In honor of the 80th anniversary of Mickey Mouse in “The Band Concert,” MiceChat contributor Andi Stein brings us the history behind the beloved film.

Many Disney fans are familiar with the image of Mickey Mouse dressed in a red jacket with gold trim and shiny brass buttons, sporting a baton and leading a ragtag group of musicians. But, how exactly did Mickey earn his moniker as the “Leader of the Band?”

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© Disney

Eighty years ago, on February 23, 1935, Mickey Mouse made a name for himself as “Band Leader Mickey” in a cartoon short called The Band Concert. Directed by Wilfred Jackson, the cartoon adhered to the Silly Symphony tradition of combining breathtaking animated scenery with an engaging story set to well-known classical music. Film critic Leonard Maltin dubbed it “one of the best cartoons ever made anywhere.”

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© Disney

Not only was The Band Concert acclaimed for its amusing storyline and creative animation, it also signified a milestone for the Walt Disney Studios. It was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon to be filmed in three-strip Technicolor, which, according to David Gerstein, “made Disney the first all-color cartoon studio.”

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The Band Concert gained international acclaim when it was shown at the Moscow Film Festival in 1935, along with Silly Symphony shorts, The Three Little Pigs and Peculiar Penguins. It won the Venice Film Festival golden medal for best animation in 1935.

The Band Concert features Mickey Mouse leading a group of musicians that includes Goofy playing the clarinet, Horace Horsecollar on percussion, Clarabelle Cow on flute, Paddy Pig on tuba, and Peter Pig playing trumpet. The film opens with the group performing at an outdoor concert to a packed audience.

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As Mickey and his cronies begin an intense performance of Rossini’s “William Tell Overture,” their efforts are disturbed by none other than ice cream vendor and concert crasher Donald Duck. Enchanted by the band’s music, Donald pulls out a flute and starts playing a countermelody of Turkey in the Straw, causing band members to sway from their musical path to play along with him. This, of course, leads to a battle of wills between Band Leader Mickey and the rascally Duck.

The story takes an even more dramatic turn when a cyclone suddenly sweeps across the park where the band is playing, creating chaos as it goes. As the twister intensifies, the musicians furiously plug away at their performance, despite being blown around the sky. They eventually come to rest, scattered throughout the branches of a tree, offering a visual image of an ornament-laden Christmas tree.

 

When the storm subsides, the only remaining audience member is a bemused Donald Duck, who vehemently applauds the performance, then pulls another flute out of his cap. The film ends with Donald resuming his refrain of Turkey in the Straw while the musicians hurl their band instruments at him.

The Band Concert was the third joint appearance of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in a Disney cartoon – the first two being Orphan’s Benefit and The Dognapper. With its plotline, The Band Concert cemented the long-lasting, tempestuous relationship between Mickey and Donald. As Maltin explained, “As a vehicle for Mickey, the film was ideal, but once again it was Donald who stole the show. From that film on, he was a regular character in the Disney organization.”

In addition to being a memorable cartoon, The Band Concert has made a splash on Disney Park attractions. During the overhaul of Disney’s California Adventure, the “Orange Stinger” wave swinger ride was transformed into the “Silly Symphony Swings.” As the new version of the attraction rises and falls, it features images of the cartoon’s characters playing their musical instruments to the accompanying strains of the “William Tell Overture.” Band Leader Mickey can also be spotted greeting visitors at his movie barn in Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland.

As with many a Disney cartoon, The Band Concert has served as the inspiration for a wide range of merchandise, from pins to Pook-a-Looz. In 2013, for instance, Hallmark released a musical Christmas ornament that played portions of the William Tell Overture and featured scenes from the cartoon. Band Leader Mickey was also included in the Sketchbook Ornament series recently marketed by the Disney Store.

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Several Band Concert pins have been produced over the years, including a 5-pin set sold by the Walt Disney Family Museum. Band Leader Mickey has even been transformed into a beanbag toy and a Jim Shore figurine. He makes appearances in the Mickey Mania and Mickey’s Magical Mirror video games.

Hats off to the “Leader of the Band” and his fellow musicians as The Band Concert celebrates 80 years!

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Andi Stein with Band Leader Mickey

If you can’t remember The Band Concert, you can watch it below. Are you a Band Leader Mickey fan?

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