December 5, 1901 – Animator, voice actor, producer, entertainer, and the creator of Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney, is born in Chicago. During his storied career he wins a record 22 Motion Picture Oscars dominating the Best Animated Film category.
December 6, 1896 – Famed lyricist Ira Gershwin is born in New York City. He collaborated with his brother George to become a musical powerhouse team that includes the Pulitzer Prize winning musical play “Of Thee I Sing.”
December 8, 1765 – Cotton gin inventor Eli Whitney is born in Westboro, Massachusetts. His invention that removes seeds from harvested cotton prompts yearly cotton production in the U. S. to jump from about 3,000 bales a year to 73,000 bales a year.
December 9, 1886 – American inventor and founder of the modern frozen food industry with a company that bears his name, Clarence Birdseye, is born in Brooklyn, New York.