Walt Disney

Walt Disney was a pioneer in the field of animation, or cartoons, films.
He is best known for creating such characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

Early Life

In 1923, Disney moved to Hollywood, California.
There he began creating the characters that would make him famous.
In 1928, he released the short cartoon film, Steamboat Willie.
It starred a cheerful mouse named Mickey.
The next year Disney formed Walt Disney Productions to create more animated films.
In the 1930s audiences were introduced to Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy.
Disney’s first full length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, was released in 1937.
In the 1940s Disney’s company began making movies with live actors.
Mary Poppins, from 1964, was the most successful of these.
Disney also continued making animated features, including such classics as Pinocchio (1940), Cinderella (1950), and Peter Pan (1953).

In 1955 Disney’s company opened Disneyland, a large theme park in Anaheim, California.
Walt Disney World, a second and larger amusement park, opened in Orlando, Florida, in 1971.

Disney left school to serve as an ambulance driver during World War I.
For many years, Walt Disney himself was the voice of Mickey Mouse.
He was a train buff. He built a miniature steam railroad in the backyard of his home.
Disney was the head of the pageantry for the 1960 Winter Olympics.
His favorite character was Goofy.
He holds the record for most individual Oscar wins (22) and nominations (59).
Disneyland employees have only their first name listed on their name tags because Disney despised being called Mr. Disney.
When Disney built Disneyland, he had a “secret apartment” built in the theme park for his own use.