Walt Disney: The Most Influential Man

690 Words2 Pages

Walt Disney
Introduction
Shae E. Duncan
Brown Mackie College, Professional Development
Walt Disney

Introduction
When someone hears the word “Disney,” an assortment of things can come to mind. From cartoons and animated movies to theme parks, the word “Disney” is a very familiar term. Walt Disney is one of the most influential men to ever live. He is a cultural icon that changed the entertainment industry forever. Throughout his lifetime, Walt Disney was a very successful man; however, he faced personal and professional struggles of his own. Despite his hardships, Walt Disney made it his life’s work to make a difference and make the world a happier place. Early Life
Walter Elias Disney …show more content…

After returning from France, where he worked for the Red Cross, Disney decided to pursue a career in commercial art. He began dabbling in animation and eventually began producing short films for a company in Kansas City. The short films were unsuccessful, leaving Walt discouraged (JustDisney.com). In 1923, Walt Disney risked everything and relocated to Los Angeles, where he and his brother, Roy, incorporated the Walt Disney Bros. studio (ANB.org). From there, Disney’s success only grew. In 1925, Walt married his employee, Lillian Bounds (EBSCOhost.com). In 1928, Walt Disney created his first well-known cartoon character, Mickey Mouse. Soon after, Walt made his first movie with sound, “Steamboat Willie.” Later, Walt built Burbank Studio in 1940, where more than 100 features would be produced. In 1955, Walt made a $17 million investment and opened up Disneyland Parks in California. The park had entertained over 200 million guests within its first fifty years (JustDisney.com). Seeing the success from Disneyland Parks, Walt pursued another theme park. Sadly, Walt Disney passed away on December 15, 1966 from lung cancer and was not able to complete his new amusement park. His brother, Roy Disney, continued to work on the park in honor of his brother (EBSCOhost.com). In 1971, Walt Disney World was opened near Orlando, Florida

More about Walt Disney: The Most Influential Man

Open Document