The Mickey Mouse Club

Episode 0

Mouseketeers TV debut for Disneyland opening

Sun, Jul 17, 1955

Episode 1

Premiere Show: Fun with Music Day; Mickey Mouse Club Serial: What I Want to Be - Part 1

Mon, Oct 3, 1955 60 mins

In the Mickey Mouse Club Newsreel, two cub scouts get an air boat ride through the Everglades with an Oceola Indian guide, a group of Italian kids perform Bibbity-Bobbity-Boo and updates on various Disney projects are given - the "Spin and Marty" serial and the keel boat race between Davy Crockett and Mike Fink. The Mouskateers and Jimmy Dodd do a tap dance roll call. "The Friendly Farmers" song involves a lot of animal sounds with rapidly switched cutouts. "The Shoe Song" has Roy Williams drawing live sketches of anthropomorphic footwear for each verse. Part 1 of the serial "What I Want to Be" has a young girl, Pat, hoping to be an airline hostess and a young boy, Duncan, hoping to be an airline pilot. Alvy Moore and personnel from TWA are involved. The Mouskartoon is "Pueblo Pluto" in which Pluto fights with a pup over a buffalo bone.

Episode 2

Guest Star Day: Wally Boag; Mickey Mouse Club Serial: What I Want to Be - Part 2

Tue, Oct 4, 1955 60 mins

Harvey Corbett and his bear puppet Sooty star in the first segment. Sooty gets a parcel with a gift television set from Mickey. It has some problems. Another guest is Wally Boag who is both a balloonologist (who does balloon sculptures) and a bagpipe player. Part 2 of the serial "What I Want to Be" has Alvy and Pat watching Duncan fly his gas-powered model airplane in several competitions - a carrier landing challenge and a tail ribbon cutting contest. The Mousekartoon is "Mickey's Kangaroo". A friend from Australia sends a package with a boxing kangaroo and it joey, who also boxes. Both Mickey and Pluto have their hands full with these speedy punchers.

Episode 3

Anything Can Happen Day: Gadget Band ; Mickey Mouse Club Serial: What I Want to Be - Part 3

Wed, Oct 5, 1955 60 mins

The Mickey Mouse Club Newsreel shows boys racing power boats on Lake Sammamish in Washington state, boys in Africa's Cape Province doing the Leopard as a rite of passage, a Kentucky Future Farmers of America boy who is the Boy of the Week, a two-year-old baby girl who swims and a youth rodeo in Loveland, Colorado. The Mouseketeers create a "gaget band" from a variety of household objects. Part 3 of "What I Want to Be" takes Pat to airline hostess school and Duncan into the control tower at the airport. The Mousekartoon is "Mickey's Service Station". A thuggish dandy leaves his car for Mickey and his crew to find a squeak. They completely disassemble the car looking for it.

Episode 4

Circus Day: Ted DeWayne Troupe; Mickey Mouse Club Serial: What I Want to Be - Part 4

Thu, Oct 6, 1955 60 mins

Jiminy Cricket presents "I'm No Fool (with a Bicycle)". He describes bikes through the ages starting with the hobby or dandy horse in France about 1810. He goes on to use a fool and a smart rider to illustrate points of bicycle safety - show-off moves, too much of a load, and riding backwards. "Here Comes the Circus" includes the Mouseketeer roll call. Guests are the DeWaynes Circus Troupe of acrobats. In part 4 of the serial "What I Want to Be", Pat continues her lessons in hostess school on make up, hair styling, balance and poise. Duncan learns about weather balloons and maps that pilots use in planning their flights. He has a daydream about piloting an airliner toward New York City in a storm. The Mousekartoon is "The Wise Little Hen". She keeps asking Peter Pig and Donald Duck for help in sowing and reaping her corn crop. They complain of belly aches as an excuse to not help.

Episode 5

Talent Round-Up Day: Larry Ashurst; Mickey Mouse Club Serial: What I Want to Be - Part 5

Fri, Oct 7, 1955 60 mins

The Mickey Mouse Club Newsreel showcases a boxing match between two 8-year-old Boys Club members, the University of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor that uses animals to help child patients recover more rapidly, kids getting tips from the New York Giants baseball team, an English boy from Middlesex that has three pet sables and Boy Scouts rock climbing in Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs. Annette introduces her musical guest, young trumpeter Larry Ashurst. Then Cubby O'Brien, his father and brother demonstrate their prowess in playing drum sets. Part 5 of "What I Want to Be" has Duncan learn that TWA pilots have to live in one of eight US cities that are crew bases. Pat is tested in a cabin mock-up for her ability serve lunch to a surly guest who is complaining about the flight being an hour behind schedule. She gets a uniform and a set of wings. The Mousekartoon is "Two-Gun Mickey". His prowess as a shooting and roping cowboy are needed to rescue Minnie from a hoard of bandits who are after the money she withdrew from the bank.

