12 Best-Kept Secrets of the Original ‘Mickey Mouse Club’

Remember the beloved original Mickey Mouse Club? You may have caught all the episodes (or all the reruns!), but we bet you've never known these strange insider secrets about the show.

Casting directors looked for kids who weren't traditionally "cute" or too perfect-looking. In fact, Walt Disney specifically told them to go after "regular" kids--who didn't come with pushy stage mothers.

Shortly after Annette Funicello was hired, she approached Walt Disney and said she'd like to change her last name to something less ethnic. His answer was no.

Originally thought to be the most talented of the Mousketeers, Darlene Gillespie slowly gained a reputation for being jealous and difficult to work with. Her career later stalled, which led to several run-ins with the law.

Known as the "Accidental Mousketeer," Lonnie Burr first turned down Disney's offer to be on the show because didn't want to risk his already-established career. Then show producers called his mom, saying "If you don't accept our offer, your son will never work in this town again." He said yes.

Everyone knows Annette and Lonnie were sweethearts in real life, but not that he once gave her his ring on a chain as a gift--and her angry father made her return it! "If Joe’s looks could have killed, I would not have made it to age 13," Lonnie later said.

Band leader Jimmie Dodd was a talented musician and also a deeply religious man; some kids from the show later recalled that he frequently tried to teach them lessons about morality on set.

It was Big Mousketeer Roy Williams's idea for everyone on the show to wear the Mickey and Minnie Mouse ears--which most cast members totally hated.

Walt Disney wanted the kids to call him "Uncle Walt," but most just couldn't do it, preferring instead to call him "Mr. Disney" because it felt more respectful.

Producers first wanted an even boy-to-girl ratio, but because the boys were behind in emotional maturity, many were quickly let go for acting up--so girls soon took over.

For instance, young Timmy Rooney and his brother Mickey Rooney, Jr. were both canned after wreaking havoc in the studio's paint department.

Poor Dallas Johann, an original cast member, never made it past the promotional photo stage; he was fired because he cried whenever the cameras were focused on him.

A young Mousketeer named Paul Peterson lasted just three weeks before being fired for punching a casting director in the stomach; he later had a starring role on The Donna Reed Show.

NEXT: The first cast of the Mickey Mouse Club is iconic! Find out what they're up to today.

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