From:
http://disney.go.com/disneyatoz/familymuseum/index.htmlInterview with: Annette Funicello
Of all the Mousketeers, Annette Funicello was unquestionably the best known. Her bright vivacious personality appealed to viewers, and there's no doubt that her wholesome good looks were of more than passing interest to the young boys who watched. She was discovered by Walt himself when she was performing in an amateur program at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank. After her remarkable rise to great fame as a Mouseketeer, she continued to work for Walt for some years in a number of films and television shows. She had featured roles in "The Shaggy Dog," "Babes in Toyland," "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones," and "The Monkey's Uncle." Her memories of Walt are sincere and often touching
Q: You had three auditions before being selected for the Mouse Club. Can you remember when you found out the good news?
Annette: "Somebody from the Studio called and said I was chosen. In fact I was the last one chosen. There were 24 of us, and I was the 24th. So, I made it by the skin of my teeth."
Q: Did you see Walt often?
Annette: "When we were filming, he was there a lot. And of course, when there's 24 kids running here, there and everywhere, we didn't really get to know him all that well. We saw him. He made sure everything was OK. He'd talk to the director to find out if there were any problems.
When I really got to know him was when the Mickey Mouse Club broke up. I thought I was a goner, too. I had no idea I'd be staying on. Somebody came to my mom and said, 'You're going to have to bring Annette up to the office and have her sign some papers. Instead of a three- year contract, we're going to make it seven years.'
Mr. Disney told me that the fan mail coming in was astronomical. Something like 10,000 pieces a week. That was the only idea I had of the popularity of the show."
Q: You called him Mr. Disney?
Annette: "We kids had been told to address him as Uncle Walt. That's what he sort of requested himself. He was everybody's friend. I couldn't do that. I just couldn't do that. It stayed Mr. Disney forever. To this day.
I just had so much respect for him that I preferred to call him Mr. Disney. The gardeners at the Studio and everybody would say, 'Hi Walt,' and he wanted it that way and I couldn't."
Q: What are your memories of the Studio at the time you were there?
Annette: "Working at the Disney Studio is like a family. The grounds were a college campus. Everybody there were the kindest, nicest people. It seemed to be a criteria. And Mr. Disney was so faithful with his people. If he liked you and you did well, he would hire you back time after time. So we all became like family."
Q: How did he treat you, personally?
Annette: "He was so supportive. He knew how painfully shy I was. I have told this story over and over, but it's really the truth: I went to him one day and said, 'I have a problem, Mr. Disney.' And he said, 'Aren't you happy?' And I said,' I am very happy. But nobody can pronounce my last name. I'd like to change it.'
'To what?'
'Turner.'
He said, Young lady, [you are not] going to change your name... It's a fine name and a beautiful name, and people may not know how to pronounce it now, but soon they will remember it.'"
Q: When you had to miss your graduation from school, he was particularly thoughtful, wasn't he?
Annette: "The Studio had asked me to go to New York to work at Radio City Music Hall. I didn't want to go because I was about to graduate from my studio school and I didn't want to leave my family. And this was for six weeks on this enormous stage that was so frightening. I said no. And they kept calling me back and calling back and telling me not to worry. [They said], "you're working with a wonderful singer and he'll carry you." I was close to tears. Mr. Disney called me one day and said, 'I know how upset you are about missing graduating, but I promise you the best graduation you'll ever have here in New York.' I couldn't refuse him. After we finished the show, they brought out all the Rockettes and the superintendent of schools of the New York system, who presented me with my diploma on stage while the Rockettes were doing their high kicks. Who cares about a prom? He came through for me. It was just so thrilling."
Q: Can you tell us the story about your sixteenth birthday?
Annette: "He knew I was absolutely crazy about Guy Williams, who was Zorro. And this was common knowledge because I would hide behind corners and watch his every move. Well, Mr. Disney got wind of this, and for my sixteenth birthday, he said, 'Happy sweet sixteen darling. Here are a couple of scripts. I'm going to put you in 'Zorro' with Guy Williams.' They had a big sweet sixteen party. He actually handed me the scripts for my birthday."
