Wally Boag/Betty Taylor Tribute report (with pics)

[DizMe]

I was lucky enough to get to attend the recent memorial tribute to Wally Boag and Betty Taylor, stars of the Golden Horseshoe Review for many years. They died one day apart this past June, both 91 years old.

One very cool thing about the tribute is that it also included Fulton Burley, who died 4 years ago and was the 3rd member of this Disney Legend trio.

Our invitation said to check in at the GCH, so my daughter and I headed over early where we met a fellow DISer-- lcasa-- the other member of our party. There was some initial confusion as the people at the hotel did not seem to know anything about where to check in etc, but we figured it out on our own when we stumbled upon the Conference Center . Since no one else was there yet, we took the opportunity to refresh ourselves in the Hearthstone Lounge . When we went back, they'd begun checking people in and we were given nice, sparkly wrist bands and directed to a big reception room where they had a very nice spread laid out for us!




lcasa and me:


I had the chance to meet some interesting people, including Bob Gurr (created Matterhorn, Monorail, submarines, etc)
lcasa, Bob Gurr, DD, me:

and Katherine Beaumont, the voice of Alice (in Wonderland) and Wendy (Peter Pan)
lcasa, Katherine, me, DD:


My friend, Laurence Boag (Wally's son) had given me some old name tags that had been his Dad's so we all wore one! It garnered us some attention and was a good conversation piece. You can see the tags in our pictures. DD and I had staff tags and lcasa's was made like an E ticket with Wally's name on it.

It was so fun to talk to the people at the reception, which was primarily other Legends and family members! Robert Sherman (I think that was his name...one of the Sherman brothers, anyway) was there but I didn't get a picture. We felt very special and quite underdressed . Had I only known...I would have packed something nicer than a jeans skort!!

 

[nunzia]

I also was super lucky enough to attend..no photos uploaded yet to share, but it was a great show! I have to say that, although I always knew Wally Boag and Betty Taylor were classic entertainers, I didn't know how truly wonderful they were until this show..what amazing talents and Wally Boag was a hoot!

 

[DizMe]

After the reception, the true VIPs were taken in a shuttle to the tribute. The rest of us were given park tickets, escorted to the DL turnstiles and then over to the Thunder Ranch area of the park. As we walked past this long, long line of people by the Mark Twain steamship, I asked my dd what ride they would wait in line so long to go on and then we realized they were lined up to get into the tribute! We felt even more special getting escorted right into the Festival Arena. Our seats were right up front, center!! The only couple of rows ahead of us were reserved for family. It was all done up to look like the Golden Horseshoe and had 2 giant video screens on either side of the stage.

I took this picture from my seat, so you can see it was a nice spot!


We were there early so it looks empty; however, all the seats filled up.

lcasa and dd before the tribute:


The emcee was a former Wally Boag substitute in the shows, but I don't remember his name:


They began the show with cancan dancers and cowboy skits




They played lots of video clips of Wally, Betty, and Fulton. It was sooooo fun to see it in color and up on a giant screen!!

 

[DizMe]

nunzia, I wish we could have met up!!

The tribute was divided into 4 'acts' and included pieces for each of the legends being remembered.

George Kalogridis, President of Disneyland, was introduced and gave a nice speech:

Then they presented a special copy of the tribute award to the family members that were present. The tribute award will hang from now in in the Golden Horseshoe theater and features Fulton, Wally, and Betty. We were given a little cardboard copy as we left the tribute.


My secret (ok, not so secret) hope was that Steve Martin would be there! Unfortunately, he was out of the country but he sent a very moving video tribute that had everyone (including himself!) smiling and then tearing up. He detailed how Wally Boag had been his mentor and credited Wally with teaching him his own brand of comedic skills including timing and keeping things fresh.

 

[DizMe]

Finally, the show concluded with a shout-out to former cast members who had participated in the shows, including band members, comedians, and can-can girls. The can-can girls wore pink boas and had little bags that said "Can Can Club" on them, which was pretty cool. Several famous Disney people were acknowledged, including some sitting near us, like Bobby the Mouseketeer. I have to admit that if it hadn't been for lcasa, I would not have known any of them by sight! Thanks to her, I got to introduce myself and have conversations with those people in my pictures.

As a final wrap-up to the tribute, they brought the former cast members up onto the stage to sing the Golden Horseshoe song. I was happily watching people go up on stage when I was grabbed out of the audience by one of the women in charge of the tribute and directed to the stage!! I tried telling her that I was a nobody but she just told me to get up on stage, and who am I to turn down the chance to be a star ?

