American Experience

History Series / 15 Seasons

American Experience, TV's most-watched history series, brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today.

52m 54s

Walt Disney's Public Vs. Private Persona

3m 51s

Walt Disney was aware of the gap between himself and the persona he had created for public consumption. He told himself he was just the same regular guy that he had always been -- driving himself to the office everyday, getting his hair cut at the studio barber shop -- but the truth was, he wasn't just a regular guy. "Walt Disney" premieres Sept. 14 & 15 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

The "Fearless Filmmaking" of "Bambi"

3m 31s

Walt Disney's "Bambi" was released in August of 1942 and stood out as the most ambitious feature-length film in the history of the studio. In the film, Disney was striving to capture the natural world in all its beauty and peril, but most viewers remember one striking scene: the death of Bambi's mother. "Walt Disney" premieres Sept. 14 & 15 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Walt Disney, Extended Preview

1m 30s

Walt Disney created one of the most beloved cartoon characters in history, Mickey Mouse; conceived the first ever feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; pioneered the integration of media and marketing with thousands of branded products; and conceived Disneyland, the world's first theme park and a three-dimensional realization of his own utopian universe.

Walt Disney Series Preview

29s

Over the course of his life, Walt Disney created an multimedia empire spanning film, television, amusement parks and more. Few creative figures before or since have held such a long-lasting place in American life and popular culture. "Walt Disney" premieres September 14 & 15 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Why we Made "Walt Disney"

2m 22s

In this short video, Executive Producer Mark Samels explains how American Experience was able to gain unprecedented access to the Disney archives in order to tell the in-depth story of Walt Disney -- without any editorial input or oversight from The Walt Disney Company. "Walt Disney" premieres September 14 and 15 at 9/8c on PBS.

The Story of "Dumbo"

2m 51s

Walt Disney's fourth animated feature film, "Dumbo" premiered on October 23, 1941. Watch an original interview with writer, Ron Suskind where he explains how a "simple story" like Dumbo can still pack an emotional punch by addressing the common theme of "yearning to be part of the main." "Walt Disney" premieres September 14 & 15 on PBS American Experience.

Finding Rare Archival Footage

52s

This recently re-discovered footage of Walt Disney and colleagues at a party was shot by Art Babbitt, regarded as one of the top animators at Walt Disney Studios in the 1930s and '40s. Decades later, associate producer Matt Gavin tracked down the footage through Babbitt's widow, Barbara Perry Babbitt, for use in American Experience's "Walt Disney" documentary.

Interview: Musical Storytelling

1m 49s

In this original interview, animator Don Hahn discusses the importance of music in Walt Disney's feature animations. "Those musical moments were knit so closely to the story points that they were one in the same," he explains. "Walt Disney" premieres September 14 & 15 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Interview: Walt Disney's America

2m 8s

Media historian Susan Douglas explores how Walt Disney, through his television program and Disneyland, presented Americans with an idealized version of their country. "He's selling a version of America that's very flattering to the country," she says, "[But] it deludes you into thinking that there aren't problems that you have to confront." "Walt Disney" premieres Sep. 14 & 15 on PBS.

Interview: Snow White as the Ideal 1930s Woman

1m 19s

"Snow White is the perfect embodiment of 1930s culture," says art historian Carmenita Higginbotham. In this original interview, Higginbotham explains how Walt Disney's Snow White was a reflection of American women during the Great Depression. "Walt Disney" premieres Sep. 14 & 15 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Interview: Working for Walt Disney

1m 31s

"Walt had a very interesting way of complimenting you," says composer Richard Sherman. In this original interview, Sherman recalls Walt Disney's leadership style and how he drew great ideas out of his staff. "Walt Disney" premieres September 14 & 15 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Interview: Walt Disney the Storyteller

1m 27s

"Walt just knew how to tell a story." In this original interview, animator Floyd Norman shares his experiences working for Walt Disney and why Disney may just have been "the world's greatest storyteller." "Walt Disney" premieres September 14 & 15 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Walt Disney's Big Gamble: "Snow White"

2m 11s

What Walt Disney was proposing for "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" had never been done before: a feature-length, story-driven, animated film. His brother Roy was skeptical, but Walt insisted that the project would be a success. "Walt Disney" premieres September 14 & 15 on PBS American Experience.

Mickey Mouse's Big Break

2m 56s

The premiere of "Steamboat Willie" blows audiences away with its innovative use of sound. Mickey Mouse soon becomes a phenomenon. "Walt Disney" premieres September 14 and 15 on PBS American Experience.

Pitching "Snow White"

37s

One evening, Walt Disney gathered his animators and studio staff together and told them of his newest idea: a feature-length, story-driven animated film called "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." "Walt Disney" premieres September 14 and 15 on PBS American Experience.

Walt Disney's First Failure

2m 19s

After Walt Disney's distributor failed to pay, Disney had to come up with something "new and clever in animated cartoons" to save his Laugh-O-grams company. "Walt Disney" premieres September 14 & 15 on PBS American Experience.

Blackout, Chapter 1

8m 12s

July 14, 1977 dawned hot and humid in New York City. By 9:30pm the city would be plunged into darkness for more than 24 hours. In the wake of the power outage, tensions that had been simmering for years erupted into looting and violence. "Blackout" premieres July 14 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

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