Happy Birthday, Walt Disney!

1. Elizabeth
   December 5th, 2008 at 3:36 pm

   That statue at Disneyland also has a "ha ha, looks like Walt's wiener" illusion created from Mickey's nose if you stand in the right place. I don't know why I know this.

2. liphttam1
   December 5th, 2008 at 3:42 pm

   SMOKE, SMOKE, SMOKE! Eww disgusting habbit.

3. Johnny Cat
   December 5th, 2008 at 4:44 pm

   Fascinating stuff. Thanks, Alex, for the recent smattering of fun facts.

4. Geekazoid
   December 5th, 2008 at 4:52 pm

   Happy Birthday Walt indeed. I love the way Walt and his organization was always about wholesome, clean fun for the whole family. That is still felt in their theme parks today and in the animated films they collaborate on.

5. EEM
   December 5th, 2008 at 5:14 pm

   I remember that cartoon....

   I knew most of this stuff already. Combination of being a big Disney fan and taking an Animation class (we watched a film or two on Disney)

   Happy Birthday Walt

6. Count Kiranov
   December 5th, 2008 at 5:17 pm

   He was also vociferous anti-semitic!

7. Kristine
   December 5th, 2008 at 5:22 pm

   Thanks for posting some Walt history.

8. mustardhamsters
   December 5th, 2008 at 5:35 pm

   Today is my birthday as well! How interesting that I share a birthday with Walt Disney. I never knew that until I read this article.

   Thank you for sharing, what a cool thing to find out. Happy birthday Walt.

9. Notorious M.O.L.
   December 5th, 2008 at 6:32 pm

   I definitely remember seeing that cartoon when I was little...repeatedly, and I was little in the late 80s/early 90s. I just can't remember where I saw it, whether it was on a video or on TV. At some point I guess they unbanned it? Or somebody snuck it in somewhere.

10. Landahlauts
    December 5th, 2008 at 6:54 pm

    Disney was born in Andalusia (Spain), in the city of Mojacar. His name was José Guirao Zamora.
    You can read more about this here:
    http://alboraida.blogspot.com/2006/03/un-andaluz-llamado-walt-disney.h tml

11. Geekazoid
    December 5th, 2008 at 7:14 pm

    Sorry but Walt was no racist or anti semite, just one of those 'urban legends' that seem to accuse every well known personality/celebrity of anti semitism and racism:

    http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/877357/walt_disney_was_not_ra cist.html?cat=37

12. Namowal
    December 5th, 2008 at 9:19 pm

    I read his biography last year. What fascinated me most was what an uphill struggle everything was for him in the early days, bankruptcy, betrayals, and frustrations that would have made the average guy think Enough of this Hollywood crap! I'm getting sensible job. I'm glad he didn't give up.

13. SparkS
    December 5th, 2008 at 9:36 pm

    "In 1942, a naval officer wrote a letter to Walt asking for a design for an emblem....."

    My father did the same thing when he was in Ordinance in the U.S. Army during WWII. I'm sure untold other servicemen did also. I have what Disney sent to him and if I can find it I'll scan and upload. Hmmmm, donno if I can do that, if not I'll send it to Alex.

    (This is going to drive me nuts trying to think of where it might be! Arrrrrrggggghhhhhh)

    Nice post Alex.

14. renderanything
    December 6th, 2008 at 12:28 am

    Okay, so it was interesting to learn that he was a Red Cross ambulance driver and loved trains enough to erect a miniature railroad in his backyard, but a cartoon where Goofy is driven to madness by nicotine and robs strangers then asks a man on the street for weed? That's quite surprising.

15. WDW Guy
    December 6th, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    Minor quibble -- The Walt and Mickey statue (called "Partners") is at several of the Disney Parks. The photo you're using is from Walt Disney World in Florida. This is the one in CA -- http://flickr.com/photos/barrywallis/13671452.

    Florida also has a statue of Walt's brother, Roy, with Minnie. It's called "Sharing the Magic."
    http://flickr.com/photos/expressmonorail/2258273150/

16. Carlos@nyc
    December 7th, 2008 at 5:00 pm

    This article is awesomely entertaining and perfectly written

17. Scooter
    December 8th, 2008 at 5:59 pm

    http://digital.library.umsystem.edu/cgi/i/image/image-idx?c=missakiani c;

    We have an photo of him here in the Special collections of UMKC's miller nichols library from when he lived in Kansas city.

