During a 43-year Hollywood career, which spanned
the development of the motion picture medium as a modern American art, Walter
Elias Disney, a modern Aesop, established himself and his product as a genuine
part of Americana. David Low, the late British political cartoonist, called
Disney "the most significant figure in graphic arts since Leonardo."
A pioneer and innovator, and the possessor of one of the most fertile
imaginations the world has ever known, Walt Disney, along with members of his staff,
received more than 950 honors and citations from throughout the world,
including 48 Academy Awards and seven Emmys in his lifetime. Walt Disney's
personal awards included honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, the University of
Southern California and UCLA; the Presidential Medal of Freedom; France's
Legion of Honor and Officer d'Academie decorations; Thailand's Order of the
Crown; Brazil's Order of the Southern Cross; Mexico's Order of the Aztec Eagle;
and the Showman of the World Award from the National Association of Theatre
Owners.
the development of the motion picture medium as a modern American art, Walter
Elias Disney, a modern Aesop, established himself and his product as a genuine
part of Americana. David Low, the late British political cartoonist, called
Disney "the most significant figure in graphic arts since Leonardo."
A pioneer and innovator, and the possessor of one of the most fertile
imaginations the world has ever known, Walt Disney, along with members of his staff,
received more than 950 honors and citations from throughout the world,
including 48 Academy Awards and seven Emmys in his lifetime. Walt Disney's
personal awards included honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, the University of
Southern California and UCLA; the Presidential Medal of Freedom; France's
Legion of Honor and Officer d'Academie decorations; Thailand's Order of the
Crown; Brazil's Order of the Southern Cross; Mexico's Order of the Aztec Eagle;
and the Showman of the World Award from the National Association of Theatre
Owners.
The creator of Mickey Mouse and founder of
Disneyland and Walt Disney World was born in Chicago, Ill., on Dec. 5, 1901.
His father, Elias Disney, was an Irish-Canadian. His mother, Flora Call Disney,
was of German-American descent. Walt was one of five children, four boys and a
girl.
Disneyland and Walt Disney World was born in Chicago, Ill., on Dec. 5, 1901.
His father, Elias Disney, was an Irish-Canadian. His mother, Flora Call Disney,
was of German-American descent. Walt was one of five children, four boys and a
girl.
Raised on a farm near Marceline, Mo., Walt early
became interested in drawing, selling his first sketches to neighbors when he
was only seven years old. At McKinley High School in Chicago, he divided his
attention between drawing and photography, contributing both to the school
paper. At night he attended the Academy of Fine Arts.
became interested in drawing, selling his first sketches to neighbors when he
was only seven years old. At McKinley High School in Chicago, he divided his
attention between drawing and photography, contributing both to the school
paper. At night he attended the Academy of Fine Arts.
During the fall of 1918, he attempted to enlist
for military service. Rejected because he was only 16 years of age, he joined the
Red Cross and was sent overseas, where he spent a year driving an ambulance and
chauffeuring Red Cross officials. His ambulance was covered from stem to stern,
not with stock camouflage, but with drawings and cartoons.
for military service. Rejected because he was only 16 years of age, he joined the
Red Cross and was sent overseas, where he spent a year driving an ambulance and
chauffeuring Red Cross officials. His ambulance was covered from stem to stern,
not with stock camouflage, but with drawings and cartoons.
After the war, Walt returned to Kansas City,
where he began his career as an advertising cartoonist. Here, in 1920, he
created and marketed his first original animated cartoons, and later perfected
a new method for combining live-action and animation.
where he began his career as an advertising cartoonist. Here, in 1920, he
created and marketed his first original animated cartoons, and later perfected
a new method for combining live-action and animation.
In August of 1923, Walt left Kansas City for
Hollywood with nothing but a few drawing materials, $40 in his pocket and a
completed animated and live-action film. Walt's brother, Roy O. Disney, was
already in California, with an immense amount of sympathy and encouragement,
and $250. Pooling their resources, they borrowed an additional $500 and
constructed a camera stand in their uncle's garage. Soon, they received an
order from New York for the first "Alice Comedy" short, and the
brothers began their production operation in the rear of a Hollywood real
estate office two blocks away.
