BU TOUR GUIDE PIX

Well! Today's post turned into something much bigger than I ever anticipated, thanks to GDB friend Bu! As most of you know, Bu was a Tour Guide back in the good old days; when I met him in person about a year ago, he handed me a bunch of envelopes full of photos and documents from his personal archives that he was (presumably) happy to be rid of, and I was happy to receive! Among the many photos (some of which you have already seen) was a set of group portraits of Tour Guides from six different years.

When I decided that it was time to share some of those, I sent a jpeg to Bu and asked him for a few stories or memories, if he had any; I expected three or four notes. Instead, he provided a fairly comprehensive list of names, and personal recollections that he had of almost every person. WOW! After 40+ years, a few people were not included, but it's pretty astonishing that this was all in Bu's brain! I tried to organize it in a way that makes it as easy as possible to figure out who's who. Any errors are definitely my fault - if there are corrections or additions from the Junior Gorillas, please chime in.

Here are Bu's comments on the initial scan: That was my second year of plaid: 1983.   1982 is when Cicely was out (off to the Ambassador Program), and new mgr: Larry was “in”.  It was quite the transition as Cicely was very much a historic “Walt" fixture.  Larry was from the Parking Lot (et al) and was great fun to party with.  We all drank a LOT in those days.  His kids went to work at the park, and then his grandkids…and I think I remember reading a newspaper article about that…will have to look it up.

I made an annotated version of the photo:

I figured that it would make things a bit easier to deal with if I broke the photo down into three sections. Here's the left section!

Don: Don’t have too many memories: but I think he went on to become a major historian and a big educator in prominent colleges.

Kara: Another top 4 Ambassador contender.  Her dad ran a major drug store chain in California.

Richard:  Guy next door went on to Disney University, then to the University at the Studio, and eventually overall head of WDCo HR until his retirement fairly recently. Richard and I did a photo shoot for “Disney Imagewear” when Disney was plugging itself as a uniform maker to other companies.  We did the shoot in Marty Sklar's office at WED…I think I’ve told the story about them sewing me into my costume (Contemporary Resort front desk) and them having to reach through the fly of my pants to make sure my shirt was totally tight with not the slightest hint of a wrinkle. The things you endure as a model.  I think we actually had to change right there too…those costume people don’t care as I remember, as they just want their costume looking perfect.  I’m not sure if Major has posted that particular photo yet…

Beth: Many of us attended her wedding which was the day of Candlelight.  It caused a big ruckus.  Do not show up late on this day.  Ever.  A long story for another time.

Peggy: From "Lost and Found". One of the few with a “nickname” name tag which was VERBOTEN.  Her name was Margaret, and I learned from her that Peggy is a common derivative of the name “Margaret”.

Dorothee:  Guest Communications ‘sup, and daughter was face character Snow White. I think there have been pictures of her here on GDB. She would get the complaints and the compliments.

Addie: Guest Communications: I worked with her a short time before she moved on to the film business.

Brigitte: Took me to the most amazing party in Malibu that was featured on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”.  The Fifth Dimension provided the music, Lions tigers and bears (really) and a seal swimming in the pool.  Don’t forget the helicopter rides…

Allison: Taught me how to make cookies with no recipe.

Chiaki: Went on to a gigantic PR firm.

Ellen: Later became Disneyland Ambassador.

Kay: "Lost and Found" lady.  Her daughter was a TG before my time.

Louise: Her large family was a well known old Anaheim family: the Truxaws.  The family lived in what is now “The White House” restaurant in Anaheim.  The house was built in 1909.  Fun fact: ultimately the “Cosmic Inn” Stovall's bought the house later.  There’s some interesting stories about the house: check it out. When it was raining, she always remembered to tell me to “remember my rubbers”.

Maureen: Taught me the “essence" of sparkle.  She did it very well.

Don: The guy who developed the original Fast Pass and IT guy before IT was a thing, and we conducted business basically in a little more than cigar boxes. Best buddy at the time, and for a long time. 

Larry: Hired me - he’s in the blue suit in the top row. Supervisor.  Succeeded Cicely (Rigdon).  Big shoes to fill.  His kids and grandkids both went on to become Disneyland Employees.

Bruce: I did “dip” with Tour Guide Bruce (tallest guy in the back row in the center) at a party at Sally’s house, and after my head stopped spinning, I think I was hung over for days afterwards….(haven’t done dip since: so much spitting!!).

Sonia: Her sister was also a “legacy” TG who moved into Marketing that I did some photo work for modeling.  Sonia went onto a lovely life of caring for animals in need.

Karen: Major radio DJ in LA since the late 80’s and still going strong.

Jan: Also Disney University/HR.

