Mouse Clubhouse interviews: Recent Episodes
Mouse Clubhouse interviews
Disney Legends Alice and Marc Davis Walt Disney considered Marc Davis, one of his core animation team of “nine old men”! Not only an animator, Marc designed many characters such as Cruella De Vil and Tinker Bell, before moving on to WED, now known as Walt Disney Imagineering, where he designed many of the scenes for classic Disneyland attractions such as it’s a small world, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise.
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/interview-Marc-Davis-Disneyland.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
4:46 After 101 Dalmatians, Marc was working on a concept for a film on Chanticleer, and in a strange meeting was told he couldn’t do that; After Chanticleer Walt asked Marc to work for WED and he started on the Mine Train attraction; Marc added some humor; He placed a fox shaking his head left and right next to a fox nodding his head up and down so they were looking at each other; Marc didn’t like the seat placement in the trains, feeling that people were looking at each other in the attraction rather that at the scenes, it was more important for people to see what was ahead, not what was behind you; Created a scene in the Mine Train which would be an earthquake, rocking the cars, but after some earthquakes he realized it would just scare people, the job wasn’t to scare people, but to entertain people
13:32 Adding humor to the Jungle Cruise including the elephant pool, the African veldt, later added the safari camp that the gorillas took over; Marc designed the trapped safari chased up the pole by the rhino because Walt wanted Marc to do things for the attractions that could be seen by the Disneyland Railroad, the safari was so good Walt wanted it in the ride; Walt was going to see a new elephant scene in the Jungle Cruise, a scene which didn’t work well for long; Tommy Walker was in charge of entertainment at the park and dressed in an elegant suit and played a practical joke on Walt in the elephant scene – Marc never saw Walt laugh like that
18:35 When Alice met Walt Disney at the Tam O’Shanter restaurant, and he told her he was going to hire her; The first job Alice did for Disney was making the costume live action costume for Briar Rose reference for Sleeping Beauty, she later worked on Toby Tyler, and then she was asked by request of Mary Blair to do the costumes for it’s a small world; designed the scenes for the attraction and met with the United Nations
23:28 Walt did not want a storyline in the Haunted Mansion; some artists were working on a storyline about a bride who was stood up at her wedding, but Walt didn’t want that; the appearance of Haunted Mansion exterior and Walt’s decision to keep “everything on the outside of these buildings should look neat and clean.” Bringing humor into Disneyland, and the trapped safari in the Jungle Cruise.
26:03 Marc Davis learned that Walt Disney wanted to do a Pirates of the Caribbean walk-through attraction; Alice Davis talks about creating the costumes for Pirates of the Caribbean; How realistic to be with pirates, and that the truth is that most died of venereal disease than in battles in bawdy houses. No characters were caricatures of Walt Disney, the staff or anybody except one who was a janitor.
34:20 Talking about the last show Marc worked on, America Sings
Tim Conway Tim Conway is not only a Hollywood Legend, but a comic genius. His work ranges from starring in the classic television series’ “McHale’s Navy,” and “The Carol Burnett Show” to playing the voice of Barnacle Boy on the animated series “Spongebob Squarepants.” He also appeared in a number of Disney films including, “The World’s Greatest Athlete,” “The Apple Dumpling Gang,” “The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again,” “Gus,” and “The Shaggy D.A.”
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/interview-Tim-Conway.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
2:32 Tim’s start in comedy; He was interested in horse racing and wanted to be a jockey; Went to Bowling Green State University; Went into the army; Worked at a radio station and took over for performer Jack Riley, who had been writing promos; Tim got into acting in promotions and then directing television; Directed a morning show with host Ernie Anderson; Rose Marie discovered Tim’s work and brought it to Steve Allen; Tim worked on the Steve Allen show; Was offered the role of Ensign Parker on McHale’s Navy and ultimately took the role; Tim voices the role of Barnacle Boy with Ernest Borgnine of Spongebob Squarepants; Worked with Don Knotts a lot including some Disney movies
9:02 The Carol Burnett Show; Carol didn’t believe in incorporating political or religious humor so it always had wide appeal; Harvey Korman; Tim was a writer on the show and then performed something other than what he wrote
10:56 Working for Disney, starting with “The World’s Greatest Athlete,” and “The Shaggy D.A.”; Working on the Disney backlot; Getting pies in the face
13:20 Tim talks about Don Knotts and some of his comedy heroes; The Steve Allen show; Tim describes himself and reflects on his career
Two Disney Legends: Marc & Alice Davis I’m so excited to share this interview with you, despite it’s poor quality. A 1997 conversation with the amazing Marc Davis, one of Walt Disney’s “nine old men”! Walt was so fond of Marc, whose work includes everything from designing characters such as Cruella De Vil and Tinker Bell to designing story and character concepts for such Disneyland attractions as it’s a small world, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise, Marc was a major part of Walt Disney’s success.
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/interview-Marc-Davis-animation.mp3 It was always a treat to receive the Christmas cards Marc drew AUDIO INDEX
3:11 Marc taught life drawing at Chouinard Art Institute for 17 years; Alice Davis was one of Marc’s students in the class and started going out together
4:33 Started working for Disney on December 2, 1935, due to his knowledge of animals and anatomy; Began working as an assistant animator for Grim Natwick on the character of Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; With his knowledge of animals and anatomy, Marc became part of the story team on Bambi; Moved from studio on Hyperion to a studio on Seward St. in Hollywood; Marc was part of the first creative group to move to the new Burbank Disney Studios; Walt was so intrigued with Marc’s drawings of the Bambi character that Walt said he wants Marc to animate; Story director Perce Pearce would say “Man is in the Forest” to indicate that Walt was coming down the hall
8:47 Marc remembers Walt Disney, “What a tremendous man he was”
10:53 As a treat for the assistant animator, Marc got to animate on Snow White, the scene with Dopey dancing on top of Sneezy
11:46 On Bambi, Marc worked on the design of the characters, Bambi, Thumper and Flower, animated a lot on the film as well; Marc did a photographic study of human babies and put those expressions into young Bambi
12:49 Walt Disney had relied on his foreign revenues from the worldwide distribution of his films, probably more than any other studio, and during World War II, he suddenly was not able to access his money, from England in particular. Walt was asked by the United States government to do films that would help the war effort and Marc worked on some of those and those films helped Disney survive the wartime; Marc worked Alexander P. de Seversky’s Victory Through Air Power, for Disney, despite being overlooked on screen credit; Marc ran in to Seversky at the New York World’s Fair that Disney had attractions in
17:42 Due to the war, Disney could not do full-length feature films so they did short subjects that they would tie together; Cinderella was the first full-length animated feature Disney did after the war; Marc animated the first sequence on Song of the South and also worked on story on it; Disney wasn’t capable of doing a full-length animated film which is why the film was live-action with only some animation; Marc and Alice attended the 30th anniversary of Song of the South After the war Marc worked on some of the films such as Sleeping Beauty and 101 Dalmatians; Walt like that Marc could do anything – Alice tells a story of when Walt called Marc a genius
23:52 Marc designed Tinker Bell and animated the close-up scenes with her; Peter Pan was written as a stage play, not a book, and in it, Tinker Bell was only a spot of light so Marc had to develop the character, and some people complained about his version
Disneyland entertainers Jim Adams and Don Payne Jim Adams and Don Payne entertained thousands of guests at Disneyland and toured the country for Disney in the 1970s.
Together and individually Jim and Don were involved in performing, writing and directing many of Disneyland’s events such as “The Baby Animal Show” at Carnation Plaza Gardens, the “Fun with Music” show at the Fantasyland Theater, “The Great Annual Easter Walking Race” and much more. Jim and Don both also starred in Disneyland’s historic “Golden Horseshoe Revue,” alternating with Disney Legend Wally Boag. (See more photos and audio index below)
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/interview-jim-adams-don-payne.mp3 Jim Adams delights an audience member during the “Golden Horseshoe Revue” Don Payne entertains in the “Golden Horseshoe Revue” Jim Adams hosts “The Baby Animal Show” with Goofy and a live duckling As puppeteer, Don Payne takes a break during a television appearance to promote Disney’s “101 Dalmatians” Jim Adams shares a laugh with Disney Legend Fulton Burley in a bicentennial-themed version of the “Golden Horseshoe Revue” AUDIO INDEX
2:56 Jim’s start in entertainment at Disneyland; Began in the Christmas parade; Meeting Wally Boag for the first time; Wally enlisted Jim to perform in the Disneyland Drama Workshop including “Chicken Ranching for Fun and Profit” and “Tail of the West”; Intended for internal performances, “Chicken Ranching” was eventually seen by the public; Jim started performing in the “Golden Horseshoe Revue”
11:10 Jim toured the country promoting Disneyland and Disney’s latest film releases; Did television and radio shows, live shows at malls and hospital visits
13:06 Remembering Disney Legend Fulton Burley; Fulton was always entertaining people, both on and off stage; Fulton even entertained in the bathroom!; Working with Fulton in the “Golden Horseshoe Revue”
23:16 Don’s start at Disneyland; Began in the Christmas Parade, with his first performance on December 15, 1966, the day Walt Disney died; Don remembers snow at Disneyland that night; Don joins the character department and then becomes a performer in the “Golden Horseshoe Revue”
28:34 Jim begins performing the Mountain Man character as the “Golden Horseshoe Revue” pre-show, and Don takes over the Mountain Man pre-show when Jim was in the main show
Kathleen after being named Disneyland Ambassador 1993 Kathleen Mitts Micalizzi was the 1993 Disneyland Ambassador to the World. (More photos and audio index below)
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/interview-Kathleen-Mitts-Micalizzi.mp3 As part of the press, we were notified moments before the winner was announced so we could focus in on her Kathleen and Pluto in the Hollywood Christmas Parade
Kathleen in the 1993 Tournament of Roses parade
Kathleen in the Space Mountain attraction safety video AUDIO INDEX
1:38 How Kathleen came to appear in the Space Mountain safety video
2:49 Kathleen got her start at Disneyland performing in parades and shows including the Main Street Electrical Parade, Party Gras, Main Street Hop and Fantasmic!
