It Wouldn’t be Christmas Without…


Walt Disney Original name: Walter Elias Disney


Born: Dec. 5, 1901


Died: Dec. 15, 1966 Entertainment Magnate and Film Pioneer. Mos t remembered for creating Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and a host of other cartoon characters. He has won 32 Oscars, more than any other person, for his extraordinary achievements in films. Born Walter Elias Disney, the son of Elias and Flora Disney in Chicago, Illinois. His father's ancestors had come to America from Kilkenny, Ireland, seeking to escape from religious persecution. His father was always seeking success in many occupations but always finding failure, and the Disney family was always poor. Walt found that he could escape his father's harsh discipline by drawing, and in 1917, when he was 16 years old, he lied about his age to join the American Red Cross Ambulance Corps. When he was mustered out at the end of World War I, he set up shop as a commercial artist in Kansas City, Missouri. There he discovered the world of animation, and Walt took to it. Moving to Los Angeles in 1923 to be with his more successful brother, Roy, Walt began drawing commercially, making a modest living by drawing for the Alice series of cartoons, about a live action girl who travels to the world of animated cartoon animals. In 1927, his first really successful commercial cartoon, featuring Oswald the Rabbit, became a success, but Walt lost the rights to the character when sued by his distributor. From then on, Walt insisted on owning the distribution rights to his creations. In 1928, Walt created Mickey Mouse. His third Mickey Mouse film, "Steamboat Willie," was the first cartoon to use synchronized sound and became an overnight success. Walt was the voice of Mickey for the first ten years of the cartoon. In 1934, Disney pioneered the first full length cartoon movie, "Snow White", and again, critics were overcome by the sheer popular response of the public to the movie. In 1950, he produced his first live-action film, "Treasure Island," and in 1955, he opened his first theme park, Disneyland. Prior to his death in 1966 in Los Angeles, California, of lung cancer, he began work on his latest theme park in Orlando, Florida: Walt Disney's World. His brother, Roy, the business genius behind the scenes, continued to run the company, and 40 years after Walt's death, the Disney empire is still financially strong and keeping to Walt's legacy. Shortly after Walt's death, the Disney Company executive board was shown a short film that Walt made just before his death, where he addressed each board member by name, telling him what he expected of him, and ending the film by saying "I'll be seeing you." Walt Disney was one of the few Americans to be honoured with a US postage stamp issued less than two years after his death, it’s normally 10 years ( except Presidents.)


Here’s a Christmas Classic: 12.


What’s the difference between Bing Crosby and Walt Disney ? Bing Sings and Walt Disney. ( Try a Scottish accent.)


Quiz. All the answers can be found in these pages. 1. Which program did Steve Le Fevre present ? 2. What was the first full length cartoon film ? 3. Which popular US singer had the middle name Wister ? 4. Which Kung Fu star’s real first names were John Arthur ? 5. Name the five members of The Traveling Wilburys. 6. Who both had Christmas No1’s with Mary’s Boy Child ? 7. Which two UK bands had No1 hits with their first 3 singles? 8. Which 60’s band had hits with “Gloria, Here comes the night and Baby please don’t go.” 9. Paul Mccartney’s brother had a Christmas hit with which band? 10. What is the total number of presents listed in the 12th day of Christmas song ?


3 . M a r y ’ s B o y


c h i l d . H a r r y


B e l a fo n t e .


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