Episode 6

Fun with Music Day: The Pussycat Polka - Mickey Mouse Club Serials - What I Want to Be - Part 6

Mon, Oct 10, 1955

Jimmie and his wife Ruth performed this song in voiceover, while six mice danced in cat costumes. Jimmie's predeliction for cats ran counter to Walt Disney's usual feelings about felines. This was the seventh Fun With Music number filmed, the last in which Dallas Johann would appear, though some numbers filmed earlier with him were broadcast later.

Episode 7

Guest Star Day: The Sons of The Pioneers - Mickey Mouse Club Serials - What I Want to Be - Part 7

Tue, Oct 11, 1955

Episode 8

Anything Can Happen Day: What Am I? Mickey Mouse Club Serials - What I Want to Be - Part 8

Wed, Oct 12, 1955

Jimmie, Karen, and Johnny sing the title song, then Jimmie explains the game. A Mouseketeer tries to guess what Roy drew while five others give hints. Bob provides on-camera sound effects.

Episode 9

Circus Day: Bill Henry & Bill Henry, Jr. - Mickey Mouse Club Serials - What I Want To Be - Part 9

Thu, Oct 13, 1955

Bill Henry and son, Bill Henry, Jr. were a tumbling and balancing act, with Junior even getting a chance to hold up his dad. At the end of the act, the Mouseketeers themselves try a tumbling run. Most go sprawling, landing on their rumps, losing their caps, with the girls' careful hairstyles falling apart. A lot of fun for all involved.

Episode 10

Talent Roundup Day: Christopher Fair - Mickey Mouse Club Serials - What I Want to Be - Part 10

Fri, Oct 14, 1955

Christopher Fair appeared on the Mickey Mouse Club for several "Talent Roundups", where he performed magic tricks. He was voted the "Juvenile Magician Champion"of the International Brotherhood of Magicians in 1958. If you visited Fantasyland at Disneyland in the 1950's and 1960's, you might have been lucky enough to see a Court Jester, juggling and performing magic on his unicycle. Christopher Fair was that jester.

Episode 11

Fun With Music Day - Do-Mi-So; travel serial 'Bushey Park School'

Mon, Oct 17, 1955

Tommy helps Nancy up after she falls, and gets teased. He sings his disclaimer about love, but a dream ballet sequence with the other three girls changes his mind. This number marked Annette Funicello's first appearance on Fun With Music Day outside of roll call. It would be another month before she appeared in a number again, yet already fan mail was pouring into the studio for her.

Episode 12

Guest Star Day: George Givot - travel serial - The Pool of London

Tue, Oct 18, 1955

Episode 13

Anything Can Happen Day: Mickey Mouth Band - travel serial - Covent Gardens

Wed, Oct 19, 1955

Episode 14

Circus Day: The Black Brothers - travel serial - Battersea Dogs Home

Thu, Oct 20, 1955

Episode 15

Talent Roundup Day: Carl Davis - Philip Olvera & Louise de la Torre - travel serial - Boy Soldier Maker

Fri, Oct 21, 1955

Carl Davis and 'I'm a Friend of Davy Crockett' and 'Do What the Good Book Says' with the Mousketeers joining in on the latter. Philip Olvera and Louise de la Torre are teen folk dancers.

Episode 16

Fun With Music Day - Animals and Clowns; nature serial 'Let's Go - Arizona'

Mon, Oct 24, 1955

The fourth number filmed, it had very simple staging combined with voiceover vocals provided by The Mellomen. The quartet also doubled as on-camera performers playing circus bandsmen. The giraffe costume had an adult male in it, possibly Bob Amsberry. Dallas Johann is inside the drum, which has a clear plastic front, allowing his name to be seen on his shirt.

