Trivia

Charles Bolender has the distinction of being the second person to perform in public as Mickey Mouse. In 1953, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the creation of the cartoon character, H. G. "Pete" Smith of Disney Products hatched the idea to use little people to dress as Mickey. The first outing was in August of that year when one of Hermine's Midgets of the World of Mirth Shows appeared at the opening of a children's toy department at Filene's in Boston. The following month, on Saturday, September 26th, Bolender, a former Ringling Brothers performer, donned the costume at the inauguration of Macy's toy fair in New York.