The Power of $10

How far did $10 go in 1923? It was enough to pay for the art supplies the Disney brothers needed to begin animating an animated short series entitled ALICE COMEDIES. It was enough money for two brothers to rent an office in Los Angeles and found a production company. It was enough seed money to build an empire.

The $10 seed had sprouted a mighty entertainment oak. By 1928, the beloved mouse named Mickey was born and that $10 was scarcely enough to secure the larger studios the brothers now needed. The new studio was furnished with a massive new Back Lot, which would be home to a massive prop assembly line. The Disney Back Lot would house live-action sets, props houses, and production shops.

Many of the plaster sculptures used at Disneyland and Disney World were crafted and molded here. As more live-action films were developed, the Back Lot was modified to accommodate more location shooting. The Back Lot buildings included plumbing, electrical, and plaster shops and sheds. Films like THE LOVE BUG, THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG, and THOSE CALLOWAYS were all filmed on the Disney Back Lot.

The drive that could foresee the need to build live-action sets and back lots was the same drive that now pushes the boundaries of animation technology. Now, the dream of two brothers has become an integral part of our modern American, and perhaps worldwide, culture. The myriad of beloved characters encompasses generations of filmgoers. The future is now worth far more than $10, but oh, how much can begin with $10.

Now the catalog of over 500 films is available to anyone. Categorized between bestsellers and ages, the Disney movie list is sure to provide endless hours of entertainment for the entire family. What began so humbly as an animation studio, is now an entertainment giant poised to provide you with a subscription to its impressive film vault.