“The Disneyland Show & Live Entertainment”

The Walt Disney Productions had become an organized business the created happy moments for people. That was “the tradition of Walt Disney and his organization… a tradition of humor, music, beauty, adventure, fantasy, and fun.” On July 17th, 1955, Disneyland, a Magic Kingdom for the young at heart, became the newest addition to this ever growing tradition.

Since the beginning Disneyland® Park has been a miracle of showmanship, offering a variety of shows to entertain Guests throughout the day. In addition, music is a basic ingredient of showmanship, and has been all-important, covering the Park, and live musicians have always had a role in the Disneyland show.

According to “THE DISNEY THEME SHOW - an introduction to the art of Disney outdoor entertainment”: “Important are the sounds which permeate the scene, for without them, the theme show is a silent movie . . . but with them it is a symphony of music, effects, and natural sounds that the finest stereo system in the world can't duplicate. These sights and sounds are provided not only through Imagineered attractions and shows, but also through the multi-talented efforts of live entertainers . . . in special musical groups . . . in parades and pageants . . . providing an everchanging backdrop to virtually every area in the theme show.”

During the first year, it was decided to retain the Disneyland Band and the cast of Slue Foot Golden Horseshoe on a two-week contract. The Entertainment Department began to cast popular entertainers, and those representing organizations and schools to perform from the Disneyland stage. Large crowds were regularly drawn by events scheduled around musical acts - Dixieland at Disneyland, Big Band Night, Spring Fling, New Year’s Eve Parties, and all-night graduation parties.

“Work Experience Program and College Performers”

Walt Disney once said: “A lot of young people think the future is closed to them, that everything has been done. This is not so. There are still plenty of avenues to be explored.“ About 1962, the DISNEY WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM was born. Hosted by Disneyland, college musicians and dancers had a unique opportunity for to gain valuable experience preparing them for entertainment careers.

During the 1960s (before 1967 had arrived), Walt Disney Productions suggested the “General Electric College Music Bowl,” described as “a national music competition on America’s college campuses designed to win new friends for General Electric among leaders and key employees of Tomorrow… in cooperation with Disneyland and the Walt Disney Music Company.” This proposed program would have coincided with the debut of Progressland at Disneyland during the summer of 1967. It was designed to reach a major audience - “the young people of America - and specifically, the students of our major colleges and universities.” The idea was that the sophisticated and personable public relations of Disneyland, Inc. and Walt Disney Productions would team with General Electric to “augment and enlarge” the process of recruiting from the country’s top-ranking colleges, through the “universal… song and sound of music.” General Electric was to sponsor an annual competition to select the best music groups in several categories, with the national finalists in the smaller group subcategories receiving an all-expense paid tour to Disneyland for the national finals. It was proposed that the winners would receive “a guaranteed Disneyland contract to perform for several weeks during the summer months,” a “guaranteed record contract with the Walt Disney Music Company,” and a televised special direct from Disneyland.”

Within the pages of the c.1960s “General Electric College Music Bowl” prospectus, were the results of a study performed at UCLA (allegedly representing national statistics), wherein it was divulged that among its 148 trumpeters and trombonists and drummers were students majoring in engineering, business, political science, mathematics, zoology, medicine physics, and chemistry. Only “one in six” majoring in music.

“All-American Atmosphere Entertainment”

By 1972, numerous programs were created to showcase music and musicians from various Youth Groups and organizations at Disneyland. The All-American College Workshop was one such workshop. “American Music on Parade” debuted Memorial day, Monday, May 29. 1972 at 2:00 P.M. The show lineup included outstanding bands, drum & bugle Corps. and Dixieland bands from all over California. Among this lineup was the Whittier Cavaliers Youth Band (winner of 20 first-place awards), Al Malaikah Shrine Band (under Douglas Scott; representing the largest temple in Los Angeles), Ozzie’s Marching Band (under the direction of Ozzie Wissel, Karl Finch, and Bart Hazlett; recent half-time band for the San Diego Chargers), Los Angeles Police Junior Band (American Legion Junior Band Champions for 1971 & 1972), Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corp. (five-time winners of the California Legion Drum Corp title), Anaheim South Junior High Band (sweepstakes award winners), Berkeley High School Band (for their 6th Disneyland appearance), and the Naval Training Center Drum & Bugle Corps. and 50 State Flag Unit from San Diego. This sort of showcase was common at Disneyland and yet, the presentation of the All American College Band show on the vast DISNEYLAND “stage” became a distinct part of the Disneyland theater concept. It was created (as part of the Disney Entertainment Work Experience Program) in 1972, by both Bob Jani (V.P. of Entertainment for Disneyland and Disney World) and assistant Jim Christensen.

By 1974, the “All-American College Marching Band was featured throughout the Park on Thursdays through Mondays,” according to a 1974 Press Release document.

Imagine a daily scene during the American Bicentennial celebration at Disneyland Park! The Omnibus (decorated with red, white, and blue ribbons and bunting for the American Bicentennial celebration) carries the All-American College Singers down Main Street U.S.A.! The All American Marching Band Dancers and All American College Singers prove that a smile was essential, and a genial and friendly personality was the Disney style, and mostly that the product of Disneyland is happiness.

