Walt Disney Art Classics Convention 2004 - Part 2
Page 27 of 33
O’Day then showed a second memo from Walt, from about a year later. Dated April 15, 1955, it detailed the names that would be used for the various performers on the show. The kids would be called Mouseketeers, adults Mooseketeers (with Roy Williams as the Big Mooseketeer), and younger kids would be called Meeseketeers. Bobby pointed out “Sherry was the youngest of the Mouseketeers.�? She quickly added, “I still am!�?
Walt’s memo to Hal Adelquist
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
The next item shown to the crowd was a Mouseka-dictionary. O’Day asked for help with it, wondering if Bobby or Sherry remembered any of the terms used. They admitted they did not—but added that they sure learned to spell “E-N-C-Y-C-L-O-P-E-D-I-A�? on the Mickey Mouse Club. Bobby pointed out that they were about the only cartoon show going, aside from Kukla, Fran, and Ollie. It was unlike today, he said. Sherry then mentioned Josie and the Pussycats, which O�?Day recalled used her voice talents. He asked what other shows she had done. They included: Super Friends, Mighty Orbots, and Partridge Family, 2200 AD! Sherry laughed that her daughter’s friends were much more impressed that she had been on Josie and the Pussycats than she had been a Mouseketeer. Bobby added that when they did autograph shows, fans would show up with all sorts of items to be signed.
O’Day then steered the conversation back to the Mouseka-dictionary.
The Mouseka-dictionary
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
Bobby reminded all that Roy Williams was the Big Mooseketeer. He said that Roy couldn’t sing or dance, but he did so many other things. Sherry remembered the Mousekamamas rather well, saying they all had problems with the performers “mamas�? during the first season. Bobby said they were all eventually moved into the Studio Theater, where they spent the day playing cards, knitting, and using the sewing machines provided by the studio. “Cubby’s mom made me a sweater,�? he enthused.
O’Day then asked what a typical day was like. Bobby said there were three teams of kids. As one group would rehearse, another would be shooting on the soundstage, and another group would be in school. Sherry chimed in that they had to do at least three hours of school in Disney’s “Little Red Schoolhouse.�? Bobby assured the crowd it was a good learning experience.
Sherry added that in later years, the training received at Disney was good for other jobs. She said that casting directors and producers knew that Disney taught them so well.
A daily time sheet was next shown on the screen. O’Day pointed out that the Mouseketeers worked from early morning to late afternoon, with one lunch break. He asked if they were treated as adults, or kids. Sherry firmly stated, “Like kids.�?
A typical time sheet for the Mickey Mouse Club
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
Bobby readily agreed. He mentioned third director Ron Miller (Walt’s son-in-law, who later became Studio head), and how he would play ball with the performers between shots. Sherry added that most of the group had ordinary lives at home, with chores, paper routes and so on. Bobby said that this was in part because Walt wanted the kids watching at home to feel that they, too, could be a Mouseketeer. He would encourage the producers to go to schools and look at ordinary kids.