Who is that unknown woman in the jeans skort?? Me, Dizme!!




The band began to play and we were singing the Golden Horseshoe song when I realized two things: (a), I did not actually know the Golden Horseshoe song, and (b) these are cancan dancers I'm with. I was praying for all I was worth that we wouldn't have to follow the song with a chorus line kick or something. BUT...then I noticed the teleprompter, from which point I could sing the real words, and all of the people around me were super nice and did not mind at all that I was just some woman pulled up accidentally. I guess it was an accident, but maybe my Wally Boag name tag did it!! We did not end up having to do a chorus line thing so I relaxed and enjoyed my brief moment of fun. My dd videotaped it, though you weren't supposed to record anything, and if you'd like to see it here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJVuDVu6Oto

 

[BillyFan]

How awsome is that! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Club33forme]

Thank you so much, I was unable to be there and your report has been the first I have read about the tribute so far. I had seen Wally and Betty's show a few times when I was very young and I will never forget them. I copied Wally's Pecos bit to a tee, I can still spit the teeth and twirl my gun like the master but could never do his backflips.

I miss them both already. What a great teem.

Thanks again.

 

[skiingfast]

Thank you for a very touching and quick TR, of a very special event.

 

[DizMe]

I wish my scanner was working. I would include a copy of the tribute award that's going to hang in the Golden Horseshoe.

I forgot to mention that there was a live band and that the dancers were amazing. The emcee seemed kind of nervous or maybe uncomfortable, but he obviously loved and respected Wally and Betty (and Fulton) and seemed to relax some as the tribute progressed. At one point he brought out Wally's famous carpet bag from the traveling salesman routine, pulling out items that Wally used to use in the show. This included a rubber chicken, guns, and the ever-famous navy beans, which he used to re-enact Wally's teeth spitting gag. He even handed a paddle (out of the carpet bag) to a man from the audience to hit beans back toward the band, but the man hit one and sat down. I thought that was unsportsmanlike!

club33forme, I am in awe of the fact that you know the whole schtick! How cool is that?! You can come to a party at my house and demonstrate

Thanks for viewing my TR and pics!

 

[Club33forme]

Sure, l would love to come pretend I am Wally for a while. he, he. If Lawrence is there I am sure I will get nervous and drop my shoot'n iron. You better practice Betty's part so we are ready.

Our little town celebrated its 100th Birthday this spring, I borrowed Wally's gags and act and performed his show June 4. The response was great as many people had never seen it. Little did I know Wally and Betty had passed away just hours before. I hope they watched my attempt. I told everyone all about Wally, Betty and Disneyland. I twirl my gun and throw it up behind my back and catch it once a day so I never forget how to do it. I saw Wally and Betty the first time when I was 8 years old, I am now 45 so that makes 13505 gun twirls and catch's. Just let me know when you want me to come visit, I will bring the beans.

 

[Disneyluvr2]

Thanks for posting the review and great photos Cheri!! I so wish I could have gone with you!! Please let me know when Club33forme is coming over to perform for you! I wanna be there to see the show too!!!

 

[DizMe]

Wow, Club33, that's amazing!!! Is Chico too far to come for a party ?? Nancy (disneyluvr2) and I could trade off as Slue Foot Sue and can-can dancer .

Seriously, my friends would LOVE it! Don't be intimidated by Laurence; he'd think it was a hoot!

Hey Nancy, I sure wish you could've come along, but maybe we can still get to the museum sometime with L and meet Diane! He should've told us about that with some advance notice

 

[Club33forme]

Distance is not a problem, available time is another story. I might be in Reno late October. That is not too far from Chico. I am hosting a little event at Club 33 in February, could head north after that. Sure would be fun to do Wally's shtick with a Slue Foot Sue and a Cancan dancer.

Just wondering if the MC at the tribute was Dick Hardwick? He took over as Pecos Bill after Wally retired in 1986.

 

[ssuriano]

Thanks for the report and pictures!

 

[jenpace]

How fun! Thanks for sharing

 

[DizMe]

Distance is not a problem, available time is another story. I might be in Reno late October. That is not too far from Chico. I am hosting a little event at Club 33 in February, could head north after that. Sure would be fun to do Wally's shtick with a Slue Foot Sue and a Cancan dancer.

Just wondering if the MC at the tribute was Dick Hardwick? He took over as Pecos Bill after Wally retired in 1986.

You know, I think that WAS the emcee's name!

I will PM you, club33! How fun would THAT be?? I have some friends who have a band... Oh my, my mind is just whirling with possibilities now!!