August 11: Mike Douglas

On this day in 1925 Mike Douglas, a singer, entertainer, and TV talk show host, was born in Chicago, Illinois. First singing as a choirboy, in his teens he worked as a singer on a dinner cruise ship on Lake Michigan. After briefly serving in the U.S. Navy, Douglas moved to Los Angeles and began performing on radio and as a vocalist for the big band of Kay Kyser (at the time a popular bandleader and radio personality).
This led to Douglas taking part in Disney's 1950 animated release Cinderella. Although William Phipps supplied the speaking voice for Prince Charming, it was Douglas who provided the character's singing voice.
Take a quick listen to Douglas on "So This is Love."
 

In 1961 Douglas began a local talk show in Cleveland, Ohio. The Mike Douglas Show became immensely popular and soon was seen coast-to-coast from studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His successful afternoon show went on to make 6,000 telecasts through 1982. Everyone and anyone in show business at some point made an appearance on The Mike Douglas Show including such musical acts as The Beach Boys, Herman's Hermits, Louis Armstrong and Billy Joel and such Hollywood stars as Bob Hope, Judy Garland, Jimmy Stewart and Paul Newman.

In 1983 Douglas co-hosted the very first broadcast of Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Day Parade. The 90-minute special was actually broadcast live from the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day.

Sadly Mike Douglas passed away on his 81st birthday in 2006.

Click HERE for more August 11 Disney history.