November 18, 1928 – The First Mickey Mouse Short Film, Steamboat Willie, Premieres
“I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.” – Walt Disney
On November 18, 1928, the first Mickey Mouse short film, Steamboat Willie, premiered in theaters. Not only is it notable for being the first Mickey Mouse short film released (although not the first Mickey Mouse short produced), but it is also notable for being one of the first cartoons with synchronized sound, and the first to have a fully post-produced soundtrack. When Walt Disney was unable to get a deal with RCA or Western Electric for the film, he turned to Pat Powers and his bootleg Powers Cinephone process. The initial recording session was a disaster, which ended with Disney hiring a 15-piece band to play, and Walt Disney voicing all of the characters. The film’s title was a parody of a Buster Keaton film called Steamboat Bill Jr. The Disney film premiered at the Colony Theater in New York, and was an instant success, skyrocketing Mickey and the Disney Studios to stardom.
A steamboat is heading down the river, with Mickey at the wheel, whistling a “Steamboat Bill.” Pete appears behind him, yells at him for taking control of the boat, and sends the mouse flying onto the lower deck. The boat reaches Podunk Landing and the cargo is loaded quickly. A frantic Minnie Mouse sprints to catch the boat before it leaves, only to just miss it. Luckily, Mickey hears her cries and uses the hook on the boat to bring her aboard. She drops her guitar and sheet music, which is soon devoured by a nearby goat.
After the goat eats Minnie’s sheet music, the two use the goat to play the tune “Turkey in the Straw”
As Mickey tries to pull the guitar away from the goat, he and Minnie come to the conclusion that the goat can be worked like a turn-crank record player. Using whatever materials he can find, including an animal menagerie, the two begin their own rendition of “Turkey in the Straw.” After the performance, Mickey turns around to find Pete waiting for him angrily, and is sent to the galley to peel potatoes.
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