Darlene Gillespie MMC Sampler

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  • čas přidán 6. 04. 2014
  • Darlene Gillespie was the standout musical variety star for the three seasons of the original Mickey Mouse Club (1955-58). Here is just a small sampling of her many performances from those years. (This material comes from several different sources and is of mixed quality).
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Komentáře • 202

  • @lauranorwar
    @lauranorwar Před 6 lety +30

    Darlene had a voice like Judy Garland. And like Judy, she should have had a much larger part in history. It’s incredibly sad how much talent we lose because life is too much to bear sometimes.

    • @bronxbearbud272
      @bronxbearbud272 Před 3 lety

      Frankly, even comparing her to Garland's daughter number two Lorna Luft seems very generous

    • @PreservationEnthusiast
      @PreservationEnthusiast Před 3 lety +3

      @@bronxbearbud272 Darlene and her father demanded too much money. Later, after her showbiz career faded, she turned to criminal activity and did jail time for theft and fraud.

    • @PreservationEnthusiast
      @PreservationEnthusiast Před 3 lety +5

      @jett woodward Darlene was much more talented than Annette. Singing, dancing, comedy... she had the full stage package. Annette was a good little yes girl though. Disney was somewhat of a tyrant. He didn't like people challenging his authority, so he made sure it was Annette who got the roles and was pushed forward.

    • @michael-dy8tz
      @michael-dy8tz Před rokem

      @@PreservationEnthusiast What did she steal and what kind of fraud I wonder @heelfan1234 I wonder?

    • @PreservationEnthusiast
      @PreservationEnthusiast Před rokem +3

      @@michael-dy8tz Shoplifting and check fraud etc. It's all on her Wikipedia page. Do some research and you will find out all kinds of things! "In 1997, she was charged with petty theft for helping her then-fiancé Jerry Fraschilla shoplift four women's shirts. She was found guilty and sentenced to three days in jail and three years' probation. Gillespie, then 56 years old, denied the charges and filed preliminary papers to appeal. The disposition is unclear.[3]
      In December 1998, she was convicted in federal court of aiding her third husband, Fraschilla, to purchase securities using a check-kiting scheme.[4] She was sentenced to two years in prison,[5] but was released after serving only three months.
      In 2005, she and her husband were indicted on federal charges of filing multiple fraudulent claims in the settlement of a class-action lawsuit."

  • @angelamermaid
    @angelamermaid Před 5 lety +16

    I’m part of the generation that grew up with the reruns in the ‘70s. Darlene was my favourite. I remember reading a book about the Musketeers and sadly discovering that she wasn’t in show business as an adult.
    Now that I know so much more about what happened, clips like these are poignant. She clearly loves to perform and I wish she had found the right venue for her talents.

    • @lucillebadger6554
      @lucillebadger6554 Před 4 lety +3

      You and me both. What a waste!

    • @mysticalmargaret6105
      @mysticalmargaret6105 Před 10 měsíci +1

      Same here. I watched the reruns in the 70s. In spite of what became of her adult life, Darlene will always be my favorite Mouseketeer, along with Tommy.

  • @billgiordano9975
    @billgiordano9975 Před rokem +5

    I fell in love even if I didn't know what it was as an 8 year old even though I didn't know what it was back in 1955. She stood out and shined right from the start. Annette didn't come into her own until 1957 with the promotion from Disney and even then she lacked the natural charisma of Darleen. Annette's charm was superficial and restrained while Darleen was a firecracker with a hot fuse from the beginning. I thought she was beautiful talented and charming and held you're attention when she was present. It is a shame the way things turned out for her b/c she could have soared with the right management and promotion.

    • @debbeasher-k4764
      @debbeasher-k4764 Před 3 měsíci

      Annette was Not Superficial! She was restrained & had to follow specific innocent & shy behaviors her entire career.😢❤
      However, I would agree that it is a surprise that Darlene wasn’t a Star as an adult. She seemed very versatile. 😮 She was allowed show a lot more varied talent on the show than Annette as evidenced by these clips😊❤

  • @wootendw
    @wootendw Před 4 lety +12

    Darlene was the oldest female Mouseketeer and one of the show's most versatile performers, able to sing, dance and act.

    • @stacyharper7783
      @stacyharper7783 Před 3 lety +3

      Walt Disney lavished all of his attention on Annette funicello. Darlene never had a chance.

    • @risingphoenix8072
      @risingphoenix8072 Před 3 lety +4

      I read that Annette’s parents were less demanding. Darlene was phenomenal but you can’t push back on the Disney

    • @davidlightfoot348
      @davidlightfoot348 Před 2 lety +2

      @@stacyharper7783 Annette and Roy were the two Mouseketeers that Walt directly chose. Roy was the first, and Annette was the last Mouseketeer chosen.

