The Mouse Factory (found Disney live-action/animated TV series; 1972-1973)
The Mouse Factory was a television series produced by Walt Disney Productions, airing for two seasons between January 26th, 1972 and March 5th, 1973. The show was created by Disney animator Ward Kimball for syndicated television.[1]
Premise
The Mouse Factory combines various live-action and animated segments, with a different theme and celebrity host per episode. These celebrity guests, known as "Mickey's Friend" in the show, interacted with classic Disney characters and tied in various short films and clips of feature films, mainly by Disney themselves. The show took place at a "factory" at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.[2]
Some episodes included more basic plots, such as an episode about Mickey Mouse's early career, while others were more elaborate, such as an episode about sports, where host Charles Nelson Reilly was a referee at Goofy's basketball game and shown at a horse race betting on the wrong horse.[3]
Some of the celebrity hosts featured on the show include Phyllis Diller, Don Knotts, Annette Funicello, Jim Backus, Jonathan Winters, Shari Lewis, Jo Anne Worley, Kurt Russell, and Harry Morgan.[2]
Availability
Due to the The Mouse Factory being largely forgotten and airing at a time when consumer VCRs were rare, many episodes of the show remain lost to this day. Out of the 43 episodes produced over the two seasons of the show, only four full episodes are available online, with various assorted clips from various episodes. A vinyl record based on the show was also produced by Disneyland Records in 1972, which is archived online and available for purchase on Amazon.[4]
The show did air various re-runs on the Disney Channel during the 80s and 90s,[5] meaning it is possible that someone recorded episodes of The Mouse Factory via this method.
Episode Status
Season 1
# | Episode Title | Host | Airdate | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Vacations" | Charles Nelson Reilly | Jan 26th, 1972 | Found |
2 | "Women’s Lib" | JoAnne Worley | Feb 2nd, 1972 | Found |
3 | "Folk Tale Favorites" | Johnny Brown | Feb 9th, 1972 | Found |
4 | "Spooks and Magic" | Phyllis Diller | Feb 16th, 1972 | Found |
5 | "Physical Fitness" | Don Knotts | Feb 23rd, 1972 | Found |
6 | "The Great Outdoors" | Dom DeLuise | Mar 1st, 1972 | Found |
7 | "Water Sports" | Joe Flynn | Mar 8th, 1972 | Found |
8 | "Man at Work" | John Byner | Mar 15th, 1972 | Found |
9 | "Music" | Skiles and Henderson | Mar 22nd, 1972 | Found |
10 | "Interplanetary Travel" | Jonathan Winters | Mar 29th, 1972 | Found |
11 | "Homeowners" | Jim Backus | April 5th, 1972 | Found |
12 | "Spectator Sports" | Charles Nelson Reilly | April 12th, 1972 | Partially Found |
13 | "Horses" | JoAnne Worley | April 19th, 1972 | Lost |
14 | "Aviation" | Johnny Brown | April 26th, 1972 | Lost |
15 | "Back to Nature" | Wally Cox | May 3rd, 1972 | Lost |
16 | "Bullfighting to Bullfrogs" | Pat Buttram | May 10th, 1972 | Lost |
17 | "Sports" | Pat Paulsen | May 17th, 1972 | Found |
Season 2
# | Episode Title | Host | Airdate | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Alligators" | Johnny Brown | Sept 11th, 1972 | Lost |
2 | "Paul Bunyan" | Jim Backus | Sept 18th, 1972 | Lost |
3 | "Bullfighting" | Bill Dana | Sept 25th, 1972 | Lost |
4 | "Knighthood" | Henry Gibson | Oct 2nd, 1972 | Found |
5 | "Pluto" | John Astin | Oct 9th, 1972 | Found |
6 | "Goliath II" | Kurt Russell | Oct 16th, 1972 | Found |
7 | "The Mouse Show" | Dave Madden | Oct 23rd, 1972 | Lost |
8 | "Cats" | Shari Lewis and Hush Puppy | Oct 30th, 1972 | Partially Found |
9 | "Ben Franklin" | Wally Cox | Nov 6th, 1972 | Lost |
10 | "Mickey Mouse" | Annette Funicello | Nov 13th, 1972 | Found |
11 | "Lions" | Henry Gibson | Nov 20th, 1972 | Lost |
