Mortimer Mouse - 1928

Most guests to Disney's Hollywood Studios step right on top of this next secret and never realize it. Others stare right at it, but haven't a clue as to its historical significance. On the corners of Sunset Boulevard, guests will find an imprint in the cement which reads, "Mortimer & Co. 1928 Contractors." This is an homage to Mortimer Mouse, the name Walt Disney originally considered for Mickey Mouse, and 1928 is a reference to the year in which Mickey Mouse made his debut in "Steamboat Willie."

Note: The image seen here is an optical illusion for most viewers. While the letters appear raised, they're actually imprinted into the concrete. Raised letters would wear down quickly from all the guest foot traffic at Disney's Hollywood Studios. To view the image properly, think of the light source as coming from the lower left corner, instead of the upper right. It also helps to "see" the straight line which makes its way across the base of the image, just below "Contractors", as being set into the concrete, instead of being raised. Once you get that, the rest falls into place.