History of Walt Disney Company

This page relates to the history of the Walt Disney Company.

The period Walt Disney: 1923-1966

The company at the time of Walt Disney has a very provided course which one can summarize in three topics according to the great projects of the moment of new activities of his founder: animation short film, animation feature-length film and parks with thèmes.
Although launched in great projects, the company continued to work in its other activities or to develop news of them the such not animated films.

For a more detailed history to see the biography of Walt Disney as from 1923.

Short films: 1923-1937

  • In 1923 Walt Disney, helped of his/her older brother Roy Oliver Disney, founds the Disney Brothers Studios in order to produce the Alice Comedies.

  • the July 6th 1925, Walt pays an installment of 400 dollars to buy a ground with the 2719 Hyperion Avenue in order to accommodate all the organizers

  • In 1926, the Disney Brothers Studio are renamed Walt Disney Studio .

  • In 1928, the name studio takes the name of Walt Disney Productions.

  • In 1929, extremely on the success of the series Mickey Mouse, Walt decides to produce a new series, the Silly Symphonies

  • the December 16th 1929 Walt Disney reorganizes in four companies its empire, named Walt Disney Productions , Walt Disney Enterprises, Walt Disney Film Recording Co and Liled Realty and Investment Co.

  • In 1930, Disney gives up the Powers distributer and sign an new agreement of distribution with Columbia Pictures. The same year, Walt engages Charlotte Clark an young woman of Burbank which has just produced a headstock of Mickey that Walt finds very succeeded. The headstock is produced in series and is presented to each promotional event, becoming the first Disney derivative product. Mickey Mouse is also exported in international mainly Italy and Japan.

  • In 1932, Disney passes from Columbia Pictures to United Artists and produces Silly Symphonies with the very new process Technicolor. The first Newspaper of Mickey is launched to Italy.

  • In 1934, Disney decides to launch out in the production of a feature-length film.

  • In 1935, Walt Disney is approached by a young salesman undertaking, Kay Kamen. Kamen proposes a contract ensuring the Disney company to him at least 50,000 $ of incomes without anything to per annum spend in the only condition that Kamen preserves half of the profits. Kamen becomes the agent managing the derivative products of the Disney studios. Quickly it pours at Disney 2,5 million $ per annum, empochant the same amount.

Feature-length films: 1937-1954

  • the December 21st 1937 takes place the first of Blanche Snow and the seven dwarves, first animated feature-length film.
  • 1938
    • on May 8th, 1938, Disney creates a management company of its rights to international with the subsidiary company Creazioni Walt Disney S.A.I in Italy mainly to manage the rights of Topolino.
    • the September 29th, Walt Disney Productions repurchases the three other companies created in 1929.

  • In 1939, the studios Walt Disney Pictures buy eight oscillators low frequency models 200B at the young company Hewlett Packard, with 71,50 dollars each one, to synchronize the sound effects of the film Fantasia and to develop the system Fantasound, precursor of the Dolby Surround. Disney will be the first customer of this company of electronics and data processing.

  • the April 2nd 1940, Walt Disney Productions emits its first batch of actions, on the American equivalent of the second contract. 155.000 actions were emitted with a rate of 6%.

  • August 1942, left Packard which shows a financial failure.
  • the May 6th 1940, the studios and the offices of the company finish their removal with Burbank, California. Cf Walt Disney Studios Burbank
  • During the Second world war the studios of Disney are requisitioned by the American Army. The studios of turnings become military warehouses and part of the draftsmen make cartoons of “propaganda” and educations military. The other part takes off to make a turn of America of south.
  • In 1949 Walt Disney decides to create Walt Disney Enterprises, an in-house division for the management of the derivative products after the death of its agent Kay Kermen.
  • on October 1st 1949 the company Walt Disney Music Company is created. Fred Raphael is named by it director but is quickly replaced by Jimmy Johnson.
  • In 1950, Roy Disney decides to create a special subsidiary company, independent of Walt Disney Enterprises, to manage the noncinematographic productions of Disney, Walt Disney Publications.
  • the June 22nd 1970 the Walt Disney Archives open in the middle of the studios, head office with Burbank.
  • on October 1st 1971, Walt Disney World Resort opens with Orlando in Florida.

