Mickey Mouse Club: "I Want to Be a Fireman"

Now presenting the Firehouse Five Plus Two Plus the Mouseketeers in "I Want to a Fireman" and "Tiger Rag."

[@pattibrooks1907]

I used to watch The Mickey Mouse Club as a kid in the 60s when it first was on

[@johnnyfreeman9494]

My brother wanted to be a fireman and he did become one. When he heard this song on The Mickey Mouse Club he fell in love with it. R.I.P. my brother Don (1943-2003).

[@donnajeans4987]

I miss him and Billy too.

[@libertyann439]

What an amazing band! Little Cubby on the drums!

[@piacabanero1129]

This is one of my favorite skits, what with the lively direction and great music. Also, she may not have the best voice (Mary and Lonnie did have on here), yet Bonni - the tall one - was pretty great at 3:59 with her solo (and the distinctive bending of her knees while singing) and later in the Tiger Rag dance.

[@fromthesidelines]

This was filmed at the beginning of the first season, and seen in late 1955. The Firehouse Five Plus Two began as a lunchtime diversion for some of the Disney animators {fronted by Ward Kimball}, and developed into a genuine touring band. They played at Disneyland whenever they could, and were one of the first "guest stars" to appear on "THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB" (for obvious reasons).

[@JoeKaye-hn5dt]

I clearly remember this show - first run. I was like, 5 (and as usual, so effing depressed [3 older brothers already in HS]). My mom was watching and loved this. It was much clearer on an old time 12" TV screen with crisp local reception. Some m'sketeers here were one season - only, like Bonnie & Mary.

[@JayRaphaelJiaoInot]

Sharon's face is like, "Who's got my sweatshirt?"

[@studioorlando]

Nice to see the Disney animators in this episode.....the firehouse five.

[@pardyhardly]

I love how it melts into total chaos at the end.

[@storyjan]

Well, the original Mickey Mouse Club WAS filmed in the 1950s. That is to be expected from a program that predates the Civil Rights movement in America. The show did, however, feature some very talented young black performers in the Talent Round-Up Day segments. As I go through my tapes, I'll try to post them. Incidentally, Billy 'Pop' Attmore was the first black mouseketeer in the 1970s. I'm sure some videos of him will turn up soon!

[@MrJgohde]

No sweaty costume for Lonnie to complain about in this skit.

[@jamescowley6195]

love this, never even know this exist . thanks for posting this, I play it over and over again

[@mewxshecka]

wow thank you for posting this. I am a very obessed disney freak with the nine old men and i have been interested to hear there music for soo long. I believe a couple of them are in the group. Is that frank thomas on the piano??? Anyways what a classic sound, being raised in this time for music must have been awesome ten times better than anything nowadays i think ^_^

[@fromthesidelines]

This was originally telecast as a "Guest Star Day" segment on December 27, 1955.

[@tzkelley]

Starting at 2:30 Mark looks at Doreen like he's thinking "who told her she could sing?" I don't think he realized he was on camera!

[@morna45]

Really cute, and really early Mouseketeer. You get to meet all the minor Mouseketeers along with the Majors. : )

[@fromthesidelines]

In the fall of 1958, 'boyd', the show went into edited repeats, with "WALT DISNEY'S ADVENTURE TIME" [showcasing repeats of the "CLUB" serials] alternating on Tuesdays and Thursdays, until the entire "package" went off ABC in September 1959.

[@fromthesidelines]

Yes, the Firehouse Five gang- and the Mouseketeers- were actually performing while this was being filmed (note that Karen pauses to catch her breath at 3:19).

[@mewxshecka]

really? Awesome, he was one of my favorite animators.

[@jasobres]

I can tell this is from their later years because George Probert is playing the soprano saxophone in the band.

[@jasobres]

Yes and Ward Kimball, the leader of the group, on the trombone.

[@redmorgankidd]

Awesome video! Although it's weird to see Ward without his trademark glasses.

[@9aspengold5]

thank you for the information.

