The Big Cheese!
"I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing-that it was all started by a mouse." - Walt Disney
Mickey Mouse has to be the most famous rodent to ever enter the world. And at 85 years old he sure has aged well. He has also entertained and delighted generation after generation of kids, adults and families.
Mickey's beginnings are truly exceptional. Especially considering how Universal Studios could have owned him had Charles Mintz been more open to negotiating with Walt Disney. At the time Walt Disney worked for Universal and they owned Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. When Disney asked for an increase in budget for the popular series, he not only was denied the request but was told he'd have to take a 20% budget cut. I think we can all see that was a pretty poor decision... Walt Disney fulfilled his commitment to Universal Studios until his contract was up. He then left the studio and most of his employees who had already signed on to stay with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
A key animator stayed loyal to Walt Disney and was a major part of Disney Studios, Ub Iwerks. In addition to Ub Iwerks, a young apprentice artist, Les Clark and Wilifred Jackson joined the small studio and got to work.
Ub Iwerks was tasked with coming up with a new character ideas. After many many tries that were all rejected by Walt. Although some of them came along later like Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar. Walt Disney had the idea for a mouse character. Ub Iwerks created a new mouse character and he was named...
"Mortimer Mouse"
No Seriously, Mortimer Mouse was his name. Fortunately, for Walt and really the rest of us who love Mickey, Walt's wife Lillian suggested that was a terrible name and convinced him to change it. Phew... I imagine that had Mickey remained Mortimer, we would not have any idea who he was in today's world. I think you probably all agree.So Mickey Mouse was "Born" in early 1928 in a short test screen called "Plane Crazy". His official debut and generally what most Mickey enthusiasts call his "Birthday" is November 18th, 1928 with the release of "Steamboat Willie".
For but a few twists of fate and truly poor business decisions Mickey Mouse may never have come to be. And as Walt Disney himself said in Disneyland, October 27th, 1954: "I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse."
Mickey Mouse got his signature white gloves in 1929 with the release of The Opry House. Since that time Mickey is rarely seen without his gloves. When he's not wearing his signature read shorts with yellow buttons you can bet he's wearing something else red. Like in this picture from my favorite Mickey of all time, Sorcerer Mickey:
- Mickey's First speaking role was in The Karnival Kid released in 1929
- Walt Disney voiced Mickey Mouse until 1946 when running the studio took too much time
- Mickey was in Black and White films from 1928 to 1935
- Mickey began color films in 1935
- Mickey did a special color film strip for the 1932 Academy Awards but was not released to public
- The Mickey Mouse Club began in 1954 - with a re-emergence of public love for Mickey Mouse
- Mickey's last regular installment film was The Simple Things in 1953
- Mickey has been nominated 9 times for the Academy Awards
- Mickey has only won one Academy Award for Lend a Paw, 1941
- First Cartoon Character to have a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame - Received Star in 1978
- Mickey has met every President of the United States since Harry Truman, with the exception of Lyndon B. Johnson.
- Mickey has his own land in Disneyland, Disney World, Tokyo Disney and more Disney parks around the world
- Mickey now has two new video games that showcase the mischievous side of Mickey, Epic Mickey and Epic Mickey II
- Mickey's comic strip ran for 45 years, having started in 1930, drawn primarily by Fred Gottfredson
- Mickey worked for Uncle Sam during World War II doing propaganda films with Donald and other friends
- Every election in the United States has votes for Mickey Mouse written in - Mickey for President!
I know I mentioned in the quick facts above about the propaganda films but I have to share this special film request from the department of treasury. In 1942 the Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgenthau, Jr. asked Walt Disney to create a film to make Americans accept the payment of income taxes. Walt Disney created "The New Spirit". In this film, Donald Duck deals with income taxes and shows their benefit to the American War Effort, reaching 26 million people. In a poll regarding the film 37% admitted that the film helped make them willing to pay their taxes. Walt Disney also made a book for children encouraging them to purchase War Savings stamps. When I first consider this my first thought thinks of the times we live in today and how that would never fly. Mickey would lose half his fans in one ad. But let's remember that in the 1930's and 1040's all Americans were contributing to the war effort. We were Americans first and we supported the men fighting overseas however we could. Walt Disney was doing his patriotic duty to his country. As Disney still does with their Military Service discounts (see my blog on Honoring our Heroes - Disney Style)
Mickey Mouse has been a part of all our lives whether we like or not for the last 85 years and there isn't any sign of him slowing down. I hope that my children's children's children enjoy Mickey as much as I do.
Keep the love showing for Mickey Mouse - The Big Cheese!
I hope you find this information helpful and fun.
To find out more about me please visit my profile page: DisneyDan
Daniel Mullarkey
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