The history of Mickey

 Everyone has heard of Walt Disney and everyone knows Mickey Mouse. But have you heard of Ub? Have you heard of the history of the mouse? Yes the history of Mickey Mouse. Exciting right? I am recycling old pictures for  this one, because it was shot at Disney Springs. We had a fun time that day and I had so much fun wearing this dress by FarmRio. Perfect summery day. Anyways if you want  to shop what I am wearing skip to the bottom! Otherwise “Let’s get this wagon train a movin!”

So the year is 1927, and two men Walt Disney and Ub  Iwerks created a character called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit . This was a character who was in many short films. Released to theaters from 1927 to 1938, he would appear in 27 films   Under Walt Disney studios.When Walt Disney studios was removed from the series , many of the animators went to Winkler.and that is when Walt and Ub would creat the icon of all time. 

Oswald the lucky rabbit.

The year was 1928(still) and Walt and Ub were trying to come up with their own character. Oswald they didn’t have rights to, that is until 2009. There was a lot of drama surrounding that rabbit.  Universal was the owner of the rights and Charles Mintz was playing middle man between Disney and universal with his company Winkler, who was producing the Oswald cartoons at the time..  , the conflict between Mintz and Disney along with the fact that animators were leaving for Winkler studios Disney knew they needed to cut ties with Oswald. Ub was one of the few animators left and stuck it out with Disney . And Still, they needed something. After all they were competing with Oswald and Universal as well as Felix the cat( who Ilove!). That is when Mortimer mouse would be first drafted. Well ok, not at first.. Disney asked Ub to create a character and so there was a cow named later Clarabelle. Cats and dogs were introduced but rejected along with a horse. 

1928 concept art for Mickey Mouse, the Disney family museum

Now it is said that this was done in secret while Disney finished up some toons that he was contractually obligated to do.  

Then Walt pulled inspiration from a tame mouse that he had at the laugh -o-gram studios in Missouri. Now back in 1925  a man named Hugh Hartman drew up some sketches of a mouse around some pictures of Walt. The mouse’s name? Mortimer . And that name was originally set to be the name of the new character until Walt wife Lillian convinced him to to change it, thank god!

Mickey Mouse would make his debut in May of 1928,in a short called “ plane crazy” it honestly failed . He then appeared in another short Galloping  Gaucho, but sadly it was never released. Then the iconic Steamboat Willie.it was November 28,1928 co directed by Disney and Ub. It was meant to be a parody of 

Buster Keaton’s Steamboat bill jr. This cartoon of Mickey was considered the debut as it found a distributor for the film. People were impressed by the sounds used for comedy. Talkies were new and this use of sound and music impressed audiences. Mickey became popular!

Mickey’s early personality was much different than the mouse kids see on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and it more like the newer shorts you can see on Disney plus or sometimes YouTube. 

He was cheeky, sarcastic, funny, mischievous. Not the all around angel he was later portrayed to be.Which is why I love the older versions of him as he was more geared towards adults. The funny shorts make me laugh even now! He would get himself in all sorts of trouble, like in “Through the looking Glass” which is my fave short.

His personality with Minnie was also vastly different from what you see today. He was not characterized by being the hero but rather an ineffective suitor. Also Mickey didn’t start wearing his characteristic white gloves until The osprey house  in May of  1929 , after that he wore them all the time. common in those all time old cartoons to wear gloves. Few didn’t. Mickey also didn’t talk until some time in1929 . It was in the short The Karnival kid, his first words. “ hot dogs!hot dogs!”  Most of the cartoons we see today Mickey is more relevant to our sizes. Standing at 3 ft tall , there were some toons where he and Minnie were as small as real mice should be. The film was When the Cats away. 

Mickey Mouse’s theme song called “Minnie’s Yoo-Hoo!” Was introduced in Mickey’sFollies in 1929. It would last awhile after that. 

Sadly after the film 

 The cactus kid , 1930 Ub Iwerks had a falling out with Disney. After being treated a bit like poo by Walt. Watch the Drunk History on it. It explains it, hilariously. 

P.s Drunk history is on Hulu. 

Ok, so, He left Disney studios and started Iwerks and was being bankrolled by Pat Powers. You See, he and Walt also had a falling out.It was over a distribution deal (money), he lost the distribution  deals with Disney. So in response he picked up Ub’s company. 

Money, man I tell ya.this was a turning point for Mickey as well as if not more so for Walt, who lost his close friend and confidant since 1919! What did Mickey loose? The man mostly responsible for his design and animation . But Mickey would continue on and in 1932 the Mickey Mouse club was born,at its hey day it had over a million embers until it shut down in 1935 due to many problems with administration. Mickey would continue to rise in fame while Felix the cat faded from memory.Thewriters would start having trouble keeping up with writing material suitable for kids and so Donald Duck would be in more cartoons with Mickey.Mickey also would have his first colorized debut in 1935 in the short the band concert.

At this time it is worth noting that Bugs Bunny was rising in fame, due to his slap stick comedy geared towards adults ,1932-33 he was debuting. 

Bugs bunny was not made for kids originally. But then I don’t feel Mickey was either. In the beginning that is. Anyways, Mickey would go through many redesigns throughout the years to keep his popularity up. At one point Donald Duck was more popular ! 

After 1940 his popularity would die off, only appearing here and there. But I feel his popularity never really truly died off especially after Disneyland and World opened up! And I feel like many with the introduction of Disney Plus there is a newfound respect and admiration for the little guy! I have never stopped loving him that is for sure. One of my fave toys was a stuffed Mickey, that I loved to death as a child. And I had a baby Mickey as well! 

You can still buy a lot of Mickey Stuff. 

shop my look Canvas Slip-On Sneakers for Women • Old Navy • $29.99
Mickey Mouse Simulated Leather Ear Headband • Disney • $29.99
Wide leather belt with Double G buckle • Gucci • $470
Vintage Floral Maxi Dress • Farm Rio • Sold Out