FilePhoto byThe Kansas City Star

On a sweltering morning in the midst of summer in the year 1923, Walt Disney strode purposefully through Union Station in Kansas City. With only a scant handful of dollars left in his possession, he acquired a single first-class passage to Los Angeles, California. This marked his definitive departure from the familiar surroundings of a town to which he had a sporadically connected since the tender age of 9.

A century has passed since the inauguration of this train station, which now stands as the venue for "Disney100: The Exhibition," a tribute to the imaginative filmmaker and pioneering dreamer, together with the iconic corporation that embodies his legacy.

With the rare exhibit currently showcased in Kansas City until November 30, a curious individual recently submitted an inquiry to What’s Your KCQ? – a collaborative effort between the Kansas City Public Library and The Kansas City Star. The query sought clarity on the precise nature of Walt Disney's ties to Kansas City.

Walt Disney’s youth in Kansas City

During the summer of 1911, Elias and Flora Disney made the decision to relocate their family, which included their 16-year-old son Roy, 9-year-old son Walt, and 7-year-old daughter Ruth, from Marceline, Missouri to Kansas City with the hope of seeking better career opportunities for Elias. Initially, they settled in a rented home located at 2706 E. 31st St. for a number of years before eventually moving to their new residence at 3028 Bellefontaine Ave. The shop situated in front of the house at 2706 E. 31st St. was constructed in 1930, a decade after the Disney family had vacated the premises.

The shop in front of the house at 2706 E. 31st St. in 1940 was added in 1930, after the Disney family had moved out.Photo byKansas City Public Library

As his primary source of income, Elias bought the distribution rights to a newspaper route from The Kansas City Star and The Kansas City Times. The route was limited to the area between 27th and 31st streets, and Prospect and Indiana avenues. Elias enlisted the help of Roy and Walt to assist with the deliveries, although he did not compensate them for their services.

Every morning, the siblings would rise before 3:30 a.m. to complete a challenging newspaper delivery route before heading to school. By the time Walt Disney reached the Benton School, a mere few blocks away from his residence, he was completely drained. On Saturdays, Walt partook in his initial structured art education by attending classes provided by the Kansas City Art Institute at the YMCA.

The Disney house at 3028 Bellefontaine Ave. in 1978Photo byThe Kansas City Star

To take a break from his demanding routine, Walt frequently enjoyed visiting Electric Park, conveniently situated at the intersection of 47th Street and The Paseo, just a brief streetcar journey away from his residence.

The whimsical amusement park, embellished with around 100,000 lightbulbs to pay homage to the marvels of electricity, showcased a variety of attractions including a roller coaster, a train, a swimming lake, and daily fireworks. Walt Disney later acknowledged that his frequent trips to Electric Park had a significant impact on the conceptualization of Disney theme parks.

Electric Park at nightPhoto byKansas City Public Library

Walt Disney’s early career in KC

During the autumn of 1917, Elias and Flora relocated to Chicago, the birthplace of their son Walt, along with their daughter Ruth. This move was prompted by Elias securing a new employment opportunity.

In 1919, following a short period of serving as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross in France after the First World War, Walt made his way back to Kansas City where he reunited with his brothers, Roy and Herbert. Herbert, joined by his wife and children, had settled into the residence located at 3028 Bellefontaine prior to their parents' relocation to Chicago.

Walt Disney worked as an ambulance driver in France following World War I.Photo byAmerican Red Cross Archives

Via a connection with one of Roy's acquaintances at the First National Bank, Walt secured his initial paid position as an artist at the Pesmen-Rubin Commercial Art Studio. In this role, he was tasked with crafting corporate advertisements and letterheads. It was during his time at the studio that Walt crossed paths with artist Ub Iwerks, who would evolve into Walt's artistic collaborator for the ensuing 21 years.

In 1920, Walt Disney began working at the Kansas City Film Ad Company, formerly known as the Kansas City Slide Company. His role involved creating animated advertisements intended for screening before main feature films in nearby theaters. This experience ignited Disney's passion for the world of cinema.

In order to delve into this emerging art form, Disney and Iwerks visited the public library to borrow "Animals in Motion" by Eadweard Muybridge and "Animated Cartoons: How They Are Made, Their Origin and Development" by Edwin G. Lutz. Shortly afterward, Iwerks joined Disney at the Kansas City Film Ad Co.

