Walt Disney: An American Original About This Page:

[Shell_of_the_South]

I am in Chapter 11. I read a couple of things in the previous chapters that I thought were interesting. One interesting note was that Universal pictures were the first to distribute Mickey Mouse cartoons - didn't know that!

In Walt's first endeavor as a cartoonist in the Laugh-o-Grams business, he enjoyed some early success and had to expand, hiring three boys who had an interest in learning the cartoon business.

He told the boys he couldn't afford to pay them, but he promised they would share in future profits of the enterprise, for which he confidently predicted success

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Wonder where those boys ended up? Later on the books mentions that his cartoonists leave him to work for his competitors. I bet they kicked themselves years later when they realized what they left!

This scenario occured again when UB Iwerks was lured away from Disney to work for the man that had represented Walt's cartoons in New York. Ub is the cartoonist who first created and drew Mickey Mouse. Ub sold his one-fifth interest in Disney pictures for $2,920. The book states that

...if Iwerks had reatined his share in the company, its market value would have reached $4 billion

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Another kicking down the road I bet.

So far I have been impressed with Walt's determination and tenacity. I think he deserved all the success he achieved down the road because he definitely paid his dues during the early years.

[ 09-24-2003, 04:17 PM: Message edited by: MichelleC ]

[Shell_of_the_South]

"Anybody... anybody...?"

(Think Ben Stein as the teacher on Ferris Bueller's Day Off)

[Bert & Sully]

Sorry Michelle must've gotten buried.

[Bert & Sully]

He also survived some ugly gossip as well.

[TiggerAlli]

I haven't read this one but I have read some other books on Walt (just not recently, I can't remember the names of the books [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img] ).

I agree his tenacity & belief in himself & what he was trying to do is really amazing. Additionally, his relationship with Roy, although tumultuous at times, is really a beautiful thing.

[Bert & Sully]

Originally posted by TiggerAlli:
...Additionally, his relationship with Roy, although tumultuous at times, is really a beautiful thing.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">It's funny you mention this because we got into a discussion with some of the CMs while we were down at WDW a few days ago.

[TiggerAlli]

originally posted by Bert & Sully:

It's funny you mention this because we got into a discussion with some of the CMs while we were down at WDW a few days ago.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Really? What did they have to say?

[WeLuvTheWorld]

Hi Michelle, Finally got my book yesterday. Read the forward last night. Can't wait to start reading tonight. I'm planning on reading the first section tonight and will post tomorrow.

[whoSEZ]

Mine finally came yesterday too (thank you, ebay!) -- will start reading this weekend!

[Bert & Sully]

Can't wait to hear 'bout this.

[Shell_of_the_South]

I hope I didn't spoil it for those who just started reading - guess I'm just eager to discuss! What if we start a new thread to discuss the first 3 chapters on Tuesday? Would that give everyone time enough to read that far? Let me know if you think you would need more time.

[DVC_Don]

I'll join up with you folks later on this. I read this book a few years ago and still have it, but want to finish a book I've been working on since. Sometime next week I'll start rereading it and be with you. [img]graemlins/read.gif[/img]

[Bert & Sully]

Sounds good Michelle. I'd like to follow along as well.

[WeLuvTheWorld]

Tuesday works for me!

[WeLuvTheWorld]

I think one of the thoughts that kept going through my mind as I read the first section, The Midwest Years, was do these people who turned Walt down or left him, know what they gave up?!? It was amazing to me how much he had accomplished by the time he was 20. I think you really start to understand his determination as he never seems to let any setback slow him down. I too was very surprised by the Universal link. Do you think that anyone who had one of Walt's drawings on their "souvenirs" from the war ever realized what they had? I'm really enjoying this book and hope everyone else is too! Thanks for setting this up Michelle.