Ward Kimball, one of Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men, made many contributions to Disney’s animated features up until his retirement in 1972. He was an animator, who brought life to Jiminy Cricket, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, The Mad Hatter and Lucifer the Cat. However, most people don’t know that he also ventured into television as a producer and director.

During the 1972 TV season, Kimball lent his comic sensibilities to the live-action/animated anthology series he created for syndication called The Mouse Factory, a television show produced by Walt Disney Productions.

Let The Silliness Commence

Beginning with the first frame of each episode, the offbeat series featured comedic interactions between Disney characters and a celebrity host in skits that captured the spirit and sensibilities of that era.

Credited onscreen as “Mickey’s Friend,” celebrity hosts included Phyllis Diller, Don Knotts, Annette Funicello, Jim Backus, Charles Nelson Reilly, Jonathan Winters, Dom DeLuise, Shari Lewis, Jo Anne Worley, Dave Madden, Kurt Russell, John Astin, Ken Berry, Wally Cox, Dom DeLuise, and Harry Morgan.

After clock-punching into the Mouse Factory with Mickey, Goofy and other assorted toons, the host would introduce the episode’s theme (like aviation, women’s lib and water sports). This was followed by a frenetic version of Whistle While You Work playing over a montage of clips from the forthcoming episode, culminating with a mound of dirt being blown up with dynamite. 

The series also utilized content from the Disney Studios’ film library. Excerpts from animated feature films and shorts rarely seen on television were showcased. To add more content to the mix, clips of Disney’s live-action films also found their way into the series. 

A Killer Diller

In the Halloween-themed episode Spooks and Magic, comedienne Phyllis Diller uses her comedic schtick to play the affable “Ghost Host.” If you watch closely, Goofy as Count Goofula and Donald Duck as Duckenstein make an appearance as Diller’s friends. 

The episode gave viewers brief glimpses inside Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, which stood in as Diller’s Midnight Manor, a rooming house for worn-out witches, ghosts, goblins, and similar “death of the party” types. 

In true Kimball fashion, the animated closing sequence during season one features Mickey Mouse in a biplane getting eaten by King Kong.

A Song for Minnie

Minnie’s Yoo Hoo, the song playing over the end titles sequence, was first performed by Mickey Mouse in the 1929 animated short Mickey’s Follies. The song was composed by Carl Stalling and Walt Disney. Animation fans and aficionados will recognize Carl Stalling as the composer of many classic Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts produced by Warner Bros.

In 1930, Minnie’s Yoo Hoo became the first Disney song to be released on sheet music.

Ward Kimball: Train Enthusiast, Disney Legend…and Oscar Winner

The inclusion of the train whistle blowing at the top of the show can be traced back to Kimball’s love of trains. 

As an avid train enthusiast, he owned and ran the Grizzly Flats Railroad (GFRR) on the private 3-acre backyard at his home, which was notably the inspiration for Walt Disney to install the Disneyland Railroad at Disneyland. The GFRR was is presumed to be the first full-size backyard railroad in the United States.

In 1989, Kimball was named a Disney Legend. During the Legends ceremony, Kimball placed his handprints in the cement and, in true Kimball fashion, added an extra finger between two of his fingerprints to create an eleven-fingered handprint. 

And The Winner Is…

At the 42nd Academy Awards ceremony in 1970, It’s Tough to Be a Bird won the Oscar for Best Cartoon Short Subject. As the film’s producer (and director), Kimball has the distinction of being the only member of the Nine Old Men to win an individual Oscar. 

Walt Disney Animation Studios would not win another Oscar in the animated short subject category for 43 years until Paperman took the prize in 2013.


Make Future Magic

Theme parks will reopen, and there’s no better time to lock in low rates on future travel. Special comeback rates are now available at some of your favorite theme park hotels – discounted up to $100 off their regular nightly rates. 

The Mouse Factory, The Wonderful Wacky World of The Mouse Factory

Our travel partners at Get Away Today are here to help you with your theme park shutdown concerns and rescheduling plans. We know you’re as uncertain about the future as we are. That’s why Get Away Today is offering the most flexible Disney travel options available:  

Price Protection – If a better special comes out after you have booked, you’ll get the better deal. 

Peace of Mind – Make hotel changes, reschedule dates, drop nights, change ticket vouchers and more, as many times as you’d like for a small, one-time fee.

Layaway Plan – Lock in your 2020 or 2021 Disneyland Resort vacation for just $175 down. By booking early, you secure your availability and have the flexibility to pay as you go. Make as many interest-free payments as you’d like, whenever you’d like, with final payment due just seven days prior to travel.

Give your family something to look forward to
Visit Get Away Today HERE  Or fill out a request form and they’ll call you back:  Vacation Information Request Form HERE


Let’s Hear From You

Do any of you out there remember The Mouse Factory? A fan of Ward Kimball? Could a goofy show like this work in today’s world? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.  

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