Walt Disney

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Walt Disney

Walt Disney was born in Chicago, United States of America on the 5th December 1901. His mother was a school teacher and his father had a farm to begin with. The family moved to Missouri and
then to Kansas City. He left school at 16. During the First World War he worked as a volunteer ambulance driver for the American Red Cross.
His love of drawing would send him to Kansas City Art Institute. In the 1920's he began to make animated films before moving to Hollywood. He supposedly had just 40 dollars in his pocket.
Then he created the "Alice Comedies" based on Alice in Wonderland. By
the late 1920's he had created his most famous character Mickey Mouse. Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto would all follow. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a cartoon film in colour and the first of its
kind. It was released in 1938 and as you can imagine was a huge hit with children everywhere. During his lifetime he won a record number of Academy Awards.
In 1925 Disney married Lillian Bounds one of his employee's who was also an artist. They went on to have 2 daughters.
In the 1950's he began to create theme parks, Disneyland in California, U.S.A was the first followed by Disney World in Florida U.S.A. Families came from all over the place to stay and enjoy the attractions on offer.
By the 1960's Disney had become a huge industry. It is now a dominate force, an empire with films, theme parks, merchandise, a television
channel and stores. The company is worth billions.
Walt Disney died on the 15th December 1966.

© Children's Web Magazine 2012