Episode 17

Guest Star Day: Jeri Southern - nature serial Let's Go - Skin Diving

Tue, Oct 25, 1955

Episode 18

Anything Can Happen Day: Mousekeriddle #1; nature serial Let's Go - Exploring

Wed, Oct 26, 1955

Jimmie and the kids give clues, then Roy draws the answer while the Mouseketeers sing Roy, Roy, Quick on the Draw. Uses sight gag of Jimmie appearing on both ends as the camera pans along the Mouseketeer line-up.

Episode 19

Circus Day - Professor Keller and His Feline Fantastics; nature serial Let's Go - Shark Hunting

Thu, Oct 27, 1955

Episode 20

Talent Roundup Day - The Michaels; nature serial Let's Go - on an Elephant Roundup

Fri, Oct 28, 1955

Episode 21

Fun With Music Day - Old Betsy; "The Little Cow"; 'Border Collie' episode 1

Mon, Oct 31, 1955

'Old Betsy' was the name Davy Crockett gave his rifle. Mary Espinosa does the usual title card intro, then Roy Williams "carves" a message on a tree. Jimmie sang the song, as each of the Mouseketeers played an adversary dealt with by Davy's shootin' iron. Also, Jimmy and the Mouseketeers sing each stanza of "The Little Cow" while Roy draws a scene to match.

Episode 22

Guest Star Day: Jerry Colonna; 'Border Collie' episode 2

Tue, Nov 1, 1955

Episode 23

Anything Can Happen Day: Flying Dumbo #1: Border Collie - episode 3

Wed, Nov 2, 1955

The first of a series of Disneyland ride promotion skits. These took the form of two groups of three Mouseketeers riding for several minutes, with short dialogue breaks before and between excursions. The rides were stationary props on a sound stage that could be rotated and tilted by off-camera stagehands. A back-projection film of stock footage was used to provide a sense of movement.

Episode 24

Circus Day: The Chaudets - Border Collie - episode 4

Thu, Nov 3, 1955

Episode 25

Talent Round-Up Day: Jon Robertson, Johnny & Bobby Crawford; Introduction to 'The Adventures of Spin and Marty'

Fri, Nov 4, 1955

The Mickey Mouse Club Newsreel covers kids skiing on Mt. Hood in Oregon, a simulated rocket journey with robot Garko the Great at the Garrett Corp high-pressure research facility in Los Angeles, services at the Little Log Church built by children at Lake Melissa, MN, the first captive born lynx (named Jinx) at the Johanneburg Zoo in South Africa, and a visible beehive at New York City's Metropolitan Museaum of Natural History. The two talents are Mouskateer Johnny (Crawford) fencing with his brother Bobby and Mouskateer Karen introducing young, black concert pianist Jon Robertson. An introduction is provided to the upcoming daily serial "Spin and Marty". Marty shows the boys all arriving for their first day at the Triple-R Ranch in California. Several incidents are also previewed. The Mouskartoon is "Mickey in Africa" in which Minnie is kidnapped and needs to be rescued by Mickey.

Episode 26

Fun With Music Day - Simple Simon #1 / The Hungry Raccoon - Spin & Marty Chapter 1 'The Triple R'

Mon, Nov 7, 1955

Frances Archer and Beverly Gile were folk singers who performed songs from many countries, including this Japanese children's ditty about a tanuki, called a raccoon-dog in English, but for this song dubbed simply a raccoon. Archer and Gile usually performed the song only in Japanese. For the show Bill Walsh wrote a few loosely translated lyrics in English. Later that same year, Eartha Kitt did a full-blown treatment of the Mickey Mouse Club version. Jimmie, Bonni, and Sharon sing about Simple Simon's adventures with characters at the fair. Those Mouseketeers playing solo characters had their voices dubbed by Bob Amsberry and the Mellomen.

Episode 27

Guest Star Day: The Mellomen - Spin & Marty Chapter 2 'The Misfit'

Tue, Nov 8, 1955

Episode 28

Anything Can Happen Day: Roy's Drawing Lesson - Spin & Marty Chapter 3 - The White Stallion

Wed, Nov 9, 1955

Roy shows the kids how to draw Disney characters.

Episode 29

Circus Day: The Sullivans - Spin & Marty Chapter 4 - A Froggy Day

Thu, Nov 10, 1955

Episode 30

Talent Round-Up Day: The California Ramblers - Spin & Marty Chapter 5 - The Battle

Fri, Nov 11, 1955

The California Ramblers were the winners of the Talent Roundup Day but the real stars of the piece were the Mouseketeers trio of Darlene Gillespie, Mary Sartori and Judy Harriet.

