Happy New Year to all of you from Scott and Shani! We are grateful for all of you who have been enjoying our blog and posts! Back in 1995, when we were married for less than two years, we had the privilege of photographing the Tournament of Roses for Disney, who not only had a beautiful float in it, but provided the pre-show as well. We thought you may enjoy these photos from that New Year’s day 21 years ago!
I just posted my interview with Barry Lane on my Mouse Clubhouse website. In this conversation, Barry discusses his time as a tour guide at Disneyland in the 1960s, and as a skipper on the Jungle Cruise. CLICK HERE for the interview
Royal Dano was born on this day, November 16th, in 1922. An actor who appeared in over 100 movies and television shows, he’s the voice of Abraham Lincoln in “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” at Disneyland, delivering the same speech that was first heard in 1964 at the New York World’s Fair. In the previous decade, Dano appeared on the television series “Omnibus,” in a five-part episode entitled “Mr. Lincoln,” where he portrayed the 16th president.
Before “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” debuted at the fair, the world had never seen a human Audio-Animatronics figure and it even caused some great concern! A newspaper in Illinois wrote, “A controversy boiled today over whether a life-like Abraham Lincoln figure that sits, stands, talks and gestures is dignified and characteristic or ‘grotesque.’” It claimed that someone said, “It’s almost as ghoulish as the idea to play a mock recording of the voices of the four presidents enshrined at Mount Rushmore,” and that another person said, “The next thing they’ll have Mouseketeers giving guided tours of the White House.” It was even suggested it would resemble a carnival sideshow.
Walt Disney went to Illinois defend his presidential creation. According to that same article, Walt said, “He is going to speak to you. His voice is as close as we could get from actual descriptions of this great man. He will appear in a very dignified setting. While seated in a chair before speaking, he will drop his head in thought, a characteristic Lincoln action. When he is introduced he will stand – putting his hands behind his back – as thought deep in thought.”
The article continued that Walt said the presentation would appear to audiences “as life-like as I am standing before you – perhaps more so.” As for the sideshow suggestion, Walt said, “I have more at stake in this than the state of Illinois. I am staking my reputation on this – my integrity, I am not a carnival operator.”
Far from a circus sideshow, or grotesque, Lincoln well-received, and enjoyed a great success at the fair averaging 10,000 visitors a day on weekdays and 15,000 a day on weekends. With the exception of the New York State pavilion it was the best attended feature at the fair. Jack Gladish, who worked for Disney on the creation of the figure, personally told me he would sit in the audience and listen to people debate whether it was actually a mechanical man or an actor. (You can hear this conversation with Jack at http://blog.mouseclubhouse.com/interview-jack-gladish-his-career-walt-disney-disneyland-and-worlds-fair-attractions/
On July 18, 1965, “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” debuted at Disneyland, making it the only attraction to simultaneously appear at both the World’s Fair and Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Today, 61 years later, the Lincoln figure is more technologically advanced than ever, and continues to feature the speech he gave at the New York World’s Fair. The speech is a compilation of several of the president’s addresses, from 1838 to 1864. Although the audio has been digitally restored, it is the same voice that was first heard in 1964, and that detailed research deemed to probably most closely resemble that of Abraham Lincoln, voiced by Royal Dano.
The Golden Horseshoe Revue performed a record-breaking 47,250 performances at Disneyland, and was a staple in Disneyland from its opening until 1986.
Wally Boag (pictured, above, left) originated the role of the traveling salesman who would break up the audience with his antics, and then return later in the show as Pecos Bill. During a song, a fellow cast member would “hit” him and he proceeded to spit out his teeth. In reality, they were beans, and he spit out more beans in each performance than the human mouth has teeth! With each bean, the audience roared more and more!
As the years went on, Disneyland was open seven days a week, not just five, and starting in the 1960s, it was even open after dark! While Wally is best remembered in the role and was certainly the longest running performer of the role, there were a number of others who filled in as the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the Wild West!
Pictured from left to right are Dick Hardwick, Jim Adams and Dana Daniels, all of whom I’ve had the chance to get to know and interview for Mouse Clubhouse, so watch for that audio in the future! For now, I thought it would be fun to catch up with each of these gentlemen and find out what they’re up to now!
Dick Hardwick took over the role of Pecos Bill when Wally left in 1982 and continued with the show until its final performance in 1986. After Disney, Dick continued performing and even won on Star Search in the category of comedy. He toured with the likes of Reba McEntire and Johnny Mathis, and has made multiple tours to entertain the troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and the Middle East. Dick recently became a became a coveted “Navy Tail Hooker” having been flown out to, then launched off of the USS Stennis aircraft carrier where he performed somewhere off the coast of Mexico. In 1996, Dick hosted the Fruit of the Loom All-Star CountryFest ’96 to a record-breaking crowd of an estimated 275,000! He also received an Honorary Doctor of Performing Arts from Westfield State University in Massachusetts. Interestingly, Dick started out as a musician in Disneyland, and he continues to have a parallel career in music today. In fact, he received a Grammy Certificate for Best Folk Album for his participation playing the washboard on John Prine’s record, “The Missing Years.” His handprints and signature in cement are on display at the Nashville Music Walk of Fame. In recent years, Dick is still going strong, performing for corporate events, celebrity golf tournaments, conventions, on cruise ships and even at several Disney events.
