Disneyland and The Mickey Mouse Club share their 50th anniversaries in 2005, and 10 of the original Mouseketeers are returning to Disneyland on Monday, October 3, to celebrate the golden milestone (I'm not sure which 10, however, hmm).
In a ceremony in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Mouseketeers will reflect on 50 years of "Mouske-Memories" in story and song before unveiling the world's largest pair of "Mouseketeer Ears" - nearly 1,000 honorary Mouseketeers filling the forecourt of the castle. Seen from above — and to the strains of the familiar "Mickey Mouse Club Alma Mater" — the iconic black ears with the "Mickey Mouse Club" logo will "come alive" and be transformed to mark the occasion.
The Mickey Mouse Club made its national television premiere on Monday, October 3, 1955, on the ABC television network. The Mouseketeers were a well-scrubbed and multi-talented cast of youths who starred in a variety series that included cartoons, music and live-action adventures. The show began with the "Mickey Mouse Club March" ("Who's the leader of the club ...") and ended with "The Mickey Mouse Club Alma Mater," with the famous: "M - I - C — See ya real soon — K - E - Y — Why? Because we like you! M - O - U - S - E."
The Mouseketeers were first introduced to the public during the live broadcast of the Disneyland opening day festivities, televised nationwide on Sunday, July 17, 1955. They were featured in the inaugural Main Street parade and were showcased with their very own musical production number. All 24 initial Mouseketeers performed the "Talent Round-Up" song at the Mickey Mouse Club Theater in Fantasyland, culminating in the soon-to-become familiar "Mouseketeer Roll Call." Over the course of a four-year run (1955-1959), 39 original Mouseketeers appeared on the show.
Article comments
1 - Joanie
You forgot to list the cast of the 1977 revival. You know, the one that brought us Lisa Welchel from The Facts of Life, as well as Corey Feldman's sister Mindy.
It's sad that I know these things.
2 - Victor Lana
Nice post, Eric. I'm feeling rather melancholy now, and I just wish it were Wednesday. That was my favorite MM Club day: Anything Can Happen day.
Hey, I still think that (anything can happen) every Wednesday of the week. Kind of sad, huh?
3 - Joanie
Victor, thank you for making me feel a little better. I thought I was the only who remembered Anything Can Happen Day. I don't suppose you recall the Spin and Marty segments, do you? I liked them so much better than Annette's tales.
4 - Eric Olsen
thanks guys - even then I found the enthusiasm of the Mousketeers a bit odd, but I always dug Annete, especially after they Anglicized her. The name Lisa Welchel didn't ring a bell and I never watched the Facts of Life so I didn't include her name - sorry about that.
5 - Victor Lana
Joanie,
Spin and Marty! Wow! The dude ranch, right? Country boy and city kid. Yeah, that was pretty cool. I had forgotten about that.
My daughter watches Disney Channel now. Imagine it's on seven days a week!!
They'd have to figure out two more special days.
6 - Temple Stark
EricO,
This was chosen as an Editor's Pick this week by your humble Video / TV Editor Joan Hunt. Go HERE to find out why.
7 - Eric Olsen
rockin! thanks
8 - Thomas Lyn
Hello Everyone,
Does anyone have pictures of the 50th anniversary patry I was there and have not seen anything on the news. I'd love to have some thing to give to my folks as they were there too.
Thnax in advance,
Thomas Lyn
9 - Eric Olsen
HI Thomas, there are some pics here
10 - Gay Duty
Where can I find the Lyrics to the
"Anything Can Happen Day" song. I have tried unsuccessfully