Historical Figure Report

Ethan Stonecypher
4/23/15

Walt
Disney
Walt Disney was an important and recognizable person throughout the 20th
century who made a major impact on animation, theme parks, films and cartoons.
Walt Disney was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1901. His most famous creations are
Mickey Mouse, animated films and Disney theme parks. He changed California by
founding the CalArts institution in Valencia and by creating his very first theme
park, Disneyland in Anaheim. In 1939, Walt Disney opened his animation studios
in Burbank, California. There he created Snow White, the first full length
animated movie, it was a big hit! He also hosted a T.V. show about Disneyland
named Walt Disneys Wonderful World of Color, On that T.V. show Walt told
people about Disneyland and what it would be like when it opened. He hosted this

T.V. show so he could get the money to build Disneyland. A place that honors Walt
Disney is the Walt Disney concert hall, designed by architect Frank Gehry.

Walt had a lot of very interesting jobs before he became famous. When Walt
was a boy he lived on a farm in Missouri where he had to do a lot of jobs, like
milking the cows and feeding the pigs. He made a drawing of his neighbors horse
and his neighbor liked it so much he paid Walt for it. This was his first sale. Later,
the Disney family moved to Chicago and he worked as a paperboy. When Walts
father started a Jell-o company, Walt helped out. Sometimes, he went to the barber
shop and drew pictures. The barber said that Walt could get free haircuts if he drew
pictures, and the barber hung all of Walts drawings on the walls. Soon people
came to the barber shop just to look at Disneys drawings and they didnt even get
a haircut. When Walt was a teenager he worked at the Santa Fe railroad as a news
butcher someone who sells newspapers, fruit,
candy, and softdrinks. Soon, the world entered
World War 1 and Walts brother, Roy joined the
Navy. Walt was 16 and too young to join, but he
found out that he could join the Red Cross if he
was 17, so he lied that he was so he could drive a
Red Cross ambulance in Italy. He often drew fake
badges for the soldiers and drew on cartoons on
the ambulance. After World War 1, Walt became a
commercial artist in Kansas city. After, Disney joined the Kansas film ad company.

Lots of landmarks honor Walt

Disney and his creative
accomplishments. Landmarks that
honor Disney are Disneyland,
Disneyworld, and his childhood
home in Chicago, Illinois. In
Missouri, Disney was honored by the
dedication of the Walt Disney
Municipal park and pool. In 1960,
they dedicated the Walt Disney elementary school in San Ramon, California .
When Walt lived in Missouri his hometown was Marceline. Walts barn that once
stood in the backyard of his home in Holmby Hills, CA, is now located in Griffith
Park, in Los Angeles. The red barn was used to control a scale mode 1 railroad that
Walt built in his backyard, it was a place for him and his friends to relax, and a
creative space for Walt to think. Some people say it is the birthplace of
imagineering, which means combination of creative imagination and
engineering. Another place that honors Walt Disney is CalArts, an art institution
that was founded in 1921 in Valencia, California.

mmmm

Walt Disney was a

famous cartoonist who created

Mickey Mouse and a whole bunch
of other characters. He created
movies, cartoons, and theme parks
that put a smile on everyone's face.
He changed the world by making
cartoons for kids to watch, and
theme parks for both kids and
adults to enjoy. Disney developed
animation from simple cartoons into full length feature films. He also created an
entertainment and media empire.

Because he smoked for many years, Disney died of lung cancer at the age of
65 on

December 15, 1966

of in

Burbank,
California. After his

death,

his brother Roy

made a

speech at the

unfinished Disney World in Florida, that the Disney company should go on even
though Disney had died. Two months later Roy himself died, but still today people
keep on running the Disney company. Walt Disneys grave is in Glendale,
California, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. He was cremated and had a private
memorial service. However, there is a rumor that once Disney died, they froze his
body and put it in a capsule under Disney- land, so that in the future when the
technology is available scientists can bring him back to life. Walt Disney really
changed the world by introducing them with his amazing cartoons and movies. In
conclusion, Walt was a visionary and an artist who used his imagination and talent
to make extraordinary cartoons, movies and theme parks for people around the
world to enjoy for generations to come.