In the summer of 1925, long before Disneyland, Mickey Mouse, or the global empire that would bear his name, 24-year-old Walt Disney was renting a modest studio space on Kingswell Avenue in Hollywood. A small newspaper clipping from that year tells the story: a serious young man from Chicago, one of the youngest directors and producers in the industry, combining live action and animation in a groundbreaking series called the Alice Comedies.

Walt Disney’s Early Life and Move to Hollywood
Born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, Walt’s early years were marked by frequent moves and a deep love of drawing. After serving as a Red Cross ambulance driver in France following World War I, he returned to Kansas City, where he began producing short cartoons and experimenting with animation techniques. It was here that he created Laugh-O-Grams, a series of short films that, while creatively successful, left him financially bankrupt.

In 1923, Walt moved to Hollywood with just $40 in his pocket and joined forces with his brother Roy. They set up shop in the rear of a real estate office at 4651 Kingswell Avenue, later expanding to 4649 Kingswell Avenue — the very address listed in this clipping.

The Alice Comedies – Walt’s First Breakthrough
The Alice Comedies were unlike anything audiences had seen before — a live-action girl interacting with a cartoon world. Distributed by Margaret J. Winkler, one of the few female film distributors in the industry, the series ran from 1923 to 1927 and gave the fledgling Disney Brothers Studio both steady income and valuable experience.

This clipping reflects that moment — before Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, before Mickey Mouse — when Walt was just beginning to make his mark. Calling him “one of the youngest directors and producers in the film business” wasn’t an exaggeration. At 24, Walt was juggling directing, producing, animating, and dreaming far bigger than his modest Kingswell Avenue studio.

Why This Moment Matters
When we think of Walt Disney, we often picture the confident showman of the Disneyland television specials or the visionary in his later years. But this clipping captures a humbler, hungrier Walt — a young man willing to risk everything for the chance to tell stories in a new way.
It’s a reminder that every grand dream begins with a small address, a little studio, and a whole lot of determination.

Kingswell Avenue Today
The Kingswell Avenue storefront still exists, though it’s now home to other businesses. For Disney fans, it’s a pilgrimage site — a quiet corner of Los Feliz where the Disney story truly began. Standing there, you can almost hear the scratch of pencils on animation paper and the hum of early film equipment.

Walking into the Palm Springs Air Museum that day, I wasn’t prepared for the flood of emotions that would come over me. Mickey Mouse One — Walt Disney’s own company plane — sat gleaming before me, a tangible link to Disney history. This wasn’t just an aircraft; it was a vessel of dreams, carrying Walt and his team as they envisioned the magic we still enjoy today.

A Cockpit Full of Memories
One of the highlights for me was capturing footage from the cockpit itself. Standing there, surrounded by switches, dials, and controls, I could almost imagine Walt seated nearby, charting the future of Disneyland and beyond. It was surreal to think that these very instruments guided the journeys that shaped so much of Disney history.

The Glass Case Treasures
Nearby, the glass display cases offered another layer of connection. Inside were pieces of memorabilia and history tied to the plane — artifacts that spoke of an era when Disney was expanding in bold, exciting directions. These carefully preserved details reminded me that nostalgia isn’t just about rides and parades, but about the tools, travels, and quiet moments that fueled Walt’s imagination.

A Personal Reflection
As I filmed, I tried to record a message — a sort of “Dear Walt” thank-you. But the emotions caught me off guard. Standing there, I felt a lump in my throat, realizing how much this airplane symbolized: vision, perseverance, and the courage to dream bigger than anyone thought possible.

Even though I couldn’t get the words out the way I wanted in that moment, the feeling was real. Mickey Mouse One wasn’t just a relic — it was a living reminder of the man who believed Disneyland could exist and made it so.

Why It Matters
For those of us who grew up in the shadow of Disneyland, seeing Mickey Mouse One in person is like seeing a piece of family history. It connects us back to Walt himself — his travels, his meetings, his laughter in the cabin with his Imagineers. This wasn’t just a plane; it was a bridge between ideas and reality.

Closing Thoughts
Visiting Mickey Mouse One was one of the most emotional moments of my Disney journey. It wasn’t about souvenirs or even the footage I captured, but about standing in the presence of something Walt touched — something he used to carry his dreams across the country.

For me, Mickey Mouse One will always symbolize the heart of Disney nostalgia: not just the magic we see in the parks, but the vision and grit that made it all possible.

A Cockpit Full of Memories
One of the highlights for me was capturing footage from the cockpit itself. Standing there, surrounded by switches, dials, and controls, I could almost imagine Walt seated nearby, charting the future of Disneyland and beyond. It was surreal to think that these very instruments guided the journeys that shaped so much of Disney history.

For my Patreon community, I’ve shared additional footage from inside the cockpit — a closer look at the pilot’s view and details that made the experience feel even more intimate and real.