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01
Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, an Army draft notice addressed to Mr. Donald Duck was delivered to the Disney studios.
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02
Has a record of 59 Oscar nominations.
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03
Personally disliked Alice in Wonderland 1951 and Peter Pan 1953 because of a lack of heart and warmth in their main characters. He was sad about the unfavorable reception of Fantasia 1940, which first turned a profit after his death.
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04
Reports surfaced that after his death, Disney Company executives were shown a short film where Disney addressed each by name, ending with I’ll be seeing you.
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05
Before his 35th birthday, animators created a short film of Mickey and Minnie Mouse consummating their relationship. Disney fired the two animators who made it.
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06
The last animated movie he personally touched was The Jungle Book 1967.
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07
Tom Hanks is a distant relative of Walt Disney and played him in Saving Mr. Banks 2013.
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08
He was a chain smoker who avoided smoking in public, especially where children might see him. His smokers cough often alerted employees of his approach.
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09
Legend has it that his last words were about the shabby studio water tower, which is repainted regularly to this day.
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10
He was awarded an honorary Oscar for creating Mickey Mouse at the fifth Academy Awards in 1932. Charles Chaplin was supposed to present but stayed home.
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11
The whispered code that Disney was nearby was Man is in the forest, a reference to Bambi 1942.
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12
Chose Anaheim for Disneyland after demographics experts predicted it would become a major population center within 10 years.
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13
Mickey Mouse’s birthday is November 18, 1928, the date Steamboat Willie 1928 was released.
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14
Became interested in personalizing animals after killing a small owl as a boy; he vowed never to kill again.
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15
Became friends with Charlie Chaplin at United Artists in the 1930s; Chaplin helped him pace his feature films.
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16
His favorite films he produced were Bambi 1942 and Dumbo 1941. He also held Fantasia 1940 and Mary Poppins 1964 in high regard.
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17
The name Donald Duck is often written on voting ballots in Scandinavian countries as a protest vote.
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18
Entered St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank on November 2, 1966, with back and neck pain. Surgery on November 7 revealed his left lung was entirely cancerous and was removed.
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19
Got his idea for Disneyland after visiting the Tivoli Gardens in Denmark.
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20
His famous signature was reportedly designed by an animator.
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21
Fired from his first job at the Kansas City Star for lacking imagination, a story often cited as a reason to persevere.
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22
Fourteen of the seventeen animated films produced during his lifetime were drawn from European legends and fables.
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23
Merlin in The Sword in the Stone 1963 was modeled after Disney by story writer Bill Peet.
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24
On Disneyland’s opening day, a plumber’s strike limited water pressure; Disney chose toilets over water fountains, prompting a reporter’s quip.
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25
Holds the record for most competitive Academy Awards: 22 wins, plus three honorary Oscars and an Irving Thalberg Memorial Award.
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26
Refused to allow Alfred Hitchcock to film at Disneyland because of Psycho 1960.
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27
Fond of animals but disliked cats because You can’t tell them what to do.
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28
Appeared on-camera only in The Reluctant Dragon 1941, despite hosting his TV show for over 12 years.
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29
Disliked being called Mr. Disney; insisted on being called Walt. He said the only Mr. Disney was the lawyer.
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30
Built a life-size train set around his home in Holmby Hills, California.
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31
Cremated at Forest Lawn Memorial Park; his urn is entombed in the Court of Freedom section.
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32
Voiced Mickey Mouse from 1928 to 1947.
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33
Major contributor to the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair with audio-animatronic attractions like It’s a Small World, Carousel of Progress, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
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34
His favorite song was Feed the Birds from Mary Poppins 1964. He would call Richard M. Sherman to play it when depressed.
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35
Opposed Hollywood’s monopolistic film market and co-founded the Society for Independent Motion Picture Producers.
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36
Founded Buena Vista Pictures Entertainment and his empire includes ABC, ESPN, and many film studios.
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37
His father Elias helped build the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, inspiring Walt and Roy.
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38
Met Ray Kroc while training with the Red Cross during WWI. Later, Kroc wanted to open a McDonald’s at Disneyland but Disney demanded a higher price for fries.
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39
Nominated for an Oscar every year from 1932 to 1965 except 1933 and 1941.
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40
Originally wanted to name Mickey Mouse Mortimer Mouse, but his wife suggested Mickey.
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41
His death spawned false rumors of cryogenic freezing or burial at Disneyland; he was cremated and interred at Forest Lawn.
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42
Held consecutive Oscar win streaks: 1934-1940 7 and 1951-1956 6.
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43
Ancestors were named d’Isigny from Normandy, France. The name evolved to Disney after centuries in England and Ireland.
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44
Forbade employees from wearing mustaches, though made exceptions for Ub Iwerks and Bill Tytla.
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45
Daughter Sharon Disney was adopted.
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46
Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2000 for the multiplane camera.
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47
Active anti-communist.
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48
Served in a Red Cross unit with Ray Kroc.
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49
Pictured on a 6-cent US postage stamp issued September 11, 1968.
