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The Walt Disney Company Understanding Monopolies

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The Walt Disney Company Understanding Monopolies Overview and History The Walt Disney Company is a major media and entertainment enterprise that is based in Burbank, California and operates in more than forty countries with a worldwide appeal. After going bankrupt with his first cartoon company Laugh-O-Gram in 1922 Walt Disney moved to Hollywood, California to start over (Campbell, Martin, Fabos 456). Walt and his brother Roy created the Disney Brothers Cartoon studio in 1923 and they signed a contract with M.J. Winkler to produce a series of animated comedies which became known as the Alice Comedies (Walt Disney). In 1928 they debuted Steamboat Willie, an animated film with synchronized sound that features the character Mickey Mouse who would go on to become the world known icon for the Walt Disney Corporation (Walt Disney). The following year the brothers replaced their partnership with the creation of four companies: Walt Disney Production, Ltd.; Walt Disney Enterprises; Liled Realty and Investment Company; and the Disney Film Recording Company (Walt Disney). From a struggling cartoon studio the company grew and expanded to include motion pictures, documentaries, and television programs. The continued successes enabled Walt Disney Productions to make an initial public stock offering in 1940 (Walt Disney). The Disney Empire continued to grow with the opening of its first theme park, Disneyland in 1955. Additional theme parks including Walt Disney World, Epcot, and its

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