OSWALD AD - June 25, 1927

With the size of the Walt Disney Company today it's quite easy to forget the humble beginnings of the company and it's founder. You could easily miss the small blurb for 'Walter Disney's' Oswald The Lucky Rabbit amongst the rest of the short subjects Universal was offering in their trade magazine, Universal Weekly back on June 25, 1927.

Walt Disney - February 9, 1939

This photo is something of a mystery to me, mostly because I haven't been able to find out anything about the development of the project Walt is signing his name to. Here's what the snipe on the reverse reads:

SPORTSMEN LAY PLANS FOR NEW STADIUM

LOS ANGELES, CALIF - Walt Disney yesterday brought something besides talk into the Madison-Square-Garden of the west picture, when he signed a $3,500,000 lease for a 34-acre Hancock Park site. Disney represented the Hollywood Sports Gardens as president in completing a 50 year contract lease for most of the property which the arena will be built on.

PHOTO SHOWS: (left to right seated) Bing Crosby and Walt Disney. Standing left to right - attorney Richard Bailey and Everett Crosby.

Does anybody know anything about this project or whether or not it ever happened? I'd imagine it may have been related to Walt's polo activities. Bing Crosby was known for breeding and racing horses.

Walt Disney - January 22, 1937

January 22, 1937

WALT DISNEY GIVEN AWARD

Applause of a nation was bestowed last night on Walt Disney, originator of Mickey Mouse and other delightful characters, which have flashed across screens throughout the world. The occasion was the presentation of the National Distinguished Service Award of the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce at a banquet at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Photo shows Walt Disney and Walter E. Holman who mad the presentation.

PLUTO'S JUDGEMENT DAY - publicity flyer 1935

This by far has got to be one of my favorite Mickey shorts, the art deco design of the layouts and just plain entertainment value of the film. The pencil test available on MICKEY MOUSE IN LIVING COLOR - Volume 1 is real treat.



GULLIVER MICKEY - 1934 publicity flyer

 

Finally after much fussing around, moving house, work etc here is the publicity flyer for GULLIVER MICKEY.

MICKEY'S SERVICE STATION - 1935 publicity flyer

1935's MICKEY'S SERVICE STATION has got to be one of my favorite Mickey shorts along with THE BAND CONCERT, THE MAD DOCTOR and PLUTO'S JUDGEMENT DAY. It is also the last Mickey to be produced in black and white.

I recently purchased a few of the publicity flyers which were sent out to theater owners. This one is for MICKEY'S SERVICE STATION,  as you can see there were stories for the local newspapers and the opportunity to order posters and 8x10s to promote the film. I think one could write about how Disney developed it's marketing machine. Here's an early glimpse.

I've scanned as best as my A4 scanner can without damaging the aging paper, some minor pieces may be cut off. I'll post the other two in the coming weeks.

Early Walt

October 1917

The freshmen are determined to make a great success this year, and from the early results, we may conclude that their boasts and determination have not been asserted in vain. They are already taking part in the vim and excitement of high school life.

Walter Disney, one of the newcomers, has displayed unusual artistic talent, and has become a Voice cartoonist . . .

And so Walt Disney saw his first public introduction in the McKinley High School magazine The Voice.

Why do I bring that up? Well as you all know I'm a sucker for early Disney material and every now and then I still stumble across something I haven't seen before like the image below which I recently bought from the Chicago Tribune Photo Archive.

A photo of a page from The Voice which I imagine was about April/May 1918 considering Walt started drawing for the magazine in October 1917. I find it interesting how Walt seems to be trying to emulate some of the cartoonists of his day, looking at the faces, the eyes in particular I'm reminded of George McManus' BRINGING UP FATHER strip which began in 1913.

Walt would have probably been exposed to all the great strips of his day.

On the back of the photo is a sample of the printed article, I think dated April 27, 1937. I'd be curious to see the rest of the article.