    • @rcruz4510
      @rcruz4510 Před 2 lety +5

      Disney must have thought she would become the "next big thing". She recorded an album of "teen" songs for Disneyland records, and she was given her own serial "Corky and White Shadow" that was shown during the Mickey Mouse Club. None of her fellow Mouseketeers were promoted like that - until Annette's popularity became apparent and she was given her own serial during the last year of the Mickey Mouse Club. Darlene was, apparently, supposed to co-star in that serial, but her father by that time was probably frustrated at the fact that Darlene's star was fading despite Disney's promotion and the relationship between her family and Disney soured. Darlene ended up not getting cast in the "Annette" serial.

    • @PreservationEnthusiast
      @PreservationEnthusiast Před 2 lety +3

      @@rcruz4510 That serial was originally supposed to be called "Annette and Darlene," but Darlene's father was quite demanding while all the while Annette blew smoke up Walt's arse.
      In the end, Judy Nugent got cast as Jet, in the role that Darlene was originally supposed to have.

  • @thomascarson8213
    @thomascarson8213 Před 10 lety +35

    Darlene Gillespie...the best vocalist on the original Mickey Mouse Club...it is sad that she never became the star she should have been.

    • @thomascarson8213
      @thomascarson8213 Před 7 lety

      SuperJackster01

    • @thomascarson8213
      @thomascarson8213 Před 7 lety +2

      Amen!

    • @superjackster0165
      @superjackster0165 Před 7 lety +4

      After reading everything about Walt Disney (who is my idol and hero) favoring Annette over Darlene ( who actually had talent) i feel betrayed

    • @robyntattersall236
      @robyntattersall236 Před 5 lety +3

      Thomas Carson ... agreed .. I also thought she was a unique little dancer as she delivered personality into the routine ... best overall talent in the show,I feel

    • @nightowl4137
      @nightowl4137 Před 4 lety +1

      Darlene was one of my favorites also. A very talented young lady.

  • @EtzEchad
    @EtzEchad Před 4 lety +8

    She was my favorite. Of course, I was only five...
    What a talent!

    • @EtzEchad
      @EtzEchad Před 3 lety

      @jett woodward
      Actually, Angela Cartwright did that... :)

  • @CelticVictory
    @CelticVictory Před 6 lety +8

    She's truly a musical talent.

  • @suecox907
    @suecox907 Před 5 měsíci +1

    I grew up in the 50's and 60's. I loved the Mickey Mouse Club.

  • @anniegross183
    @anniegross183 Před 3 lety +6

    Darlene G. is a real talent and so charming.

  • @disneyinuyamon
    @disneyinuyamon Před 9 lety +15

    I'm so glad I got a chance to get her autograph & get picture with her at D23 Expo this year along with Sherry, Cubby, Sharon, Bobby, & Doreen.

  • @RaananVolesPianist
    @RaananVolesPianist Před 9 lety +24

    While I did watch the MMC as a kid, I was only about three or four years old, and remember very little about it. What brought me here was curiosity brought on by revelations, about 10 years ago when I was working for a local newspaper, about Darlene's "extracurricular" activities. She's surprisingly good. Acting aside, she should have been signed to a record contract and encouraged to record original songs after her days as a "Mouse" were over--she were certainly as good as Connie Francis, Brenda Lee, or most of the female singers of that era.

    • @randyjordan5521
      @randyjordan5521 Před 4 lety +2

      Yep, her singing was reminiscent of Doris Day or Dinah Shore.

    • @lucillebadger6554
      @lucillebadger6554 Před 4 lety +2

      DEFINITELY BETTER than Walt's little no-talent pet, Annette!!

    • @PreservationEnthusiast
      @PreservationEnthusiast Před 2 lety +2

      @@charamcnuggers9534 Annrtte's dancing was good, but that was a about it. Her singing voice was immature and squeaky,
      Moreover, Darlene had the full stage talent package. She could do comedy and impersonations too. Annette was not a patch on Darlene, but she was very good at blowing smoke up Walt's arse, stealing roles off Darlene

    • @JohnnyGNV
      @JohnnyGNV Před 2 lety +8

      @@PreservationEnthusiast THAT IS absolutely not true - Darlene was talented there isn't any question about that - but Annette was singled out as the favorite from the kids that watched the shows, and had natural charisma and the "IT" factor - she was quite a proficient dancer but never claimed to be a great singer - her intention certainly was not to 'steal' roles from Darlene and she was not aggressive in that kind of way. You can clearly see that Darlene was often featured here, there was no lack of showcasing Darlene - but the Public picks who they like best and guess what - that happened to be Annette -

    • @PreservationEnthusiast
      @PreservationEnthusiast Před 2 lety

      @@JohnnyGNV The public may have preferred Annette's look, but they were just voting with what was between their legs. Darlene was far more talented in all respects.

  • @fredrickmarsiello4395
    @fredrickmarsiello4395 Před rokem +2

    I wish Darlene would write a book on her experience in the Micky Mouse Club, many people would love to hear her story.

    • @saratogasam9204
      @saratogasam9204  Před 11 měsíci +1

      For myself, I would love to read what Gina, Pat, and Larrian had to say about her.

  • @lizregan1949
    @lizregan1949 Před 3 lety +3

    I think I must have been in early grade school when this show was on the air, she has a beautiful voice.

