Photo Captions for The Origins of Walt Disney

1. Looking eastward towards the grounds of the World’s Columbian Exposition in Jackson
Park, Elias Disney often walked through the Midway Plaisance on the way to work while
living on Vernon Avenue. (Library of Congress)
2. Pastor Walter Parr personally officiated the ground-breaking of St. Paul’s Congregational
Church on 19 May 1900. (The Chicago Tribune, PUBLIC DOMAINPublic Domain)
3. The ground-breaking of St. Paul’s Congregational Church was significant to both the
congregation and the citizens of the neighbourhood. Elias and Flora Disney personally
participated in the ground-breaking ceremonies on 19 May 1900. (The Chicago Tribune,
PublicUBLIC DomainOMAIN)
4. 1249 Tripp Avenue in Chicago, built and designed by Elias and Flora Disney. The upstairs
bedroom over the porch is the room where Roy, Walt, and Ruth were born. (Andrew
Kiste)
5. When Elias and Flora Disney realizsed they had a knack for building houses after
constructing their own, they decided to purchase additional lots in the neighbourhood
and construct homes to sell, such as this one located at 1209 Tripp Avenue. (Andrew
Kiste)
6. Marceline, Missouri was instrumental in the life of young Walt Disney: “More things of
importance happened to me in Marceline than have happened since,” Walt once
explained. (Map by Andrew Kiste)
7. The rural, agricultural environment of Marceline taught Walt the importance of hard
work, and the importance of both community and the simple life. (Andrew Kiste)
8. American Civil War veteran William Crane owned the Marceline farm that would
eventually become owned by the Disneys after his death. (Courtesy of Chris Ankeney)
9. The close proximity in which that Walt and his older brother Roy shared as they grew
up, as exemplified by the small room and brass bed they shared on the Marceline farm,
led them to become incredibly close as both family and business partners for the
remainder of their lives. (Andrew Kiste)
10. Walt’s penchant for performance, creativity and mischief blossomed at a number of
locations throughout Marceline, not least of which at the barn that stood on the Disney
property. While the barn no longer stands, this reproduction still draws visitors from far
and wide to pay homage to the boy that who would become Walt Disney. (Andrew
Kiste)
11. ‘“Grandpa’” Erastus Taylor lived across the street from the Disney farm and often
entertained his young neighbours with tales of his exploits in the Civil War. While Walt
later realised that the old man likely never experienced half of what he claimed, the rich
detail and engaging storytelling would inspire Walt throughout his career. (Courtesy of
Chris Ankeney)
12. ‘“Grandpa’” Taylor’s house was one of the first built in Marceline and was located across
the street from the Disney farm. Often serving as a gathering place for the Crane-
Phillips-Taylor clan, Elias and his family were quickly became welcomed at the Taylor
homestead. Unfortunately, the house burned down in 1909 shortly after Taylor’s death,
 erasing all remnants of the old man from Walt’s life except for memories. (Courtesy of
Chris Ankeney)
13. Clem Flickinger, Walt Disney’s childhood friend from Marceline, Clem Flickinger.
(Courtesy of Chris Ankeney)
14. Young Walt and his friends spent many days swimming, fishing, and ice skating at
nearby Yellow Creek just outside Marceline. (Andrew Kiste)
15. When Flora decided it was finally time to enroll Walt at Park School, the boy spent more
time doodling and daydreaming than he did learning. In fact, he spent a few lessons
carving his initials into his desk. (Andrew Kiste)
16. While Marceline helped to define Walt Disney’s character, Kansas City’s numerous
pursuits and businesses, including schools, theatres, advertising agencies, and Walt’s
affiliation with The Kansas City Star all paved the way to foster his true passion: drawing.
(Map from Walt Disney’s Missouri, Burnes et. al, reprinted by permission of The
Kansas City Star.)
17. The original Union Depot served as the main hub by which rail traffic entered Kansas
City, as well as the location of for the start of Walt Disney’s adventure in Kansas City.
(Courtesy of Union Station Kansas City Inc./Kansas City Museum)
18. Shortly after arriving in Kansas City, Elias and Roy went to the headquarters of The
Kansas City Star to apply for a paper route. Over the next several few years, Roy and
Walt would work the route, located between Prospect Avenue and Indiana Street and
27th and 31st Streets east of downtown for their father to help support the family during
its time in Kansas City. (‘“Kansas City Star Building’,” Missouri Valley Special
Collections, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri)
19. Walt and Ruth soon enrolled in Benton Grammar School, where the young boy
continued his trend of causing mischief. However, some of the staff members, including
Principal Cottingham and Ms. Daisy Beck, had a lifelong impact on the young man.