12 | "Consciences" | Harry Morgan | Nov 27th, 1972 | Lost |
13 | "Noah’s Ark" | Bill Dana | Dec 4th, 1972 | Lost |
14 | "Hunting" | John Astin | Dec 11th, 1972 | Found |
15 | "Sports" | Nipsey Russell | Dec 18th, 1972 | Lost |
16 | "Tugboats" | Dave Madden | Dec 25th, 1972 | Lost |
17 | "Automobiles" | Ken Berry | Jan 1st, 1973 | Lost |
18 | "Trains" | Harry Morgan | Jan 8th, 1973 | Lost |
19 | "Homes" | Jim Backus | Jan 15th, 1973 | Lost |
20 | "The Reluctant Dragon" | Wally Cox | Jan 22th, 1973 | Found |
21 | "Wheels" | Johnny Brown | Jan 29th, 1973 | Lost |
22 | "Winter Fun" | Kurt Russell | Feb 5th, 1973 | Partially Lost (1 2) |
23 | "Penguins" | Annette Funicello | Feb 12th, 1973 | Partially Found |
24 | "Elephants" | Nipsey Russell | Feb 19th, 1973 | Lost |
25 | "Mickey and the Beanstalk" | Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop | Feb 26th, 1973 | Found |
26 | "Dancing" | Ken Berry | Mar 5th, 1973 | Found |
Gallery
See Also
Mickey Mouse
- The Search for Mickey Mouse (unfinished Disney animated film; 2002)
- Short Subject aka "Mickey Mouse in Vietnam" (found unofficial animated short film; 1968)
- Mickey's Man Friday (partially found production material of unproduced remake; 1939-1941)
- Minnie Takes Care of Pluto (found original English audio of Mickey Mouse Works animated short; 2000)
- Epic Mickey 3 (lost production material for cancelled video game sequel; 2010s)
- Walt Disney physical performance as Mickey Mouse (lost animation reference footage; late 1930s)
Disney Channel
- 101 Dalmatians: The Series (partially found unaired pilot episode of Disney animated TV series; 1996)
- Amazing Animals (found Disney Channel animated educational series; 1996-1999)
- Arwin! (partially found pilot of cancelled spin-off of "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" Disney Channel sitcom; 2007)
- Bonkers "Fall Apart Bomb Squad" (found episode of Disney Channel animated series; 1993)
- Country Club (partially found test pilot of "Big City Greens" Disney Channel adventure-comedy animated series; 2015)
- Disney Channel Interactive (lost Dish Network game channel; late 2000s)
- Disney Channel "Disney's One Too" (partially lost "Recess" gags of TV channel block; 1999-2003)
- Disney's Coyote Tales (found Disney Channel extended version of "The Coyote's Lament" animated short; 1991)
- Disney's Doug (found episodes of animated TV series; 1996-1999)
- Dreamfinders (unproduced Disney Channel series based on "Journey Into Imagination" Epcot ride; 1983)
- Dumbo's Circus (partially found Disney Channel live action puppet series; 1985-1986)
- Fish Hooks (partially found unreleased pilot of Disney Channel animated series; 2009)
- Going Wild with Jeff Corwin (partially found Disney Channel documentary series; 1997-1999)
- Gravity Falls (found Comic Con 2012 promo of Disney Channel animated mystery comedy series; 2012)
- Gravity Falls (found pitch pilot of Disney Channel animated mystery comedy series; 2010)
- Hannah Montana (lost production material of cancelled anime adaptation of Disney Channel teen sitcom; 2009-2010)
- Herbie the Lovebug (lost Disney Channel animated pilot; late 1990s-2000s)
- Katbot (partially found unreleased Disney Channel animated series; 2005)
- Lizzie McGuire "Season 3" (lost production material of unfinished season of Disney Channel comedy series; 2020)
- Mousercise (partially found Disney Channel exercise series; 1983-1996)
- Mouseterpiece Theater (partially found Disney Channel cartoon compilation series; 1983-1990)
- Pepper Ann (partially found unaired Nickelodeon pilot of Disney animated series; 1996)
- Phineas and Ferb (lost script of cancelled theatrical film based on animated series; 2010s)
- Phineas and Ferb: Shooting Star Milkshake Bar (partially found full version of song; late 2000s)
