1926 - Of Contracts, Moves, and Name Changes

by Craig D. Barton

"The Walt Disney Company: 100 Years in 100 Weeks," is the brainchild of Craig D. Barton, presenting weekly posts on the history of the Walt Disney Company. Each post will cover a specific year in Disney's history, featuring essays, shared articles, guest authors, and yearly timelines, all leading up to the company's 100th Anniversary on October 16, 2023. Previous posts in the series can be viewed here.

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Producer and distributor Charles Mintz took over distribution of Winkler pictures after marrying M.J. Winkler in 1924.

Walt would respond, reminding Mintz of the contract that had been signed, with an option for even more pictures to be produced. “Our contract calls for final delivery by January 5, 1926,” wrote Walt to Mintz, with your option for 26 pictures the following year. I have built up my organization to where I can complete my deliveries of every two weeks, the following year, should you choose to exercise your option. With my present payroll, on a three weeks schedule, I would absolutely be losing money, and to cut down my force is out of the question…”



Title card for "Alice's Little Parade." with Margie Gay as Alice, released in 1926.

Walt would make the plea for a faster schedule with regular pay, and Mintz would respond with his insistence that the Alice Comedies made no money. Yet, he still wanted them. Disney biographer Bob Thomas wrote, “Despite Mintz’s pleas of poverty, he proposed a new contract at $1,500 per Alice, plus a fifty-fifty share of the profits after he had received $3,000 in film rentals.” Mintz sent the contract, suggesting that Walt talk it over with Roy, making it seem as a firm, final offer. Yet Walt was less than impressed, threatening to end the contract and seek a new distributor. Finally, in February of 1926, Walt proposed an offer that Mintz accepted. According to Thomas, “It was a variation on the terms they had discussed but it contained stipulations which were to be basic elements for the Disney operation of the future.” Elements that agreed to high-quality productions, creative control for Walt and that the comedies were “subject to my ownership of all trademarks and copyrights on Alice Comedies excepting only rights relating to the series which you purchased under past contracts.”

With the new contract agreed to and in place, it was time for another move within the company.

Two moves, actually.



First came the physical move. Production had outgrown the tiny Kingswell studio, and it was time to move the studio to a new space – the space the Disney brothers had placed a down payment on in 1925. The new studio, located on Hyperion Avenue, was a building on a 60 x 40 foot lot, housing offices for Walt and Roy, and an open space for animators to continue their work on more Alice Comedies (and much more in years to come).

The Walt Disney Studio, 2719 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA. Note the new studio name.

The second move, was that of a name. The Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio changed its name to the Walt Disney Studio. Did this change come at the suggestion of Walt himself? Not according to Roy. “It was my idea,” Roy had told Disney Archivist Dave Smith. Walt was the creative member of the team. His name deserved to be on the pictures.” Roy’s suggestion, while certainly complimentary of his younger brother, became a brilliant business move as well – the name Walt Disney Studio would come to represent more than just Walt himself. In just a couple short years, it would become a name synonymous with quality entertainment and product known worldwide.

The site of the Walt Disney Studio on Hyperion Today. Photo by Craig D. Barton

As work on the Alice Comedies continued in a new studio with a new name, even bigger changes were around the corner for Walt and the company. Changes that would propel Disney to new heights – thanks in part to a lucky rabbit that would make his debut in the next year.

1926

• Alice Comedies continue with Margie Gay as Alice.
• New distribution contract on Alice Comedies is signed with Winkler Picture .
• Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio moves to 2719 Hyperion Avenue.
• Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio changes its name to The Walt Disney Studio (At Roy’s Suggestion).

Alice Comedies for 1926 (Margie Gay as Alice):

•   Alice on the Farm - January 1, 1926
•   Alice’s Balloon Race -January 15, 1926
•   Alice’s Orphan - January 15, 1926
•   Alice’s Little Parade - February 1, 1926
•   Alice’s Mysterious Mystery - February 15, 1926
•   Alice Charms the Fish - September 6, 1926
•   Alice’s Monkey Business - September 20, 1926
•   Alice in the Wooly West - October 4, 1926
•   Alice the Fire Fighter - October 18, 1926
•   Alice Cuts the Ice - November 1, 1926
•   Alice Helps the Romance - November 15, 1926
•   Alice’s Spanish Guitar - November 29, 1926
•   Alice’s Brown Derby - December 13, 1926
•   Alice the LumberJack - December 27, 1926

<1925

  *"The Walt Disney Company: 100 Years in 100 Weeks" is a project conceived by Craig D. Barton and presented by Communerdy. It is in no way affiliated with The Walt Disney Company, and any opinions presented within its content are that of the author(s). For more updates, follow us on https://www.instagram.com/disney100in100/ .