After the death of Roy Oliver Disney in December 1971, Card Walker takes the head of the company. Walt Disney Pictures and the remainder of the company continues the projects launched by Walt Disney, but the innovation of Walt starts to be lacking.

  • In 1981, Feld Entertainment obtains the international laws for spectacles of ice-skatings on ice with the characters Disney, the first spectacle Disney one Ice is presented the same year.

  • the July 8th 1981, Walt Disney Productions repurchases at the company Retlaw held by the family Disney (her widow and its 2 daughters) the rights on the name “Disney” for 46,2 million $.
  • on October 1st 1982, Walt Disney World Resort accommodates a second park, EPCOT.
  • In 1983 Disney creates the entity Walt Disney Television to gather the productions bound on television like Walt Disney Pictures like a subsidiary company to whole share.
  • on April 1st 1983, Walt Disney Productions creates starting from the department animation and films ( Pictures ), Walt Disney Pictures a company with whole and subsidiary share at 100%.
  • the April 15th 1983, Disney opens a park in Japan, Tokyo Disneyland, it is the first park apart from the American territory but it is the company Oriental Land Company which is the owner of the unit.
  • the April 18th 1983, Disney Channel is launched to the United States

The era Michael Eisner: 1984-2004

The reconquest of the giant: 1984-1989

  • 1984

    • the company Walt Disney Productions is the target of an attempt at tender offer on behalf of financial groups specialized in the sale in batches carried out by Saul Steinberg. In order to counter this attempt, Disney buys the company Arvida Corporation in May 1984 for 200 million $.
  • In December, a subsidiary company is founded for the market of the video games: Disney Interactive.

Year 1995

  • In 1995, the company announces its intention to repurchase Capital Cities-ABC like its subsidiary company with 80% ESPN. Capital Cities-ABC includes/understands in addition to the television network ABC, ESPN, 4 important newspapers, Fairchild Publications and various participations.

Year 1996

  • Disney takes the control of the Anaheim Angels by naming the president of the club. This nomination is the minority result on the one hand which it holds since the years 1960 when Walt Disney was named with the directory of the club. Disney will not really take instructs the team with it that in 1999.
  • In February Disney buys the studio Jumbo Pictures.
  • the February 9th Disney acquires ABC completely.
  • In May
    • Walt Disney Company and McDonald's sign an international contract of exclusiveness for Disney in the toys proposed in Happy Meals.
    • Disney buys the studio of visual effects Dream Quest Images.
  • on July 1st ESPN Club opens with Disney' S BoardWalk, it is a preconcept of future ESPN Zone.

Year 1997

  • Disney renews the uniforms and the logo of the team Anaheim Angels and takes part financially and architecturalement in the restorations of the stage accommodating the team.
  • the April 3rd Disney enters to the capital of Starwave Corporation a data-processing company of multi-media edition.
  • the April 4th Disney resells the 4 newspapers (in the past Capital Cities) with Knight Ridder for 1,65 billion $.
  • the September 3rd Disney buys the chain Classic Sports Network which will become ESPN Classic
  • the December 2nd Disney publishes its first DVD.

Year 1998

Year 1999

  • on January 1st, the second ship of the Disney Cruise Line is launched, the Disney Wonder .
  • the February 25th Robert A. Iger then president of ABC takes also the head of the new subsidiary company Walt Disney International
  • In August 1999, WDIG buys 60% of Soccernet to Daily Mail and General Trust
  • the August 15th takes place the startup of the Disney Wonder .
  • the August 24th Disney sells the Fairchild Publications , last nonstrategic piece of Capital Cities , with Advance Publications
  • the November 17th, the total acquisition of Infoseek is approved by the shareholders.

