It's no secret that The Mickey Mouse Club revolutionized children's programming during its run from 1955 to 1959.
The beloved TV program showcased talented child actors and made a connection with its viewers that would last a lifetime.
Walt Disney's brain child created a massive fanbase to go along with his already established audience. Many stars were born from the show, including Annette Funicello, Lonnie Burr, and Bobby Burgess. The show was a treat for kids and a career stepping-stone for the child actors who worked on it.
Although the show itself was entertaining enough, there were a few surprising things that fans didn't know were going on behind the scenes.
From friendly rivalries to impressive paychecks, working on The Mickey Mouse Club was quite a journey for everyone involved.
Keep scrolling to check out 10 behind-the-scenes facts from The Mickey Mouse Club, and learn something new about this cherished TV series.
Thumbnail Source: Wikimedia Commons / TV Radio Mirror
1. Walt Disney Wanted To Hire Relatable Kids
During casting, Walt Disney made it clear that he wanted "regular" kids to star in his show, not perfect children with stage moms. This decision was probably what made the show so relatable to its audience.
2. There Was A Fight For The Spotlight
Darlene Gillespie and Annette Funicello fought for the top spot within the Mouseketeer hierarchy. Both girls rivaled each other for the title of most popular girl on the show.
Darlene was set to be the head girl of the club until Annette's fame unexpectedly skyrocketed. Obviously, Annette is now a household name to many who grew up in the '50s and '60s.
3. Annette Wanted To Change Her Name
Annette thought about changing her last name to something less ethnic. When she approached Walt with the idea, he said no. Good thing, because her name made her just as memorable as her talent.
4. Parents Could Get Their Kids Fired
According to Mental Floss, some of the Mouseketeers were let go due to "behind-the-scenes badgering" from their overzealous parents. Basically, guardians had to be just as well-behaved as their actor children.
5. The Kids Earned $185 A Week
6. The Show Was Doing Well When It Was Cancelled
The Mickey Mouse Club wasn't taken off the air because of low ratings or anything of the sort. The truth of the matter was that the show needed a lot of commercials to support its run, they had low profit margins from merchandise, and many sponsors didn't want to back an educational program.
7. Mickey Rooney Jr. And Brother Timmy Liked To Make Trouble
The two brothers once made such a huge mess of the studio's paint room that they were ultimately let go for their naughty behavior.
8. The Kids Didn't Love The Hats As Much As Audiences Did
Roy Williams, AKA the biggest Mouseketeer, came up with idea for all of the kids to wear Mickey and Minnie Mouse ears on the show. However, the children weren't nearly as fond of wearing this new accessory so often.
9. Dallas Johann Was Afraid Of The Camera
Not many people knew about Dallas Johann, considering he didn't make it past the promotional photo shoot as a Mouseketeer. The young actor was hired, but unfortunately, he was too afraid of the cameras when it came time to film.
10. It Was The First Children’s Show Featuring Mainly Children
Jennifer Armstrong, author of Why? Because We Still Like You: An Oral History Of The Mickey Mouse Club told NPR, "It was the first show for children featuring mainly children as the performers." She added, "It was very revolutionary."
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