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Up To Date

Walt Disney's Kansas City Studio Is Getting A New Life

By Steve Kraske,

Liam Mays

Published December 10, 2020 at 2:15 PM CST

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Laugh-O-Gram studios, 2004. — The home of Walt Disney's first animation company from 1922-1923 was located at 31st and Forest. Known as Laugh-O-Gram Studios, it underwent structural work (above) to stabilize it in 2004.

The cartoonist's first professional studio will become a community space.

The Laugh-O-Gram building was on the demolition list before being rescued by the Thank You Walt Disney organization. Now the goal is to restore the structure and reopen it as a museum, offices for entrepreneurs and a digital arts training program for local youth.

Butch Rigby, Founder and Chairman of Thank You Walt Disney, Inc.

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Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

See stories by Steve Kraske

Liam Mays

See stories by Liam Mays

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