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The talking Mickey in “Steamboat Willie” was an instant success when it opened in 1928. However it might not have been successful if

Updated September 29, 2025

The talking Mickey in “Steamboat Willie” was an instant success when it opened in 1928. However it might not have been successful if

A fellow animators Wilfred Jackson and Johnny Cannon hadn’t left Disney to work for Universal.
B Hollywood theatre owners hadn’t allowed musicians to play along with earlier silent films.
C Cinephone’s Pat Powers and distributor Harry Reichenbach hadn’t taken a chance on Disney.
D the Colony Theatre in New York City hadn’t already been showing films with sound for many months.

1 Answer

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Quizzma TeamOctober 12, 2025

The correct answer is C: Cinephone’s Pat Powers and distributor Harry Reichenbach hadn’t taken a chance on Disney.

Explanation: “Steamboat Willie” was groundbreaking as one of the first synchronized sound cartoons. The support from Pat Powers and Harry Reichenbach was crucial as they helped distribute the film and provided the technology to synchronize the sound effectively. Without their confidence in Disney and the necessary technology, “Steamboat Willie” may not have had the same impact or success.