Long before D23 and other Disney fan organizations, there was the Mickey Mouse Club. No, not the television show, the actual club. Six years after The Walt Disney Company was founded, the first Mickey Mouse Club commenced in the Santa Monica neighborhood of Ocean Park, California. Held in 1929 in the Fox Dome Theater, it marks the beginning of a slew of Mickey Mouse Clubs that would follow, nationwide. On Saturdays, kids would meet together to watch Mickey Mouse cartoons, elect a Chief Mickey and Minnie Mouse, recite creeds, and enjoy live entertainment. In 1932, Mickey Mouse Clubs reached their peak, gaining over 1 million members. It wasn’t until 23 years later, in 1955, that the well-known Mickey Mouse Club television show and Mickey Mouse Club Circus would debut.
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E: The Mickey Mouse Club Television Show Celebrates 70 Years
Created by Walt Disney himself, with the “leader of the club,” Mickey Mouse, at its helm, the Mickey Mouse Club was a classic variety show that originally aired on ABC. Debuting on October 3, 1955, it featured cast members called Mouseketeers! In addition to song and dance numbers, the show highlighted global Disney newsreel segments, animated cartoons, and special guests.
After the original series, which spanned from 1955 to 1959, the show underwent several iterations, debuting on various platforms: The New Mickey Mouse Club (1977–78),
The All New Mickey Mouse Club / MMC (1989–94),
and Club Mickey Mouse (2017).
The Mickey Mouse Club’s history is as iconic as the Mouse himself!
Mickey Mouse Club Circus at Disneyland
A little over one month after the original Mickey Mouse Club television show premiered, the Mickey Mouse Club Circus debuted at Disneyland.
The Rose Parade Connection
In a past article, we celebrated the long-established history of Disney and the Rose Parade. As we took a look at some of Disney’s impressive floats over the years, we touched on the 1980s “Family Reunion” celebration, which commemorated Disneyland’s 25th anniversary. An entertainment spectacular preceding the parade included a steam-powered Dragon Calliope, which was part of the Mickey Mouse Club Circus at Disneyland. Let’s journey back to the opening year (1955) of The Happiest Place on Earth, when for less than 2 months, the Mickey Mouse Circus was in full swing.
It’s Showtime!
Here’s a description of the Mouse Club Circus, according to Disneyland News in 1955.
Parade Pre-Show
The Mickey Mouse Club Circus debuted just four months after Disneyland opened to the public (July 17, 1955). Those who experienced this rare piece of Disney history had to have visited between November 24, 1955, and January 8, 1956, during its very short tenure.
Fun Fact: Growing up, Walt Disney loved the circus!
In true Disney form, a parade was held on Thanksgiving Day at Disneyland to kick off the event. Guests got to see the Mouseketeers either marching in the procession or gliding down the route in circus wagons! Also in tow were the animals and the full cast lineup. This included over 80 creatures and 70 circus performers from across the globe, handpicked by Walt Disney. After the parade, the first circus performance commenced, with room for 2,500 people. Tickets cost just 50 cents for adults and children alike. Guests could also reserve a seat for an elevated price of $1!
Fun Fact: The “Big Top” used in Mickey Mouse Club Circus was the largest striped circus tent in the world at that time, coming in at 185 ft. x 130 ft. It was also the only heated circus tent in the world.
Mouseketeer Memories
Mouseketeer Bobby Burgess once shared his memories of the Mickey Mouse Circus. He said, “It was a red and white huge tent and it was hot and sweaty in there, but we were having a blast. They dressed us as Peter Pan and Tinker Bell and we did the trapeze act.” Being that the Mickey Mouse Club Circus debuted a month after the Mickey Mouse Club premiered on television, it seemed like the perfect way for Disney to cross-promote the park and the new Mickey Mouse Club show, marking the first in-person introduction to the Mouseketeers.
Fun Fact: Jimmie Dodd (the Grand Mouseketeer) served as Ringmaster, and Roy Williams (The Big Mooseketeer) played the Circus Strong Man for Disneyland’s event.
Highlighted Acts
The Mickey Mouse Club Circus was a Fantasyland fusion, combining the Ted DeWayne Circus and Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeers. Twelve major acts comprised the roughly 75-minute-long show. Highlights included:
- Professor Keller and His Feline Fantastics: Featuring lions, pumas, ocelots, leopards, and tigers as part of his 13-animal lineup.
Fun Fact: After the closure of Mickey Mouse Circus, George Keller and his animals stayed on at Disneyland for a show entitled Keller’s Jungle Killers (February 19, 1956, to September 7, 1956).
- Serenado the Wonder Horse: Playing “The Ballad of Davy Crockett”
- Clowns Galore: Including Bob-O the Disneyland Clown & Kinko the Clown
- Mouseketeers from the Mickey Mouse Club: With performances including aerial ballet
Rounding off the show was an array of additional acts as well as animals, including ponies, dogs, seals, camels, llamas, and elephants. Can you imagine these ginormous creatures at The Happiest Place on Earth? I’m sure that was a sight to behold! Acrobats from Ted DeWayne’s Troupe and the Flying Felicias (aerial performers) would also be in attendance to entertain guests.
Making it Disneyfied
No Disney show would be complete without its beloved characters, and this one was no different! The closing act featured most of the Sensational 6 (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Goofy) in a grand finale dubbed “March of the Toys.” Because the circus debuted near Christmas time, holiday festivities were included in the parade and at the show’s conclusion. Santa Claus even made an appearance!
Fate of the Circus
Although Disney had big plans for the circus, expecting upwards of 200,000 people, it ended up being a flop. Fans were more interested in exploring all of the other unique Park offerings at Disneyland than spending time at an event they could visit elsewhere. Thus, the Mickey Mouse Club Circus only lasted for one holiday season. The tent ended up being repurposed for other future events at the Disneyland Resort. Despite its short-lived tenure, the Mickey Mouse Club Circus lives on as a fascinating piece of Disneyland history.
NEW! Mickey Mouse Club 70th Merch at Disneyland
The Mickey Mouse Club legacy lives on in the hearts of Disney fans today, and new merchandise at Disneyland honors its timeless spirit.
Mickey Mouse Club 70th Apparel
A striking red, white, and navy blue color scheme comprises the Mickey Mouse Club 70th Anniversary Collection. The retro-style jacket says, “Honorary Member Est. 55” on one side, “Mickey Mouse Club 70th” on the other, and “Mickey Mouse Club Member” on the back.
Mickey Mouse Club tees are available in long and short sleeves.
Options are available for babies and children, too.
Mickey Mouse Club 70th Accessories
The Mickey Mouse Club cap features a patch with cartoon-style font, while the tote showcases the iconic Mickey Mouse Club logo.
Mickey Mouse Club 70th Collectibles, Toys & Ornaments
Can you ever have too many mugs? We think not, and this one is a fun addition with an ear hat on top.
Collect the ear hat in miniature form with Disney EAResistibles, or celebrate the leader of the club himself as he marches along on a drum.
Mickey Mouse also comes in plush form with “Mickey Mouse Club 70th” written on his shoe.
Christmas is coming quickly, and these ornaments would make a festive addition to any tree.
Which item will you be snagging first? The jacket is my favorite!
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What Are Your Thoughts?
The Mickey Mouse Club Circus has been referred to as one of Walt’s “few failures”. What do you think about this circus inside Disneyland and what do you think the lesson is for park operators? Let us know in the comments below!
