The Book of Mouse: A Celebration of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse by Jim Korkis

Author:Jim Korkis [Korkis, Jim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mickey Mouse, walt disney, Disney
Publisher: Theme Park Press
Published: 2013-11-30T08:00:00+00:00

Floyd Gottfredson Interview

Mickeyon the Radio: Mickey Mouse Theater of theclass="f" aid="AFM62">One of the many forgotten aspects of early Disney history was the short-lived (only twenty episodes) radio show Mickey Mouse Theater of the Air produced by the Disney Studio in 1938 to showcase Mickey Mouse and his friends and to help promote the general release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).

During the Golden Age of Radio, listeners could tune in the dial on their huge radio (which was actually a piece of living room furniture) and hear adventure, comedy, drama, horror, mystery, musical variety, romance, and thrillers, as well as classical music concerts, Big Band remotes, farm reports, news and commentary, panel discussions, quiz shows, sidewalk interviews, sports broadcasts, talent shows, weather forecasts, and more.

The Golden Age of Radio lasted from the early 1920s until the invasion of television in the 1950s. In the beginning, American radio network programs were almost always presented live, since the national networks prohibited the airing of recorded programs until the late 1940s.

As a result, prime-time shows would be performed twice — once for each coast. Some programs, however, were recorded as they were broadcast during this period, typically for syndication or so advertisers could have their own copy.

Fortunately, the estate of Felix Mills, musical director of the Mickey Mouse Theater of the Air, donated all of his original discs of the show to the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters for future researchers to enjoy and study.

Mills’ daughter, Betsy Mills Goodspeed, wrote:

I remember Walt being very excited about doing the show. He was constantly amazed by how much grown-ups loved and admired his work.

My father thought Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the most marvelous film that was ever produced. As far as I know, he didn’t go to the Disney Studios to discuss the music for the radio show but went to [Walt] Disney’s house, or Walt came to ours. Walt obviously believed that Felix was the best choice for the job, and Felix thought the radio program was a fantastic endeavor by all those who were involved. He felt highly honored to have been awarded the contract.

Walt Disney and his animated friends were no strangers to radio. Walt (often doing the voice of Mickey Mouse and sometimes accompanied by Clarence Nash voicing Donald Duck) popped up on several radio shows during the Golden Age.

In summer 1937, Lever Brothers (which made products like Rinso and Lifebuoy) were looking for a half-hour program to precede and build an audience for their Al Jolson’s Lifebuoy Program on CBS that was being massacred in the ratings by its competition on NBC, The Jack Benny Program.

Looking for additional funds and publicity for the nearly completed Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney hesitantly agreed in September to do an audition record for a weekly Disney radio show.

The show was scheduled to debut on October 5, 1937. Written by comedy writer Ken Englund, the premise was that Mickey Mouse would host the half hour and present a weekly guest star (actor Leslie Howard was chosen for the pilot), but that Donald Duck would mess things up.

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