5:07 After three attempts, Kathleen was finally chosen as Disneyland Ambassador to the World for 1993. Everything immediately changed for Kathleen as soon as she was selected; A funny memory of her first day as Ambassador
7:32 A lot of traveling was involved, representing Disney throughout the United States; About the Mickey’s Toontown promotional tour, and making television and radio appearances as well as hospital visits for sick children
9:03 The opening of Mickey’s Toontown, dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony
9:34 Traveling to Tokyo Disneyland for their 10th anniversary with all Disney Ambassadors, and visiting Paris
11:46 Appearing in the Hollywood Christmas Parade and the Tournament of Roses; Receiving gifts as Ambassador
15:53 Summing up her Ambassador year
Ron Logan at the Disney Legends ceremony From trumpet playing in the 1958 Christmas parade at Disneyland, Ron Logan climbed the ladder to become the executive vice president, executive producer of Walt Disney Entertainment, responsible for all the live entertainment in the entire company.
(Audio index and more photos below)
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/interview-Ron-Logan.mp3 Ron Logan, Betty Taylor and Dennis Despie at the final performance of the Golden Horseshoe Revue at Disneyland Ron Logan’s windows on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World Ron Logan’s fresh handprints in cement after receiving his Disney Legends award AUDIO INDEX
1:40 Started with Disney in 10th grade in a band headed by Les Brown, Jr.; In 1958, Ron was in the toy soldier band in the Disneyland Christmas parade; Was in the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics playing trumpet; About Disney’s participation in the Olympics; Ron became the leader of the fanfare group for the Olympics and he stayed as a consultant for Disney for 18 years, wrote scripts, worked on half time shows, put bands together for parades and New Year’s Eve and more
6:45 About the Disneyland entertainment department when it was headed by Tommy Walker who was the son of Vesey Walker who headed the Disneyland Band; The start of the Disneyland Band; About Tommy Walker; There were no rules at the time; The entertainment industry was a bawdy industry but brought into a family atmosphere;
10:10 Shows and parades back when Ron started; The entertainment was very professional; Entertainers were not even allowed to wear glasses, rings, watches, and jewelry; Ron demanded top quality entertainment; Ron did not like band members wearing sunglasses, but the union stepped in; Ron demanded quality in the entertainment
12:56 Meeting Walt Disney three times, Walt was very friendly to people and interested in people; A story about Roy Disney when the band decided to “have some fun”; Ron worked for talent booker Sonny Anderson, putting bands for together for various parades and events and was responsible for them
15:58 Ron went from music up the ladder to executive vice president of Walt Disney Entertainment Worldwide; His responsibilities as music director; What being the director of entertainment for Disneyland entailed
19:55 About Disneyland director of entertainment, Bob Jani; Bob discovering Ron during a rehearsal of a fanfare group led to Ron becoming music director in Walt Disney World
22:50 His role as executive vice president of Walt Disney Entertainment Worldwide, responsible for all entertainment in The Walt Disney Company; The day Ron Logan inherited the Mighty Ducks as part of the job; Inherited the Angels the same way; Also responsible for Asia, South America, Europe; The opening of Epcot; Bob Jani did a lot of planning for the grand opening of Epcot, but then Ron inherited that to make sure everything ran properly; Bob came up with the concepts
32:12 Disney was so unique there really wasn’t competition; Bob Jani made Dennis Despie the vice president of entertainment for Disneyland, and Ron was made the director; When Dennis left, Ron took over the job; Becoming Disneyland director of entertainment; Creative side vs. operational side; Training in Japan for Tokyo Disneyland; Big challenges for Euro Disneyland
43:32 Ron’s favorite projects
Disney photographer Gary Krueger Gary has been a photographer for Disney since 1967, photographing all of Disney’s theme parks here and abroad, including the grand opening of Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Euro Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland and the Disney Cruise Line and events such as many of Disney’s movie premieres including Lion King in London and New York, Pocahontas in Central Park, two Pirates of the Caribbean movies at Disneyland, Cars at the Charlotte Speedway, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/interview-Gary-Krueger.mp3 Mickey Mouse in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland, postcard photo by Gary Krueger Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and Geppetto in Fantasyland, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger Mickey & MInnie in the American pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Polynesia Village Resort, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Tomorrowland attractions, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Pirates of the Caribbean, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Liberty Square attractions, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger The Haunted Mansion, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger The Universe of Energy in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Romantic Mickey and Minnie on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Mickey and the gang in front of Cinderella Castle, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger The Land pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Spaceship Earth in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Fireworks seen from the Japan pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Mickey and the gang ride the Toontown Jolly Trolley, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger Journey Into Imagination pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Italy pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger China Pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Mickey and Minnie in Mickey’s Toontown, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger Country Bear Jamboree, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Streetmosphere in Disney-MGM Studios, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger it’s a small world, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger Journey Into Imagination pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney world postcard photo by Gary Krueger Mickey and the gang at Sleeping Beauty Castle, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger Characters at the Disneyland Railroad, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger Tree of Life in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Frontierland attractions, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Main Street in Disneyland (Dapper Dans: Bill Lewis, Jim Schamp, Shelby Grimm and Jim Campbell, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger Chip ‘n Dale in Mickey’s Toontown, Disneylandpostcard photo by Gary Krueger Minnie and Mickey at The Great Movie Ride, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Mickey & Minnie in Mickey’s Toontown, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger it’s a small world, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Tree of Life at dusk, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Disney-MGM Studios water tower, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger Mr. Smee and Captain Hook on the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger Stan Freese and Mickey Mouse lead the Disneyland Band, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Fantasyland, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger AUDIO INDEX
1:13 Gary’s start in photography and working for Disney; Getting hired by Walt Disney Imagineering; He quit and then became freelance
3:04 Photographed the opening of Walt Disney World; His photos were used for multimedia shows, slide presentations and much internal use; shooting Disneyland photos
6:49 Hired by Disneyland and Walt Disney Imagineering and some of his other work such as the L.A. Times, Los Angeles magazine and airplane magazines; He photographed an Evil Kneivel jump for Rolling Stone magazine
8:41 Many countries and cities around the world that Gary visited for Disney, including Morocco for presentations regarding the Moroccan pavilion in Epcot, and photographing the opening of Disneyland Paris and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Hong Kong Disneyland and much more
10:11 Gary photographed many movie premieres, including Beauty and the Beast in London or the Pirates of the Caribbean movie at Disneyland; takes hundreds of pictures per event
12:19 Moving into the digital age; Some of Gary’s techniques
17:50 How he was given various assignments, and he would choose the composition, such as for postcards
20:35 Gary’s hands became Abraham Lincoln’s for “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln”
22:49 Waiting for just the right moment for a photo, such as lining up the monorail and submarines
Actor Gary Dubin Actor Gary Dubin began his acting career at the age of six, and went on to appear in numerous movies and television series, including a recurring role as Punky Lazaar in “The Partridge Family,” and voicing the character of kitten Toulouse in the 1970 Disney animated feature “The Aristocats” (More photos below)
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/interview-Gary-Dubin.mp3 Gary appears in an episode of Adam 12 Close-up of Gary in Adam 12 Gary recording the voice of Toulouse in The Aristocats Gary Dubin in an episode of The Paper Chase AUDIO INDEX
:56 How Gary got started in acting at the age of six; Some of the films he appeared in, including his recurring role as Punky Lazaar in “The Partridge Family”
3:47 Auditioning for The Aristocats in 1969 at the age of 10; Being on the Disney lot; Preparing for and recording the songs
5:43 Spending time in studio schools as a child actor
6:15 Getting recognized for his work
Jack Gladish, working on “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” for the World’s Fair Jack Gladish started his Disney career as a precision camera machinist, working on classic animated films, and he later became an engineer working on attractions for Disneyland and Disney’s exhibits at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and eventually for the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Some of the projects Jack was involved with throughout the years include Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, the Carousel of Progress, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, the Jungle Cruise, Adventure Thru Inner Space and much more.
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/interview-Jack-Gladish-Jungle-Cruise.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
1:11 The process for creating the Jungle Cruise animals, particularly an elephant; Creating a master mold; How to cure the animals in an oven; Creating the vinyl skins and ensuring they won’t wear from rubbing against the fiberglass shell
Jay Meyer in Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe As a singer, Jay Meyer has appeared in countless performances on television, movies and stage. He was a regular singer with the Ray Conniff singers, in the “Top Twenty” choir on the Tennessee Ernie Ford television show, and with the Sportsmen Quartet in the Phil Silvers and Alice Faye show and the Jack Benny show, first on radio, then on television. Jay sang in the chorus on such movies as “Mary Poppins,” “The Sound of Music,” “Annie get your Gun,” “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad,Mad World” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” He’s appeared in concerts at the Hollywood Bowl with people such as Sammy Davis Jr. and Ray Charles, and in radio and television commercials for companies such as Post cereals, Mattel, Knotts Berry Farm and was seen singing “You Deserve a Break Today” for McDonalds. Jay is also seen and heard as a singing statue in the Disney “Haunted Mansion” attractions around the world. For fourteen years, Jay also appeared live in Disneyland entertaining audiences with Irish tunes in the historical Golden Horseshoe Revue.
