Wonderful 1931 image of Walt greeting an actor in a Mickey Mouse costume in front of the Hyperion Studio. The costume mouse and miniature car were from the Fanchon and Marco vaudeville revue stage show that toured the United States.
Wonderful 1931 image of Walt greeting an actor in a Mickey Mouse costume in front of the Hyperion Studio. The costume mouse and miniature car were from the Fanchon and Marco vaudeville revue stage show that toured the United States.
By the way, the Fanchon and Marco actor was Toots Novello. (Amazing what we can find when we’re doing research, eh?)
THANKS! Yes, I think research is our addiction. I was going to add a comment to this, that it was probably Paul Castle (but I didn’t think anybody would find it funny). Later today on the Walt’s Birthday Celebration, I have this same photo shoot, only ten minutes later, where Mickey (now known as Toots Novello) has removed his head.
oh, you know a LOT of us would get the Paul Castle bit…
I agree, I think most everybody who reads DHI would get it, as I’m sure I lost the casual reader in the first few posts. And yes, you are right, I probably should have gone with my gut instinct (only excuse I have, is that it was 4:30am). Thanks for your contribution, it is coming up at 2:05p. I am already receiving lots of nice emails from people that are checking back every five minutes past the hour. So, more to come! Happy Birthday Walt.
The vehicle is a 1931 Austin. There was a small garage on the Hyperion property between the sound stage and the Comic Strip Department bungalow that housed the car.
There is a famous photo of Walt signing a contract with his merchandising rep Kay Kamen where the garage is seen in the background.
Would be interesting to know what happened to that car. If I have the money I’d buy a ’31 Austin and have it restored to look like the one in your photo.