Feb, 1926
1927
1928
Nov 18, 1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
July, 1932
Nov, 1932
1933
Dec 18, 1933
1934-1936
Dec 21, 1936
1937
Dec 21, 1937
1937-1938
Nov 26, 1938
1938
1939
Feb, 1940
April, 1940
1940
1940-1941
May 29, 1941
Aug 17, 1941
1941
Aug, 1942
New studio & new name: Walt Disney Studio.
Walt grows a moustache, something that stays with him all his life.
Disney Company authorized to make "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit" series. Unfortunately for Walt, Oswald is property of Universal Pictures. New York distributor Charlie Mintz offers Walt $1800 per cartoon. Walt could not take the deal
because the Studios would lose money. As a result, "Oswald" is Mintz's, as well as all but one of Disney's animators - Ub Iwerks. All of the animators commit to Mintz.
Walt, on a train ride, develops Mickey Mouse and along with Ub Iwerks creates a new cartoon, "Plane Crazy." The preview reception was not overwhelming,
so Walt produces a 2nd picture, "The Gallopin Gaucho." Neither interested major distributors. Walt plans a 3rd cartoon, with sound.
The result is "Steamboat Willie." Walt pursues New York film companies to record the cartoon with sound.
Walt urges Ub to go forward with the 4th Mickey Mouse Cartoon "The Barn Dance."
"Steamboat Willie" opens at the Colon Theater in New York. Billed as "the first animated cartoon with sound," it gets rave reviews.
Film companies come calling for Walt to make a deal. Walt sends for Carl Stalling to join him and starts writing scores for "Plane Crazy"and "The Gallopin' Gaucho."
No deals with distributors because they want control and Walt Disney did not want that to happen.
A deal with Pat Powers, who wants to promote Cinephone, is struck. Walt returns to California with a contract and $2500. Roy Disney is not happy with the deal.
Walt plans to release "Skeleton Dance" as the 1st of a new series of cartoons called Silly Symphonies.
Walt hires a lawyer for legal assistance in regards to the deal with Pat Powers. Ub Iwerks signs a contract with Powers, stunning Walt. The lawyer negotiates an agreement to dissolve Iwerks' contract with Disney and is paid $2,920 for 1/5 interest.
Mickey Mouse turns into a national craze and Mickey Mouse Clubs spring up all over the country.
Walt breaks off negotiations with Pat Powers, suspecting him of being crooked. Disney could not afford a lawsuit, so they walk away and start anew.
Columbia Pictures signs with Disney, as Walt breaks all ties with Powers with a payment for relinquish of the 21 Disney cartoons.
Roy Disney signs the first contract for merchandising.
Walt assigns Ub Iwerks to devise a comic strip.
Syndication comes from King Features and Mickey Mouse makes his first comic strip on January 13, 1930.
Pluto makes 1st appearance in a Mickey Mouse cartoon, "The Chain Gang."
Mickey Mouse Clubs reach a million members.
Mickey Mouse is now known in every civilized country.
Walt suffers a nervous breakdown, caused by pushing himself and animators on the job. Walt takes a vacation on doctor's orders. On return, exercise and work balancing is required.
The storyboard is introduced as a visual technique.
Goofy makes 1st appearance in "Mickey's Revue."
Herman Kamen, a Kansas City advertising man, signs a contract to represent the Disney company. He licenses Lionel Corporation for merchandising Mickey and Minnie toy trains. Lionel is hit hard by the Depression and files for bankrupcy. 253,000 toys were sold in 4 months, beginning the return of the Lionel Corporation. The association with Disney is credited for the return of Lionel.
Disney asks Columbia to increase advance on each cartoon to $15,000; Columbia declines.
Walt agrees to United Artists' proposal, a $15,000 advance on each cartoon.
Walt is determined to add color to animation.
United Artists agrees to grant Disney 2 years exclusive use of 3-color Technicolor.
"Flowers and Trees" appears at the Chinese Theater.
The first class of the Disney Art School is held.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences awards "Flowers and Trees" to Walt Disney.