HEAR JAY’S INTERVIEW:
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/interview-Jay-Meyer.mp3
SEE JAY IN VARIOUS PERFORMANCES:
ENJOY THESE PHOTOS:
Jay Meyer with a photo of his image in the “Haunted Mansion” Jay Meyer as a singing statue in Disney’s Haunted Mansion attraction Jay Meyer (top) with the Sportsmen Quartet Jay Meyer in a performance of Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue AUDIO INDEX
1:19 Jay sings “It’s a Great Day for the Irish”
1:30 Jay’s start as a singer; Played trumpet and was the sole cheerleader at school; Jay joined the Marine Corps; Performed in the Marines
4:37 Jay moved to Los Angeles; Sang with Spike Jones, when Jones’ singer wife was pregnant; Joined the Jack Benny show as part of the Sportsmen
Quartet, including the Lucky Strike commercials
5:47 Jay sings one of the Lucky Strike songs plus clips of the original Lucky Strike commercials
8:29 Working on the Jack Benny Show and the Phil Harris/Alice Faye show; Went to New York and did Summer Stock; His wife, Tommy Meyer was a writer; Came back to California and did films and television
11:14 Jay was called to become a singing statue in the Haunted Mansion; Also did the Golden Horseshoe Revue as Fulton Burley’s substitute; Agreed to do the Horseshoe for six weeks in 1972 and stayed for 14 years
13:20 Jay sings “Too Ra Loo Ral” in a Golden Horseshoe Revue performance at Disneyland
Don Dorsey and Sadie Mae, the band organ heard in America on Parade (1976) Enjoy these Electrical Parade facts and other Disney entertainment history!
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Don Dorsey is a musician, director, producer, and audio engineer whose work for Disney includes everything from musical performances and arrangements to sound design to complete show design and direction for several Disney parks.
Don started his long-lasting relationship with Disney in 1975 and for the first 17 years served as the main audio recording and post-production engineer for the Entertainment Division of the Disneyland Park.
With the opening of Epcot in 1982, Don began creating and directing nighttime spectaculars for the World Showcase Lagoon beginning with A New World Fantasy and moving on to Laserphonic Fantasy, IllumiNations, and most recently Reflections of Earth. Other nighttime shows created and directed by Don include “Sorcery in the Sky” for Disney Studios Florida, and “Starlight Magic” for Tokyo Disneyland.
As of 2015, Don is in his 41st year of consulting to Disney and works mostly behind the scenes coordinating sound and music for Creative Entertainment at the Disneyland Resort.
I sat down with Don in 2009 to find out more about the creation of “Reflections of Earth.” I hope you enjoy hearing his interview! And don’t miss the photos below. As always, I’ve also included the Audio Index below. (Transcription available here)
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/interview-Don-Dorsey.mp3 Don Dorsey with his E-MU Synth (1977) Don Dorsey and his Minimoog (1972) Don Dorsey recording “tap dancing” sounds for America on Parade soundtrack (1975) Bob Jani stands on Main Street in Disneyland to hear the America on Parade soundtrack mix (1975) Recording the Electrical Water Pageant at Jack Wagner’s home studio (1977) AUDIO INDEX
1:36 Jack Wagner, the “voice of Disneyland,” and audio producer, and Don’s mentor; Bob Jani, the vice president of entertainment at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, creator of the Main Street Electrical Parade, Electrical Water Pageant and America on Parade among others
2:42 America on Parade, one of Disney’s largest parades, produced for America’s bicentennial; the Sherman Brothers’ song “The Glorious Fourth” was the overture for America on Parade; Sadie Mae, the band organ used for the America on Parade soundtrack
3:48 Don’s musical beginnings
8:12 Meeting Jack Wagner, and getting a one time for Disneyland; Being rediscovered by Jack Wagner while performing on his synthesizer for a concert; Being asked to do synthesizer work on the America on Parade soundtrack and performing banjo and various sound effects in Jack’s home dining room studio
13:33 The unique soundtrack of America on Parade, deemed “the Great American Music Box” by Bob Jani and the music of the Sadie Mae band organ; recording “The Glorious Fourth” parade overture
19:04 Following America on Parade, going to Florida and becoming Jack Wagner’s assistant; Working with Jack at his house each day; A funny Bob Jani memory when Bob gets cherry pie on his white suit
22:38 Learning from Jack Wagner
24:50 The Electrical Water Pageant; the E-MU synthesizer; the Main Street Electrical Parade returns after a hiatus during America on Parade; Don creates new music for the Electrical Parade; the beginning of Disneyland parade introductions – the opening window; the opening fanfare for the Main Street Electrical Parade
28:33 Updates to the Main Street Electrical Parade, including soundtrack and more dimensional units and new units; the parade became more efficient in terms of battery power and less cables; the history of the closing music of the Electrical Parade, which originated at the Orange Bowl halftime show in 1978; how Battlestar Gallactica inspired the original introduction dialogue sound
Larry Billman wrote and/or director hundreds of Disney live productions worldwide Larry Billman began his career as a performer on stage, screen and television before becoming a Writer/Director of Disney Resort live entertainment worldwide. For over 40 years he was involved in the production of hundreds of live shows at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Among those shows, Larry wrote the Hoop de Doo Revue, one of the longest running dinner shows in American history. That show debuted in 1974, and as of 2016, the show continues to delight audiences at the Fort Wilderness Resort in Walt Disney World. A few of his other credits include the Disney Character Director of Disney on Ice, Director of Entertainment at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, and VP of Entertainment at Walt Disney World, to name a few. (See more photos and Audio Index below)
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/interview-Larry-Billman.mp3 Larry Billman, (top left) with the cast of the Disneyland version of the Mickey Mouse Club, which led to the 1977 revised television edition Larry Billman, as he appeared in the 1963 Disney movie, “Miracle of the White Stallions” Larry Billman (left) and John Anello (right) working on the unique “Fun with Music” educational Disneyland show AUDIO INDEX
2:14 Larry Billman appeared in the 1963 Disney film “Miracle of the White Stallions”
6:13 After being a choreographer on the traveling Disney on Parade, Larry was hired by Bob Jani at Disneyland Entertainment; More on the history the 1969 Disney on Parade; Larry was assigned to work with the circus performers; Working with circus legend Barbette; A Disney on Parade mishap with a dancer
14:56 Became a writer/director for a Disneyland revue in Tomorrowland, originally called “See America First,” which included original Mouseketeer Sherry Alberoni and Teri Garr. Music was written by Tom Adair and Paul Suter; The show’s title was changed to “Show Me America”; “Show Me America” was updated for Walt Disney World
20:26 Big name stars returned to Disneyland after “Show Me America” and Larry Billman and Barnette Ricci developed an opening number called “The Great American Music Machine” which featured a giant jukebox; There was later an opening with a pinball machine and later another show called “The Great Rock Circus”
23:20 Disneyland director of entertainment Bob Jani’s philosophy on Disneyland parades
25:30 The little-known “Fun with Music” educational show at Disneyland
26:47 Wrote and directed the All American College Singers shows which led to writing the Hoop de Doo Revue; The college program was supposed to run for six weeks
30:04 Bob Jani wanted Mickey Mouse Club-style kids at Disneyland; The Mickey Mouse Club stage show at Disneyland which led to the 1977 television version; The performers from the new television version performed at Disneyland
33:16 Japan Airlines worked with Disney to do a show called “Come to America” to encourage Japanese people to visit America, particularly Disneyland; The 1978 show toured to audiences of as many as 3,000; Did a second Japan Airlines tour in 1981 to announce the upcoming Tokyo Disneyland; Moved to Japan until 1985 and was the creative producer
35:40 Returning to America Larry’s job at Disney was not waiting for him; Prior to being in Japan, Larry worked with Irvin and Kenneth Feld on Disney on Ice; A little bit about Irvin; Larry helped shape Disney on Ice as it is today, rather than just having ice skaters and then a Disney act; Approached Kenneth about doing the Circus Fantasy marketing promotion at Disneyland; Larry went to work for Kenneth Feld on Ringling Bros./Barnum & Bailey circus, writing many of the shows
39:29 Invited to work on Tokyo DisneySea, what Larry enjoyed the most, working with Walt Disney Imagineering on the design of the park; Became the director of entertainment for Tokyo DisneySea
X Atencio with a replica of the Jolly Roger that he provides the voice for and wrote the dialogue for X Atencio began his Disney career in 1938 in animation, working as an assistant animator on “Pinocchio.” He went on to write dialogue for attractions such as the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Submarine Voyage in Disneyland and El Rio del Tiempo in Epcot, among others. X also wrote songs for many of the attractions he worked on including “Grim Grinning Ghosts” for the Haunted Mansion and “Yo Ho (A Pirates Life for Me)” for Pirates of the Caribbean. (Also, see more photos below.)