Hollywood with nothing but a few drawing materials, $40 in his pocket and a
completed animated and live-action film. Walt's brother, Roy O. Disney, was
already in California, with an immense amount of sympathy and encouragement,
and $250. Pooling their resources, they borrowed an additional $500 and
constructed a camera stand in their uncle's garage. Soon, they received an
order from New York for the first "Alice Comedy" short, and the
brothers began their production operation in the rear of a Hollywood real
estate office two blocks away.
On July 13, 1925, Walt married one of his first
employees, Lillian Bounds, in Lewiston, Idaho. They were blessed with two
daughters -- Diane, married to Ron Miller, former president and chief executive
officer of Walt Disney Productions; and Sharon Disney Lund, formerly a member
of Disney's Board of Directors. The Millers have seven children and Mrs. Lund
had three. Mrs. Lund passed away in 1993.
employees, Lillian Bounds, in Lewiston, Idaho. They were blessed with two
daughters -- Diane, married to Ron Miller, former president and chief executive
officer of Walt Disney Productions; and Sharon Disney Lund, formerly a member
of Disney's Board of Directors. The Millers have seven children and Mrs. Lund
had three. Mrs. Lund passed away in 1993.
Mickey Mouse was created in 1928, and his talents
were first used in a silent cartoon entitled "Plane Crazy." However,
before the cartoon could be released, sound burst upon the motion picture
screen. Thus, Mickey made his screen debut in "Steamboat Willie," the
world's first fully synchronized sound cartoon, which premiered at the Colony
Theatre in New York on Nov. 18, 1928.
were first used in a silent cartoon entitled "Plane Crazy." However,
before the cartoon could be released, sound burst upon the motion picture
screen. Thus, Mickey made his screen debut in "Steamboat Willie," the
world's first fully synchronized sound cartoon, which premiered at the Colony
Theatre in New York on Nov. 18, 1928.
Walt's drive to perfect the art of animation was
endless. Technicolor was introduced to animation during the production of his
"Silly Symphonies." In 1932, the film entitled "Flowers and
Trees" won Walt the first of his 32 personal Academy Awards. In 1937, he
released "The Old Mill," the first short subject to utilize the
multiplane camera technique.
endless. Technicolor was introduced to animation during the production of his
"Silly Symphonies." In 1932, the film entitled "Flowers and
Trees" won Walt the first of his 32 personal Academy Awards. In 1937, he
released "The Old Mill," the first short subject to utilize the
multiplane camera technique.
On Dec. 21 of that same year, "Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs," the first full-length animated musical feature,
premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles. Produced at the unheard
of cost of $1,499,000 during the depths of the Depression, the film is still
accounted as one of the great feats and imperishable monuments of the motion
picture industry. During the next five years, Walt completed such other
full-length animated classics as "Pinocchio," "Fantasia,"
"Dumbo" and "Bambi."
and the Seven Dwarfs," the first full-length animated musical feature,
premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles. Produced at the unheard
of cost of $1,499,000 during the depths of the Depression, the film is still
accounted as one of the great feats and imperishable monuments of the motion
picture industry. During the next five years, Walt completed such other
full-length animated classics as "Pinocchio," "Fantasia,"
"Dumbo" and "Bambi."
In 1940, construction was completed on Disney's
Burbank studio, and the staff swelled to more than 1,000 artists, animators,
story men and technicians. During World War II, 94 percent of the Disney
facilities were engaged in special government work including the production of
training and propaganda films for the armed services, as well as health films,
which are still shown throughout the world by the U.S. State Department. The
remainder of his efforts were devoted to the production of comedy short
subjects, deemed highly essential to civilian and military morale.
Burbank studio, and the staff swelled to more than 1,000 artists, animators,
story men and technicians. During World War II, 94 percent of the Disney
facilities were engaged in special government work including the production of
training and propaganda films for the armed services, as well as health films,
which are still shown throughout the world by the U.S. State Department. The
remainder of his efforts were devoted to the production of comedy short
subjects, deemed highly essential to civilian and military morale.
Disney's 1945 feature, the musical "The
Three Caballeros," combined live action with the cartoon medium, a process
he used successfully in such other features as "Song of the South"
and the highly acclaimed "Mary Poppins." In all, 81 features were
released by the studio during his lifetime.
Three Caballeros," combined live action with the cartoon medium, a process
he used successfully in such other features as "Song of the South"
and the highly acclaimed "Mary Poppins." In all, 81 features were
released by the studio during his lifetime.