18. Marissa and shelby
    January 12th, 2009 at 6:13 pm

    Hey disney ur a pretty cool guy u know. but im soooo suprised to find out that u died from smoking:( but i waz super interested to find that clip that waz on ur tie. when i first read the article i couldnt believe that it related to aaliens but then i read on and found out wat it really stood for. u and all ur creations really inspired me and shelby and were even doing our social studies project on you which is y we looked at this article. and im in LOVE with william harris anderson:)))))))) *love marissa and shelby*

19. BlueEyes
    February 5th, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    When I was a kid back in the '50 I was on the merry-go-round. I dropped my purse and everything fell out. The man that was running the ride came over and picked up everything that had dumped (ok I was only 5 or 6)out. He asked if I was o.k. and was I having fun. I told him that I was. When I got off the ride, my MOTHER started to yell at me for talking to a stranger, but TO HER SURPRISE ( of which made her stop) it was Mr. Disney. He came over and told her that he just wanted to make sure that I was o.k. and having fun. What a great memory to have of Disneyland. I still feel it is one of the best parks around.

20. Dodon
    February 5th, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    I worked at Disneyland for 3 months, and the place is pretty liberal, workers and all..fun place..a bit plastic..ironic, Walt Disney was a devout Catholic.

21. Paul Forest
    February 5th, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    I have heard that Walt Disney came from the town of Goderich, Ontario Canada. Is this true? If so how was he born in the US??? Which is true, I would love to know. Thanks

22. Whydojewsgotodisneyworld/land
    February 5th, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    Why do jews go to DisneyWorld and DisneyLand if its created hated Jews

23. Tom 63
    February 5th, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    the Seabee (u.s. Navy Construction) logo
    was desined by Disney

24. Scoopy
    February 5th, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    Scoopy was the Disney only character ever sold. It was made for Eleanor McClatchy for the newspaper. You can find it on two of the three bee papers - Sacramento Bee and Modesto Bee. Not sure why it is not on the Fresno Bee page.

    A bit of history about it is here: http://www.modbee.com/scoopy/

25. Nancy 74
    February 5th, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    Few people know that Walt Disney was also a ham radio operator. He used to talk to my grandfather and he would also send Mickey Mouse trinkets to my dad. My grandfather once showed us in his log book where had talked with him on several occasions. I can't remember what Walt's call letters were and unfortunately, the log book has long disappeared.

26. Michele
    February 5th, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. The home he was born in is still standing. His father, Elias was born in Bluevale, Ontario, Canada. He also changed in birth certificate so it read that he was born in 1900 so he could enlist in the Red Cross as you had to be 17. He had to be 18 to join the armed services.

27. TK
    February 5th, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    "wiener" you say.

28. BrerRyan
    February 5th, 2009 at 6:03 pm

    "Disney was born in Andalusia (Spain), in the city of Mojacar. His name was José Guirao Zamora.
    You can read more about this here:"

    This is horribly wrong. This is not true at all, he was born in the U.S.A, and Walter Elias Disney is his true name. You just got owned.

29. Matt
    February 5th, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    I guess you left out the fact that Walt was an anti-semite!

30. Kishore Das
    February 5th, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    Well done Walt Disney...........The modern generation who have been to Disney Land or read about it, will alway salute you for your wonderful contribution.

31. Matt
    February 5th, 2009 at 6:16 pm

    WALT DISNEY WAS A NAZI !!!

32. Joyce Taylor
    February 5th, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    Cool information. However, The Great War was WWI not WWII ...

33. Fact Check
    February 5th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

    Disney was indeed an anti-semite and evidence of this can be found in cartoon content and his hiring practices. He is reported to have attended pro-Nazi meetings held in the US prior to WWII. He also testified before the House of Representatives during the "Red Scare" against colleagues (competitors, perhaps?) who were blacklisted. He was a McCarthy supporter and transcripts of his voluntary report can be found online. Disney was also anti-union, which he equated with Communism.