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/interview-X-Atencio.mp3 X Atencio stands by the tombstone tribute to him that used to reside outside the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland, but is now in his home backyard Disneyland vice president Norm Doerges, a boy from the audience, Pirates designers Marc Davis and X Atencio for the 25th anniversary of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in 1992 AUDIO INDEX
3:30 X’s start in Disney animation; attended Chouinard Art Institute; got a job at Disney in 1938 as an assistant animation to Woolie Reitherman, working on the Monstro scenes for “Pinocchio;” Worked on “Bongo” and then was drafted and went into the Signal Corps
14:01 Returning to the Disney Studios; Worked with Wooly Reitherman again, as an assistant animator on various shorts; did story sketch, storyboards on films; Working with Bill Justice on the “I’m No Fool” animated series of shorts, featuring Jiminy Cricket; Worked with Ward Kimball on the “pointy nose character” films, including the Academy Award-winning “Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom”
16:51 Returning to work with Bill Justice working on stop-motion films such as “Noah’s Ark,” and a “Symposium on Popular Songs” and opening titles for films like “The Parent Trap” and “The Shaggy Dog” and the “Spoonful of Sugar” nursery scene in “Mary Poppins”; About stop-motion animation, a very tedious job
19:12 Working on the never-completed animated short on doodles with storyman Larry Clemmons; Called into Walt’s office to move over to WED (now known as Walt Disney Imagineering); Worked in the model shop with Claude Coats on the Primeval World diorama for the Disneyland Railroad;
21:29 Was asked by Walt to write the script for “Pirates of the Caribbean”; Walt had an uncanny ability to find talent in people; Worked on the auction scene first, and read books and the “Treasure Island” film to get inspiration for the pirate jargon
23:20 Becoming the voice of the Jolly Roger talking skull and crossbones; Also had a line in the auction scene on the bridge saying “Six bottles of rum!”; Writing “Yo Ho (A Pirates Life For Me)”; People perceiving graphic lyrics in the song; Used a thesaurus to come up with lyrics
26:55 Writing for rides is different than a fixed audience; Writing the script for Submarine Voyage attraction; The Haunted Mansion lobby dialogue; No storyline in the attractions, stories didn’t lend themselves to rides; The raven in the “Haunted Mansion” was going to be the original attraction narrator; X is heard in the spiel when the “Haunted Mansion” ride stops and in the coffin saying “Let me out of here?”
31:01 Adding Captain Jack Sparrow to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” attraction and other changes; Translating the dialogue for Tokyo Disneyland
33:45 Writing the dialogue and song for El Rio del Tiempo in Epcot, “It’s Fun to Be Free” for World of Motion in Epcot, and “If You Had Wings” for the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World
35:57 Remembering the day Walt Disney died, the type of person Walt was, and the first time X met Walt
Lee Fugal in the same 1965 Mustang he drove each day to Disneyland Lee Fugal was the preshow entertainment for Disneyland’s historical “Golden Horseshoe Revue. ” He would play the piano, banjo, trumpet and trombone and even play some of those simultaneously. You can see Lee in action at his website athttp://www.leefugal.com (See more photos below.)
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/interview-Lee-Fugal.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
1:27 Lee’s start at Disneyland; Driving to California and used trumpet and trombone oil to fix the car; His Disneyland audition playing “Mary Poppins” music in 1965; Played banjo
3:10 Performing as the preshow for Disneyland’s “Golden Horseshoe Revue,” and then sitting in with the band for the show; Staying after a two-week trial; Tommy Walker, Disneyland’s director of entertainment
5:08 Lee’s preshow act, playing piano, two and three trumpets at once, banjo; About Wally Boag, Fulton Burley and Betty Taylor; Lee’s final performance festivities; The “Golden Horseshoe Revue” band Vince Rossi (piano), Sam Conti (trumpet) and Jerry King (drums); The “Calypso” sandwich at the Golden Horseshoe and Pepsi Cola; The singing waitresses
13:21 Performing for and meeting Liberace; Playing trumpet for Al Hirt; Mishaps during the show including when the power went out inside the Horseshoe
17:37 Lee playing the banjo in “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” in an episode entitled “Disneyland Around the Seasons”
Lee Fugal in front of Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe
Lee Fugal on banjo
Lee Fugal with the Gonzalez Trio at Disneyland
(Roberto, Carmelita, Lee and Arturo)
Don’t forget to visit Lee’s website www.leefugal.com!
1994 Disney Legends Ceremony, after putting his handprints in cement Jack Lindquist was involved in the opening of Walt Disney World, but he started as Disneyland’s first advertising manager, beginning in 1955. He continued with the company in marketing for Disneyland. Walt Disney World and international Disney resorts. His many accomplishments include the creation of the Disneyland Ambassador program, the creation of the Walt Disney Travel Company, the international waters ceremony for the opening of the it’s a small world attraction, Disney Dollars, and in 1990 Jack became the first president of Disneyland.
THE OPENING OF WALT DISNEY WORLD
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/interview-Jack-Lindquist-disney-world-and-more.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
1:34 The start of World Showcase at Epcot; Traveling around the world for World Showcase, meeting people like Imelda Marcos and the Shah of Iran
3:44 The opening of Walt Disney World; Contemporary Resort did not have landscaping yet; People did whatever it took – at Disney it didn’t matter if it was their job or not
5:22 “Opening a theme park is like an invasion”; Disney is a great “dangling carrot” – there’s always something else to sign on for
6:26 Jack’s work philosophies, never took the company or the job too seriously because the core of the business is making people happy… if you can’t have fun how can your guests have fun?
During the Disney employee Christmas parties which were held at Disneyland, you never knew who might be working or where they’d be. I took this photo in 1993 when Jack Lindquist was driving passengers on a Main Street vehicle. The party hadn’t started and Jack was just sitting in the vehicle waiting. I was in, since I was also going to work on an attraction and I asked him for a ride. This was the first time I got to talk with Jack, being driven by him up and down Main Street in Disneyland. Jack Lindquist came up with the idea for a Walt Disney Travel Company. He was Disneyland’s first advertising manager, beginning in 1955. He continued with the company in marketing for Disneyland. Walt Disney World and international Disney resorts. His many accomplishments include the creation of the Disneyland Ambassador program, the international waters ceremony for the opening of the it’s a small world attraction, Disney Dollars, and in 1990 Jack became the first president of Disneyland.
THE CREATION OF THE WALT DISNEY TRAVEL COMPANY
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/interview-Jack-Lindquist-disney-travel-company.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
1:32 The beginning of the Walt Disney Travel Company; Didn’t realize what was involved in a travel company, just moved forward
3:24 Finding a location for the new travel company at the Disneyland Hotel; Getting the offices ready
4:59 The success of the travel company
1994 Disney Legends Ceremony, after putting his handprints in cement
Disneyland/Disney world talent booker Sonny Anderson on Main Street Sonny Anderson was a legendary award-winning talent booker in the music industry, and was much loved as the director of talent booking for Disneyland and Walt Disney World. He began his career with Disneyland playing drums in the Disneyland band in 1956.
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/interview-Sonny-Anderson.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
1:07 Director of talent booking for Disneyland, Stan Freese, describes Sonny Anderson and recalls working with him
4:15 Sonny Anderson’s start with Disney; Played in band in Long Beach and was teaching percussion; He was asked to play on the Disneyland Band record album, and was offered a job; Starting performing at the Disneyland Hotel at night
7:32 Sonny was writing musical arrangements for the band; Disneyland director of entertainment Tommy Walker made Sonny a full-time arranger at Disneyland; His secretary, singer Kay Bell; Sonny’s started a rock band and performed with that band; The band was called the Spacemen and also the Mustangs; Dress code at Disneyland; Walt Disney said he wanted to build a new stage in Tomorrowland12:56 Stan Freese talks about the Tomorrowland Terrace stage, that Walt Disney told Sonny he would have built; Sonny had a talent at discovering up and coming bands; More about the Tomorrowland Terrace, the stage that rose up from the ground; Stan’s sons Josh Freese and Jason Freese performed at Tomorrowland Terrace
16:09 Stan talks about the Night of Joy at Disneyland; Sonny talks about coming up with the idea for Night of Joy; Dick Nunis was skeptical about it
18:03 Stan remembers The World Symphony Orchestra which was put together for and performed at the grand opening of Walt Disney World; Sonny talks about Bob Jani; Bob had unique ideas and came up with the idea for the World Symphony Orchestra
22:06 Bob Jani promoted Sonny to talent booker; Sonny sat in with a band and Bob told him he could not do that; Sonny grew a moustache, which was not allowed at Disneyland
25:20 Stan discuss Sonny Anderson’s musical arrangements; Bob Jani was a genius in live entertainment; Stan remembers his first Disneyland Band concert and a warning he received from Bob Jani about some out of place jewelry he was wearing
30:17 Sonny discusses the authentic talent for the World Showcase at Epcot; Had to go twice a year to each country; Was working at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World and the moved back to Florida full-time; Sonny wanted authentic talent; Hired authentic singers and dancers from Hawaii for the Walt Disney World show at the Polynesian; Sonny also hired authentic talent for Disneyland; Hired famous jazz musicians to perform on the Mark Twain Riverboat; Stan Freese continues talking about some of the musicians Sonny hired such as Teddy Buchner and Jewel Hall; Jack McVea and Ernie McLean became two of Disneyland’s Royal Street Bachelors jazz group
Disneyland Band Concert record album that Sonny was first hired for Sonny Anderson with Johnny Schmidt and Kay Bell This ad for Disneyland Date Nites mentions Sonny’s group Kay Bell and the Spacemen
Peter Marshall Peter Marshall is a big band singer, television and radio host including “Hollywood Squares” and “Big Bands at Disneyland.” As an actor he’s appeared in both television and film, and in the feature film, “Annie,” he sings, “You’re Never Fully Dressed without a Smile.” He’s appeared in a number of stage musicals, such as The Music Man, La Cage aux Folles, and Skyscraper on Broadway. (Be sure to see all the photos below.)
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interview-peter-marshall.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
1:56 Peter was an usher at the world famous Paramount at the age of 14. At the age of 15, Peter became a pageboy at NBC in the days of radio.
