FULTON BURLEY
Tribute at the Walt Disney Studios, October 29, 2007

by Scott Wolf

Imagine your favorite show, whether it's a movie, a stage show, a television series... whatever. Imagine that you just adore the cast. Now imagine that somebody approaches you and says, "I'd like you to help pay tribute to one of the cast."

Fulton Burley was one of the stars of my favorite show, the Golden Horseshoe Revue. When I was asked to help put together the memorial program, I knew it had to be special. The casts of the Golden Horseshoe Revue were some of the greatest entertainers in history, with histories in television and movies, classic radio and even vaudeville.

Fulton was a true entertainer and loved to make people smile, always making people laugh, and he was loved by all. So this certainly couldn't be a sad memorial, it had to be a tribute worthy of a legendary entertainer. 

I was pretty much given free reign on this program to do whatever I felt was appropriate. I chose rare video clips, montages with photos of Fulton thru the years, and called many, many of those associated with the Golden Horseshoe Revue.

Tonight people from the longest running stage show in history reunited at the Walt Disney Studios to honor Fulton in a way that would have made Fulton proud... with smiles and laughter. The first thing I saw was people hugging and laughing and seeing people they hadn't seen for twenty years. I had the opportunity to finally meet so many of the people I spoke to on the phone and many that I had seen back when I was in the audience of the Golden Horseshoe Revue.

Then we went to the theatre and watched the program I put together with some very special guests. The hilarious Dick Hardwick was the emcee. Dick replaced Wally Boag  in the show for the last few years (Dick & Wally, pictured right). Dana Daniels subbed for Dick and treated us to his own comedy. He brought down the house! Shelby Grimm who subbed for Fulton in the show sang a beautiful version of "Without a Song" and then reunited with former Disneyland Dapper Dans Barbershop Quartet members for several songs including "I Love to Laugh" from Mary Poppins with the song's co-songwriter Richard M. Sherman in the audience. Dee Dee Bozikis called up about twenty of the can-can dancers and did a kickline tribute to Fulton.

The stories went from funny, such as stating that the Golden Horseshoe Revue might have been the longest running stage show according to Guinness, but what Guiness didn't know is that backstage was the longest running card game... to tender moments such as Fulton going to hospitals with Mickey Mouse and others to entertain kids... and nurses and everybody else for that matter.

Perhaps, the most touching moment of the evening was when Jay Meyer was introduced (pictured left, with Wally Boag). Jay played Fulton's part often in the show and was a part of entertainment since the second world war. He was a regular singer on The Jack Benny radio show singing in the Sportsmen Quartet. He is immortalized as a singing statue in the Haunted Mansion, and he was just brilliant in the Golden Horseshoe Revue. I interviewed Jay for my website not too long ago, and he is one of those people that just makes you feel GREAT! I know Fulton was the same way. We showed a rare clip, perhaps the only time that Jay and Fulton sang together. Now in his eighties, and many years since he has sang in front of any audience, Jay approached the podium and sang "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra" as he had done in the old Horseshoe. You heard sniffles everywhere... not from being sad, but for bringing people back in time. It was touching, it was tender, and with Jay's sweet voice it was the perfect Irish song to honor Fulton as well.

Disneyland has different meanings for everybody. I met my wife there fifteen years ago. I've done two books on the place! But, the Golden Horseshoe Revue was part of my childhood, a wonderful time I enjoyed with my family, and tonight I had the unimaginable chance to thank everybody who gave me my happy childhood memories... Wally Boag, Dick Hardwick, Jay Meyer, Dee Dee Bozikis, Lana Devore, Claudia Hardwick and the rest of the can can dancers, the various substitutes in the show Jim Adams, Shelby Grimm, Dana Daniels,  and the members of the band such as trumpet player Dale Olson and drummer Chris Stevens and others.

People were thanking me, but this was my thank you to all of them...

...and of course I thank Fulton Burley not only for entertaining me as a child, but for giving me one of the most memorable nights of my life. Fulton, I hope I made you proud! Rest in peace.

Learn more about Fulton Burley