S!

: E is Y e H

Walter Elias Disney

Elias Disney and Flora Call Disney had brought Walt Disney into the world on 5th December 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. He has four siblings three brothers and one sister. They were raised in Marceline, Missouri.

Walter Elias Disney

Walt Disney led a fruitful life filled with ups and downs. His wife and him were blessed with two daughters. Through this short biography, well come to know more about the 20th centurys folk hero.

Interest
History Trains Charlie Chaplin Drawing Art Acting & Performing

Walt Disney had very early interests in art. At the age of seven, Walt Disney sold sketches and drawings to his neighbours. Instead of doing his school work, Walt doodled pictures of animals and nature.

Love for Art

School Years
Walt Disney attended McKinley High School in Chicago, alternating his attention between drawing and photography. Walt also contributed to the school paper. At night, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in order to hone his artistic skills. After moving to Kansas City, Walt made new friends and often entertained them by impersonating Charlie Chaplin. His teachers would invite him out and Walt would tell his classmates stories while illustrating on the chalk board. This unveiled his passion for performing.

A Deviated Experience At the age of sixteen, Walt

Disney tried to enlist for military service but was rejected as he was under age. Hence, he joined Red Cross and was sent to France, where he drove an ambulance and chaffeured Red Cross officials for a year. His ambulance was thoroughly covered, not with camouflage or first aid designs, but with Disney cartoons.

Upon return from France, Walt wanted to pursue a career in commercial art. His first creation, The Alice Comedies, was still in its early stages when Walts company bankrupted. Instead of giving up, Walt packed his suitcase and headed to Hollywood to start a new business. He was not yet twenty-two.

Setting S i g h ts

Rise To Fame
The experience with The Alice Comedies did not bring Walt down. In fact, it inoculated him against fear of failure. Walt received help and encouragement from his brother, Roy O. Disney, and set up a shop. Soon, they received an order from New York for the first featurette of Alice in Cartoonland (The Alice Comedies). With Walts enthusiasm and faith in himself and others, Walt Disney earned himself a spot at the top of Hollywood society.

1925 - 1930
13 July 1925 : Walt Disney wedded one of his first employees, Lillian Bounds, in Lewiston, Idaho. Walt and Lillian then had two daughters, Diane and Sharon. 1928 : Walt created a new animated character, Mickey Mouse. 18 November 1928 : Mickey Mouse made his screen debut in Steamboat Willie, the worlds first synchronised sound cartoon in New York.

1931 - 1940
1932 : Walt won the first of his studios Academy Awards for the production, Flowers and Trees. 21 December 1937 : Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs the first full-length animated musical feature premiered in Los Angeles. Considering it being the period of the Depression, the $1.5 million film is still one of the great feats and imperishable monuments of the motion picture industry.

1931 - 1940

Success Story

Walt Disney is a legend; a folk hero of the 20th century. His worldwide popularity was based upon the ideals which his name represents: imagination, optimism, creation, and self-made success in the American tradition. Walt Disney did more to touch the hearts, minds, and emotions of millions of Americans than any other person in the past century. Through his work he brought joy, happiness, and a universal means of communication to the people of every nation. He brought us closer to the future, while telling us of the past, it is certain, that there will never be such as great a man, as Walt Disney.

Walter Elias Disney

Walt Disneys Legacy

If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse. All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.

CLASS ACTIVITY
Period : My Hero Firstly, every child will share about their hero. If the child is shy or unsure, he can just say who his hero and why he likes that person. All characters are accepted, even fictitious ones. Once every child has shared, I will take a turn at sharing about Walt Disney using some pictures. I will then quote Walt Disney about dreams. The pictures used will then be distributed and each child shall write or draw their dreams on the back of the picture. These will then be hung up in the classroom so as to remind them the beauty of having dreams.