3:10 Peter wanted to be a singer and got a job in the early 1940s singing with Bob Chester and his orchestra at the Adams Theatre in Newark, New Jersey.
4:16 At 16 years old Peter went back to high school at his home in Huntington, West Virginia. Moved to California and was drafted and served in Italy during World War II, from 1944 to 1946. In the military, Peter became a disc jockey and program director of AES Naples (American Expeditionary Station). Peter would play “V discs” (victory discs).
9:45 After the war, Peter went to Florida and got a job in radio, had a 15 minute radio show where he talked and sang. It was called “Peter and the Wolf” with pianist Wolf Catlett. Peter mentions that he also sang in the military.
11:15 Peter went to New York and then California. Had a group called the Upstarts. He got a role in a show called “Tongue in Cheek.” Paired up with Tommy Noonan in a successful comedy act because Peter’s sister, actress Joanne Dru was dating Tommy Noonan’s brother. Peter teamed with Tommy Noonan to pay a dental bill. Opened at the Zambawanga and later at Billy Gray’s Band Box comedy club. Performed with Tommy Farrell for about four years. He then teamed back up with Tommy Noonan for two more years.
14:29 In 1961, Peter performed in Bye Bye Birdie with Chita Rivera, kicking off a string of theatrical performances including High Button Shoes, Anything Goes, Panama Hattie and Bye Bye Birdie in Las Vegas. He performed in New York in Skyscraper with Julie Harris and Charles Nelson Reilly.
14:50 Got his job doing Hollywood Squares, he thought it was a 13 week job and he hosted for 16 years. He needed a “straight man” who could work with comics. Continued to have an act in Las Vegas, opening for acts like the Mills Brothers, Joan Rivers, Bill Cosby and Jerry Lewis. He hosted the Peter Marshall Variety Show for two years. Peter did 35 commercials for Kelloggs, which led to hosting the Hollywood Squares.
18:15 At the start of the Disney Channel, Peter and Steve Allen did interviews with people who had done Disney films for Disney Channel interstitials. He then hosted “Big Bands at Disneyland,” which featured the great big bands and their leaders such as Count Basie, Woody Herman, Artie Shaw, Les Brown, Buddy Rich and Lionel Hampton.
Peter Marshall, singing Peter hosting the television series “Big Bands at Disneyland” at Carnation Plaza Gardens Peter with the legendary Lionel Hampton in “Big Bands at Disneyland” 1978 article announces Peter’s appearance in Walt Disney’s World’s “Top of the World” club
Walt Disney Imagineer of 40 years, Orlando Ferrante Orlando Ferrante started working at Disneyland in 1962, and for the next 40 years continued in the planning of Disneyland projects, as well as Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and the Disney Cruise Line. (See photos and audio index below)
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/interview-Orlando-Ferrante.mp3 Orlando Ferrante football card from his days with the San Diego Chargers Four Disney Legends, all of whom have been interviewed for Mouse Clubhouse. Bob Gurr, Blaine Gibson, Harriet Burns, Orlando Ferrante Orlando Ferrante’s window on Main Street in Disneyland Orlando Ferrante’s window on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World AUDIO INDEX
1:33 Orlando met Ron Miller and Dick Nunis; He became a professional football player for the San Diego Chargers; Ron helped get him a job at WED (now known as Walt Disney Imagineering); Orlando was the 50th person hired by Walt Disney Imagineering
3:03 Working on Disney’s shows for the New York World’s Fair, and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, his first project; Mapo was developed, the building for Imagineering’s animation; Attending the World’s Fair and visiting attractions with the public; Bringing the World’s Fair shows back to Disneyland
8:06 What his work as coordinator entailed; PICO, Project Installation Coordinating Office for Disneyland and Walt Disney World; Project engineers; During EPCOT Center creation, they changed to a project management system
11:26 What Imagineering was like while Walt Disney was alive; All levels of employees were treated great; About WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering); About Admiral Joe Fowler; Quality was most important with Walt, more than cost; Transporting pirates on the freeway for “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” television series;
17:17 More about working at Imagineering and the coordinating process; Coordinating from the start of design through installation: Orlando some of his fellow Imagineers and the model shop, which was like the hub of Imagineering
21:05 The grand opening of Walt Disney World and other Disney parks; Worked on EPCOT Center and Tokyo Disneyland at the same time; Working on the production end of the show, working with operations and maintenance; Show/ride elements of Walt Disney Imagineering; Lived in Paris for 2 ½ years and then worked on Tokyo DisneySeas
26:49 Working on the Disney Cruise Line, helping with coordination on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder ships in Italy; Working on a Wedway system for the Houston airport
30:29 Retiring in 2002 and becoming an official Disney Legends Award recipient; Orlando was originally offered a job working at the Celebrity Sports Center in Denver that Walt Disney bought with a number of Hollywood celebrities; A picnic at Disneyland months before its opening; Grand opening of EPCOT Center
Jack in the 1943 film “Best Foot Forward” Jack Lindquist appeared in the Our Gang comedies and movies such as “Best Foot Forward” before becoming Disneyland’s first advertising manager, beginning in 1955. He continued with the company in marketing for Disneyland. Walt Disney World and international Disney resorts. His many accomplishments include the creation of the Disneyland Ambassador program, the creation of the Walt Disney Travel Company, the international waters ceremony for the opening of the it’s a small world attraction, Disney Dollars, and in 1990 Jack became the first president of Disneyland.
JACK LINDQUIST’S EARLY HOLLYWOOD DAYS
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/interview-Jack-Lindquist-Hollywood-days.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
1:11 An extra in the Our Gang comedies (aka The Little Rascals) making $5.10 a day; The first movie Jack was in called “Midget Millionaires; Took dancing lessons at the school Shirley Temple attended; Worked in movies from 7 years old until he came out of the service; was in “Best Foot Forward” with Lucille Ball
7:40 Jack never wanted to be an actor; Learning to take rejection; Lived two block from RKO
Blaine Gibson began his Disney career in animation in 1939, and worked on some of Disney’s early classic features, animated shorts and even military films during World War II. Eventually Blaine began sculpting for Disney, creating the pirates in Pirates of the Caribbean, ghosts in the Haunted Mansion, Abraham Lincoln for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, all the president before Barrack Obama for Hall of Presidents in the Magic Kingdom, Mark Twain and others for the American Adventure in Epcot, and much more. Blaine also sculpted the Partners statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.
Blaine Gibson (left), On the Disney Studios lot, Blaine Gibson, Shani Wolf, Scott Wolf, Harriet Burns (right) http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/interview-Blaine-Gibson-animation.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
1:11 Blaine Gibson’s start in Disney animation; His first drawing
5:26 Learning that he got a job for Disney while chopping wood in 1939
9:44 At the Disney studio on Hyperion Avenue; Beginning in “traffic”; Listening to the Philadelphia Symphony recording for “Fantasia”; Exploring the Disney Studios
12:35 Getting into production as an in-betweener; Working on his first scene in the Pluto short “Bone Trouble”; Fantasia, Pinocchio and Bambi
14:26 In-betweeners/assistant animators/breakdown men and about the animation process; working for Ken Hultgren on Bambi; Art classes at the Disney Studios, and instructor Rico Lebrun
17:57 Walt’s goals in animation; Believability – not real, but believable
26:56 Sculpting, starting at five years old; The thrill of drawing; Effects animation; World War II films; Becoming assistant to great animator Frank Thomas
Barry Lane worked at Disneyland in the 1960s, when Walt Disney would still wander the parks, and was a tour guide there, one of the last male tour guides for many years to follow. Barry also was a skipper on the Jungle Cruise and worked in Disneyland’s historic Golden Horseshoe Revue!
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/interview-Barry-Lane.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
:59 Barry Lane’s start with Disneyland; Interviewed and was hired as a tour guide; Barry begin in April 1960, and was the last male tour guide for years to come
3:32 Giving his first tour at Disneyland without training, due to high park attendance
5:36 Becoming a skipper on the Jungle Cruise, because they had the best parties; Was laid off of his job 13 times
9:19 Worked at the Golden Horseshoe in foods, and ushering Guests into the building; Became a foreman at the Golden Horseshoe
11:53 Encounters with Walt Disney
13:50 Golden Horseshoe memories
15:15 Serving mint juleps on the Mark Twain
15:46 Meeting his wife, Connie
Here’s two interviews tangled together in one… Zachary Levi, the voice of Flynn Rider, and Mandy Moore, the voice of Rapunzel. Enjoy the photos below and as always, see the Audio Index.
Interview with Zachary Levi, voice of Flynn Rider and Mandy Moore, voice of Rapunzel in Disney’s Tangled http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/interview-Zachary-Levi-Mandy-Moore.mp3 “I See the Light” scene from Disney’s Tangled Zachary Levi recording for Disney’s Tangled Mandy Moore and Alan Menken, recording for Disney’s Tangled AUDIO INDEX
1:49 Zachary Levi explains if Flynn Rider’s look was modeled after him
2:37 Working with Mandy on music and dialogue; Working with the orchestra; He was new to professional singing, this was Zach’s first professional singing job
5:28 Singing Alan Menken’s music in Tangled, but a huge fan of Menken’s work
6:42 Zach’s audition process
9:11 Changing his voice for the role
10:45 Mandy Moore discusses performing as a voice role vs. an on-camera role; She only had sketches and oral explanations for character reference; Recording the dialogue; Directors Bryon Howard and Nathan Greno
13:50 Mandy’s audition process; Becoming a Disney princess
15:16 Seeing the finished movie; Being a part of a Disney legacy and Mandy’s feelings about her character, Rapunzel; Differences from other animation she’s worked
18:05 Mandy’s favorite memories working on Tangled, and how part of it was a career highlight
1966 Disneyland Ambassador to the World, Connie Swanson Lane http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/interview-Connie-Swanson-Lane.mp3 Connie Swanson Lane worked at Disneyland in the 1960s as a tour guide, VIP hostess, and she was the 1966 Disneyland Ambassador to the World. As Ambassador, Connie traveled both locally and abroad, bringing brought the joy of Disneyland around the world. She was involved in many historic Disneyland events, such as the grand openings of New Orleans Square, “it’s a small world,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Connie’s Disneyland career was filled with numerous unforgettable experiences such as in 1969, leading her tour to Tomorrowland, to view the live broadcast of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing, and during her Ambassador year, getting the chance to work with Walt Disney.
