Last Updated: March 31, 2024
This was the Gil Gray Circus that performed in the Midwest complete with John Herriott's Elephants, Camels, Llamas and Ponies. The circus features the Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeers, youthful stars of the ABC network TV show that carries the Mickey Mouse name. With the talented youngsters are Jimmie Dodd (the "Grand Mouseketeer") as Ringmaster of the circus, and Roy Williams {the "Big Mooseketeer") as the Circus Strong Man.
Many Disneyland attractions that debuted in 1955 thrived for decades but a few early ideas were utter flops one of these was the Mickey Mouse Club Circus. Which on paper must have seemed like an appealing attraction to Walt Disney a long time circus lover. In November 1955 2 circus tents went up in the northeast corner of Fantasyland. The official circusopened on Thanksgiving day with a parade down Main Street and a hour and a quarter show in heated tents.
This was the Gil Gray Circus that performed in the Midwest complete with John Herriott's Elephants, Camels, Llamas and Ponies. Theoretical fans of the Mickey Mouse Club TV show should have been fans of the circus acts Jimmy Dodd the TV host was the ring master and the Mouseketeers were among the stars. This circus opened on November 25, 1955, giving two 75-minute performances a day, including Christmas and New Year's.Ted DeWayne coordinated the circus acts
The shows were staged by Hal Adelquist. The circus was dogged by operational problems and poor attendance. Scheduled only for the holiday season, it closed in early January 1956. Jimmie Dodd was the Ringmaster, Roy Williams the Strongman, and Bob Amsberry played Bob-O the Clown. The Mouseketeers, and some of their moms as well, performed in a variety of roles, including as clowns, "wild" animals, aerialists, and took part in the grand parade, where the girls dressed as Tinker Belle and the boys as Peter Pan. The Mickey Mouse Club Circus performed twice per day. Each show began as a parade on Main Street USA, with acrobats, animals, and clowns strolling around the street and into the grand circus tent.
Once seated, guests enjoyed a classic circus show,with the flying trapeze, daredevil stunts, and jungle animals. The beloved Mouseketeers accompanied the performers and animals, marching in the parade and appearing throughout the tent show. The circus could hold 2500 guests. The Big Top tent cost over $30,000. That is over $336,000 2022 dollars
The Christmas Circus: Living Toys, representing the beloved Disney creations of many years, march around the hippodrome, Leading the parade is Mickey Mouse with Minnie, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy, and the galaxy of Disney stars.As the Toys march, a giant Christmas tree rises from the center ring and meets a sparkling star high in the tent.Jingling bells announce the-appearance of Santa Claus who arrives in a magnificent golden sleigh pulled by teams of matched ponies.
Heralded by a circus parade down Main Street. During the parade, a black panther grabbed the paw of a tiger in the next cage and chewed it off. When the procession of circus wagons entered the big top for the first performance, the second vehicle clipped one of the tent pegs and an entire section of the roof caved in. During the trapeze act, a well endowed artist's halter strap broke and her top fell. And since she had to hold onto the trapeze, there wasn't much she could do about it. Finally, two llamas got loose and ran through the bleachers. The crew chased them down the railroad track and captured them at the Main Street Station. Walt, in the front row with the Mouseketeers, buried his face in his hands. Then there were the temperamental camels, who loved to spit, the surly circus performers, whose cussing, drinking and gambling proved quite un-Disneylike. There were 2,500 seats, but no performance filled even a fourth of them.
The Disney staff flew to see Gil Gray Circus in the Midwest and wound up taking the entire show to Disneyland, complete with John Herriott's Elephants, Camels, Llamas and Ponies.
There were two 75-minute performances a day, including Christmas and New Year's.
Ted DeWayne coordinated the circus acts
The shows were staged by Hal Adelquist.
The circus was dogged by operational problems and poor attendance.
Jimmie Dodd was the Ringmaster, Roy Williams the Strongman, and Bob Amsberry played Bob-O the Clown . The Mouseketeers, and some of their moms as well, performed in a variety of roles, including as clowns, "wild" animals, aerialists, and took part in the grand parade, where the girls dressed as Tinker Belle and the boys as Peter Pan.
Big Top cost over $30,000.
Flying Alexanders and their amazing aerial presentation.
Christmas Circus:
Living Toys, representing the beloved Disney creations of many years, march around the hippodrome, Leading the parade is Mickey Mouse with Minnie, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy, and the galaxy of Disney stars.As the Toys march, a giant Christmas tree rises from the center ring and meets a sparkling star high in the tent.Jingling bells announce the-appearance of Santa Claus who arrives in a magnificent golden sleigh pulled by teams of matched ponies.
Included is the Steam Calliope, the Beauty Wagon, the Whiskers Wagon, the White Ticket Wagon, the Swan Band Wagon the Green Cage, the Swan and Fawn, and the Shell Tab.
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