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| Walt Disney - the man who gave us magic |
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| With the money that Walt and Roy collected they were able to buy a used camera and rent a tiny studio. They also hired some staff. Among them was Lillian Bounds. It didn't take long before Walt fell in love with her. In 1925 Roy married Edna Francis and on June 13th, that same year, Walt married Lillian. The Alice series became very successful, but M.J. Winkler turned her company over to her husband, Mintz. Walt and Mintz could not get along. When Alice was no longer sufficient demand, Walt started working on a new character: Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. He became a success. |
| Oswals gave Walt and Roy a sense of security by its success. When its stardom continued to grow, Walt travelled to New York to renew the contract at a better price. But Oswald did not turn out to be lucky. Mintz and Universal Pictures realy owened Oswalds rights, which Walt didn't know. And Mintz had been offering Walt's staff new jobs. Mintz demanded that Walt gave up his own business and would work for him. Walt refused and left New York without his staff and without Lucky. He send Roy a famous telegram, telling him that: "leaving tonight.stopping over KC.arrive home Sunday morning seven thirty. don't worry everything ok.will give details when arrive - Walt" It was during that journey home that Walt came up with a new character. This time it was a mouse. Walt wanted to name him Mortimer, but Lillian suggested Mickey and a star was born. When Walt came home, he started to work on three cartoons. But he couldn't sell them. Mickey Mouse was yet another cartoon-character, competing with Felix the Cat and Oswald. So Walt had to come up with something that would make the growds love Mickey. He came up with the idea to synchronize one of the films to sound. They choose "Steamboat Willie" and Walt himself provided the voice for Mickey. |
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| Mickey Mouse became the world's favorite animated character. Between 1929 and 1932 more than one million children joined the Mickey Mouse Club which was founded in honor of the Mouse. The Mickey-cartoon also provided Walt enough money to hire top animators again. Walt and Ub started working on a comic strip of Mickey Mouse. But soon again Walt needed a new challenge. Walt came up with new animated films in which weren't based on individual characters like all the cartoons at that time. The new series - Silly Symphonies - combined classical music with animation. The first was "The Skeleton Dance". This series also became very profitable. Soon Mickey Mouse got friends like Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck. Walt decided to experiment with color. Roy did not agree at first, but Walt went on with it. "Flowers and Trees" won an Academy Award in 1932. Mickey Mouse debuted in color in 1935 in "The Band Concert". "The Three Little Pigs" was a milestone in characterdevelopment. "The Old Mill" was a chance for Walt to experiment with depth. Meanwhile Walt had became father for the first time in 1933 of a daugther, named Diane Marie. In 1937 Walt and Lillian adopted Sharon Mae after Lillian suffered a third miscarrage. But there was also sad news. In 1938 Flora died after gas fumes spread the house. Elias nearly died. Walt and Roy felt responsible. |
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