At that time, “The All- American Marching Show Band and the Kids of the Kingdom are a ten-week summer workshop course of the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia,” according to Disneyland LINE (published August 6, 1975). According to the same Disneyland LINE article, that same year (of 1975),Ellen Lem had been coordinating the program for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World for two years (from 1973 to 1975). Efforts were made to cast talented performers from every state, with Art Bartner traveling to 13 major cities and personally auditioning 650 talented entertainers. The year 1975 saw the first three performers from the state of Hawaii join the All-American musicians. “A refreshing change is the appearance of four girls, two in each of the marching bands. Art Bartner, Ron Logan [from Long Beach City College] and Jim Christensen selected the musicians for both bands, resulting in 23 for each Park plus an additional seven for the Bahamian Band in Florida.” After the total of 56 performers were chosen, Larry Billman taught the dance routines to the three dancers added to each band for 1975. John Howell (who was recently appointed as the Disney College Workshop All-American College Singers Choral Director) would provide entertainment education.

After their nationwide auditions were reviewed by the head of Show Development, Dean of the College Program, and Park Music Director hopefuls had the opportunity to meet and work with players their own age from universities all over the country. According to Backstage magazine (summer of 1977), the students would participate in “Show Production” - “an 11-week summer program that may well influence the rest of their lives…working in a professional capacity concurrent to cultivating their talents in workshops conducted by top-of-the-field guess entertainer/instructors. Workshops [were]…conducted not only in such areas as stage acting, conducting, composing, choreography and voice, but also in show business-related fields such as publicity, advertising, career opportunities, make-up, style, lighting, recording, television variety shows and costuming.” After completion, students were sent to the theme park of their choice. In addition, The All American College Band was under the direction of the notable Doctor Art Bartner (a University of Michigan Alumni and former USC Marching Band Director).

By 1976, the College Program consisted of “80 students, ranging from 18 - 20”, according to Disneyland LINE (August 19, 1976). During that year the American College Singers consisted of two groups of 12 vocalists (six men and six women) and eight backup musicians, embodying “the Disney Touch” of teamwork. At this time, a “Music Education Program” was also instituted, on October 4th, 1976. By the summer of 1977, the Disney Entertainment Work Experience Program starred “42 musically talented students from all over the country”.

“All-American College Street Theatre Players”

In 1978, the All-American College Street Theatre Players debuted, alongside the All-American College Band and the All-American College Singers. Today at Disneyland described them as a “13-member troupe” which “mixes mime and dance with comedy and drama to the delight of Disneyland visitors, bringing back the days of the Keystone Kops on Main Street and adding to the whimsy and magic of Fantasyland.”

According to Disneyland LINE (June 21, 1979), “Two special groups, the All-American College Singers, and the All-American College Marching Band, will showcase 44 singers, dancers and musicians taken from a nation-wide Disney audition of college talent.”

During an unknown year of the 1980s, the All-American College Marching Band performed during 1980, from Tuesday thru Thursday, 4:00pm-9:00pm. The All-American College band marches through Tomorrowland, led by Art Bartner (Director of the Trojan Marching Band of the University of Southern California).

“‘What’s more American than hotdogs…baseball…and ice cream? I am!’ Each one whirls around and introduces his or herself and sings a popular song about his or her home state. Cheers of recognition burst forth from the Guests,” according to Backstage (summer of 1977).

Trombone Section - Jim Boltinghouse (left), unidentified (right)

Farewell Banquets became a tradition - celebrating the talented Disneyland Cast Members of the All-American College Band.

During the Sumer of 1983, the All-American College Band performed a concert (on July 23) and another concert featuring Bobby Shew (July 30).

By the time Disneyland celebrated “35 Years of Magic,” about 75 percent of the Park's summer employees were college students and teachers from Southern California. In fact by July 17, 1990, it was reported that well over 50,000 men and women had added to their college funds with Disneyland jobs during the past 35 years.

The All American College Band celebrated 25 years with Disneyland (1971 - 1996) in 1996! During their 45th anniversary with Disneyland (on Saturday, August 1, 2015), some of the All-American College Band alumni were invited back to Disneyland to form a band of more than 100 members that would help celebrate the milestone year. The then-current band director Doctor Ron McCurdy, invited Doctor Art Bartner to direct the first song - “Bubbles Was A Cheerleader”! In addition, the Director of The Walt Disney World All-American College Band was invited to direct a medley of Earth, Wind, and Fire songs.

Backstage magazine (published summer of 1977) best summed how the program is an example of “the principles under which Walt Disney and his Imagineers worked in creating Disneyland” when they quoted the words of Walt : “Disneyland is a work of love ; we didn’t go into Disneyland just with the idea of making money. When I make a profit I don’t squander or hide to away ; I immediately plow it back into a fresh project . . . and having spent most of my life observing their potential, I feel convinced that a full-time education for our youth is our best investment for the future.”

“Other Visiting Bands”

Many other Guest Bands were part of the Entertainment Show Schedule, participating in the Parade March and performing concerts in Tomorrowland.

1981 - Steamboat High School Band (March 26), Sheridan High School Band (March 25), Elobigoke Youth Band of Salvation Army from Canada and Agua Fria Union High School Band (March 27) performed.

1986 - Holdridge High School Marching Band and E.L Meyers Jr/Sr High School Marching Band (April 14), Grey High School Marching Band (April 17), Calaveras High School (April 18), Cupertino High School Pioneer Marching Band and Kingsburg High School Marching Band (April 19), Mayfield High School Marching Band (April 20).

In the present, Magic Music Days/MMD is a program that offers performance and educational workshop opportunities at the Disneyland Resort to vocal and dance groups all over the world.