Knott’s Berry Farm is an iconic theme park in Orange County, California. It was begun as a restaurant in the 1930s, owned and operated by the Knott family to raise extra money to support their berry farm during the Great Depression. Here’s how it became a beloved theme park attraction.
Darlene Gillespie is one of the original Mouseketeers on The Mickey Mouse Club. The most popular cast member in the first season, her popularity was usurped by Annette Funicello in the second season and thereafter. Darlene enjoyed a career in medicine, before becoming a petty criminal, and even did some jail time, before retiring to a respectable life. This is her intriguing tale.
Hal Adelquist is known for being instrumental in bringing the Mickey Mouse Club TV show to the air and making it a success during its first season. He worked for the Disney Company for decades prior to that, and was involved in departments ranging from Animation to Personnel. A falling out with Walt ended his career in show business. This is his 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.
