Chronology of the Walt Disney Company

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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.


1928

January 9
  • Universal Pictures releases the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Harem Scarem to theaters. [16] [23] [63.153] [228.228]
January
  • Universal Pictures studio approaches Ub Iwerks, Les Clark, and other Disney animators, asking them to work for Universal. [267.56]
  • Ub Iwerks tells Walt Disney that George Winkler had signed up several of Walt's animators and asked Iwerks to join them, but he refused. Walt refuses to believe it is true. [1102.106]
January 23
  • Universal Pictures releases the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Neck 'n' Neck to theaters. [16] [23] [63.153]
January 25
  • Disney completes the 19th Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film, Ozzie of the Mounted, and ships it to Winkler Productions. [63.157]
(month unknown)
  • Walt and Roy Disney decide Walt should go to New York to negotiate at least US$2500 per future Oswald the Lucky Rabbit pictures. [267.56]
February 2
  • Charles Mintz signs a new three-year agreement with Universal Pictures to provide Oswald cartoons. [1102.106]
February 6
  • Universal Pictures releases the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film The Ol' Swimmin' 'Ole to theaters. [16] [23] [228.366] (The Ole' Swimmin' Ole [63.154])
  • Walt, accompanied by Lillian, goes to New York to negotiate a deal with Charles Mintz of Winkler Productions for the next series of Oswald cartoons. [23] [229.11] [34.34] [40.97] [92.50] [176.6] [234.50] [1102.106]
February 20
  • Universal Pictures releases the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Africa Before Dark to theaters. [16] [23] [63.154] [1378.11]
February 26
  • The Colony Theatre in New York City premieres the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Rival Romeos. [63.154]
March 1
  • In New York, Walt Disney approaches Fred Quimby at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer looking for an offer to distribute the Oswald films, but Quimby is not interested. [1102.106]
  • Walt Disney sees Charles Mintz, who offers only $1400 per film, and 50 percent of profits. [1102.107]
  • In New York, Walt Disney send a telegram to Roy saying "break with Charlie looing" and "don't be alarmed everything ok". [1102.107]
March 2
  • In New York, Walt meet with Bill Nolan, one of the lead animators of Krazy Kat, and with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer again, and with Fox. Metro says it is not releasing any cartoons this year. Fox says it is not releasing any cartoons it does not make itself. [1102.107]
  • Walt Disney meets with Charles Mintz again. Mintz raises his offer to $1750 per film plus 50 percent profits. Walt says he will accept it if Mintz produces the contract immediately. Mintz says he cannot. [1102.107]