- Phineas and Ferb: Spot the Diff (found Disney Channel animated special; 2008)
- Recess "The Break In" (partially found pilot of Disney animated TV series; 1996)
- Star and the Forces of Evil (partially found unaired pitch pilot of Disney Channel animated series; 2011)
- Talespin (lost Phil Harris audio recordings from Disney Channel animated series; 1990)
- Teen Angel (partially found Disney Channel serial drama; 1989)
- The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (partially found revival of Disney variety TV series; 1989-1994)
- The Jersey (partially lost Disney Channel sports themed comedy series; 1999-2004)
- The Owl House (partially found unaired pilot of Disney Channel animated series; 2017)
- The Proud Family (partially lost unaired Nickelodeon pilot of Disney Channel animated sitcom; 1999)
- Welcome to Pooh Corner (partially found Disney Channel live-action puppet series; 1983-1986)
- What's Stevie Thinking? (lost unaired pilot of cancelled spin-off of "Lizzie McGuire" Disney Channel comedy series; 2003)
Playhouse Disney
- Adventures in Nutrition with Captain Carlos (partially found Playhouse Disney animated short series; 2004-2007)
- Bear in the Big Blue House "Water, Water Everywhere" (lost unaired pilot of Disney Channel puppet series; 1997)
- Bear in the Big Blue House (partially lost original English audio of Playhouse Disney puppet series; 1997-2006)
- Breakfast with Bear (partially found episodes of Playhouse Disney spin-off series; 2005-2006)
- Handy Manny (partially found unaired pilot of Playhouse Disney CGI animated series; 2005)
- Little Einsteins (lost second pitch pilot of Playhouse Disney animated series; existence unconfirmed; 2004)
- Out of the Box (partially lost Playhouse Disney children's series; 1998-2004)
- PB&J Otter (partially found original credits sequences of Playhouse Disney animated series; 1998-2000)
- Playhouse Disney UK (partially lost interstitial material of children's TV channel; 1999-2006)
- Stanley (found unaired pilot episode of Playhouse Disney animated series; 1999)
- The Book of Pooh (found Playhouse Disney puppet series; 2001-2004)
Disney Junior
- Beverly Hills Chihuahuas (found pilot of cancelled Disney Junior animated adaptation of film series; 2012)
- Jungle Junction (lost pilots of Disney Junior CGI animated series; 2003; 2005; 2008)
Toon Disney
- Teamo Supremo (partially lost Toon Disney animated series; 2002-2004)
- Toon News (partially found CGI Interstitial Toon Disney series; 2004/2005)
Disney XD
- Billion Dollar Freshmen (lost unaired pilot episode of "Lab Rats" Disney XD live-action comedy TV series; 2010)
- DXP (partially found Disney XD video game block; 2017)
- Power Rangers Animated Series (lost Disney XD pilot of animated adaptation of live-action superhero series; existence unconfirmed; 2007-2009)
Other
- Green Monkeys (lost Disney pilot; 1999)
- La Chambre Folle (lost French Disney children's TV block; 1998)
- Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers (found English dub of anime series; 2015)
- Robodz (lost Disney Toei animated TV series; 2008)
- The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show (found episodes of Disney animated TV series; 1995)
- X-Heart (partially found unreleased English dub of "X-Coração" Brazilian animated TV series; 2014)
External Links
References
- ↑ Mice Chat article featuring info on The Mouse Factory. Retrieved 23 May '21
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nostalgia Central page on The Mouse Factory. Retrieved 23 May '21
- ↑ Colin LooksBack's video "Lost Media: Disney Theme Parks Edition!", featuring info on The Mouse Factory. Retrieved 23 May '21
- ↑ Amazon page for The Mouse Factory vinyl album. Retrieved 24 May '21
- ↑ World Heritage Encyclopedia page on The Mouse Factory. Retrieved 23 May '21