Always in the Club: The Lasting Legacy of ‘The All-New Mickey Mouse Club’
When Ryan Gosling took the stage at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event earlier this month, the moment felt like more than just another blockbuster Disney appearance.
It was a homecoming.
‘Star Wars: Starfighter’
While previewing footage from the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, Gosling donned a leather jacket from his time on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, while a sizzle reel from his time on the show played.
It was a symbolic moment that clearly meant a lot to the Hollywood A-lister.
Photo: William Jacket
“I owe a lot to Disney. Had they not looked far and wide and come to my hometown, I would not be here today. And now here I am 30 years later,” he said. “I’m back and it’s changing my life again.”
The ‘All-New’ Mickey Mouse Club
For Disney fans of a certain age, The All-New Mickey Mouse Club has taken on an almost hallowed place in Disney history.
Photo: Disney
Airing on the Disney Channel, the series breathed new life into the iconic Mickey Mouse franchise, with its Mouseketeers trading in their Mickey ears for varsity jackets. Filmed at Disney-MGM Studios, The All-New Mickey Mouse Club would go on to capture the imagination of an entire generation.
“For a lot of our audience, we weren’t just a television show they watched. We were part of their childhood,” former Mouseketeer Raquel Herring explains. “They grew up with us. And now we’re all adults with careers and some with families and completely different lives, but there is still this connection.”
Photo: Disney
Over time, the series would also prove to be a launching pad for some of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars, including Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Deedee Magno, Rhona Bennett, Chase Hampton, and Keri Russell.
In total, 35 Mouseketeers appeared in the series during its seven-season run. Growing up in front of the camera together, they formed a tight-knit group that has stood the test of time.
Photo: Teen Beat
“Honestly, I don’t think you can fully grasp as a kid how much something like that will shape you, even though I was very aware how absolutely lucky I was to be a part of the show’s legacy. The years I spent on the show are still some of my favorite memories, and the lessons I learned there and friendships I made have followed me through my whole career and life,” reflects former Mouseketeer Nikki DeLoach.
Photo: Billboard
“Looking back, it was also a training ground for anything and everything I dreamed of doing in entertainment, and it gave me a work ethic to match. With a cast that size, you learn early on how important teamwork is and that everyone gets their moment to shine.”
Once in the Club, Always in the Club
When talking to former Mickey Mouse Club cast members, “friendship” is the word that keeps coming up.
Photo: All in the Club
While the talented cast has gone on to have diverse and impressive careers throughout the entertainment industry, the bonds they formed while shooting at the Disney-MGM Studios have kept them connected.
“That’s probably one of the most beautiful parts. After all these years, there are still bonds. You can go years without seeing someone and somehow, when you’re together again, you’re right back there,” says Herring.
Photo: All in the Club
“We got to grow up in a theme park, surrounded by some of the best teachers and mentors imaginable, while learning every aspect of performing and television,” adds Hampton.
“But what I cherish most, and what I never could have predicted, is the brotherhood and bond that still exists between us and our incredible fans. After all these years, we genuinely want to see each other win. We helped each other shine, we still show up for one another, and we remain some of each other’s biggest cheerleaders. That may be the greatest gift the show gave us. Each other.”
Photo: All in the Club
30 years after The All-New Mickey Mouse Club said goodbye for the final time, the series remains beloved by those of us who tuned in for Anything Can Happen Day, danced along to the opening theme, and intently watched every installment of Emerald Cove.
Photo: All in the Club
Perhaps more impressive, however, is that the MMC has created a lasting community of fans and former Mouseketeers known as Always in the Club.
Mentoring the Next Generation
Always in the Club began in 2012 as a way for fans to support former Mouseketeer Tony Lucca as he released an album and appeared as a finalist on NBC’s The Voice.
Photo: All in the Club
Lucca’s journey brought together former Mouseketeers Dale Godboldo, Jennifer McGill, Raquel Herring, Lindsey Alley, TJ Fantini, Deedee Magno Hall, David Kater, Bennett, and Terra “Deva” McNair, who gathered to support him.
From there, however, the organization has grown into a thriving 501(c)(3) dedicated to using lessons learned from The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, the individual talents of the former Mouseketeers, and the power of the MMC community to “reimagine tomorrow through arts & action.”
Photo: All in the Club
“I won’t say that something like the Always In The Club initiative was inevitable, but it really is no surprise that these kids, who were chosen to represent the continuation of Walt’s original vision for the show, would grow up to become civic-minded adults with an almost instinctive tendency towards helping others in need,” reflects Lucca
At the heart of Always in the Club is a desire to guide and inspire the next generation.
Photo: Always in the Club
Through arts education, mentorships, and workshops, Mouseketeers are pouring themselves into the young creatives and keeping the spirit of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club alive.
“What I love about Always In The Club is that it isn’t only about looking backward and saying, ‘Remember when?’ Of course we celebrate that history, we’re proud of it,” says Herring. “But it is also about what we can do with that legacy now.”
“We Asked What We Could Do With All of This”
Over the past 14 years, Always in the Club has also helped raise money for a myriad of organizations and supported causes close to the Mouseketeers’ hearts.
