April 10, 2013: Jump, Jive and Wail.

Henry Morgan was born on his day in 1915. Morgan was Officer Bill Gannon on Dragnet (“Just the facts ma’am,” Joe Friday) and Col. Sherman T. Potter from M*A*S*H* (“Horsepuckey, Pierce). Morgan also starred in a number of Disney movies: The Barefoot Executive, Scandalous John, Snowball Express, Charly and the Angel, The Apple Dumpling Gang, The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again and The Cat From Outer Space. Morgan seemed to gravitate toward cops and military roles so let’s attend the flag retreat at The Magic Kingdom and honor, Henry Morgan and our Flag and Country.

On this date in 1927, Walt Disney delivered the first Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon, Poor Papa, to distributor Charles Mintz in New York. We love Oswald and I have often recounted to my students how Walt had to essentially start over when he lost the rights to his one famous character. You can get Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons in the Walt Disney Treasures series and you can get Oswald pins and ears so get your Oswald on and party on.

I once played drums in a rock band called Cold Ethyl. We were a three-piece outfit and we played a lot of songs by other three-piece outfits. One of those bands was the Stray Cats and we played their song, “Rock This Town,” a lot. Brian Setzer, bandleader and singer-guitarist for the Stray Cats was born on this day in 1959. Setzer and his orchestra have performed quite a bit for Disney including: “Everybody Wants to Be A Cat” for the 1996 Aristocats soundtrack, “I’m Only In It For the Honey” for The Country Bears, “Rockin’ at the House of Mouse” for House of Mouse and “Santa Drives A Hot Rod” for The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. Honor Setzer by going to the Hollywood Studios and partying with the House of Mouse.

Amanda Leigh Moore was born on this day in 1984. Amanda is a singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Honor Amanda by visiting her character at The Magic Kingdom. Tell Rapunzel hello and Happy Birthday Mandy Moore.

Quickies:

This is Safety Pin Day. The inventor of the safety pin sold the rights to his invention for $100.00. Wow, just wow.

ASPCA Day: Have a great day at the Animal Kingdom where there are all kinds of animals who get the best care possible.

1930: Synthetic Rubber was first produced. Try getting to Walt Disney World without tires. Seriously, it can’t be done.

1921: Chuck Connors: The Rifleman, Branded: What can you do when you’re branded? Chuck earned his role in The Rifleman after the producers took their kids to see the Disney film Ole Yeller, that, after they had previously passed him over.

1921: Sheb Wooley: It was a one-eyed, one-horn, flying purple people eater. You just have to love that song, it’s almost as good as, “Drop kick me Jesus, through the goal post of life.”

1989: Happy Birthday to Haley Joel Osment. I see… Bruce Willis. Does he still own part of Planet Hollywood? If he does, go there. (My kids will tell you how much I like Bruce.) You get a discount voucher with every stay on property.

Remember, your best excuse is always: waiting for your dreams to come true.