Restarted With A Mouse: A Pop Culture Timeline
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Fleischer's Live Action Debut and Disney's TV Wonderland
In early 1954, Walt was in need of extra funding for a secret theme park project that he had been working on for the past 6 years. He would end up partnering with ABC, who agreed to a deal, where they would help finance the property in exchange for The Walt Disney Company making 2 new shows for their line-up. That October would see the premiere of the first iteration for the Disney Anthology series, where Walt would officially give viewers the first glimpse of Disneyland.
Distributed by Paramount Pictures on December 23, 1954
Even with his son Richard already having an Academy Award, Max Fleischer's decision to start producing live action pictures was seen as a massive gamble for a company that had previously only made animated features. The gamble would prove to pay off, as 20,000 Leagues would become the studio's most successful film yet, as well as becoming an early predecessor to the steampunk genre.
So it looks like Fleischer might go toe to toe with Disney ITTL not just with animated films but live-action too. Who knows, maybe they will have their own amusement park soon as well.
A Fleischer Studios theme park. I wonder how that could work.
To All Who Come to This Happy Place
Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures on June 22, 1955
The only notable difference here is that Joe Grant is credited.
After years of planning and construction, Disneyland would officially open on July 17, 1955. 42% of the American population tuned in to see ABC's broadcast of opening day and park would soon welcome over a million guests in just 2 months.
Since Disney hasn't made an Alice in Wonderland movie
yet
The two rides based on the movie are instead replaced with a Sleepy Hollow dark ride.
Attachments
Lady and the Tramp has another Disney Legend credited, while we get a Sleepy Hollow dark ride in 1955. I'd say that's a couple more wins in Disney's playbook.
MGM's Shocking Announcement
Don Quixote
Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures on May 31, 1957
Cast: Sterling Holloway, Mel Blanc, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried
The film would become another success for Disney, earning 20 million dollars worldwide.
NEWS REPORTS
"MGM shockingly closes animation department" - Variety
"Creators of 'Tom & Jerry' to open new animation studio in Hollywood" - The Los Angeles Times
"Disney sets 'Sleeping Beauty' for early 1959" - Time
"Dodgers to stay in Brooklyn" - Sports Illustrated
Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures on May 31, 1957
Cast: Sterling Holloway, Mel Blanc, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried
The film would become another success for Disney, earning 20 million dollars worldwide.
NEWS REPORTS
"MGM shockingly closes animation department" - Variety
"Creators of 'Tom & Jerry' to open new animation studio in Hollywood" - The Los Angeles Times
"Disney sets 'Sleeping Beauty' for early 1959" - Time
"Dodgers to stay in Brooklyn" - Sports Illustrated
Disney's Quixote making 20 million dollars is great, I wish the best for Hanna-Barbera, and at least they can make back the costs of Sleeping Beauty a bit quicker now.
Hanna-Barbera's First Hit, Disney's Resting Pretty and Some Sportsball News
Premiered on September 29, 1958
Huckleberry Hound would end up putting Hanna-Barbera on the map, being successful enough for HB to greenlight a spin off based on Yogi Bear. The limited animation style would prove to be a helpful tool as the industry shifted from theaters to TV.
Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures on January 29, 1959
After a decade of being in development, Sleeping Beauty was released in 1959. The movie would get good reviews from critics but would only break even at the box office.
NEWS REPORTS
"Construction begins on the Dodgers new stadium" - The New York Times
"American Football League to begin play in 1960" - Sports Illustrated
Seems on the level so far. I wonder if Fleischer Studios would be jealous that someone else is poised to become Disney's main rival.
If Fleischer Studios is releasing live-action films now, then will they ever form their own distribution unit and a mature film label like OTL's Disney?
Also, remember that anime is coming up, so we should have a bigger boom ITTL.
OOOOH Another Disney timeline. Sign Me Up
From one Disney/Fleischer timeline maker to another. Keep up the good work!
From one Disney/Fleischer timeline maker to another. Keep up the good work!
The 1950's Recap
They are on very good terms with Paramount at the moment. It'll likely be a while before they would think about doing that.
Thanks for the support 😁 From what I saw of yours, it's really cool too. I like the Wiki style format. Anyways, on to the 50's recap!
The Walt Disney Company: The 50's would be a massive one Disney. From hit classics like Cinderella and Peter Rabbit to big projects like Disneyland and their own distribution company. It doesn't seem to be slowing down in the 60's either, as they are well into production of 101 Dalmatians and Sword in the Stone.
Fleischer Studios: Fleischer continues to be a well known rival for the mouse house. The company mainly focused on creating new shorts for their characters, but had great success with Wonder Woman and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The next big project lined up for the Studio is an adaptation of the book series Tintin.
Universal Pictures: Aladdin was able to make some good money, but with several animation studios like Fleischer and Disney producing more live action features, the animation division basically been put on the backburner.
20th Century Fox: The Little Prince was praised by critics and audiences but like Universal, they've mostly stuck to making Mighty Mouse and other theatrical short series.
Warner Brothers: WB mainly chose to work on Looney Tunes during the 1950's, however rumors have gone out about them possible getting the movie rights to Timely Comics.
Great.
I have seen his boxes, and Scooby-Doo being a Disney property is a butterfly I may or may not have had a hand in presenting.
If Walt doesn't die in 1966, I predict the following decade would be as powerful as this one has.
Keeping the shorts department alive, continuing their DC connections, and going into live-action features. Heck, Tintin could very well be the subject of their first TV show.
Ouch. Looks like Walter Lantz is in trouble.
Well, at least Fox discovers some faith in keeping Terrytoons in business, unlike Universal, who you said put the entire animation division on the backburner, shorts included.
A Marvel feature film directed, written, and animated by Looney Tunes staff. That has promise.
Yankee-Dabba-Doo
October 13, 1960: Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The following sound bites come from the 9th and 10th innings of the seventh game in the 1960 World Series
"Ralph Terry on the mound. Sudden death now, last of the ninth, nine to nine... Dive into deep right field, caught by New York and we'll be going to extra innings...
Richardson at the plate for the Yankees. Ball is hit, going far... IT'S OUT OF HERE! THE YANKEES WIN THE WORLD SERIES AND THEY DO IT ON A WALK OFF!"
NEWS REPORT
"Prehistoric family brings ratings boost for ABC" - TV Guide
The following sound bites come from the 9th and 10th innings of the seventh game in the 1960 World Series
"Ralph Terry on the mound. Sudden death now, last of the ninth, nine to nine... Dive into deep right field, caught by New York and we'll be going to extra innings...
Richardson at the plate for the Yankees. Ball is hit, going far... IT'S OUT OF HERE! THE YANKEES WIN THE WORLD SERIES AND THEY DO IT ON A WALK OFF!"
NEWS REPORT
"Prehistoric family brings ratings boost for ABC" - TV Guide
The best part of this update was the title, which could be turned into a Fourth of July special in some future decade.
Doggo Update (This Was the Best Title I Could Come Up With)
Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures on January 25, 1961
After the disappointing box office numbers of Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians put the studio back on track with some critics calling the best film by the studio since Snow White.
NEWS REPORTS
"Disney acquires 'Mary Poppins' film rights" - Time
"Warner Brothers and Fox are interested in making a 'Jungle Book' movie" - Variety
I might start remarketing some future Paramount movies as being produced by Fleischer/Famous Studios (I.E "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow")
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