  • @somethingenchantedprincess2258

    Such wonderful times! I should have been born back then!! They were all so wonderful and yes, Darlene was such a natural talent, vocally. Miss those show...

  • @et316rapier
    @et316rapier Před 9 lety +8

    Thanks very much for the memories.

  • @anniegross183
    @anniegross183 Před 3 lety +2

    Happy belated 80th birthdays to two wonderfully talented girl stars, Mouskateer Darlene and Lennon sister Peggy. Great Nostalgia !!

  • @libertyann439
    @libertyann439 Před 4 lety +3

    The voice!❤And those costumes were amazing!

  • @MrLamontSanford
    @MrLamontSanford Před 5 lety +25

    She had the most talent of them all...should have gone on to bigger gigs.

    • @stacyharper7783
      @stacyharper7783 Před 3 lety +3

      How's fred Sanford.

    • @stacyharper7783
      @stacyharper7783 Před 3 lety +2

      Annette funicello got all of the attention.

    • @MrLamontSanford
      @MrLamontSanford Před 3 lety +1

      @@stacyharper7783 Arguing with Aunt Esther again!

    • @stacyharper7783
      @stacyharper7783 Před 3 lety +1

      @@MrLamontSanford please say hi to bubba and Grady for me. Keep on driving that red truck.

    • @MrLamontSanford
      @MrLamontSanford Před 3 lety

      @@stacyharper7783 thanks..those guys are good...drunk a lot.

  • @jorgegoren4286
    @jorgegoren4286 Před 3 lety +4

    Encantadora, que gran carisma y talento natural
    Bravo Darlene !!

  • @chattyroz2934
    @chattyroz2934 Před 7 lety +14

    I don't suppose you have a copy of Corky and White Shadow which she starred in? I've been looking for it for years. I remember it fondly from when I was a child.

    • @michaelodonnell9756
      @michaelodonnell9756 Před 2 lety

      @ Chattyroz Since you've asked,I was wondering the same thing. I only got to see episodes on Vault Disney during the 90's. None of the episodes of that serial were on those episodes. Another thing I wondered is whether or not any episodes of this show in general were ever released on home video.

  • @terrasoars5006
    @terrasoars5006 Před 6 lety +5

    Always loved her. So delightfully hammy!

  • @debrareplogle651
    @debrareplogle651 Před 3 lety +2

    what a truely wonderful talent

  • @mysticalmargaret6105
    @mysticalmargaret6105 Před 9 lety +9

    Thank you for uploading this. :) Darlene Gillespie will always remain my favorite Mouseketeer along with Tommy Cole. Eta: Darlene's eldest sister sure had a beautiful voice of her own! Runs in the family I guess.

  • @MrShopngo
    @MrShopngo Před 9 lety +25

    Darlene, I always thought you were beautiful, with a great voice.

    • @disneyinuyamon
      @disneyinuyamon Před 9 lety +2

      Don Porter She's still looking good, aged well, but with shorter hair, & she can still carry a tune.

    • @MrShopngo
      @MrShopngo Před 9 lety +4

      Miss those days.

    • @stacyharper7783
      @stacyharper7783 Před 3 lety +1

      @@MrShopngo I thought Annette funicello was your favorite. I've read your comments about Annette funicello on other channels.

  • @ginocirillo
    @ginocirillo Před 2 lety +1

    Undoubtedly the best ever, she would have deserved a great career, she was capable of doing everything; from singing, to acting, to dancing.

  • @robertbowman984
    @robertbowman984 Před 3 lety +1

    She had the look and voice of an angel.

  • @BrandonsBooth
    @BrandonsBooth Před 10 lety +15

    This is Amazing!!! She's my FAVORITE and in my opinion, the BEST out of ALL of them. I wish there was a way of personally having ALL of those episodes.....

  • @michaelodonnell9756
    @michaelodonnell9756 Před 4 lety +1

    I enjoyed watching this.

  • @DIMON_CAMI
    @DIMON_CAMI Před 4 lety +3

    Ah, Darlene. One of the oldest Mouseketeers of that time. She’s a beaut.

  • @rintarqua5199
    @rintarqua5199 Před 7 lety +5

    loved the show

  • @JayRaphaelJiaoInot
    @JayRaphaelJiaoInot Před 5 lety +4

    The early version of the Disney vault

  • @uncjim
    @uncjim Před 8 lety +6

    I was madly in love with her.

  • @schallrd1
    @schallrd1 Před rokem +1

    Darlene had talent without a doubt.

  • @RayPointerChannel
    @RayPointerChannel Před 9 lety +16

    It is obvious how great Darlene's talent was a this early age. She clearly was on the way of becoming a major Disney star. But it seems there were problems between her and the Disney Studio then and for years afterward. Even with the end of her run on this show, she surely had the abilities to move on as most of the other kids did. Why she didn't remains a mystery because she was clearly the most talented of the Mouseketeers.

