‘History and legacy’: Walt Disney’s Laugh-O-gram Studio inches closer to completion
It’s fabled that the story of Mickey originated from a mouse who visited Walt’s desk for a snack in the historic midtown building
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Walt Disney’s time in Kansas City is a story that almost got lost, according to some. But, Thank You Walt Disney Inc. says they’re one step closer to restoring legacies and memories for kids to gain inspiration from.
They just need a bit of community help.
The group purchased a historic building at the corner of 31st and Forest Ave, as it was put on the demolition list by the city in the early 2000s.
This was due to poor and deteriorating conditions, but instead, the group saw hope and a future.
The peak of this building was in 1922, home to the Laugh-O-gram Studio.
“This was truly Walt Disney’s first organized, real cartoon studio,” Rigby said.
It’s fabled that the story of Mickey originated from a mouse that visited Disney’s desk in the historic midtown building. This is where Walt spent nearly a decade of his life, not only working in the building as a young man in his twenties, but living in it, too.
Rigby said they couldn’t let stories like this get lost in the rubble. They saw a place for area kids to learn about the inspiration behind Walt Disney in Kansas City and create their own future.
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“[The] establishment of digiSTORY KC, a place to train young urban kids in the digital arts, whether it be animation or computer graphics, things like this,” he said.
Walt’s late daughter Diane Disney Miller was a big supporter of the project before her death in 2013. She donated more than $2 million to restore the Studio’s exterior, including a new roof, detailing and restoring the brick.
“She really felt this was one of the most important parts of her father’s history and legacy,” Rigby said.
Now comes the inside. This is where Thank You Walt Disney Inc. is targeting a capital campaign to raise funds from the community to make sure this dream comes to fruition. The goal, $6.5 million.
“We’re more than halfway there so it’s going to become a reality,” Rigby said.
The donation page can be found here. Rigby said even if people are unable to donate, helping to share their message to the right donors could also go a long way.
Once the funds are raised, the project will take a little less than two years to complete.
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