1928


 * November 18 - Steamboat Willie, the first Mickey Mouse cartoon short and the first cartoon to use sound, is released to theaters in the United States. Plane Crazy had actually been produced first, but it only played in a few local California theaters and was quickly pulled. Steamboat Willie was Mickey's first true nationwide exposure, and he became a smash success because of this cartoon. Thus, Nov. 18 is viewed as Mickey's official birthday by the Disney company.