    • @mysticalmargaret6105
      @mysticalmargaret6105 Před 9 lety +6

      Ray Pointer Many years ago I remember reading an article about Annette and Darlene - I remember this line the author wrote 'it was the old story of beauty versus talent and beauty always winning in the end'. It is sad that Walt Disney chose to nurture Annette after the MMC years and seemed completely oblivious to the huge potential that Darlene had in being a huge singing star of that era in her own right. :(

    • @RayPointerChannel
      @RayPointerChannel Před 8 lety +5

      Margare Tudor, Lonnie Burr was on an Stu's Show last night and went into some intimate details, confirming my thoughts. The real reason why Walt Disney chose to promote Annette over Darelene was something that was self-inflicted by Darlene and her father. In the first season, Darlene was given more featured exposure, even starring in her own series, CORKY AND THE WHITE SHADOW.
      According to Lonnie, Darlene and her father were very cruel towards Annette. Darlene and her father was became an irritant about wanting more money, an issue that Darlene continued to push with Disney on her own in later years.
      With this in mind, it would seem that grooming Annette would have been in retaliation against the behavior of Darlene. And as you may know, she was involved with criminal actions in the 1990s with her then husband, one of which was a fraudulent stocks scam, which sent her to jail. There is something to be said about how one presents one's self if they are interested in career in the entertainment business, then and now.

    • @chrisbanner183
      @chrisbanner183 Před 7 lety +2

      Annette had talent to Jackster01.'' Annie '' was a first rate dancer and had charm and charisma to spare and i don't care what people say i enjoy her pop records and beach movies. Sure Duhlene had a semi-decent voice but she was no Jo Stafford or Helen Forrest that's for sure. Stop defending that convicted criminal she's not worth it.

    • @shoknifeman2mikado135
      @shoknifeman2mikado135 Před 7 lety +4

      Duhlene? Semi-decent voice??? Screw you! This is a Darlene tribute page, someone delete this jerk!

    • @superjackster0165
      @superjackster0165 Před 6 lety +4

      I read an article that Annette and Darlene met at a Mousketeer reunion sometime before Annette's death (this was after Darlene got over her legal troubles) and they both made up there. They both apologized for how they treated each other and were on good terms from then on. They had tried to make plans to get together again and have lunch one day since it had been years since they seen and talked to each other. However by the time Darlene could set a date, Annette had died.

  • @misterwhitman4368
    @misterwhitman4368 Před 6 lety +4

    Uncle Walt should have put Darlene in Musical Comedy Feature Films!

    • @superjackster0165
      @superjackster0165 Před 6 lety +1

      David Whitman Character Actor After reading everything about Walt Disney (who is my idol and hero) favoring Annette over Darlene ( who actually had talent) i feel betrayed. I have nothing against Annette at all, I think she's a great actress and I'm sad she died 4 years ago (what's even worse is that I didn't know about it until last year) but i feel betrayed that Walt Disney would actually have favoritism and it's with CHILDREN.

    • @lucillebadger6554
      @lucillebadger6554 Před 4 lety

      He was too bedazzled by his personal discovery, Annette!

    • @academyofshem
      @academyofshem Před 4 lety

      @@superjackster0165 The problem was Darlene was a prima donna bee-atch. Even Jimmie Dodd begged Walt to exclude her from the worldwide Mouseketeer tour.

    • @harperstacey9604
      @harperstacey9604 Před 2 lety +1

      @@superjackster0165 Darlene Gillespie could have been the next Judy Garland. From Ms. Harper Stacey.

  • @katiecadet1641
    @katiecadet1641 Před 5 lety +4

    Zip a Dee Doo Dah (2:38)

  • @tsmgguy
    @tsmgguy Před 10 lety +13

    During the show's original run I was in love with Darlene (in a six-year- old kind of way) when all of the other little guys really liked Annette. Darlene certainly had the looks and talent, but her career had peaked by 1958, and stalled completely shortly thereafter. I wonder what happened?

    • @ralphvarner483
      @ralphvarner483 Před 9 lety +2

      I was head over heels in love with her too. Let's see, I was in 6th grade, but I can still vividly remember those days.

    • @et316rapier
      @et316rapier Před 9 lety +2

      Exactly the same here. I loved Darlene and everybody else liked Annette. Small world.

    • @zuditaka
      @zuditaka Před 9 lety +3

      et316rapier I wanted to BE Darlene Gillespie when I was a kid! lol

    • @mysticalmargaret6105
      @mysticalmargaret6105 Před 9 lety +3

      tsmgguy I watched the reruns of the original MMC as a child in the '70s. I always pretended that I was Darlene and wore my hair in pigtails just like she did.

    • @USCG.Brennan
      @USCG.Brennan Před 5 lety

      Come on guys......I liked them BOTH!! ;-)

  • @superjackster0165
    @superjackster0165 Před 7 lety +2

    I wish I could've been alive to see this show but I wasn't born till 2001

  • @shelbychambers307
    @shelbychambers307 Před rokem

    She was my favorite she should have kept on also

  • @moboutmen
    @moboutmen Před 2 lety +1

    My first crush.....Damn......I'm old.