Episode 31

Fun with Music Day: Humphrey Hop/orange in The Orchard - Spin & Marty Chapter 6 - a Surprise Decision

Mon, Nov 14, 1955

Big Bear Roy makes six smaller bears clean-up the woods while he naps. The bears start dancing to music; as the dance progresses the smallest two exit off stage. When big bear wakes, he growls at the unfinished chore. Instrumental dance number, with a few voiceover lines at start and end. During filming the crew reportedly broke for lunch and left the kids trapped in their costumes. By the next season the producers realized it made no sense to hire photogenic kids then stick them into full body costumes with masks. Bobby and Bonni do a fast acrobatic swing dance while filling bushels in the orange grove before raising the ire of Farmer Roy.

Episode 32

Guest Star Day: Clarence Nash, Cliff Edwards - Spin & Marty Chapter 7 - Homesick

Tue, Nov 15, 1955

Episode 33

Anything Can Happen Day: Gadget Band #2 - Spin & Marty Chapter 8 - Logan's Lesson

Wed, Nov 16, 1955

This was a crossover from Guest Star Day, with vaudeville/nightclub comedian Lionel Kaye and his wife Kathleen. For the first half seven Mouseketeers do Swanee River on bells. The second half had Bobby, Lonnie, Don, Mark, and Dennis exchanging hats upon command, a staple gag of the Kaye's live act.

Episode 34

Circus Day - Ray Berwick - Spin & Marty Chapter 9 - The Chase

Thu, Nov 17, 1955

Episode 35

Talent Roundup Day - the Disneyland Indians - Spin & Marty Chapter 10 - Ride-Em-Cowboy

Fri, Nov 18, 1955

Episode 36

Fun With Music Day - Roy at the Dike/Painting Aunt Polly's Fence

Mon, Nov 21, 1955

The story of the Little Dutch Boy who saved the Netherlands as told by the Mouseketeers. Jimmie as Tom Sawyer gets the other boys to pay him for the privilege of white-washing Aunt Polly's fence. All-guy or all-gal numbers were equally rare on the Mickey Mouse Club; the show's writers tried to balance the genders. Where the storylines called for only masculine characters it was common practice to dress some of the girls up in male attire. The opposite situation never occurred with Mouseketeer guys; there was no drag on the Mickey Mouse Club.

Episode 37

Guest Star Day: The Bell Sisters

Tue, Nov 22, 1955 27 mins

Episode #37 (Year 3, #A-12). Taped July 30, 1955. Originally 1 hour long, later cut to 1/2 hour for 1959 rebroadcast. The Bell Sisters (Cynthia and Kay Strother) performed "Bermuda" and "Little Boy Bullfighter." On the 1/2 hour cut, only "Little Boy Bullfighter" performance remains; announcer voice-over indicates the Bell Sisters will sing "two songs they recorded when they were youngsters."

Episode 38

Anything Can Happen Day: Flying Cup and Saucer #1

Wed, Nov 23, 1955

Another in the series of Disneyland ride promotion skits.

Episode 39

Circus Day - Robbins and Bono

Thu, Nov 24, 1955

Episode 40

Talent Roundup Day - Karen Pendleton

Fri, Nov 25, 1955

Mouseketeer Karen Pendleton sings 'Gee, It's Hard to be Eight' from the window of the Dry Gulch Hotel.

Episode 41

Fun With Music Day - Mickey Mouse Mambo/I'm a British Grenadier

Mon, Nov 28, 1955

The scene opens at the docks of the Vodoo (sic) Banana Company at an unnamed port in the Caribbean. There are a number of barrels and boxes in the foreground, from which the band emerges doing a mambo step to the front of the Banana Company building. This is a music and dance-only number taking place at the docks of a Caribbean port. The Mouseketeers dance to the music provided by an unlikely looking Caribbean band. The band consists of Jimmie Dodd on piano, Roy Williams on flute, Bob Amsberry on trumpet, George Bruns on bass, Pietro Deiro, Jr. on maracas, and Jimmy MacDonald on wood blocks. Palace sentry (Bob Amsberry) sings while he stands guard. Prentice lads and lasses try to make him smile, but it takes an obnoxious tourist (Roy Willaims) to accomplish it.

Episode 42

Guest Star Day: Candy Candido

Tue, Nov 29, 1955

The Mickey Mouse Club Show: Guest Star Day was on Tuesdays and featured Disney contract players, voice-over artists, or employees who were vital to the Disney Television Shows or motion pictures.

Episode 43

Anything Can Happen Day - Les Philmer

Wed, Nov 30, 1955

Les Philmer and his wife Mary were veterans of the 1930's vaudeville and international music hall circuits who did a juggling and balancing act. Anything Can Happen Day shows would occasionally contain material originally devised for other days of the week. This program was likely meant to be a Circus Day show.

Episode 44

Circus Day - Florence Honey Girls

Thu, Dec 1, 1955

Episode 45

Talent Roundup Day - Darlene Gillespie and Judy Harriet

Fri, Dec 2, 1955

The show focuses on the terrific talents of Mouseketeers Darlene Gillespie and Judy Harriet.

Episode 46

Fun With Music Day: A Cowboy Needs a Horse/Simple Simon #2

Mon, Dec 5, 1955

The scene opens in the darkened bedroom of a young boy (Dennis). A window throws subdued light on the walls and the boy who is asleep in his bed. The shadows of the window sashes create a dramatic contrast in the room. On a wall are hung a stick horse, a lasso and a guitar. A cowboy hat rests on the foot of the bed, and a pair of boots are on the floor, close to the owner. A male/female chorus (the same used in the animated short) begins singing softly a simple song of cowboy dreams. Most people today will not think much of the number. However, anyone who has ever owned a felt cowboy hat, or loaded Greenie roll caps into a Mattel Fanner 50, will understand.

Episode 47

Guest Star Day: The Happy Jesters

Tue, Dec 6, 1955

Episode 48

Anything Can Happen Day: Flying Dumbo #2

Wed, Dec 7, 1955

Another in the series of Disneyland ride promotion skits.

Episode 49

Circus Day - Gentry's Chimps

Thu, Dec 8, 1955 26 mins

We begin on the Great Plains by the Gates of the Mountains, where the Missouri River flows through a spectacular gorge. To the south is Montana's Capital, Helena, with a fine cathedral and state house built at the end of the 19th century. Huge numbers of visitors head for Montana for the beautiful and varied landscape, and the city of Bozeman stands surrounded by mountains, rivers, and forests.

Episode 50

Talent Roundup Day - The Sing Lee Family

Fri, Dec 9, 1955

Episode 51

Fun With Music Day: Get Busy/The Shoe Song #2

Mon, Dec 12, 1955

'Get Busy' was a song about helping out your parents by getting involved with doing household chores. Six Mouseketeers plus Jimmie provide a verse for each day of the week. Jimmie does the lead and each Mouseketeer gets to solo a verse. The spotlight follows Jimmie as he steps right to where the Mouseketeers are seated on stools with hands wrapped around their knees. Jimmie seats himself on an empty stool at the end of the row as the Mouseketeers join in the song.

Episode 52

Guest Star Day: Morey Amsterdam

Tue, Dec 13, 1955

Comedian Morey Amsterdam performs his version of 'Fractured Fairy Tales' for the Mouseketeers.

Episode 53

Anything Can Happen Day: Mousekeriddle #2

Wed, Dec 14, 1955

Episode 54

Circus Day - The Le Roy Marionettes

Thu, Dec 15, 1955

Episode 55

Talent Roundup Day - Joy Johnson

Fri, Dec 16, 1955

Episode 56

Fun With Music Day - Be Sure You're Right/Hi! To You

Mon, Dec 19, 1955

In "Be Sure You're Right" the scene opens with Jimmie, dressed in the buckskin jacket and leather pants he wore in 'Old Betsy'. Judy wears a long dress with a large bow in her hair. The pair walk side-by-side from the camera to a bench in front of a log cabin as Jimmie plucks his banjo. A song about Davey Crocket and his maxim to have the confidence to go ahead without fear when you know you're right. Jimmie and Judy sing a duet while the other Mouseketeers play Davey Crockett and the obstacles he faced. In "Hi. To You", the scene opens with the camera approaching two mounds of snow with a frozen pond in the background, skirted by some frosted trees and other foliage. There is a sign on the pond marked "Tunn Is". Artificial "snow" falls from the sky, and onto the pond. As Jingle Bells plays, Jimmie, Karen and Johnny pop up from behind the larger of the two mounds waving their arms and yelling "Hi!" Sleigh bells can be heard in the background, which segues into a quiet version of Jingle Bells. The Introduction is by way of title cards with Christmas ornaments and holly: "The Mouseketeers present", "Hi to You", "A Greeting from Denmark".

