First Disney Houses
Roy Disney was living in Los Angeles, recovering from tuberculosis, when he encouraged his brother, Walt, to join him in 1923. By 1924, they had built up a studio staff that included animators and a camera operator. Following the success of Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit, in 1926, Walt and Roy bought an empty lot in the hills of Los Feliz and built matching homes next door to each other. Walt and Lillian lived at 2495 Lyric Avenue, Roy and Edna at 2491 Lyric Avenue. These matching homes were quite small, just 1100 square feet, with two bedrooms, a living room, dining room and kitchen. Disney lore has it that Walt and Roy worked with Ub Iwerks to develop Mickey Mouse in the garage of Walt’s house. Disneyphiles know that this was Walt’s fourth home in the Los Angeles area, but the first house that he owned.
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt