Although it is my goal to one day have all my interviews posted here on Mouse Clubhouse, and I’m still catching up from past interviews, I’m still doing new ones whenever I can. The last three interviews I’ve done are all recipients of windows on Main Street in Disneyland, a great honor! And it was an honor to have the chance to sit down with them and learn their stories! From Jim Cora, whom Walt Disney personally tapped to be involved in the creation of the original Disney University, to Renie Bardeau who took some of the most famous photos of Walt Disney, to Ron Dominguez, whose home was what would become Disneyland and he went on to become one of the heads of the parks! I know you’ll love the interviews as much as I enjoyed capturing their stories for you! Here’s a little more info:

Renie Bardeau’s window is above the Main Street Photo Supply. It reads “Kingdom Photo Services – Renie Bardeau Photographer, Archivist,” a nod to Renie’s job as chief photographer

Jim Cora’s windows is above the Disney Clothiers and reads “Global Exports and Expats – Specializing in Land & Sea operations – Our Motto ‘The Sun Never Sets on our Magic Kingdoms’ – Jim Cora – Master Operator,” for Jim’s role as Chairman of Disneyland International

Ron Dominguez’s window is above the Market House and reads ” Orange Grove Property Mgt. – ‘We Care For Your Property As If It Were Our Own’ – Ron Dominguez – Owner” in reference to Ron’s family orange grove which was situated inside the current site of Disneyland

I’m so grateful to these wonderful people!

After 43 years, Stan Freese is retiring from Disney today. Stan began his career in the Walt Disney World band for the resort’s opening in 1971 and he became their first band leader! He soon moved to Disneyland where he led the Disneyland band and even fronted his own Disneyland big band at Carnation Plaza Gardens. Stan is retiring today as the director of talent booking for Disneyland.

I’m so grateful to Stan, not only for his friendship and all that he’s done for me over the years, for which I’m so grateful, but also for his support of Mouse Clubhouse! He’s responsible for a number of the interviews you see on here, and has been so kind to let me record some of his own stories, despite that there’s no way I can share some of them with you until he’s loooong retired from Disney! 🙂 You can read Stan’s interview here.

One of the things I love about Stan is his attitude – he’s just fun! I’m sharing a video below from a day where Stan and I were wandering around Disneyland, visiting some of the groups he hired, and we went over to the historic Tomorrowland Terrace stage, and the next thing I know, Stan pulls out a harmonica and is up on the stage with the band. And the crowd loved it! It’s such a wonderful memory for me, too!

Stan is truly responsible for helping to shape Disney entertainment as we know it today, and Shani & I wish him all the best in this new adventure in his life!