Rediscovering Walt Disney

Walt Disney had intended to do several themed package features in the postwar period but ran out of money so the work that had been completed was combined into releasable features to get them out the door and bring much needed revenue into the studio. The features Mickey & the Beanstalk and the Wind in the Willows became featurettes and were combined with other stories. Shorts created for an American Tall Tales feature were distributed into the films Melody Time and Make Mine Music. Another one of the compromised features was originally going to be a Washington Irving feature. While the Legend of Sleepy Hollow was released in the feature The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad, the other half of the Irving Feature, Rip van Winkle was cancelled. What does exist is a kiddie record based on the Walt Disney film that never was starring Walter Huston, Arthur Q Brian, and Bea Benaderet. Walt had once considered a live action adaptation of Rip Van Winkle with Will Rogers in the title role and the dwarves being animated but Rogers passed away in an aviation accident before anything came of it. This kiddie record is all that exists of the Walt Disney film that never was. The segment was often paired with the kiddie record adaptation of Walt Disney's Legend of Sleepy Hollow and reissued multiple times over the years. The album artwork was by famed Walt Disney artist and cartoonist Walt Kelly. Since kiddie records are a thing of the past, we post it here for you to learn about this lost chapter of Walt Disney history. When one hears the performance of Walter Huston one wishes they could have seen this story animated. Walt did do an episode of his TV show partially based on the life of Washington Irving with Irving's life being animated. This episode aired in the second season on October 26, 1955 and was paired with the Legend of Sleepy Hollow segment from the Adventures of Ichabod & Mr Toad. It should also be noted that in recent years there are "experts" who have tried to coopt the image of Washington Irving and claim, without evidence, that he was part of the Rainbow Jihad. Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

On December 21, 1937 Walt Disney's Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs premiered at the Carthay Circle Theater. A who's who of Hollywood fixtures came out to see the film. Some of the first costumed Walt Disney characters ever also appeared at this event and intermingled with the celebrities. This legendary premiere was a huge success that far surpassed expectations. Here's a radio broadcast of the red carpet before the premiere edited with photos from the event. This is a treasure we're blessed still exists. Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

In 1949 Bing Crosy devoted several different segments of his radio show across two months to promote Walt Disney's new animated feature The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr Toad. Bing told and sung the Ichabod segment. For your enjoyment, here are all four segments edited into one clip. Each of these songs contain verses not used in the final film. Original air dates: Katrina Sept 21, 1949 Katrina October 5, 1949 Ichabod October 12, 1949 Headless Horseman October 26, 1949 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

Trailer for the 1949 fantasy comedy adventure film based on the novels the Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. Plot: In the Wind in the Willows the eccentric Mr. Toad loses his ancestorial home in his pursuit of obtaining motor cars. In the Legend of Sleepy Hollow schoolmaster Ichabod Crane matches wits with local good ol' boy Brom Bones for the hand of the lovely Katrina van Tassel. Starring Bing Crosby as the Narrator, Ichabod Crane, & Brom Bones Basil Rathbone as the Narrator Eric Blore as J. Thaddeus Toad J. Pat O'Malley as Cyril Proudbottom John McLeish as the Prosecuting Attorney Colin Campbell as Mole Campbell Grant as Angus MacBadger Claud Allister as Water Rat The Rhythmaires as the Sleepy Hollow villagers Oliver Wallace & Alec Harford as Mr. Winkie Songs by Larry Morey & Ray Gilbert and Frank Churchill & Charles Wolcott and Don Raye & Gene de Paul Story by Erdman Penner, Winston Hibler, Joe Rinaldi, Ted Sears, Homer Brightman, & Harry Reeves Directed by Ben Sharpsteen, Jack Kinney, Clyde Geronimi, James Algar Release date October 5, 1949 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

In this 1950 episode of Perry Como Presents this promo for Walt Disney's Cinderella. The sequence features Perry Como, the Fontane Sisters, and Cinderella's actual voice in the film, Ilene Woods. There's also a cameo by Clarence "Ducky" Nash and Donald Duck. Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

