Easter Greetings from Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney

In observance of this Easter Sunday, our consulting historian Paul F. Anderson takes a few moments to reflect on the fundamental impact of charity and generosity of spirit, and Walt's commitment to these attributes.

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I’ve written quite a bit about Walt’s sense of charity and giving back. He was always willing to help a good cause, but as you know he was especially fond of his roots (Chicago, Illinois; Marceline, Missouri; and Kansas City, Missouri). In the 1930s he was often sending off little things to help along the people and organizations from his “hometowns.” All of the big things he did are documented, but many of the day-to-day requests for help that Walt responded to are often forgotten. 

Remember, it was the Great Depression, and Mickey Mouse became the everyman, overcoming odds and prevailing. As we have often heard, the song “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” was a rallying cry for many during the height of the Depression. The same can be said of a lot of small gestures Walt gave back to his communities to help out, such as these Easter Eggs. 

Courtesy of Disney History Institute and Paul F. Anderson.Today, this may not seem much of anything, but during the Depression, this was something significant and important. It lifted people’s spirits. It helped the community. And it was a nice thing to do. As I preach to my students, “Historical Context,” I ask you to think about living through the Depression, and having someone from your community who has truly made good give something back. It was hope. Hope in the future and the American dream. 

“If Walt Disney, who grew up right here in Kansas City, can make his dreams comes true, then so can I. To Hell with the Depression. And then, when I make it, I can give back too.” A worn-out cliché, “It was a simpler time”—but it really was, and it was people like Walt Disney who made the tough times bearable.

Paul F. Anderson is a noted researcher, interviewer, and writer on the subject of Walt Disney’s creative legacy. He edited and wrote for the Disney History Journal Persistence of Vision, and in 1999 was invited to teach “Walt Disney & American Culture” at BYU. He has lent his expertise on film, television, radio, and DVDs; and is the author of numerous articles and several books on Disney. Paul is now working on a book about Walt and World War II for the Walt Disney Family Foundation, and on May 21 and 22 will be at The Walt Disney Family Museum presenting two different programs on the subject.

(Special thanks to Reed Milnes and Tom Keaney.)

EVOLUTION OF A DUCK, THE 1940s “THE DONALD DUCK DECADE”

 As part of our month-long salute to Donald Duck, we asked Disney historian, Paul Anderson, to tell us about Donald's golden era of the 1940s.

In my esteemed colleague’s essay on Donald Duck, we had an insightful look at the inception and evolution of the quarrelsome quacker throughout the thirties. As the story unfolds we are witness to Donald’s meteoric rise in popularity with the eventual eclipsing of Walt’s much beloved Mickey Mouse. It is in the decade of the forties where Donald Duck finds stardom beyond what he knew in the thirties, and also cements himself as Walt Disney’s most popular cartoon star ... of all time. So that latter statement, at least to fans of Mr. Mickey Mouse, might be a bit controversial (that is if one can actually create a debate such as this). Far be it for me to start the feathers flying in a Donald-esque rage of temper over the most popular Disney character of all time; as emotionally everybody has their favorite and ultimately it is a bit farcical (in keeping with the subject of this essay). However, let me state that what Donald Duck achieved in the 1940s has never been equaled by any cartoon character in any decade!

If Mickey’s decade was the 1930s, then Donald’s was the 1940s. Each character’s popularity has more to say about what was going on in America, then about the mouse and the duck. As such, it is probably an unfair comparison; suffice it to say, Mickey was the “every man” of the Depression era, while Donald was the “fighting spirit” of the War era. Each character, in their own way, offered a beacon of hope and light to their respective decade–Mickey to show us that with tenacity and good spirits we could overcome the adversity and obstacles of an economically beleaguered nation; and Donald to show us that with a fighting spirit we could get the job done in a world that was devastated by war.

As J.B. pointed out in his essay, to which I whole-heartedly agree, Donald’s peak in his acting career was 1937 to 1941. His peak in popularity, however, was 1941 to 1945, and while his star power declined a bit after the War, he was still at the top of his game ... he did not suffer the typical Hollywood star decline following the war. Indeed, his popularity continued well into the 1950s.

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Walt and the Rose Parade!

Joseph Titizian, a member of the Volunteer team at The Walt Disney Family Museum, shares the story of Walt Disney’s involvement with the world famous Tournament of Roses Parade. 

In most parts of the country, New Year's Day can be cold and dreary, but in my hometown of Pasadena, California, the roses are always in bloom. The Tournament of Roses Parade was first held in 1890 by members of Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club. The club members were eager to showcase their new home's mild winter weather. "In New York, people are buried in snow," announced Professor Charles F. Holder at a Club meeting. "Here our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear. Let's hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise." Thus began the Tournament of Roses Parade that today is a New Year's Day tradition and is broadcast around the world. It should come as no surprise that Walt Disney, the World’s Greatest Showman, had a long connection with this parade.  

Walt’s first entry in the Parade dates back to January 1st, 1938 with a float celebrating his newly released film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Snow White’s live-action reference model, Marge Belcher, rode on the float dressed as Snow White, and was accompanied by performers costumed as the seven dwarfs. Gallery 5 at the Walt Disney Family Museum features a wonderful photograph of Walt, Lilly, and Diane Disney enjoying the 1938 Rose Parade from the balcony of the Constance Hotel.

Walt’s next entry would preview his Magic Kingdom, seven months before it opened its gates to the eager public. On January 1, 1955, the Helms Bakery float featured Disneyland and its soon to be world famous icon, Sleeping Beauty Castle.  The float's design comprised of  Mickey Mouse at the front, flying pink Dumbos in the middle, and Sleeping Beauty Castle at the back. The middle of the float also had a silver hot air balloon floating above with large red lettering announcing: "DISNEYLAND." The hot air balloon was reminiscent of the balloon in Peter Ellenshaw’s iconic aerial painting of Disneyland. The Disneyland float went on to win the Judges Special Award that year.

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Mickey's Good Deed!

Merry Christmas to all!!!!!

The Walt Disney Family Museum's Store!

Visit The Walt Disney Family Museum's Store for all the good girls and boys on your holiday shopping list.

We are open every day (except Tuesdays) from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Museum admission is not needed to access the Store. Watch the video below to get ideas on not only gifts to give but decorations as well!

Don't worry if you can't make it to San Francisco--we've also got Museum exclusive books and Mickey Mouse dolls available online at www.waltdisney.org!