Story by Richard Ferrin
Well… I guess it’s my turn to weigh in on the return of Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade. But first my personal history with the parade…
I performed at Disneyland for many years in many capacities; Street performer, Show Character, Studio musician, in-park musician, parade performer and show performer in the Entertainment Department.
But my favorite Disneyland position was having been one of the original and one of the longest performing performers in the Main Street Electrical Parade as King Lion (The same basic character was also King Leonidas in the movie “Bedknobs and Broomsticks.”) riding in and performing in the calliope float.
At the time it was considered a stunt position, I had no restraints, no safety harness, no safety rails – just an open platform in a calliope, complete with functioning keyboard.
I wore a complete King Lion costume including tail. There were just a couple of metal handles on either side of the calliope that I would use to swing out of the float and conduct the music while waving to the wonderful Guests enjoying the parade!
Working with Costuming, I designed, and they provided, modifications to the costume including a special head strap that kept my head from flying off during my “acrobatics” and a modified tail harness that could take the pounding I gave the costume as I swung in and out of the float.
I also was fortunate enough to have also performed on Disneyland’s original real calliope when I played the same role in the day parade during the 25th Anniversary celebration of Disneyland.
After the (official) end of the Main Street Electrical Parade (and 2 other nighttime parades) over a few years, the Main Street Electrical Parade made a magical return to the Disneyland Resort. Only now it was parading around Disney’s California Adventure (as it was called then) and was renamed Disney’s Electrical Parade. My old role (played by younger Cast Members) was now a standard performer position, with added safety cable and harness, and removal of the tail – so no more swinging in and out of the float.
Then the parade was sent off to Walt Disney World. There were even special performances in New York for Disney events.
More recently the newest version “Paint the Night – Electrical Parade” introduced new technology, new characters, and new music with a mixed-in tribute to the original “Baroque Hoedown” melody.
I am happy that the wonderful music (Based on the original song “Baroque Hoedown” by Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley originally released on their album “Kaleidoscopic Vibrations” in 1967.) is once again entertaining a new generation at Disneyland!
Trivia bit: The duo were the first to create and publish music recorded on the Moog Synthesizer!
As to the comments I have heard about the current parade… Yes, I am sad that the Circus unit (and my old part) has been removed from the parade. But then through the many years the parade has grown and shrunk.
Other floats (at times) included one based on the movie “The Fox and the Hound;” a float celebrating Disneyland’s 35th Anniversary, “it’s a small world” mini push floats with dancers; Marching Toy Soldiers and others.
Now as to the new finale float with “small world” types of dolls based on newer Disney and Pixar movies – I do think the new finale float is nice and I do enjoy the new score music track.
If you look closely, it is a repurposing of the “To Celebrate America” float units. But this isn’t the first time the finale float has been changed. For a time, there was a huge multi-unit neon float with rotating panels of Disney characters.
But overall, with the additional projection accents on the “it’s a small world” facade, Sleeping Beauty Castle and Main Street U.S.A., the new finale along with the added music score means the Disneyland Main Street Electrical Parade is sure to be a hit for this generation.
I admit that I do miss the patriotic finale. I also miss the park announcements that begin with “Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls.” But what I miss most is performing my part as King Lion!
But we all must move forward. As I said at the beginning, King Lion was only a part of my Disney Career.
Beyond Disneyland I’ve worked with Walt Disney Imagineering. I also been designing theme park projects around the world for over 40 years. I’ve also been involved in inventing new products and even new toy designs. I will never lose respect for my fellow cast members, both backstage and on stage. For it’s only together we can make the Magic!
So please remember… all of us who have worked at the “Happiest Place on Earth” are “Always part of the Magic!”
And yes…. I got an Electrical Parade Elliott light-up popcorn bucket!
— Richard Ferrin, chair of the board of directors of The Disneyland Alumni Club.
Do you have a great story from your time as a Cast Member at the Disneyland Resort, or if you visit a Disney or other theme park, or other fun trips, please send us photos and a story.
You can send it to editor@disneylandalumni.org.
May 11th, 2022