Photo: Always in the Club
Major events have included #MMC30, a cast reunion and 30th anniversary celebration of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club.
Hosted by Fatone, the celebration brought former Mouseketeers together at Walt Disney World, where they marked the anniversary by raising money for Give Kids the World.
Photo: Always in the Club
It also gave even more former Mouseketeers a chance to reunite with their fellow castmates and reconnect with the community.
“During our 30th anniversary, many of us came back together and with Disney had a blow out reunion at Epcot’s World ShowPlace Pavilion,” recalls Hampton. “At that time Dale Godboldo graciously asked me to join his passion, Always In The Club, a 501(c)(3) that gave us a way to continue collaborating as cast members while turning that connection into something that could serve others.”
Photo: Always in the Club
Other reunion appearances at Why? Because It’s Christmas, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, and 90s Con 2022 have raised thousands of dollars for organizations including the Alzheimer’s Association, MusiCares, and more.
“It started as something informal. A group of us reunited with fans to support Tony in the finals of The Voice, and the room that showed up was bigger than any of us expected. Cast, crew, and fans from all over the country flew in to watch the show together, people who had not stood in the same place in twenty years,” reflects Godboldo.
“We could have let that be a nice night and gone home. Instead, we asked what we could do with this. Always In The Club was born that night. A beautiful community where cast members and fans of the show can come together and celebrate our unique, and truly special connection. But it’s also a nonprofit organization committed to carrying forward the lessons we learned on those soundstages at Disney-MGM Studios.”
The Magic of Disney
As former cast members of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club continue to forge a legacy through Always in the Club, their connection to Disney has remained strong.
Photo: Always in the Club
“We’ve also been incredibly blessed by Disney’s support. They have continued to have their hands on our shoulders as we continue being the ambassadors they created so many years ago. Always honored,” says Hampton.
In addition to the 30th anniversary event at Walt Disney World and a reunion at 2022’s D23, the Disney Parks have served as the backdrop for mentorship programs and other educational opportunities.
Photo: Always in the Club
“Getting invited to do a panel discussion with Disney Archives at D23 a few years back was one of the most meaningful, pride-filled experiences we’ve been given since the show wrapped,” says Lucca.
Gosling’s Throwback D23 Appearance
Knowing how much the legacy of the Mickey Mouse Club means to both former Mouseketeers and the Always in the Club organization, it is easy to see why Gosling’s D23 moment was so exciting for his former castmates.
Photo: EW
“It’s powerful to witness how deeply the Mouse Club still resonates. Seeing Ryan don his Teer jacket was both fun and inspiring. It showed that he’s still connected to those creative roots and leans in to an enduring bond,” says Bennett.
Perhaps more meaningful than Gosling’s jacket, however, was the fan reaction to The All-New Mickey Mouse Club getting a moment to shine.
Photo: Disney
“That was a pretty special moment. What stayed with me was the room. D23 pulls a crowd that spans generations, and plenty of the people cheering were not alive when we were shooting. They know the show anyway. Ryan in the jacket was the fun part,” Godboldo reflects.
“I think seeing him throw a little tribute to his roots meant a lot to the fans who have grown up with him. And the sound that room made was the part I keep thinking about, and it happened at Disney’s own event in front of Disney’s own fans. It’s wonderful to see the show still part of the conversation.”
A Special Connection
In many ways, Gosling’s D23 moment is just the latest reminder of just how deeply The All-New Mickey Mouse Club continues to resonate with the generation that grew up watching it.
Photo: All in the Club
“Disney fans know their history, they love it, and they protect it fiercely. Those are my kind of people. So anytime The All-New Mickey Mouse Club gets recognized as an important part of that legacy, it really means a lot,” says Hampton.
For the men and women who brought the show to life, the enduring connection they share with Mickey Mouse Club fans has been one of the most remarkable parts of the show’s legacy.
Photo: All in the Club
“When we were doing the show, we were kids. We knew we were part of Disney and we knew that was special, but I don’t think we could fully understand the impact we were creating or how much it would still mean to so many people decades later,” reflects Herring.
Photo: All in the Club
“So seeing Ryan there in the jacket and seeing that recognition at D23 made me smile. It was one of those ‘How awesome, they still remember us!’ moments. And I love that. We were part of Disney history. That’s amazing to be able to say.”
‘Always In The Club: The True Story of The “All New” Mickey Mouse Club’
As the former Mouseketeers of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club continue to write their next chapter, they are also telling their story.
Photo: Always in the Club
To support their ongoing mission to mentor the next generation, the Always in the Club Foundation recently released Always in the Club: The True Story of the All-New Mickey Mouse Club.
Built on more than 60 interviews with The All-New Mickey Mouse Club cast, crew, and former executives, the book offers a look back at the series through the voices of the people who helped bring it to life.
Photo: Always in the Club
“Nearly 40 Mouseketeers and hosts passed through The ‘All New’ Mickey Mouse Club between 1989 and 1995. The book carries their voices, their memories, and the bonds that outlasted the cameras,” the book’s logline reads.
To learn more about the organization or order your own copy of the book, you can visit the Always in the Club website.
Photo: MickeyBlog