"Three Little Pigs," the 36th Silly Symphony, is produced. Audiences everywhere love it and relate it to the people vs. the Depression. "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" becomes a national rally cry. Roy convinces Walt to produce 3 more "Pig" movies, "The Big Bad Wolf,", "Three Little Wolves" and "The Practical Pig." None were as successful as the 1st one.
Walt & Lillian move into a new home in Los Feliz.
Lillian gives birth to Diane Marie Disney.
Donald Duck debut's in a Silly Symphony film, "The Wise Little Hen."
Walt's staff grows to 187 employees.
Walt announces that "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" will be the 1st feature film.
Original names chosen for the Seven Dwarfs: Happy, Sleepy, Doc, Bashful, Jumpy, Grumpy and an undecided name.
Work on "Snow White" is the center of attention.
Walt's estimate of $500,000 for production is way too low.
The film industry is calling it "Disney's Folly," thinking "Snow White" would flop and bankrupt Disney.
Disneys disassociate themselves with United Artists.
Disneys sign a releasing agreement for shorts and for "Snow White" with RKO.
Sharon Mae Disney is born.
After Diane is born, Lilly has a miscarriage so they decide to adopt. In January of 1937, Sharon Mae Disney is adopted by Walt and Lilly and is brought home to the Disney family.
Donald Duck gets his own series of short films.
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is seen by the public in Los Angeles.
It makes a 3 week run at Radio City Music Hall, then some New York theaters."Snow White" grosses $8 million and
wins an Academy Award.
Within 6 months, the Disneys pay off all bank loans.
The Disney Studios are expanded and they put deposit down on property in Burbank, CA.
Walt & Roy move their parents to Southern California.
Work begins on a 2nd feature, "Pinocchio."
Two other features are chosen: "Fantasia" and "Bambi."
Flora Disney dies of asphyxiation due to a defective furnace. Walt & Roy blame themselves because it occured in the house they purchased.
Walt decides that Mickey Mouse should star in a feature of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." Leopold Stokwski volunteers to conduct the music. He convinces Walt to produce it as a feature intstead of a two-real film.
The result: "Fantasia," costing $2,280,000.
"Bambi" is started at the same time but is last to be released due to the time it took to draw the animals. The studio resembled a zoo at times with many animals on hand to be drawn. Video was captured and photos were donated for the film.
Burbank Studio construction continues, making it a workers paradise.
The start of World War II causes business of "Pinocchio" to fall short of what is expected.
"Fantasia" opens at New York's Broadway Theater(formally called "The Colony"), the same place that Mickey Mouse made his debut. Walt was forced to cut "Fantasia" into a short version, cutting from his 3+ hours' version. "Fantasia" loses even more than "Pinocchio".
Due to losses of "Pinocchio,""Fantasia"and "Bambi," along with the cost of the new studio being built, the Disneys were forced to offer public stock, something Walt & Roy did not want to do. 600,000 shares of common stock sold at $5 a piece. Stock offering sold out quickly and temporarily filled the hole of debt.
Disney employees grow to 1,000 workers.
"Dumbo" is produced and finished in 1 year. Walt originally planned it as a 30 minute film but expanded it into a feature film of 64 minutes. It makes an $850,000 profit.
Ub Iwerks returns to the Walt Disney Studios.
Movie studios unionize and 2 unions sought to organize the Disney cartoonists.
One union leader, Herb Sorrell, threatens to strike Disney by stating publicly Walt's business affairs.
A picket line forms in front of the Walt Disney Studios, directed by Herb Sorrell.
Walt makes a film making & goodwill tour of South America. Elias Disney passes away while Walt is away, never really recovering from the loss of Flora. When Walt returns, the strike has ended but takes away Disney employees due to production slow down.
Walt arrives in time for the premiere of "Dumbo."
"Saludos Amigos" and "The Three Caballeros" are the result of the the South America trip. Both films are successfull in North & South America.
High demand for war films occurs.
The draft takes 1/3 of Walt's artists.
"Bambi" is released but has disappointing numbers at the box office in both the U.S. and foreign cities.
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