The Mickey Mouse Theatre of the Air
Most collectors and Disney enthusiasts are familiar with the fact that Walt
Disney hosted the Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color on TV, but did
you know he also hosted a 1938 radio show called The Mickey Mouse Theater of
the Air?
Disney hosted the Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color on TV, but did
you know he also hosted a 1938 radio show called The Mickey Mouse Theater of
the Air?
The show was the brainchild of Kay Kamen, who conceived the idea as a
promotional vehicle for the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
released on December 21, 1937, and for the main Disney characters used in the
cartoons. The show began airing the first Sunday in January of 1938, though it
had been heavily promoted for weeks prior. It ran every Sunday through that
winter and spring, from 5:30 – 6:00 pm, and was produced by NBC. It was
sponsored by Pepsodent, and broadcast from the same RKO lot where a number of
other Disney projects were produced.
promotional vehicle for the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
released on December 21, 1937, and for the main Disney characters used in the
cartoons. The show began airing the first Sunday in January of 1938, though it
had been heavily promoted for weeks prior. It ran every Sunday through that
winter and spring, from 5:30 – 6:00 pm, and was produced by NBC. It was
sponsored by Pepsodent, and broadcast from the same RKO lot where a number of
other Disney projects were produced.
Walt Disney served not only as host of the program, but also as the voice
of Mickey Mouse, while Clarence Nash provided the inimitable voice of Donald
Duck. The program consisted of these and all the other classic Disney characters
engaging in songs, skits and musical numbers that featured each character on a
different instrument.
of Mickey Mouse, while Clarence Nash provided the inimitable voice of Donald
Duck. The program consisted of these and all the other classic Disney characters
engaging in songs, skits and musical numbers that featured each character on a
different instrument.
Because the show was a vehicle for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
often those who imitated the characters would make special appearances as well.
The song, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,” which first came on the scene in
1933, became a major hit all over again as the theme song for the radio show,
and Donald’s popularity really began to soar. In fact, he was the #1 character
of the Mickey, Minnie and Donald trio by the end of the program’s run in May of
1938, and showed no signs of slowing down.
often those who imitated the characters would make special appearances as well.
The song, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,” which first came on the scene in
1933, became a major hit all over again as the theme song for the radio show,
and Donald’s popularity really began to soar. In fact, he was the #1 character
of the Mickey, Minnie and Donald trio by the end of the program’s run in May of
1938, and showed no signs of slowing down.
Pictured here is a poster used to promote the show, featuring Mickey,
Minnie and Donald having a grand time with a Horace Horsecollar and Clara Cluck
(who are cleverly concealed as a tube of Pepsodent paste and a box of tooth
powder). Notice the hats they are wearing – that’s how you can tell who they
are. Notice also that Pepsodent has the top billing on the poster, as was
customary for the sponsors who were paying for a given program. Lastly, you’ll
notice that the characters no longer have pie-eyes, but rather they have the
full, closed-circle dark eyes characteristic of the period.
Minnie and Donald having a grand time with a Horace Horsecollar and Clara Cluck
(who are cleverly concealed as a tube of Pepsodent paste and a box of tooth
powder). Notice the hats they are wearing – that’s how you can tell who they
are. Notice also that Pepsodent has the top billing on the poster, as was
customary for the sponsors who were paying for a given program. Lastly, you’ll
notice that the characters no longer have pie-eyes, but rather they have the
full, closed-circle dark eyes characteristic of the period.
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The Mickey Mouse Theatre of the Air
Most collectors and Disney enthusiasts are familiar with the fact that Walt
Disney hosted the Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color on TV, but did
you know he also hosted a 1938 radio show called The Mickey Mouse Theater of
the Air?
Disney hosted the Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color on TV, but did
you know he also hosted a 1938 radio show called The Mickey Mouse Theater of
the Air?
The show was the brainchild of Kay Kamen, who conceived the idea as a
promotional vehicle for the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
released on December 21, 1937, and for the main Disney characters used in the
cartoons. The show began airing the first Sunday in January of 1938, though it
had been heavily promoted for weeks prior. It ran every Sunday through that
winter and spring, from 5:30 – 6:00 pm, and was produced by NBC. It was
sponsored by Pepsodent, and broadcast from the same RKO lot where a number of
other Disney projects were produced.
promotional vehicle for the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
released on December 21, 1937, and for the main Disney characters used in the
cartoons. The show began airing the first Sunday in January of 1938, though it
had been heavily promoted for weeks prior. It ran every Sunday through that
winter and spring, from 5:30 – 6:00 pm, and was produced by NBC. It was
sponsored by Pepsodent, and broadcast from the same RKO lot where a number of
other Disney projects were produced.
Walt Disney served not only as host of the program, but also as the voice
of Mickey Mouse, while Clarence Nash provided the inimitable voice of Donald
Duck. The program consisted of these and all the other classic Disney characters
engaging in songs, skits and musical numbers that featured each character on a
different instrument.
of Mickey Mouse, while Clarence Nash provided the inimitable voice of Donald
Duck. The program consisted of these and all the other classic Disney characters
engaging in songs, skits and musical numbers that featured each character on a
different instrument.
Because the show was a vehicle for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
often those who imitated the characters would make special appearances as well.
The song, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,” which first came on the scene in
1933, became a major hit all over again as the theme song for the radio show,
and Donald’s popularity really began to soar. In fact, he was the #1 character
of the Mickey, Minnie and Donald trio by the end of the program’s run in May of
1938, and showed no signs of slowing down.
often those who imitated the characters would make special appearances as well.
The song, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,” which first came on the scene in
1933, became a major hit all over again as the theme song for the radio show,
and Donald’s popularity really began to soar. In fact, he was the #1 character
of the Mickey, Minnie and Donald trio by the end of the program’s run in May of
1938, and showed no signs of slowing down.
Pictured here is a poster used to promote the show, featuring Mickey,
Minnie and Donald having a grand time with a Horace Horsecollar and Clara Cluck
(who are cleverly concealed as a tube of Pepsodent paste and a box of tooth
powder). Notice the hats they are wearing – that’s how you can tell who they
are. Notice also that Pepsodent has the top billing on the poster, as was
customary for the sponsors who were paying for a given program. Lastly, you’ll
notice that the characters no longer have pie-eyes, but rather they have the
full, closed-circle dark eyes characteristic of the period.
Minnie and Donald having a grand time with a Horace Horsecollar and Clara Cluck
(who are cleverly concealed as a tube of Pepsodent paste and a box of tooth
powder). Notice the hats they are wearing – that’s how you can tell who they
are. Notice also that Pepsodent has the top billing on the poster, as was
customary for the sponsors who were paying for a given program. Lastly, you’ll
notice that the characters no longer have pie-eyes, but rather they have the
full, closed-circle dark eyes characteristic of the period.
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