Disney Company Timeline- The Walt Disney Era (1923-1966)

 

Walt Disney was a fascinating man and he ran the company with his namesake with exacting precision. The impact he had upon the company and the work it produced was very significant and exacting. He is most known for his creativity, storytelling, exacting standards, and bold risk taking. Surprisingly, during his tenure the company was in dire straits just as often as it was wildly successful. He built this company (with his brother Roy) and is responsible for

- Forming the company. This was no small feat to create a major brand from nothing.

- The cartoon short period. Beginning in 1923 the company was exclusively in the cartoon short game. During this period he created the litany of Disney characters Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, as well as the Silly symphonies, and Three little Pigs.

- Disney merchandise. Walt and Roy hired Kay Kamen to run their merchandise department and this was wildly successful from the get go. Mickey mouse dolls, watches, and even the Mickey Mouse club all stemmed from this. Walt became the father of Mickey Mouse.

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Feature film production. In 1937 the first feature film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" was released to huge acclaim. This started the first Disney golden age for a string of five quality films (Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi). Walt made the studio the pre-eminent cartoon feature film studio.

- The 1940's brought a great depression to the company. There was not enough money to make a feature film and likely not enough audience able to see it. The company was just struggling to survive. The company began making government war documentary shorts. Additionally, Walt and the company had to endure a major studio strike. The company did continue to make features sparingly, but they were of much lesser detail and quality. These included Saludos Amigos, Three Caballeros, Song of the South, So dear to my heart, Fun and Fancy Free, Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, etc. Walt kept the company alive.

- The 1950's were a great time for Walt and the company. For features, his first animated feature out of the gate was Cinderella, a smash hit. This gave him enough money to make more films including Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, and Sleeping Beauty. Additionally, due to the locking of wartime revenue in Britain, he began making live action features and made such hits as Treasure Island, Robin Hood and his merry men, and many more. Walt ceased making shorts, but instead took a risk on an idea for a theme park called Disneyland. He purchased land in Anaheim, CA and mortgaged the company and it paid off wildly. He also began the "Disneyland" television show and made other shows including Davy Crockett and Mickey Mouse club, making him a national celebrity second to none. He became his new persona of Uncle Walt. By the end of the 1950's the company had ample revenue.

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The 1960's continued this trend of wildly successful ideas. In films, he had taken a much reduced role and created 101 Dalmatians, Sword in the Stone, and Mary Poppins. He continued making live action films, he expanded Disneyland with New Orleans Square and then began the process for making Walt Disney World in Florida. During this time he was also trying to build the Mineral King ski resort and other projects.

Walt's contribution is the company itself, but the company today is very different from what he had created.