Mickey Mouse was born on a train somewhere between New York and Los Angeles. Walt Disney was looking for a new cartoon charac- ter. He thought of a mouse Lilban, his wife, supplied the name. Mickey as dressed in red trousers and white gloves and his career began. Ln 1928, Steamboat Willie, starring a talking Mickey Mouse, was an immediate success. As the quality of 5ound improved, Mickey Mouse became more talkativc. He went on to play all types of roles from fireman to inventor, detective to plumber He also appeared in comic strips Toy producers made millions of Mickey Mouses and his picture was watches, soap, records, anything that stamped on clothing, toothbrushes, he could help to sell The income from the sale of these products is as important to Walt Disney Productions as the money they make from the