Walt Disney Art Classics Convention 2004 - Part 2
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MASTER CLASS: IMPACT OF THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB MOVEMENT
Disneyland Hotel Center Ballroom

“Professor�? Tim O’Day was again in charge of the “classroom.�? He urged all “students�? to settle down, saying, “We’ve come to our last class. This is our Master Class.�? When every student was quietly seated at attention, he continued, “How many of you grew up with the Mickey Mouse Club.�? Noting the number of upraised hands, he then added, “How many of you grew up with the reruns?�?

O’Day offered a brief background on the Mickey Mouse Club, stating it was one of the more popular television programs of all time. It is, he said, not only an important part of Disney history, but of American history as well. And who better to discuss the impact of the Mickey Mouse Club than a couple of experts? With that, Mouseketeers Bobby Burgess and Sherry Alberoni entered to enthusiastic applause.

Bobby and Sherry didn’t head straight to their seats, but instead got on either side of Tim O’Day with big grins on their faces. Before beginning the class, they said, they ought to make Tim an honorary Mouseketeer.

Mouseketeers Bobby and Sherry make Tim O’Day an honorary Mouseketeer.

Out came a familiar set of ears, as Bobby led the crowd in the following:

Here’s your hat!

(What a hat!)

Here’s your ears…

Reach right out,

Time is here.

You’re an honorary Mouseketeer!

After everyone settled down, Tim declared that since this was a Master Class, everyone should be taking careful notes. He started the session by asking Bobby and Sherry how each started with the Mouseketeers.

Bobby responded first, saying he went in to audition for Spin and Marty (a serial that ran on the Mickey Mouse Club). Asked if he could sing and dance, he replied in the affirmative, and was encouraged to audition for the Mouseketeers. No one had yet heard of them, so he queried, “What was that?�?