Tag: Steamboat Willie

On this day, the Italian inventor Angelo Moriondo was awarded a patent for a period of six years under the title of “New steam machinery for the economic and instantaneous confection of coffee beverage, method ‘A. Moriondo’.” The historian, Ian Bersten, describes the device as “the first Italian bar machine that controlled the supply of steam and water separately through the coffee” and describes Moriondo as “one of the earliest discoverers of the expresso machine.” Moriondo, however, limited himself to the construction of a few hand-built machines which he jealously conserved in his establishments. Unlike later espresso machines, Moriondo’s invention did not brew coffee for the individual customer.

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.”