Walt Disney, the man who created Mickey Mouse, died in 1966 but his legacy in Hollywood goes on.Disney started his career as a commercial illustrator and became one of the most celebrated animators and movie producers in history.His company survives as a conglomerate with other big media companies like 20th Century Fox, ABC, Marvel Studios, Lucus Films, ESPN and Dreamworks.The company also owns amusement parks and resorts around the world.The Scenic Regional Library Warrenton branch is celebrating 90 years of Mickey Mouse with Disney researcher Dan Viets. Viets is coauthor of “Walt Disney’s Missouri: The Roots of a Creative Genius.”His program is 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the library, 912 S. State Highway 47. People can RSVP by calling 636-456-3321, stopping by the library or visiting scenicregional.com.Kerry Christian, who organizes events at the library as the adult programmer, invited Viets to speak.“This was the perfect time of year to bring this event to Warrenton. It is the 90th anniversary of Mickey Mouse, and Walt Disney’s birthday is Dec. 5,” she said.Not everyone knows that some of Disney’s biggest influences came from a little railroad town in Missouri, or that he had planned to open an amusement park in St. Louis.Disney was born in Chicago, Ill., in 1901. His family moved to a farm in Marceline, in 1905. The town is located right between St. Joseph and Hannibal, 3 miles south of the State Highway 5 and U.S. Route 36 interchange.“I have been to his hometown of Marceline; visited the barn and his ‘dream tree,’ which he would sit under as a boy and helped inspire him to create his wonderful characters and movies,” Christian said.Disney’s “Main Street USA” creations at Disney theme parks were inspired by downtown Marceline. Viets will talk about how Disney’s formative years in Missouri influenced his creations.Disney was already working as a commercial illustrator when he was 18. He spent some time in Kansas City, Mo., before moving to California in 1923. In California, he founded the Disney Brothers Studio with his brother Roy.Disney’s first big success was the 1928 creation of the Mickey Mouse characterViets is president of a group that is restoring Disney’s first professional film studio in Kansas City. He has spent almost 20 years studying Disney’s work and influences. His presentation features images of Walt Disney’s early life in Marceline, Kansas City and his later life in Hollywood.Christian said, “It will be a great event for the kid in all of us.”

Dan Viets, who is visiting the Scenic Regional Library Warrenton branch Nov. 20,  is a co-author of “Walt Disney’s Missouri: The Roots of a Creative Genius.”

Submitted photo

Dan Viets stands outside Laugh-O-Gram, Walt Disney’s first professional film studio. It’s located in Kansas City, Mo. Viets is president of a group that is restoring the building. Disney worked there in the early 1920s. Viets has researched Disney’s life for about 20 years and is coming to Warrenton.