From his own service in the Red Cross in France just after World War I, to the manifold works of his Studio during World War II, to ongoing support of such programs as the United States Marine Corps annual Toys for Tots Campaign, Walt Disney showed his respect for those who serve our country throughout his life and career, and more than lived up to his often-quoted assertion that “…if you could see close in my eyes, the American flag is waving in both of them, and up my spine is growing this red, white and blue stripe.”
The day after Pearl Harbor was attacked, the U.S. Army moved into the Disney Studio lot in Burbank to house troops assigned to protect a nearby Lockheed aircraft plant. Walt Disney himself was recruited by the government to create training films for the military, which made up more than 90% of the company’s production during the war years (and which actually saved the Studio from bankruptcy, since critical overseas markets had been closed by war). Other efforts included the well-known insignia program, which created more than 1200 character emblems for various military and support units.
For Walt, it was a matter of loyalty, patriotism, and honor to throw every resource at his disposal behind the war effort. “We passed a resolution when the War started that any work we would do for the war effort would be done at cost—that there would be no element of profit in the thing," Walt later recalled. "I didn’t want a profit. I had a feeling that everyone of those kids out there had been raised on Mickey Mouse, and anyways I just feel that way about it…I don’t like this profit during war…Everybody’s in that War when people are out there giving up their lives, I don’t like profit in the War, you see?"
Today only, in honor of Veterans’ Day, we'll be presenting nine animated cartoons created by Walt Disney to support the war effort during World War II. These classic films, created from 1940-45, feature beloved Disney characters Goofy, Donald, and Pluto as they entertain and educate about managing shortages, and encourage Americans to create ‘Victory Gardens’ and pay their taxes.
The one-hour screenings of The 11th Hour: A Sampling of Shorts from World War II will be taking place on the big screen in our state-of-the-art digital theatre throughout the day (beginning at 11am), and is free with paid admission. Those coming to the special Veterans’ Day screenings will also enjoy Gallery 6 in our Museum , which provides a more in-depth look at Walt’s involvement in World War II, along with art, insignias, posters and film clips, created to support America’s efforts.