Our Movie of the Month for November is actually a collection of chapters from the beloved Mickey Mouse Club serial, “The Adventures of Spin and Marty,” showing daily at 1:00 & 4:00pm (except Tuesdays, and November 11,12,19, and 24
Fifteen-year-old Tim Considine, who would become the consummate in “country cool” as Spin Evans, actually first auditioned for the role of spoiled Marty Markham!
Tim was the son of movie producer John Considine, and nephew of Bob Considine, a well-known newspaper writer. His mother, Carmen Pantages, was a member of the eminent Pantages theatrical family. At the time he was cast for “Spin and Marty,” he was already an accomplished actor who appeared in films and on television.
In one of his movies, Her Twelve Men, he had worked with another young actor named David Stollery. Considine recollects that he may have been the one to recommend him for the role of Marty. “We became friends working on the film and I seem to remember suggesting him to Disney for the part,” he said. Stollery was soon screen tested and won the job.
Stollery grew up in Los Angeles, to a family that had been in and out of the entertainment business (primarily working in radio) for a number of years. When his parents’ joint careers eventually moved away from that industry, young David became the focus of his mom’s show business ambitions. “She’s the one who got me in the business,” he explained. “I became a working actor at the age of six.”
Stollery launched his acting career working in theater, ultimately graduating to films and television, having appeared on such TV shows as I Love Lucy, Dragnet, and Hallmark Hall of Fame, among others. In 1953, he won accolades for his dramatic work in the Broadway revival of On Borrowed Time. Then, at the age of fourteen he was signed to play the role of Marty—for a cool $400 per week.
On Saturday November 12 at 3:00pm in our Museum Theatre, meet Tim Considine and David Stollery, stars of the “Spin and Marty” serial on The Mickey Mouse Club in the special program The Adventures of Spin and Marty with Don Peri, Tim Considine, and David Stollery. Hosted by Disney historian and author Don Peri, they will discuss their adventures in front of and behind the cameras at the Triple R Ranch, stories about their careers before and after the show, and their reminiscences of working with Walt Disney. Tickets are available at the Reception and Member Service Desk at the Museum, or online by clicking here.
Lorraine Santoli