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On Sunday, Mickey Mouse, the brainchild of
cartoonist Walt Disney that eventually came to symbolize a
global entertainment empire, celebrates his 90th birthday.
The iconic rodent, whose easily recognizable silhouette consists
simply of a big circle and two little ones for ears, launched
his celluloid career in "Steamboat Willie," at New York's Colony
Theater on Nov. 18, 1928.
In the eight-minute-long, black-and-white cartoon, Mickey pilots
a steamboat and entertains his passenger, Minnie Mouse, by
making musical instruments out of the menagerie on board,
according to IMDB.com.
Mickey Mouse, whom the Walt Disney Co calls its global
ambassador, also starred in Disney's critically acclaimed 1942
animated film "Fantasia," and would go on to launch a franchise
with "The Mickey Mouse Club," the 1950s television series that
was a favorite of American baby boom kids.
His image appeared on T-shirts, lunch boxes and watches, and the
telltale mouse ears are still worn by kids visiting Disney theme
parks today.
To mark his birthday, Disney opened a 16,000-square-foot art
exhibition in Manhattan, called "Mickey: The True Original
Exhibition," featuring original art, larger-than-life photo ops
and, of course, commemorative merchandise. The exhibition runs
until Feb. 10.
After all, reaching one's 90th birthday is a milestone for
anyone, but especially for a mouse, which the pest control
company Teminix estimates has a normal lifespan of no more than
three years.
(Reporting by Peter Szekely, editing by G Crosse)
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