#This Day in Disney History- November 18th, 1928- An icon is born! Mickey Mouse officially debuts as the main character in "Steamboat Willie". This 8-minute black and white film was headed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks as the first synchronized cartoon (pictures synced with sounds). This was actually the third cartoon short Walt and Iwerks had produced with Mickey, but was the first the premiere. Walt even provided the voice of Mickey in these short films. Over night, Mickey became a hit-sensation, taking the hearts of millions worldwide with his laugh, his mischievous attitude and, more importantly, his ability to relate with others. Over the years, Mickey has changed from being in short films, to cartoon strips, to color short films (the Silly Symphonies cartoons), to feature films (Fantasia), to television shows (Mickey Mouse Club), to being part of thousands of merchandise items (Mickey Ear Hats and Mickey Mouse watches to name a few) and being the iconic symbol of the Walt Disney Company. In 1978, Mickey was the first cartoon character to be given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2005, he was the Grand Marshall of the Tournament of Roses Parade. What turned out to be a little doodle on a train ride home from New York City, while facing failure, turned out to become one of the most recognizable and iconic symbols the world knows today. Please post your favorite Mickey memory (either from the theme parks, to films, to television shows) to see how Mickey has impacted our lives. Happy Birthday Mickey!!!