This is the second Mickey Mouse cartoon animated but the second one released. When the silent versions of Plane Crazy and the Gallopin' Gaucho failed to gain distribution, Walt decided to make the third Mickey Mouse, Steamboat Willie, cartoon the world's first fully synchronized sound cartoon after seeing The Jazz Singer (Itself being the first synchronized live action film.) The short was animated by Ub Iwerks and the title came from a parody of a Buster Keaton film, Steamboat Bill. A test with live sound was done for the staff in July 1928. Walt Disney voiced all the characters in the short. The film was distributed by Pat Powers. Steamboat Willie premiered at Universal's Colony Theater in New York City on November 18, 1928 and became the most popular cartoon of its day and launched Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney into stardom. Walt added sound to the previously silent Mickey Mouse cartoons, Plane Crazy and the Gallopin' Gaucho. The Gallpoin' Gaucho is a parody of the Douglas Fairbanks film The Gaucho. It fell into the public domain in 2024. Release date December 30, 1928 (Silent version) August 2, 1928 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

After the Alice Comedies had run their course due to cost and technical restrictions, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was developed as the lead character in an new all animated series. Walt and Ub Iwerks began the series once they moved into the new Hyperion Studio building. When the first short, Poor Papa, was rejected by Universal, Walt and Ub went back to the drawing board and redesigned the character to be more like Charlie Chaplin. After Oswald was accepted, the short Poor Papa was tweaked to fit the new character design and became the 21st short released while it was the first one made. This short was remade into the Mickey Mouse short Ye Olden Days. With income gained from the Oswald series, Walt and Roy purchased ten acres of land in the desert. They also invested in an oil-drilling venture. Iwerks also invested his income in several stone mills to crush paint pigment he used to make paint formulas that were utilized by animators for decades. 6 of the 27 Oswald shorts Walt Disney & Ub Iwerks made are believed to be lost. This is the 6th Oswald cartoon in the series and the final one produced by Walt Disney & Ub Iwerks. Release date November 14, 1927 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

The Alice Comedies are Walt Disney's first successful animated series. The cartoons follow the adventures of a live action little girl named Alice and her animated cat, Julius, through an animated world. The original actress who played Alice was Virginia Davis. The third actress to play Alice was Margie Gay is in this short and was in more than twice as many Alice Comedies than Virginia Davis. The cartoons are animated by Ub Iwerks and were distributed by Margaret J. Winkler. The successful Alice Comedies series ran for 57 episodes and are the foundation of the Disney Bros Studio. The series was finally replaced by Walt's new star, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1927. 16 Alice Comedies shorts are believed to be lost. This is the 28th Alice Comedies cartoon in the series. Release date January 15, 1926 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

While not rediscovering Walt Disney history, this is rediscovering Walt Disney adjacent history. Richard M and Robert B Sherman made up the Sherman Bros songwriting team. They were his righthand songwriters but after Walt passed away they left the Walt Disney Studios and struck out on their own. Among their Post Walt Disney musicals work are Charlotte's Web, Snoopy Come Home, Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, the Slipper & the Rose, and others. They also wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang while still working for Walt. One of their unproduced musicals is an animated feature known as Sir Puss in Boots. It starred Sammy Davis, Jr, Karl Malden, and Michael Jackson (not THAT Michael Jackson...) It was to be directed by another Disney alumnus, Jack Kinney. Kinney mentions this unproduced film in his autobiography and so do the Sherman Bros in their own. The film was never completed because the producer ran out of money but it's my understanding that all of the performances were recorded. In the days of crowdfunding, wouldn't it be marvelous to see a brand-new hand drawn musical animated feature by the Sherman Bros released among a sea of CGI animated features? Here's a sampling from that score married with a press kit created for the film that was produced to generate funding in the 1970's. To purchase the CD with the entire score follow this link: http://www.kritzerland.com/unsung_sherman.htm It's great to discover a lost Sherman Bros musical and there's two on that album plus a few prospective songs written for a third. Maybe if people generate interest in this project, those who are able to will revive it. We can only hope.

