John Lounsbery was one of the famous Nine Old Men of the Walt Disney Company. He was a prolific and talented animator, and his hand touched most of the early work of the company. Art teachers noticed his talent early, and one of them sent him to interview with the Walt Disney Company—an interview that would change John’s life for the better. This is John Lounsbery’s story.
Annette Funicello is perhaps the best known of the original Mouseketeers on The Mickey Mouse Club TV show. In addition to being a Mouseketeer and appearing in guest spots in several Disney movies and TV shows, she also had a career as a singer, and as the popular star of a series of beach movies in the 1960s. This is Annette’s intriguing stardom story.
James Dodd was the host of The Mickey Mouse Club TV show, and also wrote the show’s famous theme song. The son of a music store owner and a stenographer, he became interested in music at a young age, and pursued a career in both music and acting. This is the story of his life, his career, and how he came to be the host of one of the most famous children’s TV shows of all time.
Bob Gurr is a well-known and my favorite Disney Imagineer. He started his career as an industrial designer out of college, but soon went to work for Disney. His imprint on the company can mainly be seen in the theme parks, where he had a hand in designing many of the rides. Here is Bob’s story, both at his Disney career and beyond it.