Episode 57

Guest Star Day: Candy and Nancy

Tue, Dec 20, 1955

Episode 58

Anything Can Happen Day: Gadget Tree & What Am I? #2

Wed, Dec 21, 1955

Given the short time allotted (four minutes) the introductory song used in the first skit of this type was cut. The Blue Team Mouseketeers play only two rounds of the game, then it shifts without explanation to the Red Team for a very quick final round.

Episode 59

Circus Day - Musical Horse Seranado

Thu, Dec 22, 1955

Episode 60

Talent Roundup Day - Fess Parker & Buddy Ebsen

Fri, Dec 23, 1955

Episode 61

Fun With Music Day - Roy, Roy, Quick on the Draw/Ten Little Indians

Mon, Dec 26, 1955

Jimmie, dressed in western garb and sporting a badge, nails an "unwanted poster" to the wall of the pokey with the butt of his pistol. The poster features a caricature of Roy, reading: "Unwanted: Roy Roy, $5000 Reward if NOT caught." Jimmie is the local sheriff, Roy is an "unwanted" bad man/artist, and the Mouseketeers lend their faces for Roy's artwork. Ten Little Indians is a two part skit, with Annette and Jimmie doing an unrelated opening, possibly tacked on to the original number as an early acknowledgment of Annette's fan mail. Focus then shifted to the number, before returning to Jimmie and Annette for the closing with a brief rendition of Roy, Roy, Quick on the Draw.

Episode 62

Guest Star Day: Firehouse Five Plus Two

Tue, Dec 27, 1955

Episode 63

Anything Can Happen Day: Mr Toad Car #1

Wed, Dec 28, 1955

Another in the series of Disneyland ride promotion skits.

Episode 64

Circus Day - Bert Nagle Big Cats

Thu, Dec 29, 1955

Episode 65

Talent Roundup Day - Barbara Windsor

Fri, Dec 30, 1955

Episode 66

Fun With Music Day - Cool, Calm, and Collected/Cooking with Minnie Mouse

Mon, Jan 16, 1956

In the 'Cooking with Minnie Mouse' segment, Jimmie and Ruth come on stage dressed as chefs and sing the prologue. The camera then shifts to Chef Bobby and the four girls who dance and bake cookies while Ruth continues to sing in voice-over. Terrific little number, well-staged by director Dik Darley. Choreographer Burch Mann and arranger Buddy Baker threw touches of "An American in Paris" (1951) into the action. As with so many of these numbers Buddy Baker's musical arrangements really made the whole thing come alive.

Episode 67

Guest Star Day - Carla Alberghetti

Tue, Jan 17, 1956

Episode 68

Anything Can Happen Day :The History of Drums

Wed, Jan 18, 1956

'The History of Drums' from Prehistoric Times forward, courtesy of Cubby and Roy. A Fun with Music number that was switched to 'Anything Can Happen Day' because there really wasn't much music. The scene opens at the front of a cave dwelling. Cubby, dressed in leopard skin as a caveboy, is at the right, gnawing a bone. Roy, also dressed in leopard skin as a caveman, is to the left, fast asleep. Cubby strikes Roy on the belly with his bone and it makes a "boing" sound. Cubby continues to strike Roy on the midsection, delighted by his discovery. Roy wakes up, annoyed. The scene changes to Cubby, still dressed as a caveboy, sitting at his drumkit, playing a drum solo.

Episode 69

Circus Day - Captain Winston and His Seals; The Chaudets, Part 2

Thu, Jan 19, 1956

Episode 70

Talent Roundup Day - Bob & David Llamas; Karel Wynn & Jim Vardeman

Fri, Jan 20, 1956

Episode 71

Fun With Music Day - The Village Blacksmith/The Pencil Song

Mon, Jan 23, 1956

When the children come home from school, the village blacksmith knows it is time for fun and replaces his anvil with a small piano, and everybody boogies. The camera opens on Jimmie, dressed in a full-body "pencil suit" with a hat shaped like the sharpened end of a pencil. Jimmie is standing on a large platform that looks like an open three-ringed binder loaded with lined filler paper. As Jimmie sings, the camera dissolves into various scenes in which the Mouseketeers act out Jimmie's lyrics.

