Walt Disney Art Classics Convention 2004 - Part 2
Page 30 of 33
O’Day asked if they had ever gotten mobbed in Disneyland. Sherry replied that they had, saying it was exciting, a little scary, but fun. Bobby added that some weeks they would work six days, doing shows in Fantasyland on Sundays. Other days, they would simply go out into the park and sign autographs. Since it could get boring, some of the Mouseketeers created elaborate autographs, he said.
Bobby Burgess’ “elaborate�? autograph
Sherry remembered going on dates with Cubby, and that she had just seen him in New York, working in the band for Bernadette Peter’s show. This led Tim O’Brien to ask if the Mouseketeers kept in touch. Sherry replied than many did. Bobby said that he and several others had been at Sherry’s daughter’s recent wedding in Rome, in the Vatican. Sherry added that Cheryl would be down the next Tuesday and would be staying with her. She pointed out that, after all, these were, “people you have known for fifty years. That’s a long friendship.�?
The request to tell about Jimmie Dodd, the leader of the Mickey Mouse Club brought a flood of warm memories. Sherry began, saying that he was a wonderful song writer. Among his compositions were the “Mickey Mouse March,�? “The Merry Mouseketeers,�? “Mousekartoon Time,�? and “I’m No Fool.�? She looked at the crowd and said, simply, “Jimmie really was the way you saw him.�?
Jimmie Dodd
Bobby agreed, adding that Dodd was a “good, nice, religious man.�? He said that he had been brought in as a songwriter, but the producers wanted him to host. So they took him to Walt and asked him to listen to the new “songwriter.�? Before the interview was over, Walt had ordered the producers to make Jimmie Dodd the host of the show.
“Roy was a nice man,�? said Sherry of Jimmie’s side kick, the “Big Moosketeer.�? She spoke fondly of the swimming pool in his backyard, complete with tikis and tropical décor, and topped off with a working volcano. “Lake Maureen�? was the site of many memorable birthday parties for the Mouseketeers. Bobby also recalled that Roy was very nice.
Roy Williams, the Big Mooseketeer
Sherry added that she has a pool in the shape of Mickey Mouse. One ear is a Jacuzzi, and the other is a walk down barbecue pit.
O’Day returned to Talent Roundup Day, asking about any “odd acts�? that had performed. Sherry laughed that the acts weren’t “unusual;�? they were “special.�? Bobby remembered how hot the heavy wool Talent Roundup costumes were on the opening day of Disneyland. Sherry added that on top of the heat, no one knew who they were. Bobby claimed that after Art Linkletter introduced them, he asked, “What’s a Mouseketeer?�?