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The Mouse Factory

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The Mouse Factory
Screenshot of the title card for The Mouse Factory
Created byWard Kimball
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes43
Production
Running time22 minutes
Production companyWalt Disney Productions
Original release
NetworkSyndicated
ReleaseJanuary 26, 1972 (1972-01-26) –
March 5, 1973 (1973-03-05)

The Mouse Factory is an American syndicated television series produced by Walt Disney Productions and created by Ward Kimball, that ran from 1972 to 1973.[1] It showed clips from various Disney cartoons and movies, hosted by celebrity guests (credited as being "Mickey's Friend"), including Charles Nelson Reilly,[2] JoAnne Worley, Wally Cox, Johnny Brown, Phyllis Diller,[3] Joe Flynn, Annette Funicello,[4] Shari Lewis and Hush Puppy,[5] Lamb Chop, Dom DeLuise, Don Knotts and many more visiting the Mouse Factory and interacting with the walk-around Disney characters from the Disney theme parks. The series was later rerun on the Disney Channel in the 1980s and 1990s.

The theme played over the previews of each episode was a fast instrumental version of "Whistle While You Work" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

To start the ending credits, it shows Mickey Mouse in a biplane, flying across the screen carrying a banner than reads " the end". A large ape, resembling King Kong, promptly swipes said plane as well as Mickey out of thin air, dropping them in his mouth and devouring them. In season 2, this was changed to Donald Duck uttering the phrase "it won't work".

The song played over the end credits is "Minnie's Yoo Hoo", the theme song from the original Mickey Mouse Clubs that met in theaters starting in 1929.[6]

Due to low ratings, the series was cancelled after its second season.

Premise

The Mouse Factory mixes live-action with animation and features a different theme in each episode. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who plays a new character and interacts with Disney characters such as Mickey, Donald, Goofy or Tigger (which are played by disguised actors), among others. In addition, each episode features several classic short films and clips of feature films (about three short films and clips in each episode).[7]

List of episodes

43 episodes were produced, including:

Season 1 (1972)

# Title Host Airdate
1 Vacations Charles Nelson Reilly January 26, 1972
2 Women’s Lib JoAnne Worley February 2, 1972
3 Folk Tale Favorites Johnny Brown February 9, 1972
4 Spooks and Magic Phyllis Diller February 16, 1972
5 Physical Fitness Don Knotts February 23, 1972[8][9]
6 The Great Outdoors Dom DeLuise March 1, 1972
7 Water Sports Joe Flynn March 8, 1972
8 Man at Work John Byner March 15, 1972
9 Music Skiles and Henderson March 22, 1972
10 Interplanetary Travel Jonathan Winters March 29, 1972
11 Homeowners Jim Backus April 5, 1972
12 Spectator Sports Charles Nelson Reilly April 12, 1972[10]
13 Horses JoAnne Worley April 19, 1972
14 Aviation Johnny Brown April 26, 1972
15 Back to Nature Wally Cox May 3, 1972
16 Bullfighting to Bullfrogs Pat Buttram May 10, 1972
17 Sports Pat Paulsen May 17, 1972

Season 2 (1972-1973)

# Title Host Airdate
1 Alligators Johnny Brown September 11, 1972
2 Paul Bunyan Jim Backus September 18, 1972
3 Bullfighting Bill Dana September 25, 1972
4 Knighthood Henry Gibson October 2, 1972
5 Pluto John Astin October 9, 1972
6 Goliath II Kurt Russell October 16, 1972
7 The Mouse Show Dave Madden October 23, 1972
8 Cats Shari Lewis and Hush Puppy October 30, 1972[11]
9 Ben Franklin Wally Cox November 6, 1972
10 Mickey Mouse Annette Funicello November 13, 1972[12]
11 Lions Henry Gibson November 20, 1972
12 Consciences Harry Morgan November 27, 1972
13 Noah’s Ark Bill Dana December 4, 1972
14 Hunting John Astin December 11, 1972
15 Sports Nipsey Russell December 18, 1972
16 Tugboats Dave Madden December 25, 1972
17 Automobiles Ken Berry January 1, 1973
18 Trains Harry Morgan January 8, 1973
19 Homes Jim Backus January 15, 1973
20 The Reluctant Dragon Wally Cox January 22, 1973
21 Wheels Johnny Brown January 29, 1973
22 Winter Fun Kurt Russell February 5, 1973[13]
23 Penguins Annette Funicello February 12, 1973[14]
24 Elephants Nipsey Russell February 19, 1973
25 Mickey and the Beanstalk Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop February 26, 1973
26 Dancing Ken Berry March 5, 1973

References

  1. ^ Cotter, Bill (1997). The Wonderful World of Disney Television. Hyperion Books. pp. 219–223. ISBN 0-7868-6359-5.
  2. ^ The Mouse Factory - Opening (1973) - YouTube
  3. ^ The Mouse Factory - Episode 4: Spooks & Magic, Hosted by Phyllis Diller, YouTube
  4. ^ Annette Funicello on the Mouse Factory 1972, YouTube
  5. ^ The Mouse Factory "Cats" Open (ft. Shari Lewis and Hush Puppy), YouTube
  6. ^ The Mouse Factory Credits—"Minnie's Yoo Hoo," YouTube
  7. ^ Woolery, George W. (1985). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series. The Scarecrow Press. pp. 350–351. ISBN 0-8108-1651-2.
  8. ^ Mouse Factory - Fitness (1 of 3) - YouTube
  9. ^ Mouse Factory - Fitness (2 of 3) - YouTube
  10. ^ Mouse Factory #12 opening - Spectator Sports - Charles Nelson Reilly - YouTube
  11. ^ The Mouse Factory: "Cats" Open (ft. Shari Lewis and Hush Puppy), YouTube
  12. ^ Annette Funicello on the Mouse Factory 1972, YouTube
  13. ^ Mouse Factory - Snow (3 of 3) - YouTube
  14. ^ Annette Funicello hosts the Mouse Factory 1973, YouTube
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