An entry mitigated in the 21e century: 2000-2004

Year 2000

  • Disney dissolves the studio Jumbo Pictures , but continuous to buy and diffuse the series produced by the studio recreated by the former directors of this company and baptized Cartoon Pizza pie
  • the July 19th, Disney resells Ultraseek Corporation for 153 million $.
  • the August 3rd 2000, WDIG buys the 40% remainder of Soccernet.

Year 2003

  • the May 15th 2003, Disney resells the Anaheim Angels for 180 million $ with Arturo Moreno, a financier of Phoenix (Arizona).
  • In September 2003, Disney launches a service of Vidéo to the request named MovieBeam.

Year 2004

  • Disney underwent an attempt at tender offer, on behalf of the cable television operator Comcast that Michael Eisner refused (supposedly) without requesting council from the directory; what would have precipitated its fall.
  • the February 17th 2004, Disney bought the rights and catalogs of Muppets and Tibère and the blue house Bear in the Big Blue House for 68 million dollars.
  • In April 2004, Disney prohibits the exit with the the United States film Fahrenheit 9/11 of Michael Moore, produced by its subsidiary company Miramax (directed very freely by the Weistein brothers). This film describes the connections of business between the Bush family and the Bin Laden family.

After Michael Eisner: 2004

Transitional period: May 2004 - Sept. 2005

Year 2004 (continuation)

  • In May during the council of the directory of Walt Disney Company, Michael Eisner is relieved of its post of chairman.
  • In October, Disney launches the mark Disney Jeans in Asia.
  • November, Walt Disney Company repurchases the possessions of the company CrossGen Comics specialized in the comics of Fantasy.
  • the November 21st, the sale of the North-American Disney Store S in The Children' S Place is effective. Disney receives 100 million $ for the exchange of the hot money
  • the July 22nd announces the acquisition closure of Fox Family Worldwide for a total of 5,3 billion $ (5,2 after correction in October 2005)
  • In August, Disney announces its intention to open a second complex in China with Pudong, near Shanghai. Advertisements relating to Seoul and India were also heard a few months before.
  • the August 23rd, Baby Einstein lance a range of product for the 3-8 years: Little Einstein
  • the August 23rd, Disney announces launching on September 1st of Toon Disney in Hindi
  • the August 29th, Disney raises the veil on the range Disney Fairies with the exit of the book Poussière of Fairies and magic egg of Gail Carson Levine.
  • on September 1st, launching of the range Disney Fairies and launching of Hindi Toon Disney in in India.
  • the September 5th 2005, Disney Channel Japan announces the purchase of two productions of the American studio DIC: Sabrina: The Animated Series and Inspector Gadget' S Biggest To wrap Ever.
  • the September 6th, the Buena Vista Music Group sign an agreement with EMI Group for the distribution of the productions in Europe, Africa and in the Middle East.
  • the September 10th, Disney Consumer Products grants a license to the British company Calypso Software Drinks for drinks for children with Disney characters.
  • the September 11th 2005, Disney Consumer Products launches the range Indesign Disney , a series of doors of room of children decorated with Disney characters, built by Masonite and sold exclusively in the Home American Deposit.
  • the September 12th, the Disney park of China, HongKong Disneyland opens her doors.
  • the September 13rd, Disney announces to want to triple the number of Disney Store in China in the 5 next years.
  • the September 13rd, Radio Disney lance a Spanish program in Syndication in language Viva Disney with Entravision.
  • the September 19th, Disney Consumer Products grants a license of distribution to Funskool India for the toys of the range Disney Princess in India
  • the September 21st 2005, the Disney-ABC Cables Network Group sign an agreement with Verizon for diffusion on fiberoptic the wide service Time of 12 chains of Disney including 7 chains ESPN channels, ABC Family and ABC News Now.
  • the September 25th, Disney announces a loss of 68 million dollars following the declaration of September 14th of Delta Airlines to be in bankruptcy.
  • Since the September 26th the rumors of a park with Seoul in South Korea are again made hear after the episode on Shanghai
  • the September 29th, Michael Eisner offers to the Smithsonian Institution 525 objects of the collection of African art Walt Disney-Tishman.
  • Friday September 30th mark the departure of Michael Eisner of her post of chairman. Its departure was médiatisé little and without ceremony according to the rare media having evoked it the following day.