    That said, IMHO, the parks and products represent (for the most part) the best aspects of his personality and those who were instrumental in helping him along the way.

34. Brooke R.
    February 5th, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    Well, despite everyone's true facts of Walter Elias Disney...he was in general...a very kind man. So what if he had done bad things? Many of us have too. He just happened to become famous so we all dug into his life. This wonderful man has brought entertainment worldwide. I think him for that, it is tragic he died because of smoking. I used Walt Disney as my project for a famous entrepreneur in my Business Ownership class. I'm glad I got to learn more about him. He is truly interesting and has done a wonderful job living his life. Thank you Walt Disney!

35. Mortimer Mouse
    February 5th, 2009 at 7:02 pm

    I crapped a lot while at Disneyland. Sometimes in the toilet, sometimes not. Oh well.

36. Lady In Red
    February 5th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    I used to work at Disneyland in my younger days, when my boobs were still firm and my snatch was still tight. I used to work the Red Light district. It's back street behind New Orleans Square, the same street that Club 33 is on. Many men who came out of Club 33 and were loaded in more ways than one, would do me up in Robinson's tree house, one of the subs, the monorail, and sometimes Walt's apartment above the firehouse. One time Minnie and I had a little lesbo thing going on at Walt's apartment over the castle. Those were the days.

37. Mookie
    February 5th, 2009 at 7:09 pm

    One time I got a blowjob while riding the roller coaster in Space Mountain. I came just as the ride was climaxing. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, that was awesome, dudes.

38. edward staton
    February 5th, 2009 at 7:10 pm

    My contribution to the body of information aabout Walt Disney is heresay, however, someone said that Walt's fourth grade desk is on exhibit at the Walt Disney Elementary School in Marceline,Missouri;and there was a report which told of young Walt as a baggage handler on the Sante Fe Railroad which operated service between Marceline and Kansas City.

39. Walt
    February 5th, 2009 at 7:12 pm

    Hey all you douchebags, I'm still alive and well and screwing all the female castmembers.

40. Deb
    February 5th, 2009 at 7:26 pm

    My uncle was a best friend and business partner with UB Iwerks. Believe me, it was UB who invented Mickey Mouse for Disney.

41. Deb
    February 5th, 2009 at 7:29 pm

    Another fact most people don't know about Walt Disney: He was very open about being an Atheist.

42. KE
    February 5th, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    Please remove all of the obscene comments in this blog (specifically, The Lady in Red, Mookie,Mortimer Mouse, and someone calling himself Walt).

43. Aiden
    February 5th, 2009 at 8:00 pm

    Go to Youtube.com and Search for "Walt Disney Secret Lives."

    it is a past interview with his retired employees.

    the truth must be told.

44. Alvarez Ribeiro
    February 5th, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    Walter Elias Disney was in fact a great mind in drawing and imagination. Many were inspired by him. Of course his brother Roy was his financial guardian. Unfortunately the Disney family is out of the business concerning the Theme Parks today.

45. katari
    February 5th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    well now that the horror movie i was watching finished i could actually enjoy this . except for the smoking video . i hate smoking . it's one of the worst habits i've seen anyone doing .

46. GG
    February 5th, 2009 at 9:43 pm

    In the goofy video, when someone steps on his hand, it leaves the imprint PUSSY FOOT or PUSSY BOOT...i can't quite tell...Disney and his sex insinuations...

47. Firedome
    February 5th, 2009 at 9:51 pm

    Walt and his artist crew created many wonderful things. One of the unfortunate after-effects of many of his major animated features is that all of the women characters (Snow White, Cinderela, et.all.) lived happily ever after. This idea has been ingrained in the minds of many, if not most, little girls the world over, but especially in the USA, since 1934.
    It just doesn't happen this way, kiddo.
    Perhaps the stories should have ended as "They lived happily ever after...for a while."
    Maybe we take this stuff too seriously. Just sit back and enjoy! There's no subliminal message in a Disney movie.
    (I think!)

