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Tag Archives: 1920s

March 13

March 13, 1928 – Walt Disney Telegrams Roy Disney After Losing Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

“Don’t worry everything ok will give details when arrive”

On March 13, 1928, Walt Disney traveled back to California from New York with his wife Lillian, after negotiations with Charles Mintz about the character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit had failed. Before leaving, Walt sent a telegram to his brother Roy reading: “LEAVING TONITE STOPPING OVER KC ARRIVE HOME SUNDAY MORNING SEVEN THIRTY DON’T WORRY EVERYTHING OK WILL GIVE DETAILS WHEN ARRIVE. WALT.” This telegram is usually associated with the myth of the creation of Mickey Mouse, as Disney announced when he got back to California that he lost Oswald but they would start a new series. Walt, Roy, and friend Ub Iwerks quickly set to work on the first Mickey Mouse cartoon Plane Crazy, which was shown in a nearby movie house on May 15, 1928, though they would not have their first real hit on their hands until Steamboat Willie on November 18, 1928.

March 7

March 7, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice the Collegiate is Released to Theaters

On March 7, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice the Collegiate premiered in theaters. It was the 45th Alice Comedy created, and the 29th to star second Alice actress Margie Gay. It has since been classified as a lost film.

February 21

February 21, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Rodeo is Released to Theaters

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On February 21, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Rodeo premiered in theaters. The short was also released with an alternate title of Alice at the Rodeo. It was the 44th Alice Comedy produced, and the 28th to star second Alice actress Margie Gay. Although not classified as a lost cartoon, the short has not been released for home viewing.

February 15

February 15, 1925 – The Alice Comedy Alice Solves the Puzzle is Released to Theaters

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“Little Alice never had a cross word, not even with a puzzle.”

On February 15, 1925, the Alice Comedy Alice Solves the Puzzle premiered in theaters. It was the 15th Alice Comedy, and the first to feature second Alice actress Margie Gay. The short is notable for being the first to feature Disney nemesis Peg Leg Pete, then known as Bootleg Pete.

Alice is trying to solve a crossword, when Julius approaches her. He convinces her to give up her puzzle and go swimming instead, and the two start diving into the water with many aerial skills. Meanwhile, Pete whizzes by on a makeshift jet ski, purposefully goading the cops. Julius gets out of the water a dries off comically before helping Alice button her dress. Alice then returns to her crossword puzzle, though Pete wishes to take it from her, as he collects puzzles. Alice attempts to run away from Pete, but he chases her up the lighthouse steps and around the top of the lighthouse. Julius, seeing Alice in trouble, climbs up a rope to get to her, only to realize that the rope has fallen too late and lands with a splat on the ground. He manages to get up to the top of the lighthouse and beat Pete. As Julius celebrates his feat of strength, Alice realizes she finally knows the answer to her crossword puzzle.

February 6

February 6, 1928 – The Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Short Film The Ol’ Swimmin’ Hole is Released to Theaters

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On February 6, 1928, the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short film The Ol’ Swimmin’ Hole premiered in theaters. It was the 13th Oswald short film to be released, and was released around the time that Walt was trying to renegotiate his contract with Charles Mintz. The short has since been classified as a lost film, though its movie poster still survives.

February 2

February 2, 1928 – Charles Mintz Signs New Oswald Contract with Universal

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“Never again will I work for somebody else.” – Walt Disney

On February 2, 1928, Charles Mintz, the distributor for Disney’s Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short films, signed a three-year contract with Universal. This contract with Universal would give the company new Oswald shorts, without the involvement of Walt Disney. Mintz had been working since early 1928 to pull Walt’s animators from him to create a new studio producing Oswald short films. Ub Iwerks had been approached and refused the offer; he then went to Walt to warn him of Mintz’s backdoor deals. Walt was optimistic about the future of Oswald and didn’t heed Ub’s warning, instead heading to New York to negotiate a new contract with Mintz. Walt asked for $2500 a short film, but Mintz only offered a paltry $1800, much less than the $2250 Disney had been making, and gloated about having stolen Walt’s key animators from him. Although Walt tried to stall making a decision, including trying to get Universal to intervene on his behalf, Mintz dropped the ultimate bombshell: Universal had the rights to the Oswald character, not Walt, and Universal sided with Mintz. Walt then headed home after accepting defeat and informing Mintz that he would not accept a new deal, but it was not too long after that Walt and Ub would come up with the character that would create a company: Mickey Mouse.

