Great Things To Know About The Beginnings And People Behind Disney

Aside from Mickey Mouse or your dream to travel to Disneyland, what do you know about Walt Disney? This may be a known brand as well as a company that is recognized as the largest entertainment and media conglomerate in the world, but there is a real person behind the name. He is the other half of the two brothers who pioneered this empire. Walt, along with brother, Roy, started the original company in 1923. From its humble beginnings, it has become a leader when it comes to American animation, then ventured into other successful projects such as radio, theater, publishing and online media.

It also owns the largest studios in Hollywood these days. It owns that popular broadcast TV network, ABC, it has various cable channels that include the Disney Channel, ABC Family and ESPN. Aside from these, it also successfully ventured into merchandising, publishing and theater divisions. It currently holds licenses for 11 theme parks that can be found all over the world.

Emphasizing the Walt

The company has changed it name twice before settling with what it’s called now. If you are wondering why the other brother allowed Walt’s name to be used in it, this is due to the insistence of Roy as he felt that it sounds right if his brother’s name would be emphasized. Walt has since gotten lots of accomplishments in the entertainment scene even though he was only able to attend a year in high school.

The man, who had the famous mustache that he began growing when he was 25, was also the voice behind Mickey Mouse for two decades.

In 1923, Walt worked as an animator in Missouri. He was the genius behind a short film known as the Alice’s Wonderland that featured Virginia Davis, a child actress that acted along with animated characters. The brothers were contacted by Margaret J. Winkler for the distribution of the whole series of Alice Comedies. The brothers moved to Los Angeles upon agreeing to the terms and signing the contract. They first settled at the garage of their uncle where the real roots of the company can be traced.

Through time, the company continues to flourish and spread the geniuses of the two brothers who started it all. Walt died on December 15, 1966 from lung cancer. At the time, Roy took charge as the CEO, chairman and president of the company. He gave honor to his brother by adapting his whole name along with the vision that he was known for on the Walt Disney World. The following year after his death, the last two films that he used to manage were released, such as The Jungle Book, an animated film and a musical treat known as The Happiest Millionaire. In the late 60’s the company released The Love Bug and the film that discovered actor Kurt Russell, known as The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.

Two months after the Walt Disney World opened in October 1, 1971, Roy died of a stroke. The company was then left to the able hands of Donn Tatum, Card Walker and Ron Miller who was Walt’s son-in-law.