#The dapper dans full#

They also helped Disney hire the group of men to replace them at Disneyland when they moved out East.

Siggins the group’s baritone, along with Bub Thomas, the bass Dick Kneeland, the lead and Bob Mathis, the tenor, were tapped as the group to open the park. “I was only working there (Disneyland) for three months, June, July August and a little bit of September, before we packed up all of our bags and, I mean, literally drove across the United States to open up Walt Disney World,” Siggins said. As Walt Disney World was nearing completion and preparing to open to the public, the company decided that the group would also become a part of the new Magic Kingdom. The Dapper Dans were formed on the West Coast in 1959 as part of the original theme park: Disneyland in Southern California. You can see a video of that opening day and I’ve been blown away by it.”

#The dapper dans full#

“It was a very exciting day, full of fun and music and largeness,” said Jerry Siggins, one of the original four Dapper Dans who performed on opening day, October 1, 1971.

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The group has been performing continuously at the Florida park since it opened.

The original performers in Walt Disney World first came over from Disneyland in September 1971.The Dapper Dans began in Disneyland in 1959.