Episode 72

Guest Star Day: Helene Stanley

Tue, Jan 24, 1956

Episode 73

Anything Can Happen Day - Flying Cup and Saucer #2

Wed, Jan 25, 1956

Another in the series of Disneyland ride promotion skits.

Episode 74

Circus Day - The Black Brothers, Part 2

Thu, Jan 26, 1956

Episode 75

Talent Roundup Day - Janice Crowe & Peter Lee Palmer

Fri, Jan 27, 1956

Janice Crowe and Peter Lee Palmer were young musicians who played several folk-romantic songs while dressed in elaborate Gypsy costumes, For their finale, Mousketeers Bonni and Mary Sartori danced while playing tambourines.

Episode 76

Fun With Music Day - When I Grow Up/Mixed-Up Mother Goose - Introduction to serial 'Corky and White Shadow'

Mon, Jan 30, 1956

'When I Grow Up' was Darlene Gillespie's signature song and was one of only two Fun With Music Day numbers throughout the show's entire run to feature a solo performer. In the Mixed-up Mother Goose segment, Jimmie appears singing a refrain of sorts, which he repeats after every Mouseketeer's segment, then introduces each new Mouseketeer by name. The set consists of a cottage from which each Mouseketeer appears. The Mouseketeers are dressed as the nursery rhyme characters they talk about. The Mouseketeers cut up commonly-known children's nursery rhymes in the same way kids would have done on the playground.

Episode 77

Guest Star Day: Hank Penny

Tue, Jan 31, 1956

Episode 78

Anything Can Happen Day - Variations on a Very Familiar Theme

Wed, Feb 1, 1956

The live studio orchestra plays variations on the theme song, each style being interpreted in dance by two Mouseketeers. Sharon and Nancy are '20s flappers, Karen and Cubby do a minuet, Sharon and Don glide thru a comic tango, Lonnie and Annette give us the old soft shoe, Darlene and Doreen are en pointe, while Bonni and Bobby first perform a swing-tap routine then finish with a Lindy Hop.

Episode 79

Circus Day - The Sullivans, Part 2; Ted DeWayne Troupe, Part 2

Thu, Feb 2, 1956

Episode 80

Talent Roundup Day - Erwin Klein & Mike Ralston; The Pike Brothers

Fri, Feb 3, 1956

Erwin Klein and Mike Ralston were two of the top U.S.A. ping pong players in 1955. Erwin Klein would go on to be selected as a member of the U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame. The four Pike Brothers were accordionists.

Episode 81

Fun With Music Day - Mousekedance/Song of the South

Mon, Feb 6, 1956

In Mousekedance, the scene opens at a malt shop counter with a cut-out figure of a Dutch girl stage right of the counter. There is a jukebox stage right of the Dutch girl. Don and Mary sit at a table at the right of the screen. Lonnie and Annette are doing a slow foxtrot at the left of the screen to low level music playing. Jimmie, dressed as a soda jerk, glides around the dancing Lonnie and Annette to deliver a tray of ice cream sodas to Don and Mary. The girls are dressed in satin party dresses, the boys in coats and ties. A dance number with just enough dialogue and song to hold it together, it is one of the fastest and most complex dances of the First Season. Tie-in to re-release of Song of the South (1946) during 1956. Johnny introduces each act. Mike, Sharon, Doreen, and Bobby handle the first song, Karen and Cubby do a soft-shoe dance to the second, while Jimmie and Mouseketrio of Darlene, Judy and Annette sing the third, being joined on the final reprise by all the other Mouseketeers.

Episode 82

Guest Star Day: Archer and Gile

Tue, Feb 7, 1956

Episode 83

Anything Can Happen Day - Rhino Ride #1

Wed, Feb 8, 1956

Another in the series of Disneyland ride promotion skits.

Episode 84

Circus Day - Pansy the Horse

Thu, Feb 9, 1956

Episode 85

Talent Roundup Day - Doc Hoffman & Bobby Brunner

Fri, Feb 10, 1956

Dr. Samuel Hoffman was an early developer of the theremin. As an adult, Bob Brunner joined the Disney Music Department and wrote some of the songs used on "The New Mickey Mouse Club" in 1977.