Dana Daniels performed in the Horseshoe from 1983 to 1986. After the Golden Horseshoe Revue ended, Dana had his own one man show in the Horseshoe, and eventually took that show on the road. His longtime partner in the act, Luigi, continues with him today. Oh, Luigi is a parrot. And a “psychic parrot” at that. Dana has opened for such stars as Ray Romano, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Randy Travis, and Charo. He’s appeared on shows such as Evening at the Improv, CBS Morning Show, The Golden Girls, and Masters of Illusions. His blend of comedy and magic has earned him accolades including Comedy Magician of the Year and two time Stage Magician of the Year from the Academy of Magical Arts. A regular at the famed Magic Castle in Hollywood, California and Warren and Annabelle’s in Maui, Hawaii, Dana most recently joined the cast of The Illusionists 1903, as The Charlatan. The show is the most successful touring magic show in the world, and both Dana and Luigi will be touring from Sydney to Dubai.
Jim Adams began subbing for Wally Boag in the Horseshoe in 1970 and continued with the show until 1982, when he and Wally both left to pursue new projects, including work on an animated movie together. Jim had been working at Disneyland in the Entertainment department when he decided to knock on Wally’s dressing room door, simply wanting to learn how to do the show. He ended up filling in for Wally for the next 12 years. Before leaving Disney, Jim appeared in numerous television productions and commercials, as well as traveling on national tours for Disney. Since then, he has had several educational shows including “Adventures in Reading” and “James and the Professor,” which he has performed across the country and abroad. Today, Jim continues to entertain with his one man show of comedy, ventriloquism and music, and he recently performed for the Disneyland Alumni Club’s 60th anniversary gala.
Jim told me all the cast and crew of the Golden Horseshoe Revue would give him little hints during his days in the show, “Mainly though, it was Wally and Fulton (Burley, Horseshoe co-star) that helped me all the way! They were incredibly generous with their time and efforts! I never would have made it without them!”
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Learn about the amazing career of singer Jay Meyer, who you’ve probably seen as one of the singing busts in the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland, Walt Disney World or the international Disney parks. I’m working on the audio of my interview with Jay and will post it soon. Be sure to sign up for our weekly Email Updates to be alerted when I post it.
I just posted my interview with Connie Swanson Lane on my Mouse Clubhouse website. In this conversation, Connie discusses Walt Disney, and her time as the 1966 Disneyland Ambassador to the World, including the grand opening of it’s a small world. CLICK HERE for the interview
30 years ago, I took this parade photo during Disneyland’s 30th anniversary! 30 years! I thought Disneyland was so old! That year, 1985, was such an exciting time at the park. One of the features of the year was the Gift Giver, the brainchild of Disneyland’s marketing guru (and future president) Jack Lindquist. The Gift Giver machine gave away gifts to every guest. Every day people were winning prizes such as popcorn, a pin, a Disney Home Video cassette, an RCA color television (yes, color!), a PSA roundtrip airline ticket, and every 3,000th Guest won a 1986 Pontiac Firebird! Just about this day, on August 24, 1985, Disneyland welcomed it’s 250 millionth Guest, and won a bunch of prizes including 30,000 (in keeping with the “30” theme) free air miles, a trip to the two year old Tokyo Disneyland and a new Cadillac. That guest, Brooks Charles Arthur Burr, was three years old! He was being carried by his father, but it was Brooks who was holding the ticket!
This is NOT a black and white photograph. It’s a full color photo of the ultra-creative way the classic One Man’s Dream stage show began in Disneyland. The music would build and almost instantly the set and characters appeared in full color. The 30 minute show, which was only at Disneyland in 1990, was truly magical, and featured dancers and Disney characters in a revue of brilliant song and dance numbers from Disney’s classic animated features.
One’s Man Dream culminated with a truly grand finale of all the dancers and Disney characters coming together in song, donning their traditional costumes but in sparkling gold!
One Man’s Dream was performed at the Videopolis stage in Disneyland, which today is known as the Fantasyland Theatre. The show was also a big hit in Tokyo Disneyland, and a newer version, One Man’s Dream II: The Magic Lives On, delights audiences daily.
28 years ago this week, on July 11, 1987 to be exact, the Disney Gallery opened in Disneyland above the Pirates of the Caribbean entrance. The space was originally being designed as a space for Walt Disney to entertain guests and dignitaries, however all worked ceased after Walt passed away in 1966. When the Disney Gallery opened, it gave Guests the chance to visit this previous inaccessible area, and to see unique Disneyland artwork and artifacts, with new exhibits regularly. I remember the gallery as a wonderful relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle downstair, with multiple rooms, a quiet outdoor seating patio, and the friendliest of Disneyland Cast Members. I thought you’d enjoy some of my old Gallery photos. While the Gallery no longer resides in that area, there is still a Disney Gallery by the lobby of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
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.
I just posted my interview with Jack Gladish on my Mouse Clubhouse website. In this conversation, Jack discusses his career, helping to create attractions such as Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln for Disneyland the 1964/’65 New York World’s Fair. CLICK HERE for the interview