Nearly three months after Disneyland opened, the Mickey Mouse Club debuted on October 3, 1955. Created by Walt Disney and produced by Walt Disney Productions, the program was first televised for four seasons, from 1955 to 1959, by ABC. This original run featured a regular, but ever-changing cast of mostly child, tween, or teen performers. The main cast members were called Mouseketeers, and they performed in a variety of musical and dance numbers, as well as some informational segments. The most popular of the Mouseketeers constituted the so-called red team, who appeared each day in the show’s opening roll call and closing segments. The Mickey Mouse Club was hosted by Jimmie Dodd, a songwriter and the Head Mouseketeer, who provided leadership both on and off the screen. In addition to his other contributions, he often provided short segments encouraging younger viewers to make the right moral choices. Among some of the more popular Mouseketeers were Annette Funicello, Cubby O’Brien, Karen Pendelton, Tommy Cole, Darlene Gillespie, Doreen Tracey, Bobby Burgess, Sharon Baird, and Lonnie Burr.
Shortly after the Mickey Mouse Club debuted on ABC, the Mickey Mouse Club Circus made its debut at Disneyland. The circus was held under a tent at Disneyland from November 24, 1955, to January 8, 1956. It starred some of the Mouseketeers who were thrilled to be able to ride horses and work the trapezes. This circus, however, was one of Walt Disney’s few failures. He was fascinated by circuses, but guests visiting Disneyland had too many other fun things to see and do to spend their time sitting under a big top seeing a circus. After all, they could see a circus anywhere, and there was only one Disneyland. Mickey Mouse Club Circus only lasted over one Christmas season. The tent, which Disney had bought, was later used in Holidayland for corporate picnics and other events.
The show was revived three times after its initial 1955–1959 run on ABC, first from 1977 to 1979 for first-run syndication as The New Mickey Mouse Club, then from 1989 to 1996 as The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (also known to fans as MMC from 1993 to 1996) airing on Disney Channel, and again from 2017 to 2018 with the moniker Club Mickey Mouse airing on various social media platforms.
To celebrate this milestone, Disney Store is launching the Mickey Mouse Club 70th Anniversary Collection, a nostalgic line of apparel, accessories, collectibles, and more. Perfect for Disney fans of all ages, this collection pays tribute to the timeless magic of this classic series. First up is the Anniversary Zip Hoodie for Women and the vintage Ringer T-Shirt. You can also dance along to the Mickey Mouse March as you squeeze the Mickey Mouse Musical Plush’s hand to hear the Mickey Mouse Club’s theme song or bring the merriment home with the Mickey Mouse Club Musical Figure, a charming piece perfect for display.
Those who love musical instruments can also enjoy a Mousegetar Replica. This is a four-string tenor guitar that first appeared on Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club in 1955. For a look at even more apparel, accessories, and collectibles from this anniversary collection, shop the collection today on DisneyStore.com.
What do you think of this Mickey Mouse Club 70th Anniversary Collection? Are you a fan of the Mickey Mouse Club? Let us know in the comments.