The Alice Comedies are Walt Disney's first successful animated series. The cartoons follow the adventures of a live action little girl named Alice and her animated cat, Julius, through an animated world. The original actress who played Alice was Virginia Davis. This is her final performance as Alice. The cartoons are animated by Ub Iwerks and were distributed by Margaret J. Winkler. The successful Alice Comedies series ran for 57 episodes and are the foundation of the Disney Bros Studio. The series was finally replaced by Walt's new star, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1927. 16 Alice Comedies shorts are believed to be lost. This is the 14th Alice Comedies cartoon in the series. Release date February 1, 1925 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

The Alice Comedies are Walt Disney's first successful animated series. The cartoons follow the adventures of a live action little girl named Alice and her animated cat, Julius, through an animated world. The original actress who played Alice was Virginia Davis. The third actress to play Alice was Margie Gay is in this short and was in more than twice as many Alice Comedies than Virginia Davis. The cartoons are animated by Ub Iwerks and were distributed by Margaret J. Winkler. The successful Alice Comedies series ran for 57 episodes and are the foundation of the Disney Bros Studio. The series was finally replaced by Walt's new star, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1927. 16 Alice Comedies shorts are believed to be lost. This is the 34th Alice Comedies cartoon in the series. Release date October 4, 1926 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

After the Alice Comedies had run their course due to cost and technical restrictions, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was developed as the lead character in an new all animated series. Walt and Ub Iwerks began the series once they moved into the new Hyperion Studio building. When the first short, Poor Papa, was rejected by Universal, Walt and Ub went back to the drawing board and redesigned the character to be more like Charlie Chaplin. After Oswald was accepted, the short Poor Papa was tweaked to fit the new character design and became the 21st short released while it was the first one made. This short was remade into the Mickey Mouse short Ye Olden Days. With income gained from the Oswald series, Walt and Roy purchased ten acres of land in the desert. They also invested in an oil-drilling venture. Iwerks also invested his income in several stone mills to crush paint pigment he used to make paint formulas that were utilized by animators for decades. 6 of the 27 Oswald shorts Walt Disney & Ub Iwerks made are believed to be lost. This is the 20th Oswald cartoon in the series and the final one produced by Walt Disney & Ub Iwerks. Release date May 28, 1928 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

After the Alice Comedies had run their course due to cost and technical restrictions, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was developed as the lead character in an new all animated series. Walt and Ub Iwerks began the series once they moved into the new Hyperion Studio building. When the first short, Poor Papa, was rejected by Universal, Walt and Ub went back to the drawing board and redesigned the character to be more like Charlie Chaplin. After Oswald was accepted, the short Poor Papa was tweaked to fit the new character design and became the 21st short released while it was the first one made. Sky Scrappers was remade as the Mickey Mouse cartoon Building a Building With income gained from the Oswald series, Walt and Roy purchased ten acres of land in the desert. They also invested in an oil-drilling venture. Iwerks also invested his income in several stone mills to crush paint pigment he used to make paint formulas that were utilized by animators for decades. 6 of the 27 Oswald shorts Walt Disney & Ub Iwerks made are believed to be lost. This is the 27th Oswald cartoon in the series and the final one produced by Walt Disney & Ub Iwerks. Release date September 3, 1928 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

The Alice Comedies are Walt Disney's first successful animated series. The cartoons follow the adventures of a live action little girl named Alice and her animated cat, Julius, through an animated world. The original actress who played Alice was Virginia Davis. The Fourth actress to play Alice was Lois Hardwick is in this short. Most of her Alice Comedies shorts are lost. The cartoons are animated by Ub Iwerks and were distributed by Margaret J. Winkler. The successful Alice Comedies series ran for 57 episodes and are the foundation of the Disney Bros Studio. The series was finally replaced by Walt's new star, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1927. 16 Alice Comedies shorts are believed to be lost. This is the 31st Alice Comedies cartoon in the series. Release date July 25, 1927 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

