History Daily Introducing Mickey Mouse
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Nov 18, 2025 Explore the fascinating rise of Mickey Mouse from his debut in Steamboat Willie to becoming an iconic figure in animation. Discover Walt Disney's childhood, his early artistic struggles, and the pivotal moment he lost Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Learn about the innovative decision to use synchronized sound in animation and the triumphant reception of Steamboat Willie. The story also reveals the business battles Walt faced to secure Mickey, his ambitious gamble with Snow White, and how it all laid the groundwork for a global media empire.
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Nervous Premiere For A New Cartoon
- On November 18, 1928, Walt Disney nervously watched Steamboat Willie debut at the Colony Theater in New York City.
- The audience's laughter and cheers convinced Walt the synchronized-sound cartoon was a hit.
Childhood Tar Painting Sparks Artistic Path
- Six-year-old Walt and his sister Ruth painted figures on their house with tar, sparking his lifelong love of drawing.
- Their mother scolded them and their father later repainted the woodwork, but Walt kept developing his artistic skills.
Kansas City Struggles Lead To Hollywood Gamble
- After World War I, Walt returned to America confident his drawings could become a career and opened a studio in Kansas City.
- Financial struggles and mice destroying drawings ultimately pushed him to gamble everything and move to Hollywood.