Francis Flute!!

[Lesleyluvdisney]

Hi folks!!

Ths is a long shot, but for all regular visitors to WDW overthe past few years. Does ANYONE remember Francis Flute from MGM he was a street performer, and did warm up before Fantasmic, he was there '99-'00 time. We were watching an old playback and found a recording of this warmup before Fantasmic - god I nearly cried laughing!!!

Les
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[CJ]

We were there in 2000 and saw the best guy before Fantasmic... he said his name was Francis (no mention of Flute though). He did a whole bit with the kids in the audience, can't remember exactly what, but had them all enthralled for ages...

With the whole audience, he did this spiel:

Everybody say, hey Francis!!!! (to which we all replied, Hey Francis!!)
To which he responded: Hello people I do not know!!

On paper, so lame..... but he was so intentionally nerdy and oh so great during that loooooong wait!!

 

[Lesleyluvdisney]

Hi CJ,

Thank you so much for replying. I no his name is Flute because we met him on Sunset Boulevard doing a sketch and I had to "Audition" with him. He then gave us his resume. We went to Fantasmic 4 times that year, and cried with laughter each time!!!

It is one of my fondest memories of the world! I dont think hes there now, as everytime we return we look out for him.

thanks

Les
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[sunking]

I don't specifically remember the name of the person, but I remember a CM that would entertain the Fantasmic crowd ahead of the show as well. If I recall correctly, he would do things like walk down the steps of the ampitheather on his hands and got the crowd chanting different things. Is this Francis?

 

[JRawkSteady]

I rememebr back before that, there used to be two guys...it was sort of an acrobatic act. It stinks that they have no pre-show now. Two hours in an ampitheatre can get boring...

 

[Lesleyluvdisney]

No the guy who walked on his hands wasnt francis, I remember him though!

Was that the guys who were supposed to work for the power company? They were good too. But Francis was the best, he wore a brown plaid/tartan/check suit with a hat, he also had glasses. We didn't do fantastmic when we were last there is 2004, but is that right - they have no warm-up? - that's no good!!

 

[ImprovGal]

Francis Floot from Bucksnort, AL is still over at Studios Streetmosphere. I think he's hilarious! Ask to see his family scrapbook album.

There is also a Francis/Frankie who is a Hollywood Public Works guy. He's really funny, too!

I make it a point to pop over to Studios just to catch a bunch of Streetmosphere shows -- their schedule is mostly in the afternoon and *usually* has the Citizens of Hollywood out on the hour and the Hollywood Public Works guys out on the half hour. However, it's always subject to change and depending on how many people are there on a given day, some oddball schedule things can happen (e.g. a Hollywood Dating Game with 3 Public Works guys as the bachelors).

Don't miss them! They're all fantastic (not just Francis)!

 

[Lesleyluvdisney]

Thanks improvgal!!

They are all hilarious, but I think because I done a "sketch" with Francis he'll always have a place in my heart I cant believe hes still there I'll try and catch him when I go back in September!!

many thank-yous!

Les
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[LtlTee]

We saw Francis in 2004. He is the best, and created one of my best Disney memories.
My daughter, almost 15 at the time, was becoming a real pain -- she had decided that she was too cool for Disney and was becoming a real pain in the...well, you know where.
We came upon Francis and he interacted with my daughter and neice for about 10-15 minutes. The girls were laughing so hard they were crying. One of my favorite pictures from that trip is the three of them.

We saw him again last year when we went in May also.

 

[Lesleyluvdisney]

Oh my god - yes that's him!!! He is the funniest person on the planet, I'm soo glad hes still there, will try and dig out my picture with him.

Thanks so much to everyone for responding, I said to my partner, no-one will reply!!!

Right I'm away to watch my tape again, need a laugh!!!
Les
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[sunny04]

We saw him in October! We missed the very beginning so we didn't know his name, but he was hilarious! He was doing a whole Wizard of Oz story and was on the phone with his "mama" that everyone had to talk to. It was one of the funniest things we've seen at WDW!