After the Alice Comedies had run their course due to cost and technical restrictions, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was developed as the lead character in an new all animated series. Walt and Ub Iwerks began the series once they moved into the new Hyperion Studio building. When the first short, Poor Papa, was rejected by Universal, Walt and Ub went back to the drawing board and redesigned the character to be more like Charlie Chaplin. After Oswald was accepted, the short Poor Papa was tweaked to fit the new character design and became the 21st short released while it was the first one made. With income gained from the Oswald series, Walt and Roy purchased ten acres of land in the desert. They also invested in an oil-drilling venture. Iwerks also invested his income in several stone mills to crush paint pigment he used to make paint formulas that were utilized by animators for decades. 6 of the 27 Oswald shorts Walt Disney & Ub Iwerks made are believed to be lost. This is the 18th Oswald cartoon in the series. Release date April 30, 1928 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

After the Alice Comedies had run their course due to cost and technical restrictions, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was developed as the lead character in an new all animated series. Walt and Ub Iwerks began the series once they moved into the new Hyperion Studio building. When the first short, Poor Papa, was rejected by Universal, Walt and Ub went back to the drawing board and redesigned the character to be more like Charlie Chaplin. After Oswald was accepted, the short Poor Papa was tweaked to fit the new character design and became the 21st short released while it was the first one made. With income gained from the Oswald series, Walt and Roy purchased ten acres of land in the desert. They also invested in an oil-drilling venture. Iwerks also invested his income in several stone mills to crush paint pigment he used to make paint formulas that were utilized by animators for decades. 6 of the 27 Oswald shorts Walt Disney & Ub Iwerks made are believed to be lost. This is the 22nd Oswald cartoon in the series. Release date June 25, 1928 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

Trailer for the 1984 fantasy comedy and the first Touchstone Picture release. Plot: In modern New York City a mermaid falls in love with a human man. After a series of dark, disastrous film releases attempting to appeal to adult audiences, studio chief Ron Miller created the Touchstone Pictures label to release this film and others like it. However, Eisner took the credit when he gained control of the Walt Disney Company. Starring Tom Hanks as Allen Bauer David Kreps as young Allen Bauer Daryl Hannah as Madison Shayla MacKarvich as young Madison Eugene Levy as Dr. Walter Kornbluth John Candy as Freddie Bauer Jason Late as young Freddie Bauer Dody Goodman as Mrs. Stimler Shecky Greene as Mr. Buyrite Richard B. Shull as Dr. Ross Bobby Di Cicco as Jerry Howard Morris as Dr. Zidell Tony DiBenedetto as Tim, the doorman Patrick Cronin as Michaelson Charles Walker as Michaelson's partner David Knell as Claude Jeff Doucette as Junior Royce D. Applegate as Buckwalter Tony Longo as Augie Nora Denney as Ms. Stein Charles Macaulay as the President Joe Grifasi as Manny Lee Delano as Sergeant Lelandowski Migdia Varela as Wanda Than Wyenn as Mr. Ambrose Eileen Saki as Dr. Fujimoto Jodi Long as reporter Bill Smitrovich as Ralph Bauer Nancy Raffa as Mary Bauer Screenplay by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel, Bruce Jay Friedman Directed by Ron Howard Release date March 9, 1984 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

Trailer for the 1978 science fiction film based on the characters created by Alexander Key. Plot: The children from Witch Mountain return for a visit in the city when Tony is kidnapped and mind controlled by a mad scientist and his assistant and Tia must rescue her brother from their clutches. Starring Bette Davis as Letha Wedge Christopher Lee as Dr. Victor Gannon Kim Richards as Tia Malone Ike Eisenmann as Tony Malone Jack Soo as Mr. "Yo-Yo" Yokomoto Anthony James as Sickle Richard Bakalyan as Eddie Ward Costello as Mr. Clearcole Christian Juttner as Dazzler Brad Savage as Muscles Poindexter Yothers as Crusher Jeffrey Jacquet as Rocky Stu Gilliam as Dolan William Bassett as Operations officer Tom Scott as Monitor Helene Winston as Dowager Albert Able as Engineer Denver Pyle as Uncle Bené Brian Part and Pierre Daniel as Goons Wally Brooks as Taxi fare Mel Gold as Security guard Bob Yothers as Cop Casse Jaeger as School patrolman Larry Mamorstein as Guard Bob James as Gate guard Ruth Warshawsky as Lady in car Adam Anderson as Man in museum Rosemary Lord as Woman in museum Ted Noose as Policeman Wally Berns as Man in car Screenplay by Malcolm Marmorstein Directed by John Hough Release date March 10, 1978 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

