Week of April 9: In Memory of Annette: Who's the Leader of the Club......

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Annette Funicello, who died yesterday after an almost three-decade battle with multiple sclerosis, was a pioneer in her communications about her MS battle. Her lasting legacy will be scientific efforts in her name to find effective treatments and cures for the illness.

But she was a television pioneer, too, of course - as one of the original members of television's "The Mickey Mouse Club."

The website originalmmc.com has an excellent history about how "The Mickey Mouse Club" came together to become an ABC late-afternoon - and children's television - staple during the mid-1950s.

The original Mouseketeers, including Funicello, made their television debut on ABC during the July 17, 1955 opening of Disneyland in California. But "The Mickey Mouse Club" kicked off October 3, 1955 to very high ratings. Funicello quickly became the most popular of the Mousketeers for her quiet charm.

The show mixed Disney cartoons and live-action serials, such as "Spin and Marty," with Mousketeer song and dance numbers relating to daily themes. The format would be used and somewhat modified in a variety of later children's television shows.

Here's a great number with the cast, including Funicello:

Mouseketeer Matinee

The show would be syndicated from 1975-77, and later shown on the Disney Channel. It remains fondly remembered by Baby Boomers, and Disney programs with the original Mouseketeers have remained popular.

For DVD collectors, Disney has released selected shows. Check on Amazon.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!