Do you know about Dis legend Wally Boag?

[DizMe]

He worked at Disneyland for many, many years. He was hugely popular at the Golden Horseshoe Revue (which got him into the Guinness Book of Records). He played a number of fun characters--Pecos Bill, Traveling Salesman--along with Betty Taylor and I think Fulton Burley?

He was the major influence for a very young Steve Martin, who worked at Disneyland at the time and would go watch Wally every chance he got to study his techniques and timing. Steve always credits Wally for teaching him about comedic timing, acrobatics and funny gags.

I don't remember him from my childhood days because we only went once a year and never, that I can recall, went to the Golden Horseshoe. I wish I had seen him. I do know his son, Laurence, who is a good friend of mine and has a ton of VERY interesting stories about those days and his own experiences working at DL. He was especially fond of the can-can girls at the Golden Horseshoe and, as he tells it, they were fond of him as well

Anyway, here is a pic.

 

[Tinkaboo]

Wow,sweet story...thanks for sharing! I'm sure I saw him perform at GH at some point in my early years. I do remember seeing the can-can girls...

 

[evilmommie]

Wonderful memories, @DizMe! My family and I watched Wally Boag & friends many times at the Golden Horseshoe, when I was growing up. That was one of my Dad’s favorite things to do while visiting the park. Such great entertainment!! He had retired by the time I started working at Disneyland in 1983. Wally is also the voice of Jose in the Tiki Room.

I walked into the Golden Horseshoe this past Weds and asked if they had any plans to bring any kind of entertainment back…no one had any idea. SAD!

 

[DizMe]

I wish they'd bring back some entertainment there! I loved Billy Hill and the Hillbillies . It's sad to just have an occasional piano player.

You worked at DL? That's so cool! What did you do?

 

[DizMe]

Wow,sweet story...thanks for sharing! I'm sure I saw him perform at GH at some point in my early years. I do remember seeing the can-can girls...

I wish I could remember if I saw him. I just don't know but I'm sure we went in the GH at some point. I probably saw Laurence, too! He worked in the magic shop, was Goofy, and skippered the Mark Twain. His dad had his own apartment in Disneyland and he used to get to stay over night sometimes! Isn't that every kid's dream?!

 

[evilmommie]

I wish they'd bring back some entertainment there! I loved Billy Hill and the Hillbillies . It's sad to just have an occasional piano player.

You worked at DL? That's so cool! What did you do?

They don’t even have the piano player anymore.

I worked in outdoor vending for 2 years, and fantasyland attractions for 4 years. HS and college.

 

[StarlitNight05]

I wish I could remember if I saw him. I just don't know but I'm sure we went in the GH at some point. I probably saw Laurence, too! He worked in the magic shop, was Goofy, and skippered the Mark Twain. His dad had his own apartment in Disneyland and he used to get to stay over night sometimes! Isn't that every kid's dream?!

That's amazing! I do know about Wally Boag but only because I'm a Disney history nerd...I wasn't in existence quite yet during his tenure.

I can only imagine what wonderful stories Laurence has. And yes, totally every kids dream to be able to sleep IN Disneyland!

 

[maleficent55]

That's amazing! I do know about Wally Boag but only because I'm a Disney history nerd...I wasn't in existence quite yet during his tenure.

I can only imagine what wonderful stories Laurence has. And yes, totally every kids dream to be able to sleep IN Disneyland!

Same. Know about him from my Disney nerdines!

Ahhhhh if I could sleep in Disneyland…where would I sleep?
The nursery in Peter Pan?
Maybe a cute little bed in Minnie’s House…or….??

 

[DizMe]

Same. Know about him from my Disney nerdines!

Ahhhhh if I could sleep in Disneyland…where would I sleep?
The nursery in Peter Pan?
Maybe a cute little bed in Minnie’s House…or….??

I wish I could have stayed in the Dream Suite! I have a friend who thought it would be cool to stay in the Haunted Mansion, but that would be a definite nope for me unless I was with a group

 

[crystal1313]

I know of him from the 50th anniversary box set of music. They have the whole show with him on that and I’ve listened to it countless times. He used to spit out chicklets gum as a bit where it was supposed to look like teeth right? I also know his voice is Jose in tiki room. Wish I could have seen his show. Sounded amazing!

I also really miss any form of entertainment at Golden Horseshoe. We sat upstairs last trip (we usually always go upstairs at least once in a trip) and it was so weird not to have anything going on. Billy hill and the hillbillies were my favorite. But even the last guy who played the piano and had dad jokes was great.

 

[DizMe]

He used to spit out chicklets gum as a bit where it was supposed to look like teeth right?

Laurence told me it was beans. He had a whole TON of them in his mouth and it was incredible how long he could keep spitting them out! There's a video clip of him doing it and wow, that was a long time ago. Cool that there was a whole band!

 

[StarlitNight05]

Same. Know about him from my Disney nerdines!

Ahhhhh if I could sleep in Disneyland…where would I sleep?
The nursery in Peter Pan?
Maybe a cute little bed in Minnie’s House…or….??

I have definitely thought about this often!

My top pick is the bed in Pirates (looks so comfy), but I would also love to just take over all of Snow White. Actually, I would take any of the Fantasyland dark rides!

 

[Pluto468]

Wow, I haven't heard of him but feel like I should have! That's so cool he inspired Steve Martin.

I, too, wish there was entertainment at the Gold Horseshoe! Billy Hill & The Hillbillies was my absolute favorite and I still remember all their gags and silly jokes. We watched them almost every visit, which was multiple time a month when I lived in CA. One of my favorites was when Billy noticed someone with a bread bowl: "You can eat the bowl. It's bread."

If I slept at Disneyland it would be in a fabulous turret room in the castle.

 

[DizMe]

Wow, I haven't heard of him but feel like I should have! That's so cool he inspired Steve Martin.

I, too, wish there was entertainment at the Gold Horseshoe! Billy Hill & The Hillbillies was my absolute favorite and I still remember all their gags and silly jokes. We watched them almost every visit, which was multiple time a month when I lived in CA. One of my favorites was when Billy noticed someone with a bread bowl: "You can eat the bowl. It's bread."

If I slept at Disneyland it would be in a fabulous turret room in the castle.

I loved BH&the Hillbillies! Once, on one of our Christmas trips, my sister and I got seats in one of the alcoves off the stage (not Walt's but the other one). Billy kept leering over at me and making me laugh. He sidled over and gave me that dirty grin and sang directly to me while everyone laughed because I was so embarrassed (but thrilled!!). My sister got some pictures; I'll have to see if I can dig one out later. Can't at the moment because my friend and I are about to go to Murphys for a few days. We're going to see Ringo