chapter 158 part 2
As one group of viewers exited the cinema, the next group poured in, followed by a continuous stream of people wanting to watch.
The cinema's ticket sellers simply couldn't handle the immense number of viewers. It was said that eventually, all the staff of the cinema, including the owner, joined in selling tickets, just barely preventing the surging audience from overwhelming the theater.
"...So many people, they rushed into the movie theater telling me they wanted a ticket for 'Superman and Mickey.' We had no time to react. By the time we came to our senses, the entire theater was already filled with people coming to watch the movie. This was almost unimaginable for movie theaters during the Great Depression. It was only then that I realized we were in 'big trouble'..."
This was the response given by the manager in charge during a later interview.
This illustrates the popularity of "Superman and Mickey" at the time of its release.
$2.78 million in box office revenue was an almost astonishing achievement for an animated short film.
And this was merely its performance in the United States. In fact, in the subsequent international market, "Superman and Mickey" accumulated a box office of over $5 million, and the image of Superman began to be recognized in continental Europe outside of America from that point on.
The more profound impact of "Superman and Mickey's" success was that it gave Disney more confidence in producing animated films. It was precisely because of this that the later classic feature-length animation, "Snow White," came into being.
Of course, when the decision was made to produce this film, everyone in Hollywood thought Disney had gone mad.
Hollywood referred to the production of such an 80-minute film as a "Disney folly." People at the time couldn't believe that audiences would pay for a film then called a cartoon and stay in the cinema for over an hour.
But Walt had his own convictions. The success of "Superman and Mickey" had proven to him that animation could also attract audiences. Since "Superman and Mickey" could achieve this, why couldn't "Snow White"? They were both films produced by Disney.
At that time, the only one who expressed support for Walt's decision was Collin Roper, the owner of The Messenger Newspaper.
He not only agreed with Disney's determination to create feature-length animation but also provided financial assistance, preventing the worst-case scenario of a breakdown. And afterward, it proved that both Disney and Colin's decisions were correct. "Snow White" achieved unprecedented success, becoming the second animated film to achieve success in the international market after "Superman and Mickey," and it was also the first feature-length animated film.
...
"One ticket for 'Superman and Mickey,' please."
"10 cents."
Inside the cinema, Colin paid 10 cents for a movie ticket.
Colin glanced at the thin movie ticket in his hand, then turned to look at the long line behind him.
Three days had passed since the premiere of "Superman and Mickey," yet the cinema was still packed.
Holding the ticket, Colin entered the cinema through the crowded throng and found his seat. He sat down and listened to the discussions around him.
With the effect of "Super Hearing," he could hear everything in the entire theater without moving from his seat. The majority of these audience members were loyal readers of Superman, though a small portion were also Mickey Mouse fans.
Being able to see two of their favorite characters appear in an animated short film was undoubtedly an exciting prospect.
As the audience's anticipation grew, the lights in the cinema gradually dimmed. Then, Mickey's iconic silhouette appeared on the large screen, marking the opening of the Disney animation.
"Superman and Mickey"
As Mickey's icon faded, the film's title began to appear on the screen.
It's worth noting that there was a slight difference in the order of the short film's title in the versions screened in Los Angeles and New York.
In the Los Angeles cinemas, the screening title was "Mickey and Superman," while in New York, where Colin was, it was changed to "Superman and Mickey."
This was an idea that had been discussed by both parties during the animation design phase.
The intention was to highlight the difference in popularity in different cities.
Los Angeles, as Disney's stronghold, naturally focused on promoting Mickey, while in New York, Colin naturally needed to emphasize this as Superman's first appearance on the big screen.
A brief thought about the short film's title order crossed his mind.
In the film, accompanied by the classic whistling of "Steamboat Willie," Mickey appeared on the cinema screen.
Mickey: "Pluto, Pluto!"
In the kitchen, Mickey was whistling and making breakfast when it suddenly felt the house was a bit empty. It turned and called out towards the living room but received no response from Pluto for a long time. With its hands on its hips, it tried calling out again.
Pluto: "Woof woof..."
Suddenly, a few faint sounds came.
Mickey: "Oh, Pluto, where did you run off to again?"
Amidst Mickey's scolding, a mud-covered Pluto ran back into the living room.
Seeing the muddy Pluto, Mickey was about to say something when Pluto grabbed its pant leg and pulled it towards the basement.
Mickey: "Pluto, look what you've done! You've made this place such a mess!"
Looking at the messy basement, Mickey was a little angry.
Pluto: "Woof woof, woof woof..."
However, Pluto wagged its tail, brought a poster, and handed it to Mickey.
Mickey: "What is this?"
Mickey: "Superman?"
Taking the poster from Pluto's mouth, Mickey opened it and looked at the man in the blue bodysuit and red cape, with a large "S" shield symbol on his chest, holding a car high above his head. It then read out the name on the poster.
Mickey: "Superman? What is that? Where did you find this poster, Pluto?"
Staring at Superman in the poster, Mickey's face was full of confusion.
It asked Pluto, who wagged its tail, barked a few times at Mickey, and then pushed open the basement's supposed entrance, nodding towards Mickey.
Mickey: "I don't remember there being such an entrance in the basement."
Looking at the suddenly appearing entrance, Mickey's face showed surprise.
However, before it could react, Pluto grabbed its pant leg and pulled it into the entrance.
Mickey: "Plu-to~"
Pluto: "Woof~ Woof~"
(end of chapter)