With the ongoing controversy in April 2022 surrounding the Disney World theme park outside Orlando, Florida, with the exclusion of the traditional greeting of “Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls!” the origin of the name of the world’s most famous mouse must be addressed.
When the late Walt Disney created his cartoon mouse in the historic 1928 feature “Plane Crazy” the original star was named “Mortimer” and not “Mickey".
However, when Walt went home and spoke to his spouse about the little critter that would initiate the billion-dollar entertainment giant in California and Florida she did not like the name “Mortimer” and suggested that “Mickey” was more pleasant-sounding.
Although Mr. Disney was initially against the change of the name he would grudgingly give in to the authority of his wife and history was changed.
(The wearing apparel of “Minnie” mouse is another story for another day.)
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Jerry Summers
(If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com)