February 1

February 1, 1926 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Little Parade is Released to Theaters

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“I can’t get ‘em up!”

On February 1, 1926, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Little Parade premiered in theaters. It was the 30th Alice Comedy created, and the 14th to star second Alice actress Margie Gay.

The short begins with Julius driving through town announcing that war has been declared. A crowd of people follow him to the recruiting station, where they are suited up for war. The next morning, the troops wake up thanks to a rooster’s call, and line up for the general – General Alice. As Alice studies the troops, Pete and his men fire upon them with cannons. Alice readies her troops to fight back, with mixed results. Julius decides to use a stove as body armor while he shoots at the enemy, though it is quickly blown away, leaving him vulnerable. While he does manage to knock some enemy soldiers out, he is soon blown to smithereens, needing to be rebuilt at the hospital. Julius then finds some very strong cheese and a fan in a nearby safe, which attracts all of Pete’s rat troops; Julius knocks them out one by one, leaving Pete as the lone man standing. In a last act, Julius is able to shoot Pete out of a cannon, and is welcomed back to his troops as a hero.

January 29

January 29, 1920 – Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks Find Advertisement for Artists at the Kansas City Slide Company

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“Cartoon and wash drawings first class man wanted”

On January 29, 1920, an ad was placed in the Kansas City Star by the Kansas City Slide, asking for a man to do cartoons and wash drawings. The ad was spotted by Ub Iwerks, who discussed it with his friend Walt Disney, and the pair agreed that Walt should apply for the position. The pair were still working on establishing their own business, and Walt had only wanted to find a part-time position, but was encouraged by Ub to accept the $40 a week full-time job when it was offered. Although Ub had assured Walt that he could maintain their business while Walt worked at the Kansas City Slide Company, Ub did not possess the salesmanship that Walt had, and the business quickly crumbled; fortunately, Walt was able to convince his boss to hire Ub as well, and the pair would work at the company for a little over two years.

January 9

January 9, 1928 – The Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Short Film Harem Scarem is Released to Theaters

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On January 9, 1928, the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short film Harem Scarem premiered in theaters. The short was animated by Hugh Harman and Rollin Hamilton. Since its release, it has since become classified as a lost film; in 2012, however, several drawings from the short were found to exist, and were compiled by the Disney Archives to create a special 90-second short film to honor the character’s 85th birthday, and was screened for D23 members at a private event.

January 1

January 1, 1926 – The Alice Comedy Alice on the Farm is Released to Theaters

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On January 1, 1926, the Alice Comedy Alice on the Farm premiered in theaters. It was the 27th Alice Comedy released, and the 11th starring second Alice actress Margie Gay.

The short begins with a cow in the yard eating various flowers, though as a gag one of the flowers runs away from the cow, refusing to be eaten. The chickens are dancing in a corner of the yard, while Alice orders Julius to milk the cow. He enlists the help of the farm dachshund, and the pair set to work. Unfortunately, Julius is unable to get milk from the cow, but as he leaves with an idea, two mosquitoes arrive and start biting the cow. Julius then uses the vacuum cleaner to pull milk from the cow, but ends up sucking the cow inside the vacuum cleaner bag. Meanwhile, Alice is dancing with the chickens, when Peg Leg Pete shows up to kidnap Alice. Julius chases after her with a makeshift horse, though it falls apart during the pursuit. He tracks Pete down to a shed and challenges him to a fight. Using starch, he turns his tail into a sword and fights Pete, but is soon disarmed. Finally, Julius throws the bucket of starch on Pete, freezing him in place before punching him into pieces and throwing him in the trash before freeing Alice.