Episode 86

Fun With Music Day - Animal Alphabet

Mon, Feb 13, 1956

The set consists of six large alphabet blocks forming something of a pyramid, on which are seated (from left) Judy, Tommy, Karen, Darlene and Dennis, with Jimmie at floor level seated in the middle. The presenting Mouseketeers run down the alphabet from A to M, stepping to the camera one at a time.

Episode 87

Guest Star Day: Larry Collins

Tue, Feb 14, 1956

Episode 88

Anything Can Happen Day - Mr Toad Car #2

Wed, Feb 15, 1956

Another in the series of Disneyland ride promotion skits. Judy was the air hostess for Flying Toad Airlines, Lee and Tommy the mechanics.

Episode 89

Circus Day - Gentry's Elephants

Thu, Feb 16, 1956

Episode 90

Talent Roundup Day - Diane Houle & Bobby Burgess

Fri, Feb 17, 1956

Episode 91

Fun With Music Day - Fun with Music/Mouseguitar Music Lesson

Mon, Feb 20, 1956

Fun With Music - Jimmie with his Mouseguitar are backed by the Mouseketeers and a band; they invite us to have fun with music. The Mouseketeers include Doreen as a nightingale and Sharon as an owl (with facemasks), Mary Espinosa and Nancy in cat outfits, Cubby with a stalk of bluebells, Bonni standing behind a full moon, Bronson and Johnny in beaver outfits, Mark, Bobby, Lonnie and Don as a barbershop quartet, Mary Sartori and Lee as Mambo dancers, with Roy holding a trumpet and Bob Amsberry on a keyboard that looks like a typewriter. Mouseguitar Music Lesson - This is something of a "day in the life" segment. There is no introduction, but an opening overhead view of the Mouseketeers to the left, with the band on the stand playing at the top right, and Dik Darley in suit at the front of the band. The Mouseketeers are positioned by height: Karen, Cubby and Bronson are sitting on the floor. All the Mouseketeers, except Mike Smith, are present.

Episode 92

Guest Star Day: Clarence Nash, Cliff Edwards

Tue, Feb 21, 1956

Episode 93

Anything Can Happen Day - Rhino Ride #2

Wed, Feb 22, 1956

Another in the series of Disneyland ride promotion skits.

Episode 94

Circus Day - Robbins and Bono, Part 2; The Black Brothers, Part 3

Thu, Feb 23, 1956

Episode 95

Talent Roundup Day - Glen Derringer & Brenda Derringer

Fri, Feb 24, 1956

Glen Derringer and Brenda Derringer, brother and sister act, from Philadelphia who recorded several albums of pop standards in the 1950's and 1960's.

Episode 96

Fun With Music Day - Hiawatha/Johnny Appleseed

Mon, Feb 27, 1956

The Mouseketeers, portraying woodland animals, follow Hiawatha (Jimmie) asking to join him as he goes out hunting. The scene is in a forest with trees in the background. Generic "Indian music," heavy on the tom-toms, begins playing. Three pairs of Mouseketeers dance into the screen "disguised" by the animal masks they hold in front of their faces. First to enter are Annette as a squirrel and Darlene as a bear; they dance a jig of sorts. They are joined by Lonnie as a chipmunk and Mike as a skunk, and finally Judy as a mouse and Tommy as a beaver. Johnny Appleseed: several brief songs and two scene changes make this a skit as opposed to the usual standalone numbers. The songs all come from the Disney animated short of the same name.

Episode 97

Guest Star Day: Donald Novis, Judy Marsh, Wally Boag

Tue, Feb 28, 1956

Episode 98

Anything Can Happen Day - Joe Baggi

Wed, Feb 29, 1956

Joe Baggi was a "sculptor" whose preferred medium was pipecleaners and other mundane materials.

Episode 99

Circus Day - Paula and Paulette

Thu, Mar 1, 1956

Episode 100

Talent Roundup Day - Sandy Black

Fri, Mar 2, 1956 24 mins

The winner of the Talent Roundup Day this week is Sandy Black. She was a trick horseback rider. Her horse, a Paint, was brought onto the Dry Gulch stage, Bobby held the reins for her while Sandy did a dance with a lariat to the tune of a Davy Crockett song. After the commercial break, everyone ran into the Dry Gulch theater and watched home movies of Sandy performing her riding tricks.