  • @doogalloonni
    @doogalloonni Před 2 lety

    Always my very favorite. Puberty wouldn't have been the same without the crush I had on her!

  • @goffy627
    @goffy627 Před 10 lety +6

    thanks for the video, do you have any video of her show called Corky and White shadow

    • @saratogasam9204
      @saratogasam9204  Před 10 lety +3

      There are snippets of two songs from "Corky and White Shadow" in this video

  • @mafer99
    @mafer99 Před 10 lety +4

    Great work! Do you happen to know where can I get the full video of "Pecos Bill" sung by Darlene, Mary and Judy?

  • @7JANEWAY
    @7JANEWAY Před rokem +1

    Annette Funicello got all the attention, but WHO didn’t like Darlene???!!! I think of all the Mouseketeers, that she was the one who got the shaft by not getting more of the spotlight (and PR to boot). Just another sad story from the Mouseketeers!!!

  • @haroldgaffney246
    @haroldgaffney246 Před 3 lety

    Always liked her.

  • @mikeleventhal2093
    @mikeleventhal2093 Před 3 lety +1

    Had a crush on her , loved her in the TWA flight attendant outfit

    • @saratogasam9204
      @saratogasam9204  Před 3 lety

      You are probably thinking of Patricia Morrow in the "What I Want To Be" serial

    • @mikeleventhal2093
      @mikeleventhal2093 Před 3 lety

      @@saratogasam9204 You may be right, but I thought I remembered a series when they were in the early teens?

  • @LindaMerchant-bq2hp
    @LindaMerchant-bq2hp Před 5 měsíci

    I grew up very on mickey mouse club

  • @larkpraise
    @larkpraise Před 8 lety +10

    Darlene was indeed a superior vocalist. But she lacked the "x" factor which Annette had in spades. Annette was a warm and natural performer. Darlene projects an aura of over confidence while Annette was real and unaffected radiating charm and warmth... Easily likable. Darlene had a hard demeanor which became evident after she grew up and became a a forger, passing off bad checks. Annette had charisma. Darlene had talent but she became terribly bitter accusing Annette's family of writing fan mail in Annette's favor but it's impossible that ones family would be committed to writing 3000 letters a week. b

    • @joshuab36
      @joshuab36 Před 8 lety +5

      True. Annette has always been my favorite Mouseketeer, but Darlene was hands down the most talented Mouseketeer on that entire show

    • @clarequilty4962
      @clarequilty4962 Před 8 lety +4

      What X-factor? Disney went with the insipid Annette (who sang flat) because at that time Disney wasn't going to develop a young female performer who displayed a knowing kind of adolescent sexuality. Annette was safe and they marketed her well. The fan male she got was genuine, I bet, and she had a few years of movie and recording success during that awful "clean teen" period in American pop music (Bobby Rydell, Shelley Fabres, Paul Peterson, Marcie Blane, Neil Sedaka, Ricky Nelson, et al.).

    • @unclealand
      @unclealand Před 7 lety +1

      What's an X-Factor? Is that something you get from the shows on TV that insist only popular kids are worth emulating? Is that where you get your taste? From promotion and being told what you SHOULD like? Darlene's unfortunate life of crime didn't happen for decades after the Mickey Mouse Club, so that part of your comment is especially inane.

    • @unclealand
      @unclealand Před 7 lety +1

      Tell that to Jennifer Lopez and she'll laugh in your face.

    • @superjackster0165
      @superjackster0165 Před 6 lety

      I read an article that Annette and Darlene met at a Mousketeer reunion sometime before Annette's death (this was after Darlene got over her legal troubles) and they both made up there. They both apologized for how they treated each other and were on good terms from then on. They had tried to make plans to get together again and have lunch one day since it had been years since they seen and talked to each other. However by the time Darlene could set a date, Annette had died.

  • @superjackster0165
    @superjackster0165 Před 7 lety +7

    Disney needs to release all the seasons of this show on dvd.

    • @Juliaflo
      @Juliaflo Před 5 lety +1

      I thoroughly second that, and I won't rest until this happens.

    • @nyc783
      @nyc783 Před 3 lety

      @@Juliaflo I like the thought of all the MMC 1950's episodes, which I saw back then, being released on DVD, but Disney is funny and unpredictable. No use writing to them, because I did and they politely replied that they don't take suggestions from outsiders; only those from inside the Disney employment.

    • @kendrickdinger
      @kendrickdinger Před 2 lety +1

      It’s all on Disney+ now!

  • @bonniedavis9039
    @bonniedavis9039 Před 7 lety +4

    Darlene had more talent than all the others put together. Annette never failed to make nauseous. I do think she was Mr. Disney's favorite, though.

    • @JohnnyGNV
      @JohnnyGNV Před 7 lety +4

      I agree with Chris - as you can tell from these clips, Annette wasn't pushed out front and Darlene was certainly featured on many solos. The viewers are the ones that decide who has "it" - Annette had the "it" factor - she was not as strong a vocalist as Darlene, there's no disputing that - and there have been many accounts of Darlene being difficult at times, where there's smoke there's fire - also, I think Disney wanted Darlene for other projects (such as POLLYANNA) but sometimes things just don't pan out - I like Darlene, I'm not knocking her, but even as a very little child I felt her competitive edge particularly towards Annette.

