Apr-May 2016 Disneyana Fan Club Disneyana Dispatch Newsletter From The President: By Linda Rolls BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015-2017 PRESIDENT Spring has Sprung....and sum- are: 1) Increased nationally Linda Rolls mer will be here before we sponsored events in areas oth- [email protected] know it. We are gearing up for er than Southern California; VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE an amazing convention in July. 2) More support for chapters; Louis Boish Please be sure to check out 3) Better communication over- [email protected] the information in this news- all. Through a Strategic Plan- VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP letter regarding the seminars, ning process, we will use your Jeannie Lee [email protected] banquets, and registration. input to develop a detailed Reserve early to get the best plan for the future. We want VICE PRESIDENT OF CHAPTERS Gary Des Combes pricing. you to know that your voices [email protected] are being heard. You may peri- VICE PRESIDENT OF MEDIA RELATIONS & As many have already heard, odically see follow up surveys COMMUNICATIONS D23 has announced their next in the future to help us clar- Dr. Andi Stein Expo for 2017 to take place at ify some of the information we [email protected] the same time we would ordi- received. and your direct par- SECRETARY narily hold our convention. ticipation will be a critical Ted Bradpiece Clearly, we won't be planning piece of the improvement pro- [email protected] anything that would be in com- cess. Stay tuned! EDITOR-IN-CHIEF petition with the Expo, but we Bob Welbaum [email protected] are considering our options. With respect to activities in In doing so, we want our mem- other areas, please check the CONVENTION CHAIR Brian Hugo bers' input and will shortly website and watch for the [email protected] be sending out a Convention eblast on the next Walking SPECIAL EVENTS CHAIR Survey via email. When you re- With Giants event, which will Cathy Perrone ceive the survey, please be be in Florida. Our good [email protected] sure to take a minute to re- friend Robbie Sherman has ar- WEBMASTER spond. We are anxious to hear ranged for our song to be Theo Fukushima your ideas so we can make the played by a high school march- [email protected] most informed decision possible. ing band in the parade on Dec. DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE 19th. Cathy Perrone is working Thomas C. Taffinder The last survey that was sent on a luncheon with Robbie and [email protected] out was a tremendous success! the band members on Sunday, Dec. Nicolasa Nevarez Laurie Smith There was in excess of a 75% 18th. I hope many of you will response from our members, and be there, especially those who LEGACY CHAIR your input is being used now find it difficult to get to Allan Halcrow as we discuss new directions events on the West Coast. [email protected] for our beloved DFC. Overall, CHARITIES CHAIR data showed that our members In closing I wish all of you Dennis Ritchey [email protected] find satisfaction in DFC. Some magical adventures and the of the needs that were noted ADDITIONAL EDITORIAL STAFF good health to enjoy them! Assistant Editor Ian Miska Disneyland Correspondent From the Editor: Gary Marlis Dianeyana Dispatch Newsletter™ is published by the Disneyana Fan Club, for the benefit of its members. Subscription is included in Club member- By Bob Welbaum Greg Shelton ship. With the exception of copyrighted material provided by the Walt Disney Company or any of its divisions, copyrights for all material held by the Disneyana Fan Club © 2013 All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in part or in whole without written permission is prohibited. Brief extracts may be If this issue looks different, readability. What do you used with due acknowledgement. The Disneyana Fan Club is not responsi- ble for mail not delivered due to undisclosed changes of address. Back I’m getting professional help. think so far? issues, if available, may be ordered for $2.50 each. All inquiries, com- ments, contributions, address changes, or requests for back issues should be made to: No, for the newsletter. A new I promised you an issue of Disneyana Fan Club member with experience in mar- Tomart’s DISNEYANA Update mag- P.O. Box 19212 Irvine, CA 92623-9212 keting and branding has gra- azine with this newsletter. (714) 731-4705 ciously offered to lend her Unfortunately, Tomart is a bit www.disneyanafanclub.org expertise, so we’ll be trying behind schedule, so that maga- some new ideas to improve zine will be coming