BATTLESHIP AND WALT DISNEY SHARE TIEST TO STATE OF MISSOURI

CAPE GIRARDEAU - President George Bush announced Feb. 26 that as of midnight, fighting in the desert war would cease. Americans who had been intently listening to the progress of the war said prayers of thanks, and were relieved that some of the conflict would end.

During the weeks of fighting, Missourians took pride in hearing how magnificently the battleship the U.S.S. Missouri performed in the Persian Gulf with other battleships which were much newer.

The U.S.S. Missouri dates to World War II but recently had been modernized. The ship has a proud history with the distinction of being the ship on which the official surrender of the Japanese statement was signed on Sept. 2, 1945 that ended that phase of World War II, in the Pacific.

Missourians take pride in learning about activities and accomplishments of Missourians, whether the data refers to individuals or things.

It is in this reflection about Missourians that attention is focused on a new Walt Disney theme park about to open 20 miles outside of Paris, the fifth such park since 1955. Walt Disney family lived in Missouri.

Missourians have always been interested in Walt Disney films, and his animated character drawings that made the world laugh. Disney's skill for promoting laughter, and joy was a remarkable talent, and Missouri is proud to share him with Illinois (where he was born, Dec. 5, 1901), and with California (where he made his successful films, and died Dec. 15, 1966.)

Disney spent his youth in Marceline, Mo., and his young adult life in Kansas City, where his first attempt in producing animated drawings on film strips began by 1923. The studio failed but Disney's conviction that his idea had merit did not fail.

He relocated in Hollywood and success came soon because of his interest in a little mouse that took up residence in a drawer of his desk. The mouse was attracted to Disney, and Disney began sketching him. The result was his first full length, silent film, "Steamboat Willie." Willie, who became Mickey, walked the road to fame with Disney.

From this point Disney began to combine cartoon characters with live actors in his films. His first full-length film with actors was "The Swiss Family Robinson," followed by "Mary Poppins," "Treasure Island" and "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea."

Considered one of his finest films was "Fantasia," a 1940, illustrated with music by some of the classical composers. Then came "Pinocchio," 1940; "Bambi," 1942; "Cinderella," 1950; "Alice in Wonderland," 1951; "Peter Pan," 1953; and "Sleeping Beauty," 1959.

Pictures were not bringing in enough revenue, however, so a new venture was started at Anaheim, near Los Angeles, on a 100-acre site, with rides and area exhibits, in the form of a recreational park. "Disneyland" attracted national and international attention because the Disney characters were so popular. The park opened in 1955.

The second Disneyland was located in Florida. "Disney World" opened in 1971, in Orlando, and resembled the one in California.

"Epcot Center" followed an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, a section of Walt Disney World at Orlando, in 1982.

By 1983, a Disney Land opened in Tokyo, Japan, patterned after the park in California.

Then came the news on April 5, 1987 that Mickey Mouse and the Magic Kingdom was going to France. Premier Jacques Chirac signed a $2-billion contract for a theme park outside of Paris. It would be the fifth park counting the one in Japan, and was to open in 1992. It was to be built on a 4,400 acre site in rural Marne-la-Vallee, 20-miles outside Paris. It is projected to bring in an estimated 10 million visitors annually.

Michael D. Eisner, president of Walt Disney Co., said, "France is an ideal location for a Disneyland. Mickey is known and loved in France where he is called `Mickey' and Donald is `Donald,' but Cinderella is Cendrillon, Goofy is Dingo, and Donald's Uncle Scrooge is Picsou. Donald's three nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie are Riri, Fifi, and Loulou, while Snow White is Blanche Neige."

These are only two of many prides the Show Me State of Missouri shares with the rest of the world.