Robert Iger: Sept. 2005

Year 2005 (continuation)

  • on October 1st, Disney launches the Mix Stick a Baladeur MP3 to the design of the company. Several models were presented including one chrome and a pink for the Princesses .
  • the October 3rd, the Smithsonian announces officially quoted by Michael Eisner concerning the collection of African art Walt Disney-Tishman.
  • the October 7th Disney resells the Discover Magazine for 13 million $.
  • the October 19th 2005, WDIG buys Mobile Living a security company of video games German based with Munich and Prague. The details of the transaction were not revealed but the 40 employees of the company will not be delocalized.
  • the October 23rd, Disney announces that the transaction of fence for the acquisition of Fox Family Worldwide which finished the July 22nd actually raises with a total of 5,2 billion $ (100 million less than announced in July).

  • on November 1st, Disney would be on the point of repurchasing Pixar instead of renewing their contract.

  • the November 4th, Disney and Fastweb will diffuse the educational programs Disney' S Magic English on a nuemric chain of Fastweb
  • the November 23rd, the action of the Italian company Mondo Tv rise of 3% following possible information of repurchase by Disney. For the moment nothing came to confirm this rumor. However at the same Disney date resold its interests in a Spanish chain cabled for 57 million $.
  • on March 1st, Disney and BSkyB concluded an agreement to widen the diffusion of the Disney chains on the network of Sky, the chains Disney Cinemagic (starting from March 16th) and ESPN Classic (starting from March 13rd) will be added to the offer of Sky as well as programs in HD.
  • At the end of April 2006 Disney is quoted like a potential buyer of the American Spanish-speaking network Univision just like Time Warner, CBS or Bill Gates, while News Corporation was quoted as of at the beginning of February.
  • the May 9th, Disney announced that it did not renew its decennial contract with McDonald's. The called upon reason is the crisis related to obesity in the young people. Disney will not provide any more toys in Happy Meal.
  • In June 2006, Disney signed several agreements to sell fruits under the Disney mark in store chains Europeans. In England, Tesco sells tangerines later then apples and bananas. In France Carrefour proposes mini-tomatos. In Germany, Metro AG sells mini bananas.
  • the June 3rd Disney launched the company Disney Jeans to India before extending on the markets from Asia and Europe.
  • the June 26th George Mitchell confirmed to be in talks with the official ones of the town of Shanghai for a second park in China which according to him would not have an influence on the frequentation of that of HongKong.
  • the June 28th, John E. Pepper Jr. former chairman of Procter & Gamble was appointed President of the Disney company. He will replace the senator George Mitchell starting from January 1st 2007.
  • the 2006, the Buena Vista Music Group extends an agreement with EMI Group for the distribution of the productions to Australia, New Zealand and the Southeast Asia.
  • the August 31st 2006: the Walt Disney Internet Group buys the content provider Chinese Mobile2Win, subsidiary of the Indian company Contests2win.
  • the September 16th opens the exposure It was once Walt Disney with the Musée of the Large palace in Paris. It presents the sources which inspired Walt Disney and its studios.
  • the September 28th: Buena Vista Games buys the studio of video games Course of Climax Group.
  • the October 10th, Walt Disney Company through the Disney-ABC Television Group obtained an agreement to diffuse the chain of information continues ABC News Now in India on the bouquet Dish TV.
  • the November 5th 2006, Disney signed an agreement with the company Rotana Audio Visual Company based with Dubai and subsidiary of Kingdom Holding Company pertaining to the Prince Alwaleed in order to distribute to the the Middle East and in North Africa the films of the various studios of Buena Vista.
  • the November 22nd 2006, Disney signs an agreement with Comcast. This last repurchases for the 40% prisoners by Disney for 1,23 billion $ n the other hand of the distribution of the chains of Disney: Disney Channel, ABC Family, Toon Disney, ESPN, SoapNet and the launching of Off-set ESPN. Moreover Comcast can use in its service of Vidéo to the request the productions of Disney of which those of Walt Disney Pictures, Miramax Films and Touchstone Pictures.
  • the November 23rd 2006
    • Citadel Broadcasting announced that it could not repurchase ABC Radio operator at the price desired by Disney. The difference is of 300 million $. Disney accepted that its participation in Citadel Communications is increased by 200 million $ to reach 57% (instead of 52%) and that its shareholders touch 100 million $ of moins.
    • Disney Consumer Products announces an extension on all the continents of its North-American contract with the company of shoes Crocs Inc for the line of sporting shoes Crocs Disney .
  • the November 25th, Disney announces the repurchase for 31,12 million $ of the Indian chain for child Hungama TV and 14,9% (15 de$ million) of its current owner UTV Software Communications Ltd.
  • the November 27th, Walt Disney Music Publishing renews and extends the phonographic contract of management of rights with the Warner Music Group.
  • the November 30th, a mysterious investor announces to want to launch a tender offer on Euro Disney SCA.
  • the December 4th, Disney announces the return to the production of short films with Dingo.
  • the December 5th, Disney envisages to remove 160 uses of organizers of Walt Disney Pictures (except those of Pixar) and the launching of the magazine Disney Adventures in India. Moreover, ESPN International takes the control of NASN a European chain dedicated to the American sports for the sum of 80 million $.

