Disney, Day 1

On October 16th of 1923, just hours after striking a distribution deal with M. J. Winkler, near-penniless brothers Walt and Roy formed the company we now know as Disney. On the very same day, 21 year old Walt desperately wrote the following persuasive letter to the mother of Virginia Davis, a 5 year old girl who had previously starred in the short film on which the deal hinged: Alice's Wonderland. In the letter, Walt attempts to convince the Davis family to move to Hollywood so that Virginia can reclaim her role and become the star of the new Alice series. Luckily for Walt, they agreed and made the long trip from Missouri. The rest is history.

Thanks to Phil Sears - now the letter's owner - for allowing it to appear.

Transcript follows.

Source

Transcript

Walt.Disney
Cartoonist

4406 Kingsmill Av
Hollywood Calif.
Oct 16th 1923

Dear Mrs Davis:

I have at last succeeded in arrainging for distributors on a series of "Alice" productions - twelve in all - with a very reliable distributor in New York.

I screened "Alice's Wonderland" several times in Hollywood and every one seemed to think that Virginia was real cute and thought she had wonderful possibilities - and I was wondering if you could arrange to come out here so I could star her in this series - It would be a big opportunity for her and would introduce her to the profession in a manner that few children could receive.

M. J. Winkler the distributor of "Felix the Cat" and "Out of the Inkwell" will distribute my production and believe me she gives her subjects a vast amount of publicity and if Virginia was used in the series it would be the making of her. M. J. Winkler is devoting her time to the distribution of short subjects and for her own good she believes in advertising her wares - so you can see the big possibilities that await Virginia - as an example of her speed and pep - she arrainged with a chain of newspapers to run a colored Sunday comics of Felix - in all these newspapers - she is always doing publicity stunts like this.

If you desire to come out and let me star Virginia in this series it will be necessary that you answer immediately as in all probility I will have to start production within fifteen or twenty days so I will know wheather or not I will use Virginia or have to get a little girl here in Hollywood - If you decide to come answer immediately so I can count on you - I will want a years contract with option on further services at a very reasonable salary - as it is necessary for M. J. Winkler to spend a vast amount of money on advertising these subject and the girl - before she gets any return therefore she demands that who ever I star in the series must be under contract to me for a series of twelve pictures with option on further services - because after making her known to the theatre public she will have to get her own money back - therefore you understand the necessity of a contract - However if Virginia can secure other work between pictures she can do so without any complications and I believe I can secure her work myself - In all probility I will do most of my shooting in one of the studios near here - I am now discussing with several for space.

All financial arraingements for this series has been arrainged and when we start work it will be but a short time till the series will be covering the world - please answer immediately one way or the other so I can make arraingements at once - as ever -

Walt Disney

Just personal enough

For authors as notable as the late Robert Heinlein, the practice of replying to fan-mail can be an incredibly time consuming affair. Some take the easy route and don't respond at all, whilst others make a valiant effort to reply to as many as humanly possible. Up until 1984 - at which point 'the advent of computerization' negated the need for such a method - Heinlein sat somewhere in the middle and sent back a copy of the following form letter to each fan, with certain responses ticked where applicable. Whilst not as satisfying as a handwritten letter, its quirky personal touch certainly would've brought a smile to the faces of many recipients and more than trumps a signed photo.

Transcript follows.

Source

Transcript

Robert A. Heinlein
Care of Mr. Lurton Blassirigame
60 East 42nd Street, Suite 1131
New York, N.Y. 10017

Dear Sir/Madam/Ms./Miss

An ever-increasing flood of mail forced me to choose between writing letters and writing fiction. But I read each letter sent to me and check its answer.

( ) Thanks for your kind words. You have made my day brighter.

( ) You say that you have enjoyed my stories for years. Why did you wait until you disliked one story before writing to me?

( ) Renshaw: Saturday Evening Post, You’re Not As Smart As You Could Be, April 17th, 24th, and May 1st, 1948.

( ) Essay Mental Telegraphy, Mark Twain’s Works, Harper & Brothers

( ) Don’t send books to be autographed; too many have failed to reach me. Registering or insuring is no answer; the post office is a 30-mile round trip.

( ) Story ideas come from everywhere and anything & writers are self-taught. The book WRITER’S MARKET tells how to prepare manuscripts & lists markets.

( ) My agent handles all business; your letter has been sent to him.

( ) I don’t discuss my colleagues' works or my own. A novelist writes from many viewpoints; opinions expressed even by a first-person character are not necessarily those of the author. Fiction is sold as entertainment, not as fact.

( ) The item you want is herewith/not available/: Ask your reference librarian.

( ) I don’t sell books. All my books are in print & can be bought or ordered at any bookstore or directly from publishers. Bookstores have “in-print“ lists.

( ) I get 4 or 5 or more requests each week for help in class assignments, term papers, theses, or dissertations. I can't cope with so many & bave quit trying.

( ) It is not just for a student’s grade to depend on the willingness or capacity of a stranger to help him with his homework. I am ready to discuss this with your teacher, principal, or school board.

( ) Science fiction: stories that would cease to exist if elements involving science or technology were omitted. For full discussion see my lecture in THE SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL, Advent:Publishers. Chicago.

( ) Who’s Who in America; Encyclopaedia Britannica 1974; IN SEARCH OF WONDER, chapter 7, Damon Knight, Advent:Publishers; SEEKERS OF TOMORROW, chapter 11, Sam Moskowitz, World Publishing Company; Current Biography magazine; reference books about authors. I don’t discuss private life, politics, religion, philosophy

( ) Your question: Yes/No/No comment/My publishers announce new works/

( ) Please do not write to me again.

( ) Thanks for the stamped & addressed envelope-a rare courtesy today.

( ) Pressure of work causes me to avoid interviews, questionnaires, radio & television appearances, public speaking.

( ) For legal reasons I do not read unpublished manuscripts.

( ) Don’t plan to call at our home; we work very long hours every day of the year.

( ) Your letter was most welcome!—loaded with friendliness and with no requests or demands. You suggested that no answer was expected but I must tell you how much it pleased me. I wish you calm seas, following winds, and a happy voyage through life.

Sincerely Yours,

Robert A. Heinlein, by ____