Martha (1923 film)
| Martha | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Walt Disney |
| Story by | Walt Pfeiffer |
| Produced by | Walt Disney |
| Color process | Black and white |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 15 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent film |
Martha is a silent live-action short film made by Walt Disney in 1923 in the Laugh-O-Grams series. It was black and white, and billed as a "Song-O-Reel".[1] It is the only film in the Laugh-O-Gram series that is presumed lost, as no prints are known to exist. The only image remaining is from the intro. Set photos from the production are a part of the UMKC University Libraries collection.
Background and Production
Martha was produced in early 1923 at the Laugh-O-Gram Studio, located on the second floor of the McConahay Building at 1127 E. 31st Street in Kansas City, Missouri. The film was directed and produced by Walt Disney during the final months of his Kansas City-based animation company, which was struggling financially and would declare bankruptcy by mid-1923. Unlike the previous Laugh-O-Gram fairy tale adaptations, Martha represented Disney's experimental foray into a new format designed to accompany popular music.[2]
References
- ^ Lenburg, Jeff (2009). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons (3rd ed.). New York: Checkmark Books. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-8160-6600-1.
- ^ "The Story of Walt Disney in Kansas City". KC Yesterday. Retrieved January 4, 2026.