[@danielboone3770]

An episode I haven't seen won Disney +. I wish I could though.

[@ideagirlconsulting]

sweet to watch good ole tv.

[@thebradybunchlover]

@Carthrage they are acually playing no tapes i bet it was A LOT of fun on the mickey mouse club.

[@MrJgohde]

So this is where women first got the idea that they should be firemen, bossing men around?

[@domitype]

There is a very good article about the Firehouse 5+2 on the Mouseplanet website - search for: The Secret Origin of the Firehouse Five Plus Two I grew up watching that show (liked it a bit more than "Howdy-Doody") and many years later I am still playing Dixieland tuba! Firehouse 5 must have influenced me a lot...

[@Fruth37]

@jtco3 Lena Horne was 38 years old when the MMC started in 1955.

[@fromthesidelines]

Her name was Mary Espinosa.

[@jasobres]

Also Dick Roberts is playing banjo instead of Harper Goff.

[@fromthesidelines]

Why did the original "MICKEY MOUSE CLUB" go off the air, 'boyd'? Well, it was a matter of "economics" on ABC's part- by 1957, they insisted on the series being cut from an hour to a half-hour format that fall, and "cramming" the show with more commercials, which Walt Disney objected to. That '57-'58 season was the last one produced with the original cast.

[@forthelostboys]

i love darlene

[@donnajeans4987]

Mike can sing very good for a boy his age.

[@craigmusic1707]

I've seen a few black performers on Disney (I've also wondered whether Mary was black!) and they were presented with dignity, especially for the times. These fellas are blowing like crazy, it got me to wondering, did these guys play for "the Aristocats" and "The Jungle Book"?

[@JainaMac]

How funny that Mark is so obsessed with hitting his! I keep trying to read the name of the little girl next to him. Bron-something. Bronson? Bronwen?

[@mafer99]

Doreen is my favorite.

[@donnajeans4987]

She was one of my favorites too.

[@michaelmorgan9824]

Yes she was one of the best!

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

@@michaelmorgan9824 3:17 Karen totally fluffed her lines, but they left it in as they thought it was "cute".

[@ninaquach1974]

Why jimme and darlene and Sharon just do a angry face

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

It scares me and creeps me out that they were doing angry faces. What was the purpose of that?

[@thebradybunchlover]

too bad Darlene didnt get a solo she was my favorite!

[@67classical]

She sang in the introduction with Jimmie

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

@@67classical 3:18 Karen totally fluffed her lines, but they left it in as they thought it was "cute". Also squeaky Annette should have got booted up the ass off the set and Darlene should do her solo instead.

[@JainaMac]

Sorry, I found it myself online--Bronson.

[@9aspengold5]

Didn't "Cubby" eventually play drums for "The Carpenters"??? once Karen took center-stage as the lead singer??

[@jtco3]

@Fruth37 I think that Mary girl is black just really light skined like Lena Horn

[@jtco3]

@Fruth37 I'm not saying she was Lena Horn i was comparing her to lena Horn cuz of her light skin

[@sorabrown]

karen is preety

[@apple-rm2ym]

Pervert

[@colindominy]

This is classic stuff !! Sooo Good .. despite what idiots like Fruth37 may ever say ...

[@cathylee2120]

gg

[@JayRaphaelJiaoInot]

8:20

[@colindominy]

@Fruth37 : nor yours. Look at the weight of YT comments in advocacy of this clip .. you're out-voted ...

[@David_Theisen]

nothing is wrong with rock i'm explaining that before rock was born the young people back then had the blues and jazz and swing to entertain themselves. i'm stating a fact. i'm not patronizing u! the problem with rock is Modern rock and the pop rock on the radios and mtv! most of it is a joke! except for Wolfmother and Jet

[@mymellofello]

I am with you Fruth37- I want to know why there are no republicans and why they ignore totally President Bush one and two. Racists for sure!

[@oiudatropen9548]

WTF?

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

@@oiudatropen9548 3:18 Karen totally fluffed her lines, but they left it in as they thought it was "cute".