90 Years and counting for a Mouse.

So, if you missed it, yesterday was the 90th birthday for a mouse.

Now, that is pretty good by mouse standards. The average mouse lives about a year. But, then this is not your average mouse.

Depending on what corporate spin is telling the tale, this mouse got his start at the desk of one Walt Disney. At least, the tale is shared that Walt used to see a mouse when he was at work at his drawing table in his Kansas City days. So in March of 1928 after a trip to New York, where he learned that he had lost the character of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt and Lillian were riding the train back to Los Angeles. The legend goes that Walt came up with the idea for a spunky mouse as a new character, naming him Mortimer. Lillian intervened and christened the new mouse as Mickey, instead.

The Walt Disney Family Museum has on display what may be the first drawing of both Mickey and Minnie Mouse, believed to be from the pencil of Ub Iwerks. And so it was that the first cartoon to feature both of those mice was a silent short called “Plane Crazy”, capitalizing on the trans-Atlantic flight of Charles Lindbergh, with a test screen debut on May 15, 1928. But it wasn’t until Mickey and Minnie found their voices, with the first synchronized sound cartoon, “Steamboat Willie” was first shown in New York City at Universal’s Colony Theater on November 18, 1928. That is the recognized birthday for the duo.

It’s interesting to note that Walt put Oswald well behind him. So much so that when Bob Iger made the deal to bring Oswald back to Disney, he proudly announced it to Walt’s daughter Diane during Disneyland’s 50th anniversary. Her reaction was, “Who was Oswald?” All the years with Walt, he had never mentioned Oswald to her. It was as if he never existed because Walt had so completely left that behind and gone forward with Mickey instead.

Mickey became an every man character over the years, maturing from his rough and tumble early beginnings. He made the jump from short subjects to feature film in 1940’s “Fantasia” in the role of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. And he was good for the bottom line of the company, too. With early licensing deals as well as getting the Mickey Mouse Club started as a Saturday morning gimmick to fill theaters with young fans, the Mouse was off and running.

When television beckoned in the 1950’s, that Mickey Mouse Club became part of the new medium and was more popular than ever. Not to mention, when Disneyland opened it’s doors in 1955, here was a place where guests could finally meet Mickey in person. While the first appearances were courtesy of costumes from the Ice Capades, the more traditional suited mouse became as favorite of millions of guests as Mickey was the reason for photographs.

The view above is one of my favorites because it shows Mickey meeting a random guest at a special moment. No prearranged or specially chosen person, just someone who happened to be in the right spot at the right time. To the minute, it was the 50th anniversary of Walt giving his dedication speech for Disneyland. Mickey was there in Walt’s stead to carry on, as it were.

Mickey has been at the right place and time for others over the years. Always with his trademark smile. Let me share a few more special moments for myself and friends:

Jeff and Anita Pidgeon during lunch in Club 33’s Main Dining Room.

Mickey joined by Pluto during a wedding brunch for Noe and Michelle Valldolid, in Club 33’s Trophy Room.

And finally, Mickey with the Colton’s during a June birthday visit to the Park.

Yes, that’s one busy Mouse. Here’s to many more birthdays! Why it’s only 10 more till the big 100…