Walt Disney

The corporation operated for years under the name Walt Disney Studios and a few years later under the name Walt Disney Productions in 1986 it was changed to its current name, and at the same time the activity was expanded by establishing new divisions and departments that focused on film, radio, music, advertising and publishing, as well as digital media. In addition, Disney created new business departments in order to market the content directed to a more mature audience, especially one that was identified with the company’s flagship brands.

Walt Disney is best known for the films and productions of his film studios, Walt Disney Studios, which today is one of the largest and most well-known studios in Hollywood. Disney also owns and operates the ABC television network; operates several cable TV channels, including the Disney Channel, ESPN, and Freeform; including marketing, advertising and distribution departments; and also operates and owns the rights and licenses for 14 theme parks around the world, through the subsidiary corporation Parks and Resorts of the Walt Disney Company, in addition to owning a successful music division. As of May 6, 1991, Walt Disney stock is one of the stocks that make up the Dow Jones index. The well-known character created by Walt Disney at the beginning of his career, Mickey Mouse, is the official symbol of the corporation.

1934–1945: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and World War II In light of the decision to develop animation films and technology, Disney began producing the first full-length animated film in 1934. After 3 years of production, the film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” premiered in December 1937 and became the most successful film at the same time. The film was distributed by the RKO company that distributed Disney films starting in July 1937, after United Artists tried to obtain the broadcast rights to the Disney shorts. The studios continued to make feature films, including “Pinocchio” (1940), “Fantasia” (1940), “Dumbo the Flying Elephant” (1941) and “Bambi” (1942). After the outbreak of World War II, the rations from the films decreased. When the United States entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, many of Disney’s animators were drafted into the United States Army. The governments of the United States and Canada were invited to the company’s studios to produce training and propaganda films. By 1942, 90% of all the company’s employees (who were then about 550) worked on films related to the war. Films “Victory Through Air Power” and “Education for Death” were created to increase support as in the great war effort. The characters of the studios also joined the fight, such as Donald Duck who appeared in short propaganda films, including the Oscar-winning film, “The Face of the Fuehrer” (1943).

1955–1965: DisneylandIn 1954, Walt Disney used the series “The Wonderful World of Disney” to unveil what would become Disneyland, an idea he conceived out of the desire to build a place where parents and children could enjoy together. On July 18, 1955, Walt Disney opened the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California to the public. On July 17, 1955, Disneyland Park was shown on live television sponsored by Ronald Reagan. After an inauspicious beginning, Disneyland grew and attracted visitors from all over the United States and the world. In 1959, the monorail train (“Monorail System”) was added to the park, which was the first train of its kind in America.

Disney’s film studios remained busy and successful, with an average of 6 productions produced each year during that time. While the production of short films slowed significantly during the 1950s and 1960s, the studio released several full-length animated films, including Beauty and the Beast (1955), Sleeping Beauty (1959) and 101 Dalmatians (1961). , created using innovative photocopiers in order to transfer the creative process through paintings to the innovation of the machines.[12] The live-action films created by Disney were spread across several genres, including historical fiction (“Johnny Tremaine”, 1957), adaptations of children’s books (“Pollyanna”, 1960) and modern comedies (“The Taming of the Shrew” , 1959). Disney’s most successful film in the 1960s was the film “Mary Poppins” which combined live actors and animation and was based on the plot of the book of the same name. The film was the highest-grossing film at the time, and won five Academy Awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actress, which went to Julie Andrews for her performance. The design and architecture group for Disney’s theme parks became an integral part of the studio’s operations, and Walt Disney Studios bought it on February 5, 1965, changing its name to “Walt Disney Imagineering”

2022-present: The return of Bob IgerOn November 20, 2022, the Walt Disney Company unexpectedly announced that Chapek had finished his position, and Bob Iger returned to serve as the company’s CEO.  In February 2023, Disney announced that it would cut $5.5 billion in costs, including the elimination of 7,000 jobs representing 3% of its workforce. Disney plans to reorganize into three divisions: Entertainment, ESPN and Parks, Experiences and Products.