Interview: Jim Adams & Don Payne (Disneyland entertainers)

Disneyland entertainers Jim Adams and Don Payne
Disneyland entertainers Jim Adams and Don Payne

Jim Adams and Don Payne entertained thousands of guests at Disneyland and toured the country for Disney in the 1970s.

Together and individually Jim and Don were involved in performing, writing and directing many of Disneyland’s events such as “The Baby Animal Show” at Carnation Plaza Gardens, the “Fun with Music” show at the Fantasyland Theater, “The Great Annual Easter Walking Race” and much more. Jim and Don both also starred in Disneyland’s historic “Golden Horseshoe Revue,” alternating with Disney Legend Wally Boag. (See more photos and audio index below)

Jim Adams delights an audience member during the "Golden Horseshoe Revue"
Jim Adams delights an audience member during the “Golden Horseshoe Revue”
Don Payne entertains in the "Golden Horseshoe Revue"
Don Payne entertains in the “Golden Horseshoe Revue”
Jim Adams hosts "The Baby Animal Show" with Goofy and a live duckling
Jim Adams hosts “The Baby Animal Show” with Goofy and a live duckling
As puppeteer, Don Payne takes a break during a television appearance to promote Disney's "101 Dalmatians"
As puppeteer, Don Payne takes a break during a television appearance to promote Disney’s “101 Dalmatians”
Jim Adams shares a laugh with Disney Legend Fulton Burley in a bicentennial-themed version of the "Golden Horseshoe Revue"
Jim Adams shares a laugh with Disney Legend Fulton Burley in a bicentennial-themed version of the “Golden Horseshoe Revue”

AUDIO INDEX

2:56 Jim’s start in entertainment at Disneyland; Began in the Christmas parade; Meeting Wally Boag for the first time; Wally enlisted Jim to perform in the Disneyland Drama Workshop including “Chicken Ranching for Fun and Profit” and “Tail of the West”; Intended for internal performances, “Chicken Ranching” was eventually seen by the public; Jim started performing in the “Golden Horseshoe Revue”

11:10 Jim toured the country promoting Disneyland and Disney’s latest film releases; Did television and radio shows, live shows at malls and hospital visits

13:06 Remembering Disney Legend Fulton Burley; Fulton was always entertaining people, both on and off stage; Fulton even entertained in the bathroom!; Working with Fulton in the “Golden Horseshoe Revue”

23:16 Don’s start at Disneyland; Began in the Christmas Parade, with his first performance on December 15, 1966, the day Walt Disney died; Don remembers snow at Disneyland that night; Don joins the character department and then becomes a performer in the “Golden Horseshoe Revue”

28:34 Jim begins performing the Mountain Man character as the “Golden Horseshoe Revue” pre-show, and Don takes over the Mountain Man pre-show when Jim was in the main show