Walt Disney: From a Bankrupt Studio to an American Empire

Before Mickey Mouse and Disneyland, Walt Disney’s animation studio went bankrupt. In 1923, Laugh-O-Gram Films collapsed. This documentary follows the setbacks, creative breakthroughs and financial risks that helped build an American entertainment empire. Discover the partnership with Roy Disney, the loss of Oswald, the creation of Mickey Mouse with Ub Iwerks, the million-dollar gamble behind Snow White, and the television deal that helped finance Disneyland. Explore the ambition, money and business decisions behind one of the most influential names in entertainment history. Subscribe to American Riches for documentaries about American entrepreneurs, fortunes and the people behind iconic businesses. CHAPTERS 00:00 Bankruptcy Before the Empire 01:12 Two Brothers, One New Start 02:32 Losing Oswald, Finding Mickey 03:48 The Character Becomes a Business 05:05 A Feature-Length Financial Gamble 06:20 War, Workers, and the Studio 07:37 Television Helps Build Disneyland 08:58 The Empire Beyond Its Founder 10:17 Closing & Credits HISTORICAL SOURCES [National Archives — Laugh-O-Gram’s bankruptcy](https://www.archives.gov/kansas-city/...) [The Walt Disney Family Museum — Walt Disney Timeline](https://www.waltdisney.org/sites/defa...) ARCHIVE CREDIT A Drive Through Bunker Hill and Downtown Los Angeles, ca.1940s — Rick Prelinger / Prelinger Archives. Licensed under [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/.... Footage cropped and color/contrast adjusted. [Original footage](https://archive.org/details/ADriveThr...) #WaltDisney #DisneyHistory #documentary