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  • In New York, Walt Disney meets with Manny Goldstein of Universal Pictures. Goldstein says he must deal with Charles Mintz for this year due to their contract. [1102.107]
March 3
  • Charles Mintz offers Walt Disney $1800 per film, 50 percent of profits, and would take over the Disney studio, paying Walt and Roy $200 per week as his employees. Walt refuses. [34.34] [40.97,117] [92.50] [176.6] [1102.109]
March
  • Four principal Disney Studio animators hand in their resignations, to accept positions with Snappy Comedies, run by Charles Mintz. [34.35]
March 5
  • Universal Pictures releases the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Rival Romeos to theaters. [16] [23] [63.154] [501.472]
March 8
  • The Disney studio completes the 22nd Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Sky Scrappers, and ships it to Winkler Productions. [63.157]
March
  • Walt Disney relinquishes all claims to the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit character to Charles Mintz. [34.36] [40.99]
March 13
  • Walt Disney leaves New York to return to Hollywood. [23] [229.11] [1248.53]
March 18
  • Walt and Lillian Disney arrive back in Hollywood. [48.88] [63.120]
March 19
  • Universal Pictures releases the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Bright Lights to theaters. [16] [23] [63.154] [1378.99]
March
  • Ub Iwerks modifies the Oswald character, turning him into Mickey Mouse. [34.36] [96.15] [911.6]
  • Ub Iwerks begins work on the first Mickey Mouse cartoon. [34.37]
April 2
  • Universal Pictures releases the 17th Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Sagebrush Sadie to theaters. [16] [23] [63.154] [501.482]
April
  • Production begins on the Mickey Mouse film Plane Crazy inspired by Charles Lindbergh's trans-atlantic flight, and by the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film The Ocean Hop. Ub Iwerks works on the film in isolation so that the animators that are defecting will not see Mickey Mouse. [63.120] [113.15] [1102.114]
  • Wilfred Jackson is hired to the Walt Disney Studio. [63.153] [1102.114]
April 16
  • Universal Pictures releases the 18th Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film, Ride 'em Plow Boy, to theaters. [23] [501.471] (Ride 'em Plowboy [16]) (Ride 'em Plowboy! [63.157])
April 30
  • Universal Pictures releases the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Ozzie of the Mounted to theaters. [16] [23] [63.157] [228.377]
May
  • Disney defecting animators finish work on the last Oswald film under contract to Charles Mintz, and leave the studio. [1102.115] (June [48.88])
May 14
  • Universal Pictures releases the 20th Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film, Hungry Hoboes, to theaters. [16] [23] [63.157] [228.247]
May 15
  • Work is completed on the film Plane Crazy. [232.85] [63.121] [1102.115]
  • Walt Disney's first silent film featuring Mickey Mouse, Plane Crazy premieres as a sneak preview at a theatre on Sunset Boulevard, in Los Angeles, California. It cost US$1772.89 to make. Minnie Mouse also debuts. [7] [13] [16] [23] [15] [229.13] [34.39] [40.103] [48.89] [63.159] [96.16] [267.59] [1390.14]
May 16
  • Walt Disney applies for a trademark for "Mickey Mouse", for use in motion pictures. [113.274]
May 21
  • Walt Disney's trademark application for "Mickey Mouse" is filed with the United States Patent Office. [63.120] [113.274]
May 26
  • Walt Disney copyrights the film Plane Crazy. [63.159]
May 28
  • Universal Pictures releases the 21st Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film, Oh, What a Knight, to theaters. [16] [23] [63.157] [228.366]
June 11
  • Universal Pictures releases the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Sky Scrappers to theaters. [16] [23] [63.157] [501.504]
June
  • Production begins on the Mickey Mouse film Gallopin' Gaucho. [63.159]
June 25
  • Universal Pictures releases the 23rd Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film, The Fox Chase, to theaters. [16] [23] [63.158] [228.194]
July
  • Production begins on the Mickey Mouse film Steamboat Willie. This is the first cartoon designed for use with a soundtrack. [63.159]
  • Walt Disney, Ub Iwerks, Wilfred Jackson, and Johnny Cannon provide the music, voices, and sound effects for a test showing of a portion of Steamboat Willie. [23] [34.40] [40.106]
July 9
  • Universal Pictures releases the 24th Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film, Tall Timber, to theaters. released. [16] [23] [63.158] [501.538]
July 23
  • Universal Pictures releases the 25th Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Sleigh Bells to theaters. [16] [23] [63.158] [501.506]
August 6
  • Universal Pictures releases the first Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film, Poor Papa, to theaters. [22] [23] [63.150] (June 11 [228.397]) (June 11, 1927 [16] [176.5])
August 7
  • Disney completes the second Mickey Mouse film, Gallopin' Gaucho. [7] [13] [16] [15] [63.159]
August 20
  • Universal Pictures releases the 26th Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film, Hot Dog, to theaters. This is the last Oswald film that the Walt Disney Studio contributed to. [16] [23] [63.159] [228.243]
August 28
  • The Mickey Mouse film Gallopin' Gaucho is previewed in Los Angeles. [63.159] [96.16]
August
  • Walt Disney leaves Hollywood headed to New York, to get the soundtrack for Steamboat Willie professionally recorded. On his way, he stops in Kansas City to have Carl Stalling compose the score for the film. [40.106]
September
  • A musical score for Steamboat Willie is completed, and Walt Disney heads to New York to have it recorded. [24] [85.4]
  • After checking several types of film sound systems, Walt Disney decides to proceed with Pat Powers' Cinephone. [1102.116]
September 15
  • Walt Disney hires an orchestra in New York to record the soundtrack for Steamboat Willie. The session cost over $1000, but is a complete failure. [48.94] [1102.122]
September 18
  • Walt Disney's "Mickey Mouse" trademark application is granted. [113.274]
September 30
  • In New York, Walt Disney hires an orchestra for a second recording session for the Steamboat Willie soundtrack. This time it works okay, and is complete in three hours. [1102.123]
(month unknown)
  • While in New York, Walt writes to Ub Iwerks instructing him to make the Mickey Mouse cartoon The Barn Dance. [267.62]
  • While Walt Disney is away, his Moon roadster is sold to meet the company payroll expense. [267.62]
October
  • Walt Disney shows Steamboat Willie to Universal Pictures president Robert Cochran and other executives. They love it. [1102.123]
  • Walt Disney signs an agreement with Pat Powers, for Powers to act as the studio's sales agent for two years, and receive ten percent of all film money receipts. [1102.124]
  • Walt Disney meets with an executive of Universal Pictures. Universal wants to show Steamboat Willie with Melody of Love at the Colony Theater, then, if the audience likes it, they will sign a contract for 26 more films in 1928, and 52 in 1929. [1102.124]
October 31
  • By the end of the month, Disney has no offer to distribute Mickey Mouse films from Paramount Pictures or Film Booking Office. Universal Pictures decides it can't accept a Disney deal while they have a contract with Charles Mintz. [1102.125]
(month unknown)
  • Harry Reichenbach, independent promoter for New York's Colony Theater, offers Walt US$500 for a two week run to show Steamboat Willie. Walt counters with $1000, and Reichenbach accepts. [34.43] [40.116] [267.62] [1102.126]
November 15
  • Disney completes the Mickey Mouse film The Barn Dance. Minnie Mouse also appears. [16] [23]
November 18
  • The Colony Theater in New York debuts the Mickey Mouse film Steamboat Willie, prior to the main feature Gang War. This is the sound debut of Mickey Mouse, with Minnie Mouse (unnamed) as co-star. The music of "Turkey in the Straw" is used. The film uses Pat Powers' Cinephone system, which was illegally copied from RCA's sound recording equipment. The film is shown every night for two weeks, with Walt Disney attending every showing. [1] [4] [6] [7] [13] [5] [22] [23] [24] [15] [26.47] [34.44] [37.15] [40.116] [49.252] [48.96] [50.297] [62] [63.159] [79.280] [90.27] [92.58] [96.6] [97.6] [113.15,263] [176.6] [191] [192.105] [194.20] [225.42] [228.98] [229.15] [234.57] [238.176] [267.62] [328.67] [501.522] [911.16] [1073.24] [1102.126] [1390.18] (September 19 [1374.65])
November 21
  • Walt Disney copyrights the film Steamboat Willie. [63.159]
November
  • A soundtrack is added to the film Plane Crazy. [63.159]
  • A soundtrack is added to the film Gallopin' Gaucho. [63.159]
December
  • Walt Disney leaves New York to return to Hollywood. [23] [1102.128]
December 30
  • The Mark Strand Theater in New York City premieres the Mickey Mouse film Gallopin' Gaucho, with a soundtrack. [63.159]

End of 1928. Next: 1929.

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1919-1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943
1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953
1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963
1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973
1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
2004 2005 2006 2007-2008 2009 2010-2011 2012-end


A list of references to all source material is available.


Last updated: 2023 December 20.
Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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