Get Out Your Mouse Ears, ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’ Premiered Almost 70 Years Ago!

THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, Annette Funicello, 1955-59
Courtesy Everett Collection

If you’re a Boomer, you know that one of the most nostalgic TV memories is The Mickey Mouse Club, and you were most likely a Mouseketeer yourself. Created by Walt Disney himself and meant to be a wholesome show featuring a cast of young “Mouseketeers” doing comedy skits, musical numbers and even educational segments, the classic children’s television show premiered on October 3, 1955, and sparked the careers of many big stars over the years. Of course, there was also the catchy theme song exclaiming “M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!”

The original series ran from 1955 until 1959, and launched the careers of Annette Funicello (perhaps the most famous Mouseketeer of all time), Bobby Burgess, Cubby O’Brien, Karen Pendleton, and Darlene Gillespie. The show was revived several times, most notably in the ’70s and ’80s when Facts of Life star Lisa Whelchel was on. The version that began in 1989 featured several future pop idols including *NSYNC stars Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera, plus actors Ryan Gosling and Keri Russell. This version was more focused on teens rather than children, and focused on teen issues and music. There was also a short-lived version in 2017. In honor of its anniversary, let’s look at some iconic photos of The Mickey Mouse Club:

THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, Tim Considine, David Stollery, Roy Williams, Jimmie Dodd, Tommy Kirk, Lonnie Burr, Don Grady, Linda Hughes, Lynn Ready, Cheryl Holdridge, Kevin

The Mickey Mouse Club

Tim Considine, David Stollery, Roy Williams, Jimmie Dodd, Tommy Kirk, Lonnie Burr, Don Grady, Linda Hughes, Lynn Ready, Cheryl Holdridge, Kevin “Moochie” Corcoran, Sharon Baird, Bonnie Lynn Fields, Karen Pendleton, Carl “Cubby” O’Brien, Walt Disney, Tommy Cole, Darlene Gillespie a Annette Funicello

MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, Eileen Diamond, Annette Funicello, Cubby O'Brien, Roy Williams, 1955-1959, (Talent Roundup Day).
THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, from left: Darlene Gillespie, Lonnie Burr, Carl Cubby O'Brien, Annette Funicello, 1955-59.
THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, front row from left: Nancy, Lonnie Burr, Karen Pendleton, Johnny, Mike, Carl Cubby O'Brien, Darlene Gillespie, Sharon Baird; Back row from left: Annette Funicello, Don Grady, Jimmie Dodd, Roy Williams, Bobby Burgess, Doreen Tracey, 1955-59.
THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, from left: Jimmie Dodd, Annette Funicello, 1955-59.
THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, Mickey Mouse (left), film strip: Jiminy Cricket (2nd frame), David Stollery, Tim Considine (4th frame), TV GUIDE cover, October 1-7, 1955.
THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, from left, Doreen Tracey, Cheryl Holdridge, Wally Boag, Bonnie Lynn Fields, Annette Funicello, 1957-58 season.
THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, Annette Funicello, Robert Lamouret, 1955-59
MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, Tim Considine, Annette Funicello, David Stollery, Darlene Gillespie, 1955-1959,
THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, Jimmie Dodd, 1955-59, © Walt Disney Productions / Courtesy: Everett Collection
THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, Sharon Baird, Karen Pendleton, Walt Disney, Cubby O'Brien, Kevin Corcoran aka Moochie, 1955-59, (c)Walt Disney Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, Cubby O'Brien, Jimmie Dodd, Sharon Baird, Karen Pendelton, Doreen Tracy, 1955-1959
THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, from left: Joyce Holden, Harry Carey Jr. (with guitar),
THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, from left: Darlene Gillespie, Chinook (as White Shadow), 'Corky and White Shadow', (1956 serial), 1955-1958
THE NEW MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, (top, l-r) Angel Florez, Todd Turquand, Curtis Wong, Allison Fonte, (mid, l-r) Scott Craig, Kelly Parsons, Lisa Whelchel, Julie Piekarski, Billy 'Pop' Attmore, (bot, l-r) Shawnte Northcutte, Nita Dee, Mindy Feldman, 1977.

The New Mickey Mouse Club

(top, l-r) Angel Florez, Todd Turquand, Curtis Wong, Allison Fonte, (mid, l-r) Scott Craig, Kelly Parsons, Lisa Whelchel, Julie Piekarski, Billy ‘Pop’ Attmore, (bot, l-r) Shawnte Northcutte, Nita Dee, Mindy Feldman, 1977.

THE ALL NEW MICKEY MOUSE CLUB (aka MMC), (clockwise from upper center): Nikki DeLoach, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling, T.J. Fantini, Tate Lynche, 1989-94.

The All New Mickey Mouse Club

aka MMC, (clockwise from upper center): Nikki DeLoach, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling, T.J. Fantini, Tate Lynche.

THE ALL NEW MICKEY MOUSE CLUB (aka MMC), from left: T.J. Fantini, name unknown, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, name unknown, Ilana Miller. 1989-94.
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