Walt's inquisitive mind and keen sense for
education through entertainment resulted in the award-winning "True-Life
Adventure" series. Through such films as "The Living Desert,"
"The Vanishing Prairie," "The African Lion" and "White
Wilderness," Disney brought fascinating insights into the world of wild
animals and taught the importance of conserving our nation's outdoor heritage.
education through entertainment resulted in the award-winning "True-Life
Adventure" series. Through such films as "The Living Desert,"
"The Vanishing Prairie," "The African Lion" and "White
Wilderness," Disney brought fascinating insights into the world of wild
animals and taught the importance of conserving our nation's outdoor heritage.
Disneyland, launched in 1955 as a fabulous $17
million Magic Kingdom, soon increased its investment tenfold and entertained,
by its fourth decade, more than 400 million people, including presidents, kings
and queens, and royalty from all over the globe.
million Magic Kingdom, soon increased its investment tenfold and entertained,
by its fourth decade, more than 400 million people, including presidents, kings
and queens, and royalty from all over the globe.
A pioneer in the field of television programming,
Walt began production in 1954, and was among the first to present full-color
programming with his "Wonderful World of Color" in 1961. "The
Mickey Mouse Club" and "Zorro" were popular favorites in the
1950's.
Walt began production in 1954, and was among the first to present full-color
programming with his "Wonderful World of Color" in 1961. "The
Mickey Mouse Club" and "Zorro" were popular favorites in the
1950's.
But that was only the beginning. In 1965, Walt
Disney turned his attention toward the problem of improving the quality of
urban 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.
Disney turned his attention toward the problem of improving the quality of
urban 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.
Said Walt, "I don't believe there is a
challenge anywhere in the world that is more important to people everywhere
than finding the solution to the problems of our cities. But where do we begin?
Well, we're convinced we must start with the public need. And the need is not
just for curing the old ills of old cities. We think the need is for starting from
scratch on virgin land and building a community that will become a prototype
for the future."
challenge anywhere in the world that is more important to people everywhere
than finding the solution to the problems of our cities. But where do we begin?
Well, we're convinced we must start with the public need. And the need is not
just for curing the old ills of old cities. We think the need is for starting from
scratch on virgin land and building a community that will become a prototype
for the future."
Thus, Walt directed the purchase of 43 square
miles of virgin land -- twice the size of Manhattan Island -- in the center of
the state of Florida. Here, he master planned a whole new Disney world of
entertainment to include a new amusement theme park, motel-hotel resort
vacation center and his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. After
more than seven years of master planning and preparation, including 52 months
of actual construction, Walt Disney World opened to the public as scheduled on
Oct. 1, 1971. Epcot Center opened on Oct. 1, 1982.
miles of virgin land -- twice the size of Manhattan Island -- in the center of
the state of Florida. Here, he master planned a whole new Disney world of
entertainment to include a new amusement theme park, motel-hotel resort
vacation center and his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. After
more than seven years of master planning and preparation, including 52 months
of actual construction, Walt Disney World opened to the public as scheduled on
Oct. 1, 1971. Epcot Center opened on Oct. 1, 1982.
Prior to his death on Dec. 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."
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."
California Institute of the Arts was founded in
1961 with the amalgamation of two schools, the Los Angeles Conservatory of
Music and Chouinard Art Institute. The campus is located in the city of
Valencia, 32 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Walt Disney conceived the
new school as a place where all the performing and creative arts would be
taught under one roof in a "community of the arts" as a completely
new approach to professional arts training.
1961 with the amalgamation of two schools, the Los Angeles Conservatory of
Music and Chouinard Art Institute. The campus is located in the city of
Valencia, 32 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Walt Disney conceived the
new school as a place where all the performing and creative arts would be
taught under one roof in a "community of the arts" as a completely
new approach to professional arts training.
Walt Disney is a legend, a folk hero of the 20th
century. His worldwide popularity was based upon the ideas which his name
represents: imagination, optimism and self-made success in the American
tradition. Walt Disney did more to touch the hearts, minds and emotions of
millions of Americans than any other man in the past century. Through his work,
he brought joy, happiness and a universal means of communication to the people
of every nation. Certainly, our world shall know but one Walt Disney.
century. His worldwide popularity was based upon the ideas which his name
represents: imagination, optimism and self-made success in the American
tradition. Walt Disney did more to touch the hearts, minds and emotions of
millions of Americans than any other man in the past century. Through his work,
he brought joy, happiness and a universal means of communication to the people
of every nation. Certainly, our world shall know but one Walt Disney.
