Walt Disney's Childhood
Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. Walt was born to his parents, Elias and Flora Disney. His siblings were Herbert, Ray, Roy, and Ruth. Roy later helped Walt make the Disney Company a success. Walt's parents grew tired of life in Chicago and decided to move closer to family on a farm outside of Marceline, Missouri, in 1906. The small-town life had a huge impact on Walt. He began to draw animals and get creative. In fact, Walt's exposure to rural life influenced him during his career. After four years, Walt's father became ill and the farm was not profitable. In 1911, Walt and his family moved to Kansas City, where Roy and Walt got up at 3:30 a.m., seven days a week, to deliver newspapers with their father before school. On Saturday mornings, Walt attended the Kansas City Art Institute. Walt sold his first drawing to a neighbor when he was seven years old. He eventually graduated from the Benton Grammar School, and the family moved back to Chicago shortly after. Back in Chicago in 1917, Walt attended McKinley High School and drew for the student newspaper. Around 1918, Walt joined the Red Cross Ambulance Corps and headed to France for nine months (after lying about his age). Upon is return to Chicago, he decided that instead of getting a high school diploma, he would head back to Kansas City (1919).,
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Walt Disney's Career
Walt's did not have financial success in Kansas City, but he experimented with what he was good at - drawing. He learned animation and created the first animated series. Walt's first real job was for Pesman-Rubin Commercial Art Studio, designing advertisements. At this job, Walt met a longtime friend, Ub Iwerks. Shortly after Disney and Iwerks were laid off from their jobs, they decided to start their own company called Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists. Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists only lasted one month. They both got jobs with the Kansas City Slide Company (renamed the Kansas City Film Ad Company), making one minute advertisements to appear before movies and live action films. Disney learned about animation at this job and tried to start his own business, Laugh-O-Graphs. He left the Kansas City Slide Company in May of 1922 and started his business in the McConahy building at 31st Street and Forest Avenue, putting ads in the newspaper, requesting artists who wanted to learn animation and work for him. The Alice Comedies idea began there. Walt Disney had good ideas, but was not a good businessman, so his company lasted for a year and a half. His staff left because they were not getting paid, and Walt declared bankruptcy. In 1923, Walt left Kansas City and decided to try his luck in Hollywood.
With the help of Roy, Walt started the Disney Brothers Studio. Roy was the studio manager, and Ub Iwerks and Ham Hamilton became animators. The Alice Comedies were released by a New York distributor, and became very popular. In 1927, Walt Disney created Oswald the Luck Rabbit. However, many setbacks occurred. His distributor in New York, Charles Mintz, took away most of Disney's animators and refused to negotiate a fair contract in order to force Disney to work for him, saying Universal Studios owned all of Disney's creations. But Walt did not give into Mintz, and he, Roy, and his only loyal animator, Ub Iwerks, went to Hollywood to work on a new character.
Walt Disney decided he would be the sole owner of all of his new cartoons. In 1928, Steamboat Willie was released and Mickey Mouse was introduced. The Silly Symphonies followed in 1929, but Disney quickly ran into problems. Pat Powers, Disney's distributor, wanted control of the popular Mickey Mouse cartoons. Most of the Disney staff left to work for Powers, even Ub Iwerks. Powers thought Disney would also follow for a large salary, but instead, he and Roy purchased their contract from Powers, found a new distributor, and made Mickey the most loved cartoon character of all time.
In 1925, Walt Disney's studio name was changed to the Walt Disney Studio, and he married one of his employees, Lillian Bounds, on July 13, 1925. Walt and Lillian had two daughters, Sharon and Diane. The Disney Company continued to grow throughout the Great Depression, and by 1939, the studio needed a larger facility. Disney built the Burbank Studio. In the early 1940's, Fantasia, Pinocchio, Dumbo, and Bambi were released. During the 1950-60's, Disney produced animated films like Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, and Sleeping Beauty. He also ventured into live-action films and made a total of twenty-four pictures between 1950 and 1961. A few were Pollyanna, Swiss Family Robinson, and The Parent Trap.
When Disneyland was built in 1955, it was a dream come true for Disney. He was able to create a fantasy world for both adults and children. Throughout the 1960's, Disney and his staff of "Imagineers" continued to work. Disney began buying land and planning the second park, which would become Walt Disney World, in Central Florida. During this time, the popular Disney movies One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Mary Poppins, and The Jungle Book were released.
On December 15, 1966, Walt Disney died after battling lung cancer. However, before he died, he visited Marceline, Missouri many times and incorporated it into Disneyland. There was nothing that could make him forget the town where it all began. Walt has the record for most academy awards won and was presented with the George Washington Award in 1963. On July 4, 1956, he and Roy attended the dedication of the Walt Disney Municipal Park and Pool and the Walt Disney Elementary School dedication in 1960, both in Marceline, Missouri. Walt had grown from a struggling artist to a great visionary, and it all started in a small town.
With the help of Roy, Walt started the Disney Brothers Studio. Roy was the studio manager, and Ub Iwerks and Ham Hamilton became animators. The Alice Comedies were released by a New York distributor, and became very popular. In 1927, Walt Disney created Oswald the Luck Rabbit. However, many setbacks occurred. His distributor in New York, Charles Mintz, took away most of Disney's animators and refused to negotiate a fair contract in order to force Disney to work for him, saying Universal Studios owned all of Disney's creations. But Walt did not give into Mintz, and he, Roy, and his only loyal animator, Ub Iwerks, went to Hollywood to work on a new character.
Walt Disney decided he would be the sole owner of all of his new cartoons. In 1928, Steamboat Willie was released and Mickey Mouse was introduced. The Silly Symphonies followed in 1929, but Disney quickly ran into problems. Pat Powers, Disney's distributor, wanted control of the popular Mickey Mouse cartoons. Most of the Disney staff left to work for Powers, even Ub Iwerks. Powers thought Disney would also follow for a large salary, but instead, he and Roy purchased their contract from Powers, found a new distributor, and made Mickey the most loved cartoon character of all time.
In 1925, Walt Disney's studio name was changed to the Walt Disney Studio, and he married one of his employees, Lillian Bounds, on July 13, 1925. Walt and Lillian had two daughters, Sharon and Diane. The Disney Company continued to grow throughout the Great Depression, and by 1939, the studio needed a larger facility. Disney built the Burbank Studio. In the early 1940's, Fantasia, Pinocchio, Dumbo, and Bambi were released. During the 1950-60's, Disney produced animated films like Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, and Sleeping Beauty. He also ventured into live-action films and made a total of twenty-four pictures between 1950 and 1961. A few were Pollyanna, Swiss Family Robinson, and The Parent Trap.
When Disneyland was built in 1955, it was a dream come true for Disney. He was able to create a fantasy world for both adults and children. Throughout the 1960's, Disney and his staff of "Imagineers" continued to work. Disney began buying land and planning the second park, which would become Walt Disney World, in Central Florida. During this time, the popular Disney movies One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Mary Poppins, and The Jungle Book were released.
On December 15, 1966, Walt Disney died after battling lung cancer. However, before he died, he visited Marceline, Missouri many times and incorporated it into Disneyland. There was nothing that could make him forget the town where it all began. Walt has the record for most academy awards won and was presented with the George Washington Award in 1963. On July 4, 1956, he and Roy attended the dedication of the Walt Disney Municipal Park and Pool and the Walt Disney Elementary School dedication in 1960, both in Marceline, Missouri. Walt had grown from a struggling artist to a great visionary, and it all started in a small town.