Mindy: Disneyland Ambassador.

Sharon: Went on to marry a GM exec the year we were giving away cars.

Erin: A favorite.  Had many good times together, and she later married another TG and former WDW JC Skipper.

Sally: Her dad directed the Tonight Show, Greg Louganis trained in her backyard Olympic size pool.  She also taught me to make bread.

Suzn: Knew the SOP like the back of her hand.  Don’t challenge her, she knows.  Despite that, a very warm heart…and also made the cones for the original “cone shop” when it was down past the Market House.

Cindy: Now big wig at Paramount. She was with Mrs. Disney on her very last trip to Disneyland on the 4th of July (just prior to the Eisner/Wells regime)  along with the Millers (there’s a lot of them) and watched the fireworks from the balcony of the apartment.  It’s a very sweet story where Mrs. Disney was holding Cindy’s hand and said as the fireworks went off: “I miss my Walt”...  We partied hard at many clubs in OC, and still made it into work “normal”.  Danced till we dropped.

Tina: I remember “Teen Queen”…and I’m not sure why.  She was the one that informed me “NO READING IN THE PHONE ROOM”.  As we were to sit and wait for the phone to ring ONLY.

Lori: Went on to the Disney University and a long career in HR.  Won a fortune on game show “Press Your Luck”.

Kathy: Was a classic Hungarian beauty, and spoke it fluently.   Old school TG from the 70’s.  Comp booth queen.  Knew all the Disney execs from her years in GR.  A class act.

Pam: I don’t remember her too much, but she went on to Cast Activities at the Studio after being in the top 4 of the Ambassadors. I think she has a blog of her own…from a slightly different perspective than GDB. Forget the name...

Maria Elena: Driven career woman: I am SURE she is running something big now.

Ricki: Not sure where she went onto…but was featured in a couple of Company publications.

Diane: Went on to a long career in the Airlines.

Lori: Was at Disneyland for 40+ years into the 2000’s, in many leadership positions. Also: VIP tour guide to anyone who was anyone.   Still looks exactly the same btw. In fact, many of these ladies still look exactly the same... Lori had the ability to coax amazing stories from celebrities.  She should have probably gone into investigative reporting.

Deanna: Her family had one of the oldest houses in Orange County. It looked haunted, and it was super cool, and we had the most amazing Halloween party there: with TG’s in extremely elaborate costumes.

Wayne: I’m sure he went into politics.  Worked as an intern for a major (and controversial) OC Government official during his time at Disneyland.  Wore a lot of “Polo” cologne.  It was popular then.

Matt: Pretty sure he still works in transportation at the Studio - will have to look that one up. He was with Guest Relations for a long time prior. Worked in GR for a while, then went to the studio in Transportation (I think) where he is still (I think).  Taught me how to tie a Windsor knot.

Kellie: Coke Terrace to Guest Relations to Lawyer.  Statuesquely tall. A co-fan of Sheila E’s “Glamorous Life” and the Thompson Twins.

Bu: “Yours truly”

Janet: Married a project manager from WED who headed Star Tours/Capt. EO, Euro Disneyland, etc etc.. Another party girl.  Taught me how to classically dance, do a back flip…first one to have a cellphone before it was even a “thing” as her dad was a big wig in Military.  She would bring it to the beach and people would freak out.

Anne: There is a story here, but I don’t remember: I will though.  Something with a celebrity? 

Alexis: Another classic OG: Still looks EXACTLY the same.

Johanna: A task master for sure.  Don’t mess with this one.  Rules were meant to be followed.

Patty: Won millions from the CA lottery

Barbara: Went on to Character Fan Mail (yes, it’s a department) and then onto documentation (where anything legal or otherwise printed is written and vetted), and then a long career with Disney. Has done some Disneyland history podcasts, 

Robin: I remember her, and there is kind of a “famous” Disneyland photo floating around that features her: will have to look that up.

Cecile: Won the Showcase on Price is Right: boats and cars and things. Another top 10 Ambassador contender.

Cathy: Old school TG. Small but mighty, and heads her own modern dance company.

Robin: The most amazing penmanship; she addressed all the envelopes for the invitations to the Candlelight Procession.  YES!  Everything was hand written!

In addition, Bu mentioned that all of the Tour Guide photos were taken by Renie Bardeau. Renie took many famous publicity photos. Like this one!

And this one, possibly the last official photo of Walt Disney.

I can't thank Bu enough for all of his help with today's post! I know there's a lot to absorb, but I have the feeling that the Junior Gorillas are going to enjoy it. There will be other Tour Guide portraits to come, but those probably won't have the level of info that this one has - I can't do that to Bu, it would be too cruel.