 

[ES0412]

Oh, he was there in Dec when we went and we actually stalked him for awhile because he was just too funny!

We saw him in the Dating Game and then again with Dolly Hollywood and I don't think she knew exactly what he was going to say because she was laughing as hard as everyone else!

It seems like he's been there for quite awhile, I hope he hangs around until May.

 

[joshsmom]

I hope he hangs around until May.

I hope so too!! I don't think we've ever seen him, but now I'm really curious!! Next thing you know, he's going to have all these people in Lime Green shirts following him around waiting for him to do something funny!!!!

 

[Francis Floot]

Hiya friends! This is Francis from the Disney MGM STudios! I stumbled across this SWELL site today and I am just so excited to see that my silliness has earned some attention. I am more pleased to see that it made so many people's day! What a joy!

I wanted to join up here so that I could answer whatever questions that you might have about us here in Hollywood. We are out auditioning for movie roles right now, but will be back in a week or so...with a whole bunch of NEW Citizens for you to meet!

I am also available at makmlaff at the yahoo site. Feel free to contact me there as well!

Thanks a heap for all your kind words and such. It truly made my day! I feel so happy.

 

[Lesleyluvdisney]

Hay Francis!!


How are You?

It was me who started the thread, I met you on my first vist to WDW and you've remained my besst fave thing about my trips , 7 trips later, never been able to top it!!! YOU ARE A STAR!!!!

I actually cried my 2nd visit when I went and you werent there at the at fantasmic warm up!!

I really did wait and wait for years to see you up on the big screen, i aid to fiancee "that boy will make it big" coming back sept 06 for honey moon hope to see u

love
Les
xxx

 

[Straitlover]

I saw Francis this past Dec. he was in a sketch w/ the "old" movie star actress. His mama was a big fan of the actress, and she and a park guest acted out a big scene from one of her movies while Francis read the script. It was great!!!

 

[Francis Floot]

Dear Les,

Your kind words make me feel very happy and confident! I am so appreciative of your support. I truly, truly am.

I miss those fun days when I was in Fantasmis doing the warm up. So far, those were my favorite times in Hollywood! But, they cancelled my shows because they said too many people were sitting and listening to me instead of "buying stuff!" They did a test and discovered that the merchandise kids' sales numbers went down considerably on the evenings that I was on. So, they booted me out. There's been talk here and there about bringing me back in, but, without the outcry from millions of folks, it will never happen I imagine. Believe it or not, I never saw a tape of any of my performances in there! Would it be a lot to ask to see a copy of yours? That sure would be swell if you could!

So, I continue to beat the streets of Hollywood in search of my next big break! I don't mind that so much.

Thanks for all your support. I truly appreciate it. I look forward to meeting you and your new husband in September! You'll both ahve the chance to meet all the brand new Citizens of Hollywood who just moved to town!

Best,

Francis Floot

 

[mousemaniac]

Hi Francis. Someone linked this discussion to me because we actually live in Bucksnort, AL (your home town). How long has it been since you've left the town. We are going to be comin' to Disney (Hollywood) the third week in March and would love to look up a fellow Bucksnortian. We will be travellin' with two families, including the "honorary" Mayor of Bucksnort. (Actually he's no longer the honorary Mayor since he left his Mayonaise farm for the big city of Montgomery).

Cris

 

[Francis Floot]

Cris,

All of us Citizens of Hollywood have been out of town for the past month. However...it's your lucky day! Looks like we are arriving back to town just in time for you to meet us all! We return to the streets of Hollywood on March the 8th. There are a lot of new faces for you to meet as well. It'll be nice for them to meet some folks from my hometown!

Thanks for writing!

Best,

Francis Floot

 

[Lesleyluvdisney]

Hay Francis!!

Les here!!! OK starting my campaign today to get you back on B4 Fantasmic!! Will send you a copy of show if you like. I'll send it to MGM, and hopefully they'll pass it on..Really do hope to see you in September. i'm all STAR-STRUCK now!!

Keep smiling

Les
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