Walt Disney 

Walt Disney, the legendary animated film producer, was much more than a cartoonist, he was a visionary artist whose life’s work spawned one of the largest production companies of all time. Disney’s ability to think outside the box enabled him to create many successful firsts that others thought would simply fail. Though his life was cut shorter than hoped, Disney’s visions are still alive and well.

Walt Disney was born December 5, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois. Disney grew up in Missouri and developed a love for drawing at a young age. When he was sixteen, he left school to join the army but was too young to be accepted. He subsequently lied about his age to join the American Red Cross and was sent to France for a year. Upon his return to Kansas City, he began his career at Pesmen-Rubin Art Studio and there he met another young cartoonist, Ub Iwerks.

Disney and Iwerks formed their own company, producing short animations, but soon went bankrupt. Together, they embarked on a journey to Hollywood, California, that would prove to be life changing. With financial backing from his brother Roy, Walt Disney formed Disney Brother’s Studio. Among other characters, Disney developed sketches of a cartoon mouse named Mickey, who he later turned into animation with synchronized sound. Using his own voice, Disney created Steamboat Willie in 1928, and it became the first cartoon to use synchronized sound.

In 1932, Disney won his first Academy Award, a special award presented for the creation of Mickey Mouse. By 1935, Mickey Mouse made the transition to color and Mickey was given new animated friends in the form of Donald, Goofy, and Pluto. At this time, Disney had already begun to develop ideas for a full-length feature animated film. Though his wife, Lillian, and Roy Disney both tried to discourage him from finishing what others eventually called "Disney’s Folly," Walt Disney continued with his vision for the production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

After acquiring a loan to finish the film, Snow White premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre on December 21, 1937. It became the most successful film of 1938 and grossed just over $8 million. With revenue from the film, Disney was able to open Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, in 1939. The rest, as they say, is history. More animated feature films followed, including Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Bambi. Walt Disney Studios ventured into live-action film in 1950 with Treasure Island.

Though Disney had managed to create a successful production company, he had other visions as well. Perhaps his greatest vision was a child-centric theme park, which he called Disneyland. His Disneyland dream was realized when the theme park opened its doors in the summer of 1955. By early 1960, Disney had created an empire and was the leading producer of family entertainment. In 1966, he and his brother announced plans to open a second theme park in central Florida.

Walt Disney died from complications due to lung cancer in December of 1966. Though he didn’t live to see the realization of his second park, his brother Roy continued with their plans and opened Walt Disney World in 1971. Roy died just three months after its opening. Walt Disney was survived by his wife Lillian, who died in 1997, and their two children.

Though Walt Disney, the man, has been gone a number of years, his iconic creations will outlast time. Today, the company is a $30 billion operation and is responsible for countless hours of entertainment. From the classic films such as Dumbo and Mary Poppins, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, to the new generation of favorites, such as Toy Story and Cars, Walt Disney Studios is world famous. Post-Walt Disney films have featured voices of top billing actors including Tom, Hanks, Owen Wilson, Tim Allen, Denis Leary, and Joaquin Phoenix to name but a few.

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