The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that is headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was founded on October 16, 1923, by brothers Walt Disney and Roy Disney as Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio; it also operated under the names Walt Disney Studio and Walt Disney Productions before changing its name to the Walt Disney Company in 1986. In 1928, Disney established itself as a leader in the animation industry with the short film Steamboat Willie. The film used synchronized sound to become the first post-produced sound cartoon, and popularized Mickey Mouse, who became Disney's mascot and corporate icon.
Some of the key events about The Walt Disney Company
- 1923Founded as a cartoon studio in Los Angeles, California
- 1928Created Mickey Mouse, the company's iconic mascot
- 1937Released "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", the first full-length animated feature film
- 1941Animators went on strike over low wages and poor working conditions, leading to a bitter labor dispute
- 1946Released "Song of the South", a film criticized for its racist depiction of African Americans
- 1955Opened Disneyland, the company's first theme park, in Anaheim, California
- 1966Established Disney World and EPCOT in Florida
- 1966Acquired land in Florida through deceptive practices for Walt Disney World development
- 1983Launched the Disney Channel, expanding into cable television
- 1984Faced a hostile takeover attempt, resulting in significant corporate restructuring
- 1989Opened Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney's Hollywood Studios) theme park
- 1995Released "Toy Story", the first fully computer-animated feature film
- 1995Acquired ABC, raising concerns about media consolidation and potential conflicts of interest
- 1999Faced criticism for labor practices in overseas factories producing Disney merchandise
- 2001Laid off thousands of employees following the September 11 attacks and subsequent tourism decline
- 2004Blocked distribution of Michael Moore's documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" due to political concerns
- 2006Acquired Pixar Animation Studios, enhancing its animation capabilities
- 2009Acquired Marvel Entertainment, expanding into superhero franchises
- 2009Received backlash for initial refusal to allow a same-sex wedding ceremony at Disneyland
- 2016Faced controversy over alligator attack on a child at Walt Disney World resort
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.