Trailer for the 1989 science fiction comedy film. Plot: A wacky inventor accidently shrinks his kids and they get lost in the backyard. This film is really when the Walt Disney Company successfully returned to their roots with a popular, successful special effects comedy family film. Starring Rick Moranis as Wayne Szalinski Matt Frewer as Russell "Big Russ" Thompson Sr. Marcia Strassman as Diane Szalinski Kristine Sutherland as Mae Thompson Thomas Wilson Brown as Russell "Little Russ" Thompson Jr. Jared Rushton as Ronald "Ron" Thompson Amy O'Neill as Amy Szalinski Robert Oliveri as Nick Szalinski Carl Steven as Tommy Pervis Mark L. Taylor as Donald "Don" Forrester Kimmy Robertson as Gloria Forrester Lou Cutell as Dr. Brainard Laura Waterbury as Female Cop Trevor Galtress as Male Cop Martin Aylett as Harold Boorstein Janet Sunderland as Lauren Boorstein Craig Richard Nelson as Prof. Frederickson Frank Welker as Special Vocal Effects Screenplay by Ed Naha & Tom Schulman Directed by Joe Johnston Release date June 23, 1989 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

Trailer for the 1982 science fiction film. Plot: A computer programmer is sucked into the game he'd created. This was Walt Disney Productions' attempt at producing a Science Fiction film in the vein of those that were popular at the time. This film is famous for its then groundbreaking CGI visual effects. Starring Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn & Clu (Codified Likeness Utility) Bruce Boxleitner as Alan Bradley & Tron David Warner as Ed Dillinger, Sark, & Master Control Program (MCP) Cindy Morgan as Dr. Lora Baines & Yori Barnard Hughes as Dr. Walter Gibbs, Dumont & Master Control Program's original incarnation. Dan Shor as Roy Kleinberg & Ram Peter Jurasik as Crom Tony Stephano as Peter & Sark's Lieutenant. Screenplay by Steven Lisberger Directed by Steven Lisberger Release date July 9, 1982 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

Teaser Trailer for the 1983 mystery suspense horror film based on the novel of the same name by Ray Bradbury who was a friend of Walt Disney's. Plot: A coming of age story about a father, his son, and his son's best friend when a mysterious circus of evil comes to town. This was Walt Disney Productions' attempt at producing a horror film to reach the market then popular at the time that was started by The Exorcist. The film had a troubled production as Disney execs got cold feet on the tone of the first cut of the film and new scenes were shot as well as a different score created. Part of the Walt Disney back lot was torn down to build the town set used in this film. Starring Jason Robards as Charles Halloway Jonathan Pryce as Mr. Dark Diane Ladd as Mrs. Nightshade Royal Dano as Tom Fury Vidal Peterson as Will Halloway Arthur Hill as Adult Will (Narrator) Shawn Carson as Jim Nightshade Mary Grace Canfield as Miss Foley Sharan Lea as Young Miss Foley Richard Davalos as Mr. Crosetti Jack Dodson as Dr. Douglas Bruce M. Fischer as Mr. Cooger Pam Grier as the Dust Witch Jack Dengel as Mr. Tetley Ellen Geer as Mrs. Halloway James Stacy as Ed, the Bartender Tony Christopher as Young Ed Angelo Rossitto as Little Person #1 Screenplay by Ray Bradbury Directed by Jack Clayton Release date April 29, 1983 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

