MUMBAI: Disneyland, the TV show The Mickey Mouse Club and the Mouseketeers -- three American pop culture icons -- share their 50th anniversaries this year.
10 of the original Mouseketeers are returning home to Disneyland in the US today 3 October 2005 to celebrate their golden milestone where they first made their initial public appearance. The reunion will salute the debut of the classic 1950s television series. The show kicked off in 1955 with Walt Disney doing the voice of Mickey Mouse.
In a nostalgic 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 comprised of nearly 1,000 "Honourary" Mouseketeers filling the expansive 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 milestone occasion.
Disneyland Resort president Matt Ouimet said, "The Mousketeer hats that The Mickey Mouse Club made so popular 50 years ago continue to be popular with Disneyland Guests today. The Mickey Mouse Club made its national television premiere on 3 October 1955, on the ABC television network. The Mouseketeers were a talented cast of youngsters who starred in the variety series that included cartoons, music and live-action adventures. The show began with the famous Mickey Mouse Club March a tune still familiar with today's generation and ended with another popular song The Mickey Mouse Club Alma Mater which expressed a heartfelt goodbye."
The special salute honouring the original cast of Mouseketeers and The Mickey Mouse Club is just one of many moments taking place during the 18-month Disneyland Happiest Homecoming on Earth 50th anniversary celebration as it kicks into high gear and continues throughout 2006. Additional upcoming milestones and celebrations include "Golden" holidays at Disneyland, the January 2006 opening of the all-new attraction Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue at Disney's California Adventure and the 40th anniversary of it's a small world.
