Since next Monday marks the 115th birthday of Walt Disney, I've chosen that amazing man as the focus of Champions of Creativity today. He was an iconic pioneer in animation, the founder of one of the largest and best-known entertainment companies, and the creator of the Disneyland amusement parks. Walt Disney's imaginative films have entertained children and adults for decades.
Walter Elias Disney was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up loving to draw and took art classes as a boy. By the time he was eighteen he was already a commercial illustrator. Soon thereafter, he moved to Hollywood and began the Disney Studios with his brother Roy. In 1928 Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse - his most beloved creation - and was also the voice of the iconic cartoon.
Disney went on to create ground-breaking technical developments in cameras. That ultimately allowed him to produce such memorable movies as: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; Fantasia; Pinocchio; Dumbo; Bambi; and later, in 1964, Mary Poppins, which won five Academy Awards.
By the time Walt Disney died of lung cancer on December 15, 1966 his Disney Studios had won 26 Academy Awards; two Golden Globe Awards; and an Emmy Award. Several of his films are included in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
Walt Disney left behind numerous informative and inspiring quotes. Here are just a few of my favorites:
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
"That's the trouble with the world. Too many people grow up."
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."
"If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing started with a mouse."
"That's what we storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again and again and again."
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| Pictured with my husband, son, & daughter-in-law. I had a wonderful time in the Magic Kingdom last summer! |