(‘“Benton School’,” Mrs. Sam (Mildred) Ray, 1922, Missouri Valley Special Collections,
Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri)
20. A number of ambulance drivers employed by the American Red Cross are inspected at
Hospital No. 5 in Auteuil, France prior to rendering a day’s service. While Walt Disney
never experienced combat situations, he often experienced undertook military-style
drills and training during his employment with the American Red Cross, both in the
United States and Europe in the days following the First World War. (Hine, L.W.,
photographer. (1918). Inspection of Staff at Hospital #5. American Red Cross
Ambulance Drivers Drilling at American Military Hospital No. 5 at Auteuil, which is
sSupported by the American Red Cross. Auteuil, Auteuil, France, 1918.
https://www.loc.gov/item2017682332/.)
21. American Red Cross canteens rendered a number of services to European and American
soldiers including providing hot meals and drinks, rest stations, and stationeary for
writing letters home. The American Red Cross canteen in Neufchâateau, France,
pictured here, was famous for providing delicious hot chocolate and fresh doughnuts,
made by the matron, Alice Howell, who can be seen in the window of the trailer. (In the
bBackyard of the American Red Cross Canteen at Neufchâateau, sShowing Ttank
mMen eEnjoying a cCup of hHot cChocolate. NeFrance, Neufchateau, Neufchâateau,
 France, September 1918. 8. September. Photograph.
https://www.loc.gov/item/2017682556/.)
22. After the flooding of Union Depot, the new Union Station became not only the hub for
rail traffic into Kansas City, but quickly became the third largest and busiest train depot
in America. Walt spent many hours wandering through the Grand Hall, pictured here, as
he bid farewell to his family, as well as visiting weekly to bathe in the station’s
bathrooms. (Courtesy of Union Station Kansas City Inc./Kansas City Museum)
23. Prior to boarding the train that would carry them to their destinations, travellers would
pass below the large suspended clock and seat themselves upon the wooden benches in
Union Station’s North Waiting Room. (Courtesy of Union Station Kansas City
Inc./Kansas City Museum)
24. Upon returning to Kansas City after his time in Europe, Walt secured a job at Pesmen-
Rubin where he produced advertisements for local businesses at this desk. It was here
that he created made a lasting friendship and partnership with fellow artist, Ubbe
Iwwerks. (Andrew Kiste)
25. When Walt’s boss at the Kansas City Film Ad Company wasn’t interested in producing
animated advertisements, it was recommended that Walt partner with Frank Newman
to sell his animated ads. Newman was interested in what Walt created and soon was
creating weekly advertisements shown in Newman Theatre, pictured here. (Creative
Commons (Attribution) License)
26. In 1919, Walt Disney joined the Order of the DeMolay as one of Frank ‘“Dad’” Land’s
boys. It was here, at Kansas City’s Scottish Rite Temple, that Walt learned how to have
reverence for courtesy, comradeship, and patriotism, all under the tutelage of Land.
(‘“Scottish Rite Temple’, ” Mrs. Sam (Mildred) Ray, 1922, Missouri Valley Special
Collections, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri)
27. On 1 November 1921, a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Liberty Memorial took
place in front of Union Station. The ceremony drew thousands from around the nation,
including dignitaries such as the Allied generals and US president Calvin Coolidge. With
not enough standing room, dozens of people perched atop the roof of Union Station to
witness the festivities. Walt Disney, in an effort to make some money, attempted (and
failed) to capture the event from the cockpit of an airplane soaring overhead. (Courtesy
of Union Station Kansas City Inc./Kansas City Museum)
28. During his weekly trip for bathing, Walt often stood on the platforms, watching the
trains pull in and out of Union Station, longing to once again be with Elias, Flora and
Ruth. However, in 1923, these same platforms would bring a fresh start for the young
man him as he left Kansas City behind him and travelled to Los Angeles with nothing but
a borrowed suit, a cardboard suitcase, and forty 40 dollars. (Courtesy of Union Station
Kansas City Inc./Kansas City Museum)
29. When Laugh-O-gram defaulted on its payments to the owners of the McConahay
Building, they were kicked out and moved production to the nearby Wirthman Building,
where the Isis Theatre was also located. It was here that Walt spent time watching
animated films for inspiration for his own shorts, as well as where he met theatre
organist Carl Stalling, with whom he would collaborate with on future projects.
(Creative Commons (Attribution) License)
30. Upon receiving word from Margaret J. Winkler that she was interested in distributing
Walt’s Alice Comedies, the aspiring film-maker snuck inonto the grounds of the Sawtelle
VA Hospital located just outside Los Angeles. It was here that he awoke Roy, who was
recovering from tuberculosis, to tell him the news of Winkler’s message. (Library of
Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, HABS)
31. After the demise of the Alice Comedies, Charles Mintz asked Walt to develop a new
animated character to be distributed by Universal. Together, Walt and Ub Iwerks
created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. This advertisement features an early concept for
Oswald that would later be changed to make him slimmer and younger- looking.
(Alamy)