    • @JohnnyGNV
      @JohnnyGNV Před 7 lety +2

      There is no question that Darlene had talent, she was certainly featured in many musical moments. The audience responded to Annette in a way that was unique, and Disney recognized that. Annette, were she still with us, would be the first to say that she didn't consider herself a great vocalist (although she was a proficient dancer) and was surprised that she was the only mouseketeer to remain under contract at Disney Studios.

    • @USCG.Brennan
      @USCG.Brennan Před 5 lety +2

      Bonnie.....it looks like your "green monster" is showing. ;-(

    • @stacyharper7783
      @stacyharper7783 Před 3 lety

      Annette funicello had a sweet personality and many fans were drawn to her, especially the boys.

    • @sce2aux464
      @sce2aux464 Před 10 měsíci

      @@JohnnyGNV "My vocal range is about three notes." - Annette Funicello (always loved how candid she was)

  • @thomasmyers8318
    @thomasmyers8318 Před 9 lety +10

    What can I say? Darlene is awesome! Enough said.

  • @ohmeowzer1
    @ohmeowzer1 Před 5 lety +1

    I,like the part with her sisters

  • @clarequilty4962
    @clarequilty4962 Před 8 lety +7

    Yep, Darlene Gillespie was my favorite. Even when I was eight I thought "Aww, you can have goody-goody Annette and the overly perky Bobby, Doreen, and the two little ones (he played drums sometimes and she giggled). I like Darlene!" Sad how she ended up, isn't it?

    • @USCG.Brennan
      @USCG.Brennan Před 5 lety

      Clare....you're a GIRL.....you see things differently than we guys did. Ask your brothers what they thought back then!! ;-)

    • @academyofshem
      @academyofshem Před 4 lety

      Little Bobby went on to be a professional drummer for the likes of the Carpenters. He did good.

    • @rjlong1025
      @rjlong1025 Před 11 měsíci

      @@academyofshem - Bobby went on to dance on the Lawrence Welk show, it was Cubby who was the Carpenter's drummer until Karen passed away.

  • @davidgibson7615
    @davidgibson7615 Před 7 lety +9

    I had a major crush on Darlene Gillespie. In the first season, I was like, nah. Then she turned beautiful on the second season and she can sing very well. I read somewhere why Darlene didn't became the major star as promised her by the Disney Studios. Answer: Simply because Darlene was her own worst enemy. She and her father/manager was making demands to boss, Walt Disney to make her a major movie/recording star; plus, they demanded more money from Disney as well. Darlene was a major tyrant POS to other Mousketeers; so bad, that Mouskeeter leader/songwriter Jimmie Dodd told Walt Disney he didn't want her to the MMC nationwide tour. Most importantly, Darlene was SUPER jealous with several other Mouskeeters that went on to bigger success after the series ended. Especially towards the show's biggest star, Annette Funicello (Whom Darlene btw, blames Annette for 'stealing' her MMC serial vehicle that she was supposed to star in. Of course, it was called​ 'Annette'). Through the years of broken promises, two failed marriages (she had two kids from her first marriage), along with a failed country music career was just eating Darlene alive. But she made a worse decisions, especially when she and her third husband , served jail time for writing bad checks. I am surprised that Darlene's still alive after all these years of self-destructing her once promised career. If she hadn't being such a major colossal bitch, making bad choices and just humbled herself, she would've done well. Unfortunately, the stars align wasn't not in her favor.
    We

    • @superjackster0165
      @superjackster0165 Před 7 lety

      David Gibson After reading everything about Walt Disney (who is my idol and hero) favoring Annette over Darlene ( who actually had talent) i feel betrayed

    • @terrasoars5006
      @terrasoars5006 Před 6 lety

      I loved her too. But she got what she deserved being the hammy performer that she was.

    • @MrJgohde
      @MrJgohde Před 4 lety +1

      You sound more like a Darlene backstabber to me. Of course, I have no idea what went on behind the scenes. But, if she had her father managing her, and she demanded too much money, that could explain a lot of things. Darlene basically was a bad fit for MMC, all along, as the acting talent of the others were pretty much none existent. The MMC was basically all singing and dancing.

    • @PreservationEnthusiast
      @PreservationEnthusiast Před 2 lety +1

      The serial was due to be called Annette and Darlene. However, Annette sucked up to Walt and he had a hissy fit over Darlene. Judy Nugent was cast as Jet. Jet was the character that Darlene was supposed to play. After Darlene was removed, the action in the plot was revised and the title shortened to just Annette.

  • @MoTown44240
    @MoTown44240 Před 4 lety

    Darlene was my television girl friend from the first showing.

