A distributor in New York, M. J. Winkler, was contracted to distribute the Alice Comedies on October 16, 1923. This date became the start of the Disney company. Originally known as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, with Walt Disney and his brother, Roy, as equal partners The company soon changed its name, at Roy's suggestion, to the Walt Disney Studio.

Disney Bros. Studio

Within four months, the ever-growing staff moved next door to larger facilities, where the sign on the window read "Disney Bros. Studio." A year later, in 1925, the Disney's made a deposit in another district of Los Angeles.

Fun Fact!

Before Mickey was a mouse he was known as “Oswald The Lucky Rabbit ” Oswald starred in a series of 26 silent cartoons made by Walt Disney between 1927 and 1928. When Walt lost the rights to Oswald, he came up with the character of Mickey Mouse. Oswald was the first Disney character to generate merchandise: a candy bar, a stencil set, and a pin back button.
	During the next 14 years, many changes took place at the Disney studio: Mickey Mouse was "born" in 1928, followed by Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck, and the rest of the Disney gang. In 1928 Steamboat Willie, staring Mickey was the first cartoon designed for use with a soundtrack.

In 1937, Disney's first full length animated feature, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs was released and received worldwide success. In order to expand and meet the expectations of his audience, Walt saw a need to increase the size of his studio. With profits from Snow White, he made a deposit on 51 acres of land in Burbank, California and began designing a modern studio specifically for the purpose of making animated films.

Walt's main concern was to produce a self- sufficient, state-of-the-art production factory. Many of the buildings were linked together by an underground tunnel, so even in bad weather, the process of making animated films was not disrupted. To enhance the campus-like setting, all of the utilities were placed underground which was an innovation for 1940.

During the 1940s and 1950s many prominent animated features were produced in Burbank, including Fantasia, Bambi, Cinderella, Alice In Wonderland, Pinocchio and Peter Pan.

Fun Fact

March, 1949
The Soviet Union announces a purge of all Disney films, accusing Walt of attempting to infiltrate Russia with his propaganda.

Beginning in the late 1940s, Disney launched into the production of live-action features and television programs. The Studio lot was expanded during the 1950s, to include sound stages and production craft facilities.

To all who come to this happy place: Welcome.

Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past...and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America...with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.

Walt did not have an easy time finding support for his dreamland. His brother, Roy, refused to have the studio fund any part of Walt's park, so Walt found the funding himself. He cashed in on an insurance policy and created WED (Walter Elias Disney) Enterprises in 1952.

In 1954 Disney and ABC signed an agreement to build Disneylandia. ABC advances Disney $500,000 in cash. In exchange, ABC receives 35% ownership of Disneylandia, 100% of all profits from the park's food concessions for 10 years, and an 8-year commitment from Disney for use of its films to be shown in a one-hour television program. Walt announces that Disneylandia would open in July, 1955. At the suggestion of ABC, Walt changes the name of Disneylandia to Disneyland.

In the 1950s, as live-action films increasingly played a major role in the success of the studio, so did the use of visual effects. Such memorable films as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Darby O'Gill and The Little People began a tradition of combining complex effects with miniatures and paintings to create rich fantasy worlds on the screen.

	Walt Disney comes up with the name "Mouseketeers" for members of the Mickey Mouse Club.

Walt Disney wanted the Mouseketeers be regular kids, not actors. Producers searched schools looking for kids with that special spark.

The Mousketeers went to school 5 days a week on the Disney lot. Not only did they work 6 days but Sundays were often spent performing for the public. Being a Mousketeer wasn't easy.
Below are some famous Mousketeers

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the Process Lab, renamed Photo Effects and then Visual Effects, was home to the artists and technicians responsible for the effects seen in Mary Poppins, The Absent Minded Professor, Blackbeard's Ghost, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Pete's Dragon.

Also during the 1960's the Disney brothers announced their plans to open up another park in Florida called Disney World along with their plans for building EPCOT center.

And sadly in 1966 X-rays detected a cancerous spot on Walt Disney's left lung. Walt's left lung is removed, and found to be full of cancerous tumors.

December 15, 1966
Walt Disney died at the age of 65. He had won more than 950 honors and citations worldwide, including 48 Academy Awards and 7 Emmys. Roy O. Disney, president of Walt Disney Productions, is named chairman.

The original park cost around $1 billion to construct. The park is divided into two sections: Future World and World Showcase. Future World contains rooms demonstrating various characteristics of future and present life. World Showcase has many countries' cultures represented. Throughout the years, Epcot has evolved into one of the most informative, yet entertaining parks in The World.

1989

Disney / MGM Studios (the 3rd Theme Park) opens at Walt Disney World.

At the Disney-MGM Studios the movies come alive! This park features many shows dealing with Disney animated films, and tours of production facilities backstage.

Opening spring 2005, Hong Kong Disneyland will be the eleventh Disney theme park to be build in the world and the fifth Magic Kingdom-type park after California, Florida, France and Tokyo. The project will have one theme park and one entertainment center like the Downtown Disney areas in Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Hotel Resorts are also planned as well as a second theme park several years after opening year. Hong Disneyland will be the smallest (in scale and number of attractions) theme park ever built by The Walt Disney Company but will evolve in its future.

Today Disney is one of the most well known names in the world. People can identify Disney films from many different countries. Their movies are quite popular amongst both adults and children. Lets see just which movies you might be familiar with.