Year 2007

  • In 2007, ABC and ESPN recovered the rights of diffusion of the competitions of NASCAR.
  • January 2007: Disney announces to be itself associated with the American Kennel Club to provide no-claims bonus on the education of the Golden Retriever S at the time of the exit in DVD of Air Bud (1997).
  • the January 18th 2007, Disney announces that the Disney Magic will propose again into 2008 cruisings along the Mexican coasts.
  • the January 22nd 2007, Telefonica announces that John de Mol and Disney is on the point of repurchasing the share of 75% of Telefonica in Endemol.
  • the January 29th, Disney announces the nearest opening of Toy Story Mania in 2008 at the same time in Florida and California. Moreover of the high-speed motorboats are used in an advertizing campaign for Disney' S Year off Million Dream: one finds David Beckham as a Prince Phillip, Scarlett Johansson as a Cinderella, and for Alice with the countries of the marveilles Oliver Platt as an Insane Hatter, Lyle Lovett out of Hare of Mars and Beyonce as a Alice.
  • the February 6th, Disney amalgamated its various entities of promotion and publicity for the children and the family in the fields of the Télévision, of Internet, the radio and the press in only one group, the Disney Media Advertizing Sales and Marketing Group .
  • the February 8th 2007
    • Disney and ESPN announces that the license Mobile ESPN will be granted of exclusiveness Verizon Wireless through its offer: $15 per month V CAST for 15$ per month. Moreover chain ESPN will be available on the mobile service MediaFLO TV of Qualcomm.
    • Disney announced the change of the name Buena Vista Games in Disney Interactive Studios .
  • the February 9th 2007 Disney announces that it must refinance the debt of the park Hong Kong Disneyland to height of 294 million dollars (American) because of the drops in number of visits and of the low level of expenditure per visitor
  • the February 12th 2007
    • Disney Consumer Products and Jakks Pacific present a range of toys inspired by the series of Disney Channel Hannah Montana and The Cheetah Girls at the time of the International exhibition of the toy
    • Pierre & Vacances and Euro Disney SCA announces the creation of a joint venture for the project of Villages Nature. It is a project of a billion euro (announced since 2003) which includes/understands 7000 apartments distributed in 4 villages sets of themes. These villages will be located at horse on the grounds of the Disneyland Resort Paris and the communes of Bailly-Romainvilliers, Coutevroult and Villeneuve-the-Count.
  • the February 13rd 2007, Disney and General Millets launch three new marks of Céréale S Little Einstein S Fruity Stars , Disney' S Princess Fairytale Flakes and Disney' S Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Berry Crunch
  • the February 14th 2007, the entirety of the collection of African art Walt Disney-Tishman is presented in the National museum of African art of the Smithsonian Institution.
  • the February 15th 2007:
    • the diffusion of the chain Disney Cinemagic is announced for April on the French satellite network.
    • Buena Vista International Television joins the video service on mobile mobile phone Cinéma of Bell Canada.
  • the March 7th 2007: Steamboat Ventures, holding of Disney, invests with other american companies 23,5 million $ in UUSee, an important site of Chinese video online distributing the programs of CCTV.
  • the March 19th 2007, the Walt Disney Internet Group buys a second content provider for cellphone Chinese Enorbus for 20 million $
