“THE MOUSEKETEERS” 1955 – 1959 on ABC

“Mouseketeer” Annette Funicello and “Head Mouseketeer” Jimmie Dodd - The Mickey Mouse Club was Walt Disney’s second venture in to producing a television series, and helped finance and promote the building of the Disneyland theme park. Walt Disney turned The Mickey Mouse Club over to Bill Walsh who created a variety show for children featuring a news reel, cartoon, as well as music, talent, and comedy segments. The Mouseketeer Roll Call featured that day’s line up of regular performers who would introduce themselves by name to the television audience. Jimmie Dodd, the host provided leadership both on and off screen, and his short segments encouraged the young viewers to make the right moral choices. These became known as “Doddisms”.