Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, as well as the founder of Disneyland and Walt Disney World was born in Chicago, IL in 1901. Disney's childhood years were spent on a farm in Missouri. He began drawing at an early age and sold his first sketches to neighbors at the age of seven. In high school, his drawing and photography skills were used for the school paper. At night he attended the Chicago Institute of Art.. Mickey Mouse receives credit for launching Walt Disney's career in 1928 and is the official greeter of Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Disney began his career as an advertising cartoonist in
Kansas City in 1920 at a time when cartoon making was in
its infancy and films were jerky, and in black/white. Disney's
desire to improve his methods made him quit his job, he
then formed a company called Laugh-O-gram and started making
his own animated cartoons. When Disney’s main client
declared bankruptcy, Disney was unable to pay his employees
or the rent and was forced to also declare bankruptcy.
In 1923, Walt Disney reached Hollywood with mere $40 in his pocket, a sketchbook and dreams. Walt Disney convinced his brother, Roy Disney, to join him as a partner in his new business. Roy's job was to manage the financial side of the business and Walt's job was to provide the creative talent. The Disney Brothers Studio was launched with $200 Roy had saved, $500 borrowed from an uncle, and $2,500 contributed by their parents. Their parents even had to mortgage their house to come up with the funds!
It was on this train ride back to Los Angeles from New York City that Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse. He knew he had to come up with a new character and created a mouse. Walt wanted to name the mouse character 'Mortimer', but his wife, Lilly, didn't like that name and suggested 'Mickey Mouse'. Some popular Disney characters are Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Huey, Minnie Mouse, Princess, Baby Disney, Monester, Pan Peter, Goofy, Winnie The Pooh, Cinderella, Disney Villains and more...
