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Thank you. It's November 18th, 1928 at the Colony Theater in New York City.

As the lights dim, the packed audience slowly hushes and looks toward the big screen.

Among them is 27-year-old Walt Disney, who wipes his sweaty hands on the front of his pants. It's a big day for Walt. For the last nine years,

he's been working in the new industry of animation. He hasn't had much success so far,

but a few months ago, Walt embarked on a radical project, an animated short film with

synchronized sound. And today, it's being screened for the first time. Walt holds his breath as

the curtain pulls back and the projector flickers to life. On screen, a cartoon mouse whistles as

he spins the wheel of a steamboat, steering it down a river. At first, there's no

reaction from the audience, and Walt isn't sure whether that's a good sign or not. But when the

mouse sticks out his tongue and blows a raspberry, the audience finds its voice. The audience

starts to laugh. Then they roar as a female mouse has hoisted onto deck using a crane hooked to her underwear.

Then they cheer as the leading mouse defeats the steamboat's captain a grumpy cat.

A worried look on Walt's face banishes. With a broad grin, he's certain now that this short

film is going to be everything he hoped for.

From his childhood in Missouri to the bright lights of Hollywood, Walt Disney's journey

will be a remarkable one, but he won't make it to the top of the film business alone.

At Walt's side will be one of the most famous and iconic characters ever created, a cartoon

mouse who was first introduced to the

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