AUDIO INDEX
0:00 Special introduction with audio of Walt Disney, Connie as Ambassador in 1966, and some thoughts of Connie by Disney Legend Jack Lindquist
2:59 Her start at Disneyland; Don Novis of the Golden Horseshoe Revue; Becoming a tour guide and working in Guest Relations
6:38 Connie saving a young boy who fell in the Rivers of America; The tour guide hat
8:40 Connie’s love of the international Guests of Disneyland; a memory of Walt Disney
10:35 Early Disneyland – Disneyland attire in the early days; Robert Shore
12:10 Cast member functions including Drama Club
13:00 Learning about and trying out for the Disneyland Ambassador program; The Disneyland tencennial Ambassador ceremony; Her path to becoming Ambassador in 1966
17:24 Learning about becoming Ambassador; Her Ambassador year; Getting an Ambassador makeover – getting her hair cut at the studio; Jack Lindquist; working with Frank Forsythe of the Disneyland Ambassador program
22:14 Connie’s year as Disneyland Ambassador to the World; Traveling internationally and much of the US; Representing Disneyland, Walt Disney, and all of Walt Disney Productions
25:11 Working with and reporting to Walt Disney; A photo session of Walt; Walt’s advice on how to treat Disney park Guests
28:15 The grand opening of “it’s a small world” in Disneyland – participating from Sweden
30:23 Hospital visits as Disneyland Ambassador; Polio sanitarium in Columbia
32:25 Walt Disney’s death
33:40 After Connie’s Ambassador year
Don Dorsey is a musician, director, producer, and audio engineer whose work for Disney includes everything from musical performances and arrangements to sound design to complete show design and direction for several Disney parks.
Don started his long-lasting relationship with Disney in 1975 and for the first 17 years served as the main audio recording and post-production engineer for the Entertainment Division of the Disneyland Park, manning console knobs and faders for recording sessions with Mickey and his cohorts, and for musical groups which ran the gamut from bagpipes, steel drums and accordion to marching band, 100-voice choir and symphony orchestra. His electronic arrangements and performances for Disney’s original Main Street Electrical Parade have been heard by hundreds of millions of Disney Park guests.
With the opening of Epcot in 1982, Don began creating and directing nighttime spectaculars for the World Showcase Lagoon beginning with A New World Fantasy and moving on to Laserphonic Fantasy, IllumiNations, and most recently Reflections of Earth. Other nighttime shows created and directed by Don include “Sorcery in the Sky” for Disney Studios Florida, and “Starlight Magic” for Tokyo Disneyland.
As of 2015, Don is in his 41st year of consulting to Disney and works mostly behind the scenes coordinating sound and music for Creative Entertainment at the Disneyland Resort.
I sat down with Don in 2009 to find out more about the creation of “Reflections of Earth.” I hope you enjoy hearing his interview! And don’t miss the photos below. As always, I’ve also included the Audio Index below. (Transcription available here)
LISTEN:
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/interview-Don-Dorsey-Reflections-of-Earth.mp3 IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth Gavin Greenaway (left) and Don Dorsey (right) during a recording session of IlluminNations: Reflections of Earth at Abbey Road studios Don Dorsey programming the fire on the barges for Reflections of Earth Bernie Durgin (pyro coordinator), Eric Tucker (pyro designer) and Don Dorsey prepare for nighttime effects testing in China. The original styrofoam model of the Earth for the video globe in IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth A frame out of the video that wraps around the video globe in Reflections of Earth The Reflections of Earth globe in the daytime A scene on the video globe during a presentation of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth Don Dorsey is a music director, whose work, amongst other things, includes the Main Street Electrical Parade, America on Parade, Reflections of Earth, Fantasmic!, and Sorcery in the Sky
AUDIO INDEX
1:49 The beginnings of Reflections of Earth; Air launch fireworks technology; Don came onboard as creative director of the show; Computer chip for firework shells; Benefits of the air launch technology; Mickey ears fireworks; Shooting star effect
7:36 Creating a production for the Millennium; Early ideas; The Millennium lagoon show comes together; The story of Earth
13:46 The music of Reflections of Earth; Hans Zimmer out-Gavin Greenaway in; Hearing the music for the first time; Creating the moment human beings appear on the planet; A hockey game was the inspiration for the opening of the music; future uses of the music; “Promise” (with music from the Epcot parade “Tapestry of Nations” and “We Go On”; Gavin wins an Emmy for the music; Don wrote the lyrics for “We Go On”
25:16 Opening narration featuring Jim Cummings; The show’s lighting cue when the lights go out, and the opening lighting cue for the Main Street Electrical Parade
27:58 More about music; Don wrote the lyrics for “We Go On”; the inspiration for “We Go On”
32:46 The video globe in Reflections of Earth; The thought of Spaceship Earth being covered with LEDs; Challenges with the globe; Fire effects and inferno barge; Programming the fire using a Midi keyboard
37:59 Producing the video on the globe; The process of creating the video and a graphic simulation; Determining how to display the various video “continents”; Creating a model of the Earth and engineering it
43:38 he movements and limitations of the fountains; Color coordination of fountains, fireworks and smoke
47:24 The lasers; The safety aspect of the lasers are regulated by the government; Achieving unique colors with lasers
48:32 The show officially premiered on October 1, 2000 and was expected to remain for ten years; Don’s feelings about the show
Scott Weinger is a television actor and writer, probably best known for his role as Steve Hale on the TV series “Full House.” Although he wasn’t seen onscreen, another of his most famous roles was providing the voice of the title character in Disney’s animated feature, “Aladdin.”
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/interview-Scott-Weinger.mp3 AUDIO INDEX:
2:13 Working on the Disney Studios lot as a writer for ABC shows
3:14 Auditioning for Aladdin
4:30 Working with Robin Williams
5:45 Favorite memory of working on Aladdin
Alan Menken is an Academy Award winning composer who has written the music for films including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Tangled, amongst many others.
Alan Menken with poster for “Tangled” http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/interview-Alan-Menken.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
1:03 Working on Tangled
3:32 Working with different lyricists; Aladdin stage version with outtake songs; the original intent of the Aladdin movie
5:40 Alan’s input in the music and working with the film’s writer
6:22 Alan’s favorite Disney memories which includes memories from Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast
I hope you enjoy these excerpts from interviews I did with people who were at Disneyland on its opening day on July 17, 1955.
Don’t miss any of my interviews. Send an email and let me know you want to be on my email list!
