsy (not to mention the more sinister aspects of the leading character), Disney and his staff created a cheery, tuneful cartoon extravaganza.This cost $4 million and reaped several times that amount. http://www.moviefone.com/movie/peter-pan/6849/synopsis -
Hollywood Walk of Fame Stars
Walt Disney was given two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One was for television and another was for movies. Other Disney related stars include Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Donald Duck, Winnie the Pooh and Tinker Bell. http://www.examiner.com/article/disney-stars-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame -
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins is a musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Disney based the movie off of the book series by P. L. Travers. It has been nominated for 13 Academy Awards, which is a record for movie musicals. http://www.reelclassics.com/Musicals/MaryPoppins/marypoppins.htm -
Death of Walt Disney
Walt Disney died in St. Joseph's Hospital on December 15, 1966. He was 65 years old and died of lung cancer. Just before his illness, Mr. Disney was supervising the construction of a new Disneyland in Florida. http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1205.html
