The Stores That Built America series on History Channel is expanding. Beginning soon, “How Disney Built America” will explore the history of Walt Disney and how the iconic Disney brand, fueled by the creation of beloved characters, cherished family films, thrilling theme parks, technological innovations, and more, continues to shape generations as a cultural and worldwide phenomenon.
The new nonfiction series is a nostalgia-filled ride that paints a vivid picture of the world of Walt Disney and the history-making empire he built. Each hour-long episode focuses on a different example of game-changing brilliance in Disney’s history including inventing the world’s most recognizable characters, creating the animated features industry, revolutionizing the concept of merchandising, and using groundbreaking engineering to construct Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and beyond.
Viewers will hear from Imagineer Bob Gurr, a direct hire from Walt who developed over 100 designs for Disney attractions, to gain surprising insights into the unique innovations and struggles involved in realizing the dreams of a visionary. The series utilizes rarely seen archival material, original dramatic recreations, and key interviews from Don Wildman, Margaret Kerrison, Douglas Brinkley, Mindy Johnson, and others to expand on how the brand is forever woven into the fabric of American life.
The first episode is titled “The Birth of Mickey.” This episode will recount the birth of Mickey Mouse, how he began as a pencil sketch and rocketed to lasting fame. The story starts with Walt in his early days in Hollywood when he quickly loses his first successful cartoon character to a powerful middleman. The second episode is titled “Dawn of the Animated Blockbuster.”
“How Disney Built America” premieres April 28.
What do you think of this series? Let us know in the comments.
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