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/interview-Disneyland-opening-day.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
1:26 Harriet Burns, of the Imagineering model shop, talks about having to be at various positions in Disneyland on its opening day; Crowds and counterfeit tickets and heat; Melting asphalt; The day before Disneyland opened there was a gap in Tomorrowland; The Disney staff’s thoughts about Disneyland
4:41 Cubby O’Brien was a very young boy debuting as a Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer at the opening day of Disneyland
6:19 Mouseketeer Sherry Alberoni Van Meter won a prize to attend Disneyland on its opening day; Serving ice cream for Walt Disney
8:25 Bobby Burgess danced with the other Mouseketeers on Disneyland’s opening day and it was hot; Disneyland parade; A special memory of riding the Skyway a few years later
10:31 Sculptor Blaine Gibson attended Disneyland’s opening with his wife; The heat; Blaine’s assistant Jack Ferges did not have a good experience
12:10 Marketing guru and president of Disneyland, Jack Lindquist was at the park on opening day as a guest of Kelvinator; Crowds and heat; Tickets had different times on them but the guests didn’t leave; Jack’s five year old son had an experience on the Canal Boats attraction; Eddie Meck was the publicity person for Disneyland; Jack knew Eddie Meck since he was a kid; Eddie Meck helped turn upset members of the press into fans of Disneyland
16:43 Miriam Nelson choreographed the performances for Disneyland’s opening day; Choosing a white knight and black knight for the opening of the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty castle; Dancers got lost; New Orleans dance problems; Little boy tap dancer was not at his spot; The characters at the opening of Fantasyland; Frontierland was supposed to have cement for dancers who danced to “Bang! Went Old Betsy”; Walt Disney
by Scott Wolf
Blaine Gibson at the
Walt Disney Studios, 1993
Blaine Gibson began his Disney career as an inbetweener on a Pluto cartoon short film “Bone Trouble,” and then on “Fantasia” and “Pinocchio” and as an assistant animator on“Bambi.” Blaine eventually began sculpting for Disney, creating the pirates in Pirates of the Caribbean, ghosts in the Haunted Mansion, Abraham Lincoln for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, all the president before Barrack Obama for Hall of Presidents in the Magic Kingdom, Mark Twain and others for the American Adventure in Epcot, and much more. Blaine also sculpted the Partners statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/interview-Blaine-Gibson-Mansion.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
1:52 The Haunted Mansion; Developing three dimension characters from Marc Davis’ drawings
3:18 The inverted concavity busts whose eyes seem to follow you; Sculptor George Snowden and Yale Gracey, special effects wizard; Working on Disneyland and animating; the first Mickey Mouse head
6:35 Yale Gracey and the technique to create multiple sea gulls from Blaine’s animation for the If You Had Wings attraction in the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World
8:30 Sculpting the head for Leota Toombs (the Imagineer who appears in the crystal ball in the Haunted Mansion) and a problem with the materials used to capture her life mask
10:13 Basing his sculptures on people – a worker at Disney Studios had a great head
Jeff Hoffman was responsible for the Disney Legends Awards for more than two decades http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/interview-Jeff-Hoffman-Disney-Legends.mp3 Jeff Hoffman’s began his Disney career selling merchandise at Disneyland shop and ultimately becoming vice president of Disney Worldwide Outreach. He was largely responsible for the Disney Legends Awards for more than two decades. (See below for more photos and audio index)
This beautiful Disney Legends Award belongs to animator/Disney attractions writer X Atencio Jack Lindquist was Disneyland’s marketing genius since 1955 and the first president of Disneyland Not even the rain dampened the excitement when Annette Funicello became a Disney Legend Richard M. & Robert B. Sherman wrote some of Disney’s most popular songs such as “It’s a Small World” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” The Sherman Brothers’ second handprints after a reporter stepped in it the first time Ollie Johnston, Ward Kimball, Marc Davis, Frank Thomas – the four remaining of the group Walt Disney dubbed his “Nine Old Men” Marc Davis’ handprints next to Ward Kimball’s “six-fingered” handprints gag Peter Ellenshaw painted realistic matte backgronds for films and masterminded special effects in films such as “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” and “Mary Poppins” Two onscreen Disney Legends, Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins) and Fess Parker (Davy Crockett) President of Buena Vista Distribution (a division of Disney), Irving Ludwig was key to the successful releases of many Disney films such as “Mary Poppins” and “The Parent Trap” Sterling Holloway, the voice of Mr. Stork in “Dumbo,” Cheshire Cat in “Alice in Wonderland,” Winnie the Pooh and much more Thurl Ravenscroft, Wathel Rogers, Angela Lansbury, Fulton Burley, Betty Taylor, Wally Boag, Dean Jones. What a thrill it was for to me to instigate the inclusion of Wally, Fulton, Betty and Thurl as Disney Legends AUDIO INDEX
1:15 The start of the Disney Legends Awards; the first Disney Legend ceremony, Fred MacMurray
6:52 The original committee to choose the Disney Legends; Choosing the term “Disney Legend”
11:43 Continuing the Disney Legends Awards after the Fred MacMurray ceremony; choosing the next Disney Legends; Walt’s “nine old men” honored; Ward Kimball’s “six-fingered” handprints
18:06 Annette Funicello’s handprints in the rain; the Sherman Brothers’ handprints mishap
21:09 The Disney Legends Award statuette; Award sculptor and designer Andrea Favilli; a large scale Award sculpture and the Legends Plaza; the 75th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company; Roy E. Disney’s award
Jack works on a caveman for Disney’s Magic Skyway attraction for the World’s Fair, working Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and a 2014 visit to Walt Disney World http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/interview-Jack-Gladish.mp3 Jack Gladish worked as an engineer, responsible for submarines, dinosaurs, railroad locomotives and much more. Attractions include the “Carousel of Progress,” “Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room” and much more. During his career he headed the plastics and fiberglass shops at the MAPO department of Walt Disney Imagineering.
AUDIO INDEX
:56 How he got his start with Disney in the late ‘50s; Precision camera machinist, including work on the multi-plane camera; Mary Poppins’ robin for “Spoonful of Sugar”
3:06 Audio Animatronics; Abraham Lincoln’s head, including tongue, smile and expressions; Programming the movements;
9:50 The atmosphere at WED; Walt Disney; Walt making money
14:00 Roger Broggie; Troubleshooting at Disneyland; skins for Jungle Cruise animals; problem with zebra stripes
18:02 Railroad locomotives and submarines for the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World; how we became stationed permanently in Florida
21:12 World’s Fair; Primeval World; Carousel of Progress
Wally Boag at home http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/interview-Wally-Boag.mp3 Wally Boag starred in Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue stage show from 1955 to 1982. During that time, some of his other contributions include appearing in some of Walt Disney’s movies, entertaining the troops in Iceland, performing in a Walt Disney stage show at Radio City Music Hall, writing Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room attraction and providing the voice of that show’s emcee macaw, Jose.
The original cast of the Golden Horseshoe Revue (Donald Novis, Judy Marsh, Wally Boag) Wally receiving a Disney Legends Award at the Walt Disney Studios Fulton Burley and Wally Boag in the Golden Horseshoe Revue Wally (with mask) filling in as stuntman for Fred MacMurray in The Absent-Minded Professor Publicity photo for tour with Wally Boag to promote the Walt Disney film, The Jungle Book AUDIO INDEX
2:35 His start in showbiz
9:26 Donald Novis; Golden Horseshoe Revue audition for Walt Disney
11:59 Fulton Burley; writing Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room; under contract with MGM; bring Fulton to the Horseshoe
14:03 History of “spitting out teeth” as Pecos Bill
16:33 More about the Tiki Room and writing for WED (now known as Walt Disney Imagineering); the Tiki Room in Tokyo Disneyland; the barker bird in Disneyland; his involvement in the Haunted Mansion
19:43 Stunt double for Fred MacMurray in the Absent-Minded Professor
Marcia hosting an episode of “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color,” at the grand opening the “new Tomorrowland,” and with Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/interview-Marcia-Miner-Phillips.mp3 Marcia Miner Phillips was a Disneyland tour guide, VIP hostess and the 1967 Disneyland Ambassador to the World.
AUDIO INDEX
2:03 Her start with Disney as a tour guide; memorizing the script; about the tours; a tour for a sight impaired Guest
6:35 Walt Disney; the grand opening of “it’s a small world”
8:43 A finalist for the 1965 Disneyland Ambassador, and that ceremony at Sleeping Beauty Castle; Walt Disney’s passing; Honorary Ambassador of Orange County
15:08 Re-release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs press tour
16:50 Her Ambassador year; Working at home without a Disney office
21:06 The opening of Pirates of the Caribbean and getting into photos; Roy O. Disney
23:49 Ambassador description; Walt Disney; Hedda Hopper; Peter Ustinov
27:08 “A day in the life of” the Ambassador; President of Turkey, Cevdet Suney; Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie
Kathryn Beaumont at the Disney Studios http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/interview-Kathryn-Beaumont-MGMDisney.mp3 Kathryn Beaumont was a child actress at MGM and went on to voice Alice and Wendy in Walt Disney’s animated versions of “Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Pan” respectively
AUDIO INDEX
:55 Being a child actress; becoming a school teacher
2:35 The students’ awareness of Kathryn’s voice work and a funny related story
4:22 Performing the voice of Alice as an adult; Alice’s voice for Disneyland and Disney park shows
6:30 Remaining involved with Disney
8:00 Appearances for the original release of Alice in Wonderland
Kathryn Beaumont, performing live action reference for animators http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/interview-Kathryn-Beaumont-live-action-reference.mp3 Kathryn Beaumont was a child actress at MGM and went on to voice Alice and Wendy in Walt Disney’s animated versions of “Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Pan” respectively
AUDIO INDEX
1:00 After recording the voice for the films, Kathryn filmed live action versions of the live action footage of the films for the artists’ reference, the live action reference process including lip syncing the voice
4:08 Filming the “tea party” sequence for Alice in Wonderland with Jerry Colona and Ed Wynn, and scheduling around Kathryn’s schooling
6:08 A unique visit with Walt Disney and some Japanese dignitaries, and Walt’s small train
Born on January 26, 1922, jazz pianist Page Cavanaugh was the special guest in a concert I went to at the Greek Theater back in the 1980s. They mentioned that he performs at a club in Burbank, and that began a wonderful friendship. Every week I would go see Page, listen to him play and talk with him about music, learning about the great composers and performers of American music.
Page worked with everybody! Frank Sinatra, Chico Marx, Louis Armstrong and on and on. I miss Page and I miss his stories.
I had known Page for awhile before I learned that he provided his musical talents for a Disney cartoon short entitled “The Truth About Mother Goose.”
This animated short, featured segments explaining the story behind Mother Goose stories. Page and his trio introduced each segment in song. Here’s a clip from the opening of the film:
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/interview-truth-about-mother-goose1.mp3 Although “The Truth About Mother Goose” was the only animated film Page appeared in, he was in a number of other movies including “A Song is Born,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” and “Romance on the High Seas.” In the latter, he accompanied Doris Day on piano and in voice for the song, “Put ‘Em in a Box.”
In that same film, Doris Day also sang “It’s Magic,” written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn. That song was nominated for an Academy Award that year.
One of the last times I saw Page, I recorded him singing this parody, “It’s Tragic.”
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/interview-tragic.mp3
(Jack Lindquist on telephone at left) Grand opening of “it’s a small world,” as children pour water from their native lands, Walt Disney prepares to pour American water from Davy Crockett’s canteen into the moat. Chuck Corson, whose interviews you can also hear on here, is in the background with the walkie-talkie. Jack Lindquist came up with the idea for the opening ceremony for the classic “it’s a small world” attraction at Disneyland. He was also Disneyland’s first advertising manager, beginning in 1955. He continued with the company in marketing for Disneyland. Walt Disney World and international Disney resorts. His many accomplishments include the creation of the Disneyland Ambassador program, the creation of the Walt Disney Travel Company, the international waters ceremony for the opening of the it’s a small world attraction, Disney Dollars, and in 1990 Jack became the first president of Disneyland.
THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR IT’S A SMALL WORLD
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/interview-Jack-Lindquist-its-a-small-world-opening.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
1:23 Needed something special for the opening of the it’s a small world attraction at Disneyland; Jack came up with the idea of having Disney reps all over the world send water from their native countries to pour into the attraction moat; got kids representing those countries to pour the water
Disneyland Ambassador Ceremony, 1991, Suzanne Palmiter, Jack Lindquist, Jill Ornelas 1967, Roy O. Disney, Jack Lindquist, and 1967 Disneyland Ambassador Marcia Miner stand by a model of the new Tomorrowland 1992 “Pigskin Bash” for the Disneyland Pigskin Classic football game Former Disneyland presidents Matt Ouimet, Jack Lindquist and George Kalogridis
Kathryn Beaumont, with Alice in Wonderland co-stars Jerry Colonna and Ed Wynn http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/interview-Kathryn-Beaumont-working-on-the-Disney-films.mp3 Kathryn Beaumont was a child actress at MGM and went on to voice Alice and Wendy in Walt Disney’s animated versions of “Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Pan” respectively
AUDIO INDEX
:56 Working for MGM and then Disney
1:39 Already familiar with Alice in Wonderland
2:34 The audition for Alice, getting a contract with Disney
3:25 Remembering Walt Disney, the atmosphere at the Walt Disney Studios
6:05 Storyboard conferences with artists, writers and Winston Hibler; Ink and Paint and other departments sharing the progress of the film
9:05 Involvement in Peter Pan vs. Alice in Wonderland
11:55 Working with other actors such as Hans Conreid
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/interview-Stan-Freese.mp3 Stan is the talent booking director for Disneyland and tuba soloist extraordinaire. He was the longtime conductor of the Disneyland band and the first full-time conductor of the Walt Disney World band.
AUDIO INDEX
1:43 Performing tuba solos on the TV series Hee Haw
4:40 His start with music and choosing the tuba
7:01 Entertaining for Lawrence Welk and performing on his show
8:30 Tuba soloist for the government cultural exchange program including Soviet Union and Siberia; Command performance at the White House for President Nixon
9:25 Starting with Disney; the first leader of the Walt Disney World band; problems with the first band
12:45 Moving to Disneyland
14:11 Involvement with Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea
15:40 Auditions and benefits of entertaining at Disneyland; Disney entertainment; the Trash Can Trio and the Mariachi Divas
20:28 Big bands at Disneyland
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/interview-Carole-Tully.mp3 Carole was a ticket seller and tour guide at Disneyland, beginning in 1962, and was Miss Disneyland 1964, representing Disneyland and Walt Disney himself
AUDIO INDEX
:52 Her start with Disneyland; Donald Novis in Guest Relations; Becoming a Disney tour guide; Becoming Miss Disneyland, 1964
4:54 Miss Disneyland and the Tivoli Gardens tour guide exchange; Tivoli Gardens tour guide Hanne Plath; touring internationally as a goodwill ambassador
11:23 Visiting Lappland as Miss Disneyland
15:47 Walt Disney
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interview-Bill-Farmer-and-recording.mp3 Bill is a voice actor, whose most popular character is Goofy, for which he has provided the voice for countless movies, toys Disney theme park stage shows and more.
AUDIO INDEX
:44 Bill’s version of Goofy compared to the original, voiced by Pinto Colvig
1:25 Work besides just the animated films, including Disneyland and Disney World live shows, games, toys, etc.
2:00 When Bill began doing the voice of Pluto
2:15 The soundtrack recording process and sessions done solo vs. group ensembles, and the job of the voice director
4:45 Disney’s Character Voices department
6:15 Recording thousands of names for personalized CDs
8:01 The loop group, looping, background voices and other work, including Disney-Pixar Toy Story, Cars, Monster’s, Inc. Hunchback of Notre Dame and Beauty and the Beast as well as other characters such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.
9:44 Bill’s work on the English-dubbed Japanese TV series Astro Boy, as well as redoing lines for Goofy
11:25 Bill as the original voice of Horace Horsecollar and his inspiration for that character
12:30 How Bill describes Goofy
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interview-Gina-Rock.mp3 Gina Rock flew across the skies at Disneyland as Tinker Bell for more than two decades.
AUDIO INDEX
1:08 How Gina got her start as Tinker Bell
4:00 Being pregnant and working
6:10 Gina’s sub, Patty
6:38 The end of Gina’s flights
7:40 A normal performance day, and what it was like to fly, crashing into a mattress
12:05 The brakes on the trolley that was on the wire
12:43 Getting stuck on the wire and crashing into the mattress
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interview-Ray-Templin-Disneyland-Band.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
:49 How Ray went from playing piano at Shakey’s Pizza Parlor to becoming a Main Street pianist at Disneyland, the position ends
6:13 Returning to Disneyland for the Happy 25 Anniversary Disneyland character show at Carnation Plaza Gardens
9:00 Becoming a bass drummer for the Disneyland Band, coaxed to play a practical joke on one of the band members, the band performing as other groups
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interview-Harriet-Burns-Chinatown-ChinesePhilosopherLincoln.mp3 Harriet was a scenic designer/model maker working on projects such as the Mickey Mouse Club television show, Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
AUDIO INDEX
:53 Creating skin for Abraham Lincoln for Great Moment’s with Mr. Lincoln at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. Using her home fryer to create it.
1:30 Disneyland’s Chinatown and the Chinese philosopher Audio Animatronics figure. The head had been created with latex skin.
3:17 More about Chinatown, the Chinese restaurant and the Chinese philosopher ideas for Disneyland and why Walt Disney decided not to do the Chinatown.
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interview-Bill-Farmer-start-of-Goofy.mp3 Bill is a voice actor, whose most popular character is Goofy, for which he has provided the voice for countless movies, toys Disney theme park stage shows and more.
AUDIO INDEX
:39 Discovering he could do various character voices, such as John Wayne and Walter Brennan, and getting into radio broadcasting in Kansas and stand up comedy.
2:45 Getting the role of Goofy’s voice
4:33 Studying under voice legend Daws Butler, the importance of acting in voice work
6:08 Stand up comedy as training for acting
8:10 Doing vocal impressions such as Johnny Carson, Edith Bunker and Jim Ignatowski
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interview-Ray-Templin-Fantasyland-voices.mp3 AUDIO INDEX
:56 How Ray became the voices for Disneyland’s Fantasyland attractions including Stromboli and the Coachman in Pinocchio, the Circus Ringmaster in the Casey Jr. Circus Train
3:00 Working with actor Candy Candido for the Fantasyland rides
5:53 Voices for Pinocchio’s Daring Journey in Disneyland and the preparation for it, voices in Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
7:41 Preparing to record the Circus Ringmaster on the Casey Jr. Circus Train, including the Spanish safety information
Chuck Corson (left), Chuck’s Disneyland business card, window tribute to Chuck at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interview-Chuck-Corson-Dapper-Dans-WDW.mp3 Chuck Corson was the director of entertainment for Disneyland and Walt Disney World beginning in 1959.
AUDIO INDEX
:57 Chuck’s early days at Disneyland, beginning in 1959
1:23 The creation of the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet, T.J. Marker, the Osmonds, Meet Me at Disneyland TV show, casting call for mermaids and other Disneyland atmosphere entertainment
5:09 Getting performers for Walt Disney World in 1971
6:08 Working with Sonny Anderson
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interview-Rikki-Lugo.mp3 Rikki Lugo, early dance captain in the Golden Horseshoe Revue, and dancer/choreographer in Disney television shows and films such as “Babes in Toyland.”
AUDIO INDEX
1:10 The Golden Horseshoe Revue 10,000th performance television special
2:19 Remembering working with Ed Wynn on Babes in Toyland
3:15 A fun story about Annette Funicello
4:14 Choreographer Tom Mahoney and the Disneyland 10th Anniversary television special and
performing as a dancing cake piece
5:17 Hanging out with Walt Disney at the Golden Horseshoe
6:28 Why she got cavities working at Disneyland
7:15 Performing at Holidayland at Disneyland, modeling for Pendleton and dancing the Can Can in parades
10:58 Swimming as a mermaid in the Submarine Lagoon
Chuck Corson (left), Chuck and jazz legend Pete Fountain (right) http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interview-Chuck-Corson-Fred-Waring-Big-Bands.-nighttime.mp3 Chuck Corson was the director of entertainment for Disneyland and Walt Disney World beginning in 1959.
AUDIO INDEX
:59 Production stage manager for Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians,
1:35 Disney Night at the Hollywood Bowl and “Tinker Bell,” Tommy Walker, casting shows such as “Mickey Mouse Club,” and “Elfego Baca,” Jimmie Dodd
3:40 Disneyland’s start of nighttime entertainment, the first fireworks at Disneyland
5:44 The big bands at Disneyland, Benny Goodman, a surprise for Benny wife
8:00 His start with Disney as an apprentice in casting at the studio
10:15 Working with Walt Disney, the Squaw Valley Olympics, getting stranded with Walt, getting big name performers for Disneyland, big band festivals
http://mouseclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/interview-Cicely-Rigdon-Ambassadors-and-ticket-sellers.mp3 Cicely Rigdon began working at Disneyland as a ticket seller in 1957 and would later be responsible for Disneyland’s Guest Relations and the Disneyland Ambassador program.
AUDIO INDEX
:48 Helping Disneyland Ambassador candidates and the Ambassador process
4:47 The Ambassador ceremonies
6:00 What makes a good Ambassador, explaining the park to people as Ambassador or tour guides