Between Books - Ears & Bubbles

As noted before the Mickey Mouse Club is a Disney blind spot for me.  So of course we have back-to-back Between Books about this television phenomenon of the 1950s!

Ears & Bubbles:Dancing My Way from the Mickey Mouse Club to The Lawrence Welk Show by Bobby Burgess is a memoir of Burgess’ long dancing career.  Burgess discusses his early life, how he became involved in dance and his early public performances.  Burgess’ dancing skills would get him cast on the Mickey Mouse Club.  He then provides a brief summary of his experiences on the Disney show.  This account is then followed by his transition back into private life and eventually being cast on the Lawrence Welk Show, which at the time may have been even more popular than Burgess’ earlier success.  Burgess then outlines his decades dancing for bandmaster Welk, including his key dance partners, and his continued relationship with the Welk legacy.  Along with his time in entertainment, Burgess discusses his family life and his continued role in dance education.  

Burgess’ writing is light and positive.  As a reader you get the feeling that Burgess is an uplifting gentleman who leaves you feeling good about yourself.  His writing is clear and allows for a quick read that one could easily enjoy on the beach.  For Disney fans, there may not be enough Mickey Mouse Club, with the chapter focused on the show being relatively brief compared to the Welk material.  However, the amount of time that Burgess spent with Disney was minor compared to his time dancing for Welk.  Additionally, Burgess gives us a window to another 20^th century media giant in Welk, allowing us to make some comparisons with Walt Disney since he interacted with both.  

Now growing up I did have grandparents who watched Lawrence Welk…and I hated it.  I viewed the program as a show that catered to senior citizens.  And if they turned on Welk, I admit I turned to a book.  But the picture that Burgess presents to me is quite different.  Yes, Welk and his team did understand that they were beloved by an older audience and they made specific decisions to cater to that audience.  But Burgess describes a show that provided a mixture of musical presentation styles.  As Burgess presents The Lawrence Welk Show it really comes off as a true variety program.  I did wonder if we would discover the “seedy” side of the Welk community.  And yes there is one traditional farmer’s daughter story.  But really one discovers that the Welk alumni are close-knit, which only helps to explain why Burgess stayed on for so long. 

Ears & Bubbles, like several other Theme Park Press titles, are available for borrowing in the Kindle Unlimited program.  (Honestly as a member of this program the Theme Park Press titles are at the moment the better Disney related titles available in this subscription program.)  Additionally, if you purchase through Amazon the title is part of the Kindle Matchbook program which allows you to purchase a Kindle version of the text for free when you buy a new print edition.  

For Mouseketeer fans this title is a must.  But those not as interested in The Mickey Mouse Club would likely find this a fast and enjoyable read from a very positive personality.  And Ears& Bubbles proves as a Disney fan you never know what connections you might find with your fandom and how it might lead you to reflect on your childhood!  

Review Copy Provided by Theme Park Press

 

Between Books - The Accidental Mouseketter: Before and After the Mickey Mouse Club

I have discovered a massive Disney blind spot in my Disney fandom, The Mickey Mouse Club.  I really am not of an age where the Club was readily available to me in any form including the pop-stars to be version on the Disney Channel.  So when it comes to Mouseketeers I have a lot to learn.

The Accidental Mouseketeer: Before and After the Mickey Mouse Club by Lonnie Burr discusses Burr’s life as an original Mousketeer and beyond.  Burr details his early life, his time on The Mickey Mouse Club and his post Mousey years in television, film and theater.  Burr’s life comes across not as one defined by Disney, but one of a professional and working actor and writer in the theater, movies and television.  So while this 365 page book does discuss and reflect on Burr’s time working for Disney and the legacy it has left, there is even more material on Burr’s other endeavors including social and intellectual life.  The book is illustrated throughout the text with photos of Burr's numerous productions and private life. 

Burr is first and foremost honest.  He shares his perspective on what being a success at a young age meant for his adult years.  Burr also shares his thoughts on incidents where Disney abused him and his fellow Mousketeers.  He pulls no punches and often shares names.  But beyond professional life he shares his honest thoughts and opinions on love and sex, Hollywood and philosophy.  He truly opens up his entire self to his readers.  

Burr’s autobiography is not a book that many parents would want to share with young children who are Disney fans.  He does detail his romantic life in depth including discussions of his sexual partners.  Burr does not hold back and describes his philosophy behind relationships, which allows you to look into his heart and soul but is not always kid friendly.  And Burr clearly wrote his autobiography with adult audience in mind.  Some Disney fans hoping for a description of working with Disney as rainbows and unicorns will be sorely disappointed as he pulls no punches with mature audience.  

Other Mouseketeers have described Burr as the intellectual one.  And it is not out of the ordinary for Burr to make reference to European philosophers and ancient poets.  Burr writes with a big picture in mind making his transitions not always flow.  For example he mentions his wife Diane several times before really introducing his readers to her.  Additionally he might discuss an event in the 1950’s working on Mickey Mouse Club and jump in the same paragraph to a play from the 1970s.  For some this could slow the reading pace.  But then this text is a slow read due to the sheer comprehensive picture of his life that Burr provides.  

Mousketeer fans will find Burr’s book a must have Between Book.  But it honestly may not be a good fit for everyone!  Burr shares all of himself from a detailed account of his life, to his opinions and his personal perspective of others.  Further he shows the impersonal side of the Disney Company looking for the economical path.  The Accidental Mouseketeer: Before and After the Mickey Mouse Club is more than a Disney book but a chronicle of one Mouseketeer’s saga as an entertainment professional. 

Note: For those who wish to sample this title and are Kindle Unlimited members this title along with many other Theme Park Press books are included in the service for borrowing.  

Review Copy Provided by Theme Park Press