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The silent era
In early 1923, Kansas City, Missouri, animator Walt Disney created a short film entitled Alice's Wonderland, which featured child actress Virginia Davis interacting with animated characters. -
Release of “Alice’s Day at Sea.”
Release of first Alice Comedy – “Alice’s Day at Sea.” -
The Disneys move to their new studio
The name of the company is changed from “The Disney Brothers Studio” to “Walt Disney Studios”. -
“Oswald the Lucky Rabbit” cartoon.
Release of first “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit” cartoon. -
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Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies
Disney came up with the idea of a mouse character named Mortimer while on a train headed to California, drawing up a few simple drawings. The mouse was later renamed Mickey Mouse (Disney's wife, Lillian, disliked the sound of 'Mortimer Mouse') and starred in several Disney produced films. -
The Chain Gang
First appearance of Pluto, is released. He did not receive the name Pluto until The Moose Hunt . -
First Disney book
Mickey Mouse Book -
Flowers and Trees
First full-color cartoon and first Academy Award winner, is released. -
Three Little Pigs
Academy Award winner, is released. -
First Mickey Mouse watch is sold by Ingersoll
First Mickey Mouse watch is sold by Ingersoll -
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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and World War II
Deciding to push the boundaries of animation even further, Disney began production of his first feature-length animated film in 1934. Taking three years to complete, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, premiered in December 1937 and became highest-grossing film of that time. -
Release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
First feature-length animated film, at the Carthay Circle Theatre. -
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Post-War and Television
With limited staff and little operating capital during and after the war, Disney's feature films during much of the 1940s were "package films," or collections of shorts, such as The Three Caballeros (1944) and Melody Time (1948), which performed poorly at the box-office. At the same time, the studio began producing live-action films and documentaries. -
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Disneyland
In 1954, Walt Disney used his Disneyland series to unveil what would become Disneyland, an idea conceived out of a desire for a place where parents and children could both have fun at the same time. On July 18, 1955, Walt Disney opened Disneyland to the general public. -
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The deaths of Walt and Roy Disney and the opening of Walt Disney
On December 15, 1966, Walt Disney died of complications relating to lung cancer,and Roy Disney took over as chairman, CEO, and president of the company. -
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Theatrical malaise and new leadership
While Walt Disney Productions continued releasing family-friendly films throughout the 1970s, such as Escape to Witch Mountain and Freaky Friday, the films did not fare as well at the box office as earlier material. However, the animation studio saw success with Robin Hood, The Rescuers, and The Fox and the Hound. -
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The Michael Eisner Era and the "Save Disney" Campaign
With the Sid Bass family purchase of 18.7 percent of Disney, Bass and the board brought in Michael Eisner from Paramount as CEO and Frank Wells from Warner Bros. -
Up, from Pixar, is released
Up, from Pixar, is released, which would win two Oscars