48. Earl Dingman
    February 5th, 2009 at 10:51 pm

    My understanding has it that Disney built his backyard train system after seeing a similar one at the home his good friend, Disney animator, Ward Kimball. Kimball was a major railroad buff and he used to come to us at Em Gee Films with others from the San Bernardino Railroad society to get railroad oriented feature films of the silent and earily sound era for their annual event. I met Ward Kimball once in the late 1980s. As I recall from a Disney TV documentary, Walt Disney found the railroad in his backyard to be a great way to relax and enjoy the weekend.

49. vida semito
    February 6th, 2009 at 1:27 am

    i just knew that Walt's Bday was on Dec 5. am so happy to know that!
    the snow white and 7 dwarfs r one of my fav cartoon movie of disney production and never get bored even i've seen for almost 20 yr of my life

50. bryan
    February 6th, 2009 at 1:29 am

    at 4:13 is the imprint of what i think says "pussy foot"

51. Rick Eising
    February 6th, 2009 at 1:41 am

    Walt Disney was NOT an anti-semite. Anyone who clings to that urban myth obviously has some personal hate agenda of their own. Instead of believing hearsay and rumors somebody told you, try reading a book or two about the man.

    The latest massive biography of Disney (written by Neil Gabler, a Jewish researcher and author) covers all of Walt's flaws in great detail. But the author points out very clearly that after doing five years of research and interviews, he found absolutely no evidence that Walt Disney disliked Jews (or any minorities, for that matter).

    If you still insist on clinging to your bitter beliefs, go infect some Nazi web site and leave this one alone.

52. Temilola
    February 6th, 2009 at 4:16 am

    Very interesting! He seemed to be a great man. WIsh I had met him. Something magical about him. Miss you Disney

53. Walt Fan
    February 6th, 2009 at 5:06 am

    Walt Disney and his organization have always held themselves to a higher standard than a lot of other groups. They gave us theme parks, and entertainment that we can feel right about taking our children to. It is very rare because most of the world, and the internet is full of ugliness, and cruelty. Even to mention taking drugs, committing violence or having sex in Disney Land just makes me feel sick, and makes the person telling the story seem sad and pathetic. So thank you Walt Disney for showing us, and our kids a world that is still beautiful, and magical.

54. jimmy
    February 6th, 2009 at 8:31 am

    he was dishonorably discharged from the united states navy. his discharge was on display in the early 1970's.

    american hero?? i think not.

55. STEVEN
    February 6th, 2009 at 8:52 am

    JIMMY-(2/6/09 831AM POST) YOU ARE A FILTHY LIAR

56. fracman314
    February 6th, 2009 at 10:09 am

    what about that he was racist, not that many people know that about him, that should be on the list.

57. Slag
    February 7th, 2009 at 11:08 pm

    I visited the park a few years ago. I was told by a guy in a suit that I had “excessive” facial hair and I was in violation of Disney standards. He escorted me through a hidden door off of Main Street to a very large and opulent rest room. He gave me a Disney razor and some Disney shaving cream and I had to shave. He then let me rejoin my family in the park.

58. Disney-World-Pictures
    February 25th, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    Well I learned a few new things - especially about the family name (d'Isigny) and the tie clip!
    I also always like learning about the tribute windows on the second story of Main Street USA.

59. HiDesertEd
    March 1st, 2009 at 11:53 pm

    For those of you too young to remember when you took your shoes to "the shoe man" and had new heels put on when they wore down, the Goofy cartoon has a topical reference that I will explain.
    So gather around children and "Uncle Ed" will explain:
    Back in the day, a very popular and universally recognized brand of resoling supplies was the "Cats Paw" line of replacement rubber heels and soles. So for the Disney animators to include the very clear heel mark with "Pussy Foot" on it was actually a 3 way gag. 1. The word play on the Cats Paw name 2. The implication that it was a resoled shoe and thus well worn, and 3. The visual/word play on "pussy foot" as in to step lightly when the cigar has just been smashed flat.
    Nothing pornographic here. So those of you looking for prurient intent need to go review the Iwerks material from the mid to late 30s more closely and come back when you've actually done your homework.

60. Joe X
    March 3rd, 2009 at 3:08 am

    Deb, Walt Disney was not an atheist, although atheists like to lie and say that he was. Why is that? One clown posts a rumor on the internet, other clowns read it and assume it is true. Well clowns, read this ...
    http://www.disneydreamer.com/Waltfaith.htm

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