Kenversations™
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One of the Guys
In Arthur's day, there were a lot fewer annual passholders (the program was still unknown to most guests). I don't mean to shock anyone, but many of the regulars who stood out as being different were looked at in a negative light by other passholders and by cast members. But not Arthur Holmson. We looked out for him. Security would make sure he was okay. He was one of the gang.

Whenever I saw Arthur in the park, I'd make it a point to say hello to him and see what he had to say. He was a fixture at the park, part of the culture. He was invited to certain cast member events and appeared in photos of a sort of cast member yearbook. In the mid-1980s a Custodial cast member drew a large cartoon of the park inhabited by caricatures of various Custodial cast members going about their daily work with their distinctive habits. It was framed and placed on the wall in what was then "Custodial Control", or the main office for Custodial. Sure enough, Arthur was depicted in the busy park, carrying a bag, wearing red, and saying, "Where's Bob? He's off! Hee hee!"

My Dealings with Arthur
I first read about Arthur on Mouse Ears BBS, after which I kept my eyes out for him. (A "BBS" was a Bulletin Board Service, the predecessors to Internet Service Providers in which discussion forums were only open to those who dialed in directly to the BBS number.)

Sure enough, by keeping an eye out for him for a while, I met him.

Cast members would often drive Arthur home at the end of the day. I had the privilege of driving him home two or three times. I would pull my car as close to the Main Entrance ticket booths as possible while Arthur shuffled across the Red Carpet.

According to the legend, Anaheim police officers would also give Arthur rides home, and cast members told tales of being pulled over while driving Arthur home, only to have the police officer look in to the car, say "Oh, you're driving Arthur home. Go ahead." They weren't cited.

Arthur lived on Lemon, northeast of Disneyland Park, in a house that had a streetlight in front of it. He referred to his house as his "castle", which I suppose could be attributed to the old saying that "a man's home is his castle", but we knew it was a reference to his hangout.

The Final Turnstile
I don't remember how I found out about Arthur's death. I might have read about first on Mouse Ears, or from the backstage notices that were posted everywhere. The notices including the following poem:

G-d saw him getting weary
He did what He knew best.
He put His arms around him
And whispered "Come and rest."

It broke out hearts to see him go
But he did not go alone
For Arthur took a bit of us all
The day G-d called him home.
(The dash is inserted for respect.)

I don't know if that poem was original, but it didn't matter. It touched me.

I wasn't surprised, really, but I was saddened by the loss. Fantasmic! was about to have its official world premiere and Mickey's Toontown was less than a year away from opening to the public, but Arthur's passing left a void.

Arthur was able to see Fantasmic! at least four times before he passed away at the age of 78. Sure, it wasn't as close and intimate as the Main Street Electrical Parade, but I'm sure he enjoyed it anyway. When Toontown finally opened, I couldn't help but imagine Arthur interacting with the characters, stepping on the talking manhole cover, and talking back to the mailbox.

An article appeared on the front page of the Metro section of the newspaper, complete with a photo of Arthur talking to an outdoor vendor in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

The service held for Arthur was jam-packed with Disneylanders, and even had Disneyland balloons. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend.