December 5, 1901
Walter Elias Disney is born 1910 The Disney Family move to Kansas City June 8, 1917 Walt graduates from Benton High School 1918-1919 Walt works as a member of the American Ambulance Corps in France. Walt lied about his age to be accepted 1919 After driving an ambulance through Europe, Walt returns to the US, moves to Kansas City and gets job at the Posman-Rubin Commercial Art Studio for $50 a month Jan, 1920 Walt meets Ub Iwwerks, together form Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists. The small group survives for a month 1920 Walt & Ub work for the Kansas City Slide Company and Walt names the films "Laugh-O-grams." 1922 Walt quits the Film Ad, then incorporates "Laugh-O-gram Films" with $15,000 from local investors. Walt persuades Ub Iwerks to leave the Film Ad. July, 1923 Walt resigns himself to bankrupcy, moves to Hollywood planning to become a director. Roy (Walt's brother) was already in California October 16, 1923 Walt & Roy sign a contract with M.J. Winkler, a New York cartoon distributor February, 1924 Walt hires the first animator, Rollin Hamilton and moves into a small store with a window bearing "Disney Bros. Studio." March, 1924 The first "Alice Comedies" reaches theaters. June, 1924 Ub Iwerks moves to California to join Disney Productions. Walt wanted to concentrate on the scenarios of the film; his career as an animator is over. Dec, 1924 Walt invites Hugh Harmen & Rudy Ising to work for him. April, 1925 Walt meets Lillian Bounds, hired by the Studios as an inker. Walt recalled "I couldn't afford to pay her, so I married her!" July 13, 1925 Walt marries Lillian. Feb, 1926 Walt renames the studio to the "Walt Disney Studio." 1927 Walt Disney Studios authorized to make "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit" series. All rights were sold to Mintz distribution. When costs became to high, Walt wanted to end distribution. As a result, "Oswald" becomes Mintz's own, and Mintz takes Walt's best animator, Ub Iwerks. 1928 Walt, on a train ride, develops Mickey Mouse and along with Ub Iwerks creates a new cartoon, "Plane Crazy." Audiences were in love with the mouse. "Steamboat Willie," the third cartoon is created. Walt pursues New York film companies to record the cartoon with sound. Walt urges Ub to go forward with the fourth Mickey Mouse Cartoon "The Barn Dance." November 18, 1928 "Steamboat Willie" opens at the Colon Theater in New York. Billed as "the first animated cartoon with sound," it gets rave reviews." Directly Quoted From Website http://www.justdisney.com/walt_disney/timeline/ |