  • the April 25th 2007, information is appeared on the possible suppression as from the month of May 2007 of the name Buena Vista with the profit of Disney. This name change would return in a policy of simplification of the marks of Walt Disney Company started by Robert Iger.
  • the May 8th 2007, Walt Disney Records, Disney Electronics and the Walt Disney Internet Group join to offer to the remote loading on the Disneymixcentral.com site the catalog of the first for walkman MP3 of the second.
  • the May 23rd 2007, announces launching of Disney Cinemagic, Disney Cinemagic +1 and one service of Vidéo to the request for the re-entry 2007 on Canalsat
  • the May 28th 2007, Buena Vista Television is famous Disney-ABC Domestic Television.
  • the 2007, Disney repurchased the site of virtual world for children Club Penguin for 350 million $
  • the August 9th 2007, Disney announces the renaming for January 2008 of the park Disney-MGM Studios in Disney' S Hollywood Studios
  • the August 17th, the film High School Musical 2 reaches records of televisual audience in the United States during its first diffusion with 17.2 million televiewers
  • the August 22nd 2007, ESPN repurchases Internet site of Rugby Scrum.com
  • the August 29th 2007, the group German First Star announces the launching of Playhouse Disney and Toon Disney on his bouquet sattelite starting from September 1st.
  • the September 27th 2007, WDIG announced closing on January 1st, 2008 of the virtual operator Disney Mobile.
  • the October 3rd 2007, Disney announces the opening of a hotel and by new a Disney Vacation Club of 8,5 ha and 800 rooms in 2011 with Hawaii, on the island of Oahu within the complex of leisures KB Olina Resort & Marina
  • the October 13rd 2007, the American range of food products of Disney Consumer Products grows rich by a new mark, baptized Disney Garden, directed towards vegetables and fruits “selected to help the families to offer to their children good food for health”.
  • the October 23rd 2007, the Superior council of audio-visual the pinned the various chains of Disney in France for their programming in 2006. SCUMS alert Playhouse Disney on the absence of investment in the total audio-visual production, of French and independent expression. For Disney Channel , SCUMS mets keep of it the chain for its absence of investments in the independent individual production and puts it in residence concerning its quotas of diffusion at the hour for great listening.

Future

Projects announced in the annual report 2006

According to Disney' S Annual Carryforward 2006:
  • the fusion of ABC Radio operator and Citadel Broadcasting must end with the second quarters 2007.
  • In March 2007 must leave to the the United States last cartoon film Disney: Bienvenue at Robinson (for the end of the year in Europe)
  • the May 25th 2007 is envisaged the exit of the third shutter of the Pirates of the Caribbean: Until the end of the world
  • Ratatouille of Pixar is planned for June 2007 in the United States
  • the Disney Wonder must go on several cruises during the summer in the Mediterranean
  • Benjamin Gates and the book of the secrecies , Enchanted and Underdog (seems to be the new name of American Dog) are planned for the end of the year 2007
  • With the autumn 2007, new a Disney Vacation Club must open with Walt Disney World Resort: the Disney' S Animal Kingdom Villas, first of all like a restoration of a wing of the existing hotel then with the construction of a new wing for 2009. In parallel the third phase of the Disney' S Saratoga Springs Resort is in the course of construction
  • the film Le Monde de Narnia 2: The Prince Caspian must leave for the summer 2008

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