DISNEYLAND was never just another theme park. Its proximity to Hollywood made it an ideal spot for up and coming stars to get a job that could help them make ends meet until their dreams came true. As a result, the park had more than its share of employees who became famous.
Years before becoming an Oscar nominated actress who charmed her way onto David Letterman's show, Teri Garr was entertaining tourists from around the world in DISNEYLAND's Show Me America. This lavish production premiered in 1970 on the Tomorrowland stage, which would later become part of the Space Mountain complex. Eventually the stage would be removed and become the Magic Eye Theater, home to Captain EO.
Before teaming up with his sister Karen to form the legendary music act The Carpenters, Richard Carpenter could be found plunking away on Main Street as the Coke Corner piano player. Richard and his sister would later film a music video in the Magic Kingdom singing their cover of Please Mr. Postman.
Many a magical night was spent at Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom watching the legendary Main Street Electrical Parade. Filled with dazzling lights and powered by DISNEYLAND magic, the parade capped off many memorable visits. It also featured more than one future Hollywood star- like Michelle Pfeiffer!
The young Ms. Pfeiffer, who would become a gorgeous movie superstar, appeared nightly in the parade as the beloved Disney character Alice from Alice in Wonderland. One of only two "speaking" roles in the parade, Michelle reigned from atop Alice's lighted mushroom, dazzling thousands of guests every night.
Known to millions of fans as "Mrs. Seaver" from the hit 1980's sitcom Growing Pains, Joanna Kerns also found herself making dreams come true in DISNEYLAND's Main Street Electrical Parade. Dressed as the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio, Ms. Kerns led off the nightly festivities from atop the shimmery, lighted parade unit that represented the Blue Fairy's gown. Who could have guessed that years later she'd be making millions of people laugh each week?
And finally, a homegrown DISNEYLANDer- Steve Martin! Mr. Martin grew up just down the street from the Magic Kingdom- literally! He was just a kid from Fullerton who was mesmerized by the DISNEYLAND grand opening special. Like the hundreds of millions of people who tuned in to see Walt Disney's greatest dream come true, he was instantly drawn to the park. Unlike most kids, however, he was actually close enough to act on his desire to be a part of DISNEYLAND. The very next day little Steve rode his bike down Harbor Blvd. and tried to apply for a job. He was too young for a "real" job, but he soon found work as a paperboy on Main Street, selling copies of the DISNEYLAND News, which was a newspaper published from a printing press on Main Street.
When he got old enough for a "real" job, Steve found himself at the Magic Shop, demonstrating the various magic tricks for sale and operating the cash register. On his breaks, Steve would march on over to the Golden Horseshoe, where he would marvel at the antics of the legendary Wally Boag, who took Steve under his wing, teaching him "old school" show biz tricks of the trade, sparking an interest that would lead Steve Martin to international fame.
