What Disney Looked Like the Year You Were Born
It's a small world with a long history.
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Walt Disney created a legacy that has lived on far past his days in the animation studio. From blockbuster films to theme parks around the globe, his lasting impact on the world is truly magical. Here, we're taking a look back at the evolution of the Disney empire throughout the years—starting way back in the '20s in Kansas City.
1922: Walt Disney Launches His Laugh-O-Gram Studio
Walt Disney started out as an animator and founded Laugh-O-Gram Studio in Kansas City with his friend Ub Iwerks. However, the company failed to survive and they filed for bankruptcy within a year.
1923: Disney Brothers Is Created In California
Walt had a turn of success with his Alice in Cartoonland shorts, which propelled him into moving to California. His brother, Roy O. Disney, helped him establish Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio in Hollywood, where he and his team worked tirelessly on Alice sketches.
1928: Mickey Mouse Is Created
Based off of one of Walt's former characters, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Mickey Mouse was the animator's first character to really take off. The company produced three films featuring Mickey that year, including Steamboat Willie.
1930: Disney Starts Merchandising
With the success of Mickey—and let's not forget, his friends, Goofy, Pluto, and Minnie, of course—the Disney brothers saw an opportunity. In 1930, they signed their first contract to merchandise their characters. AKA you can thank Walt and Roy for that Winnie the Pooh backpack from third grade.
1934: Donald Duck's Debut
Look closely at Walt Disney's desk, and you'll spot a Donald Duck figurine. The first time the character was ever shown to the public was in 1934's The Wise Little Hen.
1937: 'Snow White' Hits Theaters
Animators worked hard to create the first of a long legacy of Disney princesses. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a massive success. As a result, the company was able to build its entire Burbank studio from the profits of this movie alone.
1940: More Disney Classics Are Released
In the '30s, Walt was mostly focused on Mickey Mouse movies, but by the end of the decade and into the '40s, it was time to imagine some new characters. Walt decided to create cartoon films based off fables and fairytales.
After Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs earned the studio an Academy Award for Best Original Music Score, Disney followed the win with the release of Pinocchio and Fantasia in 1940, Dumbo in 1941, and Bambi in 1942.
1941: The U.S. Army Moves In
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, troops were stationed in California and took over half of Disney’s studios. Walt Disney offered them help in the best way he knew how: artwork. He had animators create cartoon shorts to boost morale, and approved the use of trademarked characters free of charge in things like books and training videos.
1953: 'Peter Pan' Premieres
In 1953, Peter Pan debuted and was a huge success. Despite its instant fame, Walt Disney himself surprisingly wasn't too thrilled with how it came out. Why? He feared Peter Pan came across as too "cold and unlikeable."
1955: Disneyland Opens To The Public
Walt's imagination came to life when his fantasy world theme park, Disneyland, opened up in Anaheim, California. The park was built on 16 acres of farmland and cost $17 million to complete.
1957: Disney Files An IPO
Walt Disney Productions incorporated in 1938 and the studio officially went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1957.
1960: Characters Join The Park
When Walt brought actors dressed in costume to the premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, it was a smashing success. Realizing that he could recreate this experience with meet and greets at his park, he engineered costumes for his employees to wear in the park as they greeted guests.
1964: 'Mary Poppins' Premieres
Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews made one "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" impression on Hollywood. Mary Poppins is a film Walt Disney always considered to be a major highlight of his career.
1966: Walt Disney Dies
Walt passed away in 1966 from lung cancer at the age of 65, leaving his brother, Roy, to run the business. Walt's wife, Lillian, and daughters, Diane and Sharon, survived him.
1971: Disney World Opens
One of Walt's last visions was an even more elaborate theme park located on the East Coast. Before he died, he purchased land in Florida for the project. Roy opened Walt Disney World in 1971, naming the park after his brother.
1973: 50 Years Of Disney Movies
The early '70s were a huge milestone for the company in more ways than one. In 1973, Walt Disney Productions celebrated its 50th anniversary.
1978: Mickey Mouse Turns 50
In celebration of Mickey Mouse's 50th birthday celebration, comedian trio The Goodies debuted a new song called "M.I.C.K.E.Y M.O.U.S.E," a take on the original theme song all Disney fans know and love.
1980: Home Video Launches
Most people born after 1980 grew up on Disney VHS tapes, because the very first one was created at the start of the decade. The idea was tested in just four cities at first—Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco—before eventually moving nationwide.
1981: 'The Fox And The Hound' Lags
In the early '80s, Disney failed to put out an animated film that matched the success of its previous hits, including the 1981 film The Fox and the Hound.
1982: Epcot Is Unveiled In Disney World
Walt Disney World opened its latest expansion project in 1982, the Epcot Center. The newest park contained two attractions: Future World and World Showcase.
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