Trailer for the 1980 mystery suspense horror film based on the novel of the same name Florence Engel Randall. Plot: A teenage girl tries to solve the mystery on what happened to a teenage girl thirty years ago during the same upcoming eclipse. This was Walt Disney Productions' attempt at producing a horror film to reach the market then popular at the time that was started by The Exorcist. The original filmed ending had a science fiction identity for the Watcher but was later reshot in favor of an occult one. Starring Bette Davis as Mrs. Aylwood Carroll Baker as Helen Curtis David McCallum as Paul Curtis Lynn-Holly Johnson as Jan Curtis Kyle Richards as Ellie Curtis Ian Bannen as John Keller Richard Pasco as Tom Colley Frances Cuka as Mary Fleming Benedict Taylor as Mike Fleming Eleanor Summerfield as Mrs. Thayer Georgina Hale as Young Mrs. Aylwood Katharine Levy as Karen Aylwood Screenplay by Brian Clemens, Harry Spalding & Rosemary Anne Sisson Directed by John Hough & Vincent McEveety Release date April 17, 1980 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

Trailer for the 1979 science fiction adventure film. Plot: 20,000 Leagues Unser the Sea in outer space. Originally conceived as a disaster film like The Towering Inferno or The Poseidon Adventure by Disney legend Winston Hibler, the success of Star Wars made Walt Disney Productions rework the script after Hibler passed away. The result is the first Disney film to receive a PG rating. Starring Maximilian Schell as Dr. Hans Reinhardt Anthony Perkins as Dr. Alex Durant Robert Forster as Captain Dan Holland Joseph Bottoms as Lieutenant Charlie Pizer Yvette Mimieux as Dr. Kate McCrae Ernest Borgnine as Harry Booth Tom McLoughlin as Captain S.T.A.R. (Captain Special Troops/Arms Regiment) Roddy McDowall as the voice of V.I.N.CENT. LF-396 (Vital Information Necessary CENTralized Labor Force-396) Slim Pickens as the voice of Old BO.B. LF-28 (Old BiO-sanitation Battalion Labor Force-28) Screenplay by Gerry Day & Jeb Rosebrook Directed by Gary Nelson Release date December 18, 1979 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

After the Alice Comedies had run their course due to cost and technical restrictions, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was developed as the lead character in an new all animated series. Walt and Ub Iwerks began the series once they moved into the new Hyperion Studio building. When the first short, Poor Papa, was rejected by Universal, Walt and Ub went back to the drawing board and redesigned the character to be more like Charlie Chaplin. After Oswald was accepted, the short Poor Papa was tweaked to fit the new character design and became the 21st short released while it was the first one made. With income gained from the Oswald series, Walt and Roy purchased ten acres of land in the desert. They also invested in an oil-drilling venture. Iwerks also invested his income in several stone mills to crush paint pigment he used to make paint formulas that were utilized by animators for decades. 6 of the 27 Oswald shorts Walt Disney & Ub Iwerks made are believed to be lost. This is the 4th Oswald cartoon in the series. Release date October 17, 1927 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

After the Alice Comedies had run their course due to cost and technical restrictions, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was developed as the lead character in an new all animated series. Walt and Ub Iwerks began the series once they moved into the new Hyperion Studio building. When the first short, Poor Papa, was rejected by Universal, Walt and Ub went back to the drawing board and redesigned the character to be more like Charlie Chaplin. After Oswald was accepted, the short Poor Papa was tweaked to fit the new character design and became the 21st short released while it was the first one made. With income gained from the Oswald series, Walt and Roy purchased ten acres of land in the desert. They also invested in an oil-drilling venture. Iwerks also invested his income in several stone mills to crush paint pigment he used to make paint formulas that were utilized by animators for decades. 6 of the 27 Oswald shorts Walt Disney & Ub Iwerks made are believed to be lost. This is the 2nd Oswald cartoon in the series. Release date September 19, 1927 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.