Walt Disney Overview
Disney started off in the 1920's when Walt Disney and his brother Roy signed a contract with MJ Winkler to make a series of Alice Comedies, forming the Disney company originally know as The Disney Brothers Studio.On November 28, 1928 Disney released Steamboat Willie which happened to be the very first cartoon with Mickey Mouse and also the first time Minnie Mouse was seen. After releasing comics and cartoons over the next nine years, Disney decided it was time to expand their horizons and created Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disney's first feature-length film which opened December 21, 1937.
On April 2, 1940 Walt Disney Productions released its first stock, later on in 1940 on November 13, Disney released Fantasia which is now highly regarded as one of their classics. In 1949 Walt Disney Music Company was formed and is still today a top music competitor. The 1950's were huge for Disney as it saw many changes to the company. On October 27, 1954 Disneyland made its television debut. It would go on to be an Emmy-award winning program as well as one of the longest shows in the history of television. July 17, 1955 the first Disney theme park, Disneyland opened in California. Later, on October 3, the world renowned Mickey Mouse Club made its television debut. Another Disney movie with a huge following still to this day came out on August 29, 1964 that film was Mary Poppins.
On December 15, 1966 the founder and visionary of Disney, Walt Disney passed away at the age of 66. October 1, 1971 one of Walt Disney's last dreams DisneyWorld opens with its Magic Kingdom and two hotels near Orlando, Florida. Another dark day in Disney history came upon December 20, 1971 when Roy O. Disney who with younger brother Walt founded Disney passed away at the age of 78.
Disney internationally had a huge year in the 1980s with the groundbreaking of Tokyo Disneyland the first international Disney theme park. Tokyo Disney would then open on April 15, 1983. Three days later, The Disney Channel begins broadcasting with 18 hours of programming a day. In September 1984, Michael Eisner and Frank Wells become chairman/ CEO and President of Disney. The 1990's would have to some of the greatest years in Disney history. It would start with The Walt Disney Company joining the Dow Jones in 1991. Later in 1991, Disney's publishing company, Hyperion Books released its first book, Amazing Grace. On April 12, 1992 the first European Disney theme park originally called Euro Disneyland opened. The name was then changed to Disneyland Paris. June 24, 1994 one of the highest grossing Disney movies of all time, The Lion King opened in theaters nationwide. In the summer of 1995, Disney agreed to purchase ABC/Capital Cities for 19 billion dollars. Disney Online, a part of Disney Interactive created to help form The Walt Disney Company's online presence is made September 1, 1995. In November 1996 Radio Disney, a 24 hour live music station radio station debut. In 1998, Disney took a new direction literally and opened Disney Magic, Disney's first cruise ship.
The new millennium would also bring about great changes for Disney. In the fall of 2001, Disney acquired Fox Family Channel and renamed it ABC Family. In 2005 Disney would celebrate the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland. That same year on October 1, Robert Iger became president and chief executive officer of the Walt Disney Company. A few days after that, Disney is first to license TV episodes for download via Apple's iTunes Music Store. In the spring of 2006, Disney received Pixar Animation Studios, one of the best animation studios in the world. On September 12, 2006 Disney feature length films are made available on iTunes. In late 2009, Disney welcomed Marvel Entertainment to its family. In the spring of 2011 Disney broke ground on the creation of the Shanghai Disney Resort, which is to open in 2015. In the late fall of 2012, Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. announced a deal had been made between the two companies to sell Lucasfilm Ltd. to Disney the deal is worth over 4 billion dollars. Disney is paying George Lucas founder of Lucasfilm Ltd. half of the 4 billon in cash, the other half with approximately 40 million shares.
On April 2, 1940 Walt Disney Productions released its first stock, later on in 1940 on November 13, Disney released Fantasia which is now highly regarded as one of their classics. In 1949 Walt Disney Music Company was formed and is still today a top music competitor. The 1950's were huge for Disney as it saw many changes to the company. On October 27, 1954 Disneyland made its television debut. It would go on to be an Emmy-award winning program as well as one of the longest shows in the history of television. July 17, 1955 the first Disney theme park, Disneyland opened in California. Later, on October 3, the world renowned Mickey Mouse Club made its television debut. Another Disney movie with a huge following still to this day came out on August 29, 1964 that film was Mary Poppins.
On December 15, 1966 the founder and visionary of Disney, Walt Disney passed away at the age of 66. October 1, 1971 one of Walt Disney's last dreams DisneyWorld opens with its Magic Kingdom and two hotels near Orlando, Florida. Another dark day in Disney history came upon December 20, 1971 when Roy O. Disney who with younger brother Walt founded Disney passed away at the age of 78.
Disney internationally had a huge year in the 1980s with the groundbreaking of Tokyo Disneyland the first international Disney theme park. Tokyo Disney would then open on April 15, 1983. Three days later, The Disney Channel begins broadcasting with 18 hours of programming a day. In September 1984, Michael Eisner and Frank Wells become chairman/ CEO and President of Disney. The 1990's would have to some of the greatest years in Disney history. It would start with The Walt Disney Company joining the Dow Jones in 1991. Later in 1991, Disney's publishing company, Hyperion Books released its first book, Amazing Grace. On April 12, 1992 the first European Disney theme park originally called Euro Disneyland opened. The name was then changed to Disneyland Paris. June 24, 1994 one of the highest grossing Disney movies of all time, The Lion King opened in theaters nationwide. In the summer of 1995, Disney agreed to purchase ABC/Capital Cities for 19 billion dollars. Disney Online, a part of Disney Interactive created to help form The Walt Disney Company's online presence is made September 1, 1995. In November 1996 Radio Disney, a 24 hour live music station radio station debut. In 1998, Disney took a new direction literally and opened Disney Magic, Disney's first cruise ship.
The new millennium would also bring about great changes for Disney. In the fall of 2001, Disney acquired Fox Family Channel and renamed it ABC Family. In 2005 Disney would celebrate the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland. That same year on October 1, Robert Iger became president and chief executive officer of the Walt Disney Company. A few days after that, Disney is first to license TV episodes for download via Apple's iTunes Music Store. In the spring of 2006, Disney received Pixar Animation Studios, one of the best animation studios in the world. On September 12, 2006 Disney feature length films are made available on iTunes. In late 2009, Disney welcomed Marvel Entertainment to its family. In the spring of 2011 Disney broke ground on the creation of the Shanghai Disney Resort, which is to open in 2015. In the late fall of 2012, Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. announced a deal had been made between the two companies to sell Lucasfilm Ltd. to Disney the deal is worth over 4 billion dollars. Disney is paying George Lucas founder of Lucasfilm Ltd. half of the 4 billon in cash, the other half with approximately 40 million shares.