Walt Disney Art Classics Convention 2004 - Part 2
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O’Day asked Bobby and Sherry to talk about the different themed days. Bobby started out by saying there were a total of 39 Mouseketeers, but only nine who were with the program for all its years. Therefore, it was very competitive. When the director asked who could ride a unicycle, Bobby volunteered. But, he said, they sent him a professional, who not only taught him to do that, but to juggle while doing it. “Which I still can do,�? Bobby laughed, “But only forward and off.�? Sherry recalled the beautiful costumes that were prepared for each show. She said that the girls always looked forward to that. She especially recalled a number called “Handsome Herman.�?

Bobby recalled watching Wally Boag and Buddy Ebsen on Tuesday, Guest Star Day. He also expressed amazement at the ice rink that was built for an ice skating exhibition. And he mentioned Anything Can Happen Day (Wednesday), where the group did all kinds of “strange things.�?

Anything Can Happen Day

Sherry remembered working on the serials with “Moochie�? and at the San Diego Zoo. She was also taught photography by a famous photographer.

Bobby then went on to Thursday, Circus Day. The “Blue Team�? did most of these numbers. Bobby smiled as he recounted that Cubby was so small he was actually juggled on one program. Friday, he continued, was for other talented kids, a kind of amateur hour. Even today, he concluded, people come up and tell him they were on the Mickey Mouse Club, and all because of Talent Roundup Day.

O’Day then asked what rehearsals for the Mickey Mouse Club were like. Bobby pointed out that the first year the owner of a dance school was the dance director, and that some of the Mouseketeers had been her students. O’Day slyly asked if it was true that some of the Mouseketeers couldn’t really dance. Sherry laughed, “Tommy!�?

Bobby also chuckled as he told how Tommy wanted to get into the coveted “roll call.�? He took tap lessons and learned to “hoof pretty good,�? said Bobby. But Tommy drove the others crazy, practicing a side ruffle step all day. But it worked. Tommy got into the roll call, and out went Lonnie!

Mouseketeers Tommy Cole and Lonnie Burr

Sherry picked up the story, telling how years later the Mouseketeers were doing shows at Disneyland, and Tommy was still doing his side ruffle step—until he pulled a tendon. And Lonnie said, “That’s what you get!�?

Bobby said that since contracts were picked up every six months throughout the run of the show, everyone was on their best behavior. Sherry told about trying to “lose�? her lisp. Although the directors told her it was cute, it made her cry to hear it. Finally, one day, director Sid Miller hugged her and assured her it was OK, saying, “That’s what we love!�?