FROM: It's All in a Nametag Published Thursdays

Walt Disney and Gene Autry

In his prime, Walt Disney probably had the biggest Rolodex in Hollywood. He knew nearly everyone, and he used his connections whenever possible to enhance Disneyland. For example: Gene Autry, who at the time was building Anaheim Stadium.

- Benson Myers, June 23, 2011

I'm sure you know Dasher, Comet, and Cupid, some of the reindeer made famous in the popular Christmas song Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. But do you know about the connection between Rudolph and the Disney Company? Settle in...

And yes, this does have to do with Gene Autry!

Disney and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

First, you might like a bit of background about Rudolph. Most people know him from the 1960's Rankin/Bass animated feature. Done with stop-motion animated figures, the story introduces several new characters like Hermie the Elf and Yukon Cornelius. The show has become a perennial favorite, and is re-broadcast often during the holiday season.

However, that was not the true origin of Rudolph. He was first created in 1939 as a promotional booklet handed out at Montgomery Ward department stores. In 1949, the words to the story were set to music, and recorded by Gene Autry.

Known as the Singing Cowboy, Gene Autry's version of Rudolph is considered by many to be the definitive recording of the song. In fact, it has sold almost 25 million copies since first released in 1950.

(Another popular Christmas song that Autry recorded, Here Comes Santa Claus, was actually written by Autry himself. It was written after he had a memorable experience riding his horse in a Los Angeles Christmas parade.)

While Autry is most famous for his songs, another of his passions was baseball. In 1960, Autry was the owner of a radio station in Los Angeles, and hoped to secure a contract for the rights to broadcast Major League Baseball games.

At the meeting, baseball executives were greatly impressed by Autry's presentation. Plans were in place to bring a new expansion baseball team to the Los Angeles area, and Autry was offered the chance to purchase it. For the first several years, the team played at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles. Autry eventually began looking for a place to build the team their own stadium.

Walt Disney convinced Autry to build a stadium in Anaheim, close to Disneyland.

So it was. In 1964, on a site just a few miles from Disneyland, construction began on Anaheim Stadium.

Disney and Anaheim Stadium

During the many years after it was constructed, Anaheim Stadium became a local landmark. Many of the legendary baseball greats have set records there, such as Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson. Also, in the mid 1970's the Los Angeles Rams football team moved into the stadium. Anaheim Stadium was carefully designed for optimal sports performance, taking into consideration wind speed, air density, humidity, and elevation.

In 1989, the World Series was held at Anaheim Stadium, with a lavish celebration in honor of the Series at Disneyland. Called the Boot 'n' Ears Revue, the celebration paid tribute to Gene Autry and his country music legacy.

A article in the Los Angeles Times described the festivities:

For tonight's 'Boots' bash, hosted by Major League Baseball Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti, the Magic Kingdom's parking lot will be transformed into a rompin', stompin', sawdust-kickin' Western town. Even Giamatti is excited. "This is my first All-Star game as a commissioner," he said from his New York office last week. "So I'm really looking forward to the game and all of the fun attached to it. The gala at Disneyland will be especially exciting because it's a salute to Gene Autry."

For the tribute to Orange County's bat-and-ball-loving cowboy, 2,000 guests will be shuttled by bus from five area hotels to attend the 'Boots 'n' Ears Revue,' named for the symbols of Autry and Mickey Mouse. First on the agenda: Guests will be seated family-style (that means no reserved seats) at tables for 10 inside canvas walls set up next to buckboards, wagons and bales of hay. Party favors? Cowboy hats sprouting Mickey Mouse ears, of course.

Next, a 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' hoedown will be performed to put guests in a Western mood. After comments from gala emcee Johnny Grant - aka Mr. Hollywood - the crowd will hear from Giamatti, Autry (if he chooses to speak), Mickey Mouse and Jeffrey Katzenberg, president of Walt Disney Studios.

Then come the vittles- bucket after bucket of finger lickin' beef and pork ribs and crisp 'n' crunchy chicken and old-fashioned baked beans and potato salad - carried by 250 performing singers and dancers and the Disneyland characters. Disneyland promises that the food will be served to all the guests in 10 minutes.

After they've wolfed down the main course, guests will be served up an 'Apple Pie Hoedown.' High-kicking waiters and waitresses will bring on hundreds of warm pies gussied up with red, white and blue streamers and stuck with large kitchen knives. Guests will be invited to divvy up the pie themselves.

Next, a 25-minute performance by comedian Jay Leno.

And finally, in the 'finale finish' as party organizers are calling it, all 40 of the Disneyland characters will join singers, dancers, riders and ropers as they wend their way through the tables and invite guests to enter the Magic Kingdom to enjoy the rides view the Electrical Parade and get an eyeful of fireworks.

Those who attended the event received a special 'take-home' badge.

Disney and the Angels

In 1995, Gene Autry sold 25% of his interest in the Angels to the Walt Disney Company. After his death from cancer in 1998, the rest of the ownership of the Angels passed to Disney. Anaheim Stadium, renamed the Edison International Field of Anaheim, was completely remodeled with new features, including a new scoreboard, concession facilities, and seating.

Cast Members from Disneyland were recruited to work at Angels home games selling hot dogs to fans, and when they did so, they wore special nametags (you knew one of my columns wouldn't be complete without nametags!).

The Angels won the World Series in 2002, and home games are consistently sold out. Sadly, the Disney Company owned the Angels only for a few short years, then in 2005 sold the team to an investor named Arturo Moreno. He changed the name of the team to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The city of Anaheim took the matter to court and sued Moreno over the name change, but their case was unsuccessful. Most times the team is referred to simply as the Angels, or their nickname, 'The Halos'.

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