Laugh-O-grams and Disney’s first animations

Upon receiving approval from his employer, Disney was permitted to bring one of the cameras home over the weekends. With the assistance of his brothers, he converted the garage located at 3028 Bellefontaine into an improvised animation workspace.

Walt later engaged in discussions with Milton Feld, who held the position of the manager at the Newman Theater situated at 1112-1118 Main St. This discussion centered around the potential collaboration on a project involving the creation of a collection of short films referred to as “Laugh-O-grams.” These films were envisioned to blend live-action sequences with animation elements while offering a satirical take on various local news narratives.

The Newman Theater in 1928

The Laugh-O-grams garnered significant popularity among the audience, leading to a notable increase in revenue. While the financial gains were not extravagant, they enabled Disney to make a significant purchase: his own camera.

In 1921, Disney initiated a fresh film endeavor inspired by the classic "Little Red Riding Hood" fairy tale and engaged the expertise of local artists to collaborate on the animation process.

In the subsequent year, he departed from his position at the Kansas City Film Ad Co. to establish Laugh-O-gram Films as a formal business entity. Disney and Iwerks secured a location in the recently completed McConahay Building situated at the intersection of Forest Avenue and 31st Street for their emerging animation studio.

Following the commendable reception of "Little Red Riding Hood," Disney went on to create a series of five animated films. These included "The Four Musicians of Bremen," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Goldie Locks and the Three Bears," "Puss in Boots," and "Cinderella."

Regrettably, the distributor of the animated cartoons, who had committed to providing $11,000 for the finished animations, declared bankruptcy in the same year. Consequently, the company was left with only a $100 initial payment towards the project.

Laugh-O-gram Films experienced a momentary relief from their financial concerns by producing an educational film titled "Tommy Tucker's Tooth" and another film called "Martha," which featured a musical score performed by the organist at the Isis Theatre.

Legend says that it was during this period that Disney harbored a friendly mouse in his desk known as Mortimer, who later became the muse for the creation of Mickey Mouse.

In May of 1923, Walt Disney embarked on a determined endeavor with the aim of revitalizing his struggling business. This ambitious project involved the fusion of animation and live action in a film he titled "Alice's Wonderland." The plot centered around a young girl portrayed by four-year-old Virginia Davis from Kansas City. The character, inspired by a visit to an animation studio, immerses herself in a whimsical world filled with cartoons in her dreams. Regrettably, due to financial constraints, the production of "Alice's Wonderland" under the Laugh-O-gram banner was halted before its completion.

Following rental payment issues, the studio was compelled to vacate the McConahay Building and subsequently relocated to the Wirthman Building on Troost Avenue, adjacent to the Isis Theatre.

You can take Disney out of Kansas City....

On October 30, 1923, Laugh-O-gram Films filed for bankruptcy. Prior to this, Disney had departed the city in July, departing via train from Union Station bound for Los Angeles in pursuit of improved career opportunities and financial supporters to complete his "Alice" film project in Hollywood.

In the ensuing years, Disney honed his craft in animation, culminating in the establishment of the Disney Brothers Studio, which was adeptly managed into financial stability with the support of his brother Roy.

Despite achieving remarkable success, Disney consistently remained mindful of his origins in Kansas City. In 1931, he depicted his iconic character Mickey Mouse proudly holding a "Benton" pennant in support of his alma mater, a gesture captured in the pages of the yearbook.

In 1937, coinciding with the premiere of "Snow White," Walt Disney composed a letter addressed to Irene Gentry, who served as the acting librarian at the Kansas City Public Library. In the letter, Disney reflects on the profound impact the library had on his personal and professional journey.

In the subsequent year, in response to a request from students at Kansas City University (currently known as the University of Missouri — Kansas City), Walt Disney rendered an illustration of the university's mascot for a student-produced comedic magazine. The depiction portrayed a kangaroo engaging in a handshake with Mickey Mouse.

In 1942, Disney revisited Kansas City and participated in a reunion event at the Benton School. He also attended a luncheon hosted by the South Central Business Association in Kansas City.

On October 9, 1966, he made his last trip to Kansas City, where he participated in a formal gathering with former President Dwight D. Eisenhower and entertainer Bob Hope. At the event, he was recognized for his contributions to public service. Tragically, just two months later, he passed away on December 15, 1966 due to complications from lung cancer.

Although today Walt Disney’s name is more commonly associated with Orlando, Florida, or Burbank, California, his time in Kansas City proved formative, instilling in him a passion for animation and film making that would turn him into one of the nation’s most successful storytellers.