  • @frankiannuzzi2823
    @frankiannuzzi2823 Před 6 lety +9

    Listen the fact of the matter is Walt Disney shows favoritism and helped Annette through stardom in her life once again it's all about favoritism

    • @superjackster0165
      @superjackster0165 Před 6 lety +2

      Frank Iannuzzi David Whitman Character Actor After reading everything about Walt Disney (who is my idol and hero) favoring Annette over Darlene ( who actually had talent) i feel betrayed. I have nothing against Annette at all, I think she's a great actress and I'm sad she died 5 years ago (what's even worse is that I didn't know about it until last year) but i feel betrayed that Walt Disney would actually have favoritism.

    • @ChristopherLarson1
      @ChristopherLarson1 Před 4 lety +1

      This is true, and such a shame.

    • @academyofshem
      @academyofshem Před 4 lety

      @@superjackster0165 Walt was an asshole. A brilliant asshole, but an asshole nonetheless.

    • @PreservationEnthusiast
      @PreservationEnthusiast Před 3 lety +3

      @@academyofshem Judy Nugent was much better than either. Walt only brought on the people who were willing to share certain favours.

    • @bronxbearbud272
      @bronxbearbud272 Před 3 lety

      Favoritism? Tell that to the black kids that Walt Disney absolutely forbade from being Mouseketeers

  • @LawyerCalhoun1
    @LawyerCalhoun1 Před 3 lety +5

    Darlene should have become the Judy Garland of her generation.

  • @videox222ify
    @videox222ify Před 3 lety

    her younger sister is Gina Gillespie who was also a child actress and appeared in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane

    • @harperstacey9604
      @harperstacey9604 Před 2 lety

      Gina Gillespie grew up to become a lawyer. From Ms. Harper Stacey.

    • @videox222ify
      @videox222ify Před 2 lety

      @@harperstacey9604 yes that is true I wrote to her some years back and she autographed some things for me, she goes by Gina G McDonald now

  • @scotthugins7672
    @scotthugins7672 Před rokem +1

    So, is it the story that Disney stood in the way of this wonderful voice going on to have a career?

    • @superjackster0165
      @superjackster0165 Před rokem

      Unfortunately, Disney was more interested in promoting Annette and giving her all the attention. He practically threw Darlene and all the other mousketeers out in the snow

  • @davidbaise5137
    @davidbaise5137 Před 11 měsíci +1

    You know, sounds like Darlene was probably a very good yodeler in her day

  • @josephpetrocelli3930
    @josephpetrocelli3930 Před 2 lety

    I was in love with Annette...no Darlene...no Annette...no Darlene. Yes she should have been a star. Broadway, TV, movies. She had the talent for all of them.

  • @katieinwonderland2879

    2:36 "Zip A Dee Dooh Da!"

  • @mkeogh76
    @mkeogh76 Před 3 lety +1

    After her showbiz career ended, she became a surgical nurse and was apparently very good at it. But then she bizarrely turned to crime (fraud/forgery) with her sleazy boyfriend/husband. We really can be our own worst enemies.

    • @harperstacey9604
      @harperstacey9604 Před 2 lety

      Walt Disney had Darlene gillespie blackballed because her father made too many demands to Walt Disney. Plus Annette funicello was walt disney's pet.

  • @Ford_Raptor_R_720hp_V8
    @Ford_Raptor_R_720hp_V8 Před 3 lety +1

    Darlene went on to serve time in jail twice, for Petty Theft and Check Fraud

    • @harperstacey9604
      @harperstacey9604 Před 2 lety +1

      Darlene gillespie could have been the next Judy Garland. From Ms. Harper Stacey.

  • @lestercarvin4422
    @lestercarvin4422 Před 6 měsíci

    Wow she's singing a thank you prayer to God.
    That doesn't happen anymore.

  • @jackiejns983
    @jackiejns983 Před 3 lety +2

    Darlene was ripped off. She had the best voice. Poor kid.

    • @harperstacey9604
      @harperstacey9604 Před 2 lety

      Darlene gillespie deserved a chance at stardom just like Annette funicello. From Ms. Harper Stacey.

  • @MrJgohde
    @MrJgohde Před 4 lety +1

    Most of the Mickey Mouse Club could barely keep up with Goofy.

  • @dennismiddlebrooks7027

    Darlene could twirl faster than the other Mouseketeer girls. She had nice legs and would show them off when the opportunity arise during a dance number.

  • @michaelodonnell9756
    @michaelodonnell9756 Před 2 lety +1

    I've been hearing a lot about the so-called rivalry between Darlene and Annette. I'm sorry but I've never bought into it. They were both equally talented in my opinion. I'm sorry I don't by into that bit about the rivalry. I never did and I never will.

    • @harperstacey9604
      @harperstacey9604 Před 2 lety +1

      Darlene was jealous of Annette's popularity and became difficult to deal with. From Ms. Harper Stacey.

    • @PreservationEnthusiast
      @PreservationEnthusiast Před 2 lety +1

      @@harperstacey9604 Let's face it though, Annette had a weak squeaky singing voice which could not match the depth of Darlene. Annette could dance as well as Darlene, but she couldn't act or do comedy or impersonations like Darlene could.
      There were no way equal. Darlene was much more talented than Annette.