next time. 2 “Why do we have to grow up?” — Walt Disney Disneyana Fan Club Disneyana Dispatch Newsletter Apr-May 2016 This is a paid advertisement. The Disneyana Fan Club is not affiliated with the advertiser and does not evaluate or endorse the quality or value of the service or product being promoted. “[Tinker Bell] has charm, spunk, willfulness, and a bold passion. She is not bland or passive; she reacts decisively and directly.” — John Canemaker 3 Apr-May 2016 Disneyana Fan Club Disneyana Dispatch Newsletter Cover Story — Gina Rock: The Longest Serving Tinker Bell in Disneyland History By Joshua C. Shaffer with Gina Rock Joshua Shaffer is the author of Discover- hold Programs contract for ing The Magic Kingdom (DTMK). Visit presidential-declared disas- ters. him on his website discoveringthemag- ickingdom.com/ and meet him at the DTMK: What got you interested July 16 Show & Sale. in doing aerialist work as Tinker Bell? Tinker Bell is one of the most iconic characters that Disney GINA: I was always interested has ever created. She made her in gymnastics and took ballet first Disney appearance in the for eight years. I loved ath- 1953 animated feature Peter letics from a very early age. I Pan. Disney then used her to had a curiosity about circus promote the upcoming theme performing and stunts starting park, Disneyland. Since the at the age of 11. I was discov- opening of the park in 1955, ered by Bob Yerkes (stunt man Walt thought the night-time in Back To The Future I & III, fireworks show lacked something Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, Who spectacular. Walt introduced Framed Roger Rabbit, and as crowds of Disneyland visitors Boba Fett in Return of the to the first live version of Jedi) at a gymnastics practice Tinker Bell in 1961 when he had during my senior year in high the 4-foot 10-inch tall Tiny school. Bob started training me Kline zip across the castle before I left for Texas to join Gina Rock 1976, Ringling Brothers from atop the Matterhorn. Her the circus as an aerialist. I Photo Unknown appearance was welcomed by all eventually went on to join who saw her. After her retire- Ringling Brothers and Circus Taiwan, as a flying trapeze ment in 1964, Tiny passed on Circus. I had also traveled to performer with an act that was the “wand” to Mimi Zerbini, who hired by Judy Kaye’s ex- only flew for two summers, then husband, Paul Kaye Circus. Judy passed the wand to Judy Kaye, was Tinker Bell in the park at and then on to Gina Rock. that time. I remembered seeing Tinker Bell fly over the castle Gina became Tinker Bell on May at Disneyland when I was at the 31, 1983. She amazed the chil- resort for Grad Night. I stated dren nightly during the fire- to my date: “Oh, I would love works for 21 years until her that job!” I asked Paul how retirement. Chances are if you Judy got the job at Disneyland. saw the fireworks between 1984 He said he didn’t remember how and 2005, you probably saw her. she acquired the job seven Gina holds the record for the years before, but that she was longest run as the popular pix- going to try and do it again ie. After all that time, what after the Fantasyland makeover. would Tinker Bell do after she So I was given the heads up retires? Well, I had the pleas- about the Tinker Bell spot by ure of speaking with Gina on Judy’s husband. After almost the subject. Tinker Bell goes ten years of circus performing, on to help those in need. Gina Left: Mitzi & Sergio Ramos I returned to San Fernando Val- joined an engineering firm that ley. Fantasyland was just re- retains the Individual House- Right: Gina Rock furbished, so in 1983 I visited Photo Unknown 4 “Why do we have to grow up?” — Walt Disney Disneyana Fan Club Disneyana Dispatch Newsletter Apr-May 2016 the Park and visited Card Cor- tion of America and have worked ner to inquire about the posi- with athletes on their health tion if they were going to hire and physical fitness issues. I a new Tink. As luck would have also teamed up with a holistic it, they said they were going doctor on speaking tours, lec- to put her back in six months. turing on health and fitness Talk about perfect timing! I issues, and visited many pedi- auditioned and acquired the atric wards of hospitals to job. My first flight from the keep up the spirits of the pa- castle was in 1983 when I was tients. 28 years old, and found out two weeks later that I was pregnant DTMK: What were some of your with my first child, “my favor- Gina Rock & Frank Wells enter the An- favorite acts that you have ite pixie magic.” A few years nual Employee Forum, March 21, 1989.