Disney during the great depression Disney as well as local manufactures tried to boost sales printing play money. This occurred before the licensing agreement with Harmen Kay and Cone dollars. These were the earliest known printing of any Disney play money. The initial run was in 1932 and 1933 this included Mickey and his friends through the Sunday comics. The next run was through the "Old King Cole Display Company" which made store window displays based on the nursery rhyme character, also produced early Mickey Mouse merchandise. This merchandise link led to Disney producing a "Silly Symphony" cartoon called "Old King Cole" where Mickey Mouse appeared.