  • @racestracksgoil
    @racestracksgoil Před 9 lety +2

    How did you get all of this??? I want!!!

  • @keonta81
    @keonta81 Před 3 lety

    My mom is named after her

  • @kathyfowler7511
    @kathyfowler7511 Před 3 lety

    5:30

  • @shoknifeman2mikado135
    @shoknifeman2mikado135 Před 7 lety +17

    Darlene was my fave, and in my opinion 20 times prettier and more talented than Annette

    • @shoknifeman2mikado135
      @shoknifeman2mikado135 Před 7 lety +2

      I think she made a mistake, in going blonde, I think that's what made her features stick out, like that (especially on a B&W TV), but, I would still take her over Annette.

    • @thehair1474
      @thehair1474 Před 4 lety +1

      Yeah she was the most talented, and best looking of the bunch, but she became a low life criminal dirtball.

    • @lucillebadger6554
      @lucillebadger6554 Před 4 lety +1

      @@thehair1474 Got mixed up with a lowlife criminal dirtball man who brought her down. I felt sorry for her.

    • @thehair1474
      @thehair1474 Před 4 lety +4

      @@lucillebadger6554 I felt sorry for her too BUT she got involved with his criminal activities SEVERAL times, willingly. She was not forced. And stayed with him quite a while. So a lot of the blame is HERS.

    • @academyofshem
      @academyofshem Před 4 lety +2

      @@thehair1474 Darlene: Great talent and beauty, but was caught short in the common sense department.

  • @shoknifeman2mikado135
    @shoknifeman2mikado135 Před 7 lety +3

    I don't remember "Judy" in the least ??

    • @mickeymouseclubchannel9733
      @mickeymouseclubchannel9733 Před 5 lety +1

      shoknifeman2 mikado Judy was only a Mouseketeer during the show’s first year, so it makes sense that not many people remember her or the other 1 year kids (save for a few like Johnny Crawford who later starred on the rifleman, Don Grady from my three sons, Bonnie Lynn Fields, and Sherry)

    • @mike89128
      @mike89128 Před 4 lety

      @@mickeymouseclubchannel9733 Several of the first year Mouseketeers were let go for vandalism. They broke into the closed ink locker which held blends for production cartoons and mixed them. This cause a lot of damage and lost work. Walt wasn't happy.

    • @mickeymouseclubchannel9733
      @mickeymouseclubchannel9733 Před 4 lety

      Only the Rooney Brothers (Mickey Jr. and Tim) were let go for vandalism. They went and messed with the studio paint department. Other Mouseketeers were let go that year for other reasons - Dallas Johann cried whenever the camera turned his way, Paul Peterson punched a casting director, the producers thought Johnny Crawford wasn’t working out for the show anymore, and the others didn’t get their contract options renewed for the Next year, save for the 10 that actually DID make it to year 2. I believe Nancy Abbate was the only mouse that year that quit the show on her own, the others that didn’t make it to season 2 got dropped .

  • @commentcommenter3529
    @commentcommenter3529 Před 5 lety

    Great voice. Too bad she never cut a record.

    • @stacyharper7783
      @stacyharper7783 Před 3 lety

      Darlene made several records but h they didn't sell.

  • @yosemite735
    @yosemite735 Před 3 lety

    She got jealous of Annette and then became a thief? A couple of other chicks have done that too.

  • @jamestyler7697
    @jamestyler7697 Před 8 lety +4

    Her voice reminds me of a young Patsy Cline...

    • @saratogasam9204
      @saratogasam9204  Před 8 lety +2

      She always kind of reminded me of a young Judy Garland
      czcams.com/video/jSY7jX28P48/video.html

    • @mysticalmargaret6105
      @mysticalmargaret6105 Před 8 lety

      +Saratoga Sam Same here. Even when I was a little girl (in the '70s) I noticed Darlene had a beautiful voice. Is there any more footage of her singing with Tommy in what appears to be a Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher number? I don't remember that one - it is delightful and they're both my favorite Mousketeers! :)

    • @saratogasam9204
      @saratogasam9204  Před 8 lety +1

      +Margaret Tudor You can hear them perform a slightly different version of 'Do-Mi-So' for a Hansen Records recording at czcams.com/video/6k0d9ha8BcA/video.html though

    • @mysticalmargaret6105
      @mysticalmargaret6105 Před 8 lety

      +Saratoga Sam Thank you so much!! :) Now that I've heard the song in full I see that Tommy is Little Boy Blue and Darlene is Mary Mary Quite Contrary in the skit - and not Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher as I had thought lol!

    • @shoknifeman2mikado135
      @shoknifeman2mikado135 Před 7 lety

      I agree, Sam, there's a perfect example of her young Garland-like talent at 10:10 of this video

  • @HummelGleek342
    @HummelGleek342 Před 3 lety

    1:04 Video link please

  • @laraoneal7284
    @laraoneal7284 Před 4 lety

    Were u a good little girl? That said a lot. Read between the lines. Nuff said.