On this day, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse made their first official appearance in a test screening of the film ‘Plane Crazy’, directed by Walt Disney and fellow animator Ubbe Ert Iwerks. The film, originally designed as a silent movie, was seen on this occasion by an executive from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, but it failed to pick up a distributor. Later the same year, the sound cartoon ‘Steamboat Willie’ was released and its huge success paved the way for ‘Plane Crazy’ which was officially released as a sound cartoon on March 17, 1929. The soundtrack, by Carl W. Stalling, received positive reviews: “The sound effects are particularly appropriate on this type of film, and certainly add greatly to the comedy angle with the absurd squeaks, yawps and goofy noises.”
