Reading My Way Around the World

Wednesday, 13 May 2015

Plane Crazy

I was saying in yesterday's post that I've spent the weekend reliving childhood memories at a very special event called Baking Bread for Peace.

Amidst all the memories of hay making and scone making, the early days of television in our houses was also mentioned.

For most of us our childhood was populated by Walt Disney's fantastic creations.

Did you know that this week saw the very first appearance of Mickey Mouse?

On May 15th 1928, his very first appearance on film was in the 6 minute cartoon Plane Crazy. (And there's my link to this week's #1wordbloglinkup - tenuous I know, but it's there!)

On his way back from an unsuccessful meeting in New York early in 1928, according to Hollywood folklore, Walt Disney came up with the idea of a cartoon film featuring Mortimer Mouse.   His wife Lilian hated the name and suggested he called him Mickey.


Walt pitched the idea to Louis B Meyer who after seeing a preview of Mickey refused to put Walt on contract fearing that pregnant women would be frightened seeing a rodent running around the screen (guffaws all around).   But Walt went ahead.

Later that year in Steamboat Willie, Mickey talked for the first time and went on to get more fan mail than any Holywood star of the time.  And in all the early cartoons Walt was the voice of Mickey.



This post is part of the One Word Blog Linkup hosted weekly each Wednesday by:
 Lisa – The Golden Spoons
Marcia – Blogitudes
one word challenge

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19 comments:

  1. Janine Huldie14 May 2015 at 01:14

    Did know a bit of this, as my husband is a huge Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse fan, but still thank you for a bit of a reminder and sharing today :)

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  2. Jo14 May 2015 at 01:54

    Enjoyed the cartoon, hadn't seen it before. I knew some of the story too. Nice to read it again though.

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    1. Fil15 May 2015 at 20:13

      No, I'd never seen this before either Jo

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  3. Lisa Witherspoon14 May 2015 at 03:32

    What a fun little history lesson! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Fil15 May 2015 at 20:14

      Thanks Lisa - it was a great word to play with :)

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  4. Unknown14 May 2015 at 05:33

    Tenuous or not, I'm so glad you shared this fun Walt Disney lookback with us at #1Word today. Thank you! :)

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  5. Kmcblackburn14 May 2015 at 05:35

    Oh boy did I sure love the Mickey Mouse Club. And Sunday nights were for gathering around the tv to watch "The Wonderful World of Disney" ! Great memories.

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    1. Fil15 May 2015 at 20:15

      I don't remember the Mickey Mouse Club Kathy, but I'd heard so much about it. Lovely memories indeed :)

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  6. SENCO Cat Herder14 May 2015 at 19:43

    Oh yes - Kathy (above) has just reminded me of watching The Wonderful World - that was TRULY wonderful :) I loved that show and yes the whole family would sit down to watch it so it was a nice, cosy feeling too! Also just wanted to say, Fil that your article on Peace Bread was so inspiring that I blogged about it today :)

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    1. Fil15 May 2015 at 20:16

      I'm so pleased you liked it Pempi - I'm heading over to say hello in a few minutes.

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  7. Vix14 May 2015 at 20:23

    I love the old Mickey Mouse with his pie crust eyes. I'm not sure when Walt Disney changed them. Fancy them thinking a cartoon rodent would scare a pregnant woman. They really thought women were a different species back then! x

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    1. Fil15 May 2015 at 20:13

      Isn't that priceless! How considerate were they lol You've got it right - a different species indeed.

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  8. Unknown15 May 2015 at 12:55

    Many facts that I didn't know, about the date (15th May), Mortimer Mouse and that pregnant women would fear that mouse? Wow :) And that the mouse got more mail than any actor at the time and that Walt was his voice at first. I love learning things, your post is great for me!
    DenisesPlanet.com

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    1. Fil15 May 2015 at 20:18

      He was such a star - apparently in one year (1933) he received over 800,000 letters and according to Walt they were all addressed to Mickey. Isn't that lovely. He has his own star on the Hollywood walk of fame too - between Elton John and Jack Nicholson.

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  9. Kezzie15 May 2015 at 23:33

    I DIDN'T know this!!! So cool!!!!x

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  10. Click20 May 2015 at 08:37

    I didn't know this was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon. I used to have Steamboat Willie on tape when I was little and always assumed it was the first.

    I did know Mortimer was his name originally because they've now brought in Mickey's rival Mortimer. It's cool that he wasn't completely forgotten. ;-)

    Cait @ Click's Clan

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  11. coach-daddy20 September 2015 at 20:13

    That's pretty cool. Interesting, the concern about pregnant women! And today, look at all the stuff on Animal Planet alone. Glad I finally got to this from Lisa's linkup.

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