2025: The Centennial Celebration Of DickVanDyke

[Baloo124]

Yes, I realize we still have 9+ months to go before he officially turns 100. But hey, if WDW can get away with having this for 18 months when it turned 25 years old...

...then surely a nearly full-year celebration is appropriate for this legend of a performer for turning 100. He deserves it.

So without further ado, here's to one of the greatest, Mr. DickVanDyke.

So many great memories, but one of my all-time favorite moments was when he surprised everyone with this appearance during the Disneyland 60th anniversary celebration, dancing "Step In Time" with the cast of Mary Poppins on Broadway. The audience reaction and surprise is priceless.

 

[Baloo124]

Happened just the other day:

https://nypost.com/2025/03/10/enter...h-a-cappella-group-at-fire-relief-fundraiser/

The 99-year-old Hollywood legend performed with his a cappella group, The Vantastix, at the Vandy Camp fundraiser for fire relief in Malibu on Saturday.

Van , who was joined by his wife, Arlene Silver, 53, at the event they hosted, performed a variety of songs, including “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” He wore a “Step in Time” T-shirt from “Mary Poppins.”

In case the first link isn't working,

https://people.com/dick-van--mary-poppins-shirt-singing-wildfires-11694342

 

[Baloo124]

Happened just the other day:

https://nypost.com/2025/03/10/enter...h-a-cappella-group-at-fire-relief-fundraiser/

In case the first link isn't working,

https://people.com/dick-van--mary-poppins-shirt-singing-wildfires-11694342

The top link isn't working for whatever reason. The bottom article (People) works if you copy and paste in address bar.
If that doesn't work, here is the "Step In Time" shirt everyone's talking about that he wore paying tribute to his role in Mary Poppins:

From the People article about the event on Saturday:

On Saturday, March 8, Van , 99, his wife Arlene, and his a capella troupe The Vantastix appeared at Aviator Nation Dreamland in Malibu, Calif., where they held an intimate event called Vandy Camp to raise money for California’s Community Brigade. The Brigade trains volunteers to prepare for and respond to wildfires and other dangers in their communities.
At the event, Van and Arlene, 52, wore matching black T-shirts that featured an illustration of Van ’s character Bert from 1964’s Mary Poppins alongside the title of his best-known song, “Step in Time.”

 

[Baloo124]

Video of his group warming up at last Saturday's event. Kudos for the Bear Necessities spoof song.
He's still got it. I'll be lucky if I can still remember my own name at 99 yrs.

 

[donaldtoo]

That man is amazing…!!!
I still watch his original TV show on MeTV.
My Mom will be 86 next month, and my Pop turned 92 on January 1st.
They are both still ambulatory and love life, but so many they knew in earlier life are now gone…neighbors, friends, family, etc.
My folks aren’t famous, of course, but I truly treasure them…they’re famous to me…!!!!!

Anyway, God bless our older folk…!!!!!

 

[Baloo124]

That man is amazing…!!!
I still watch his original TV show on MeTV.
My Mom will be 86 next month, and my Pop turned 92 on January 1st.
They are both still ambulatory and love life, but so many they knew in earlier life are now gone…neighbors, friends, family, etc.
My folks aren’t famous, of course, but I truly treasure them…they’re famous to me…!!!!!

Anyway, God bless our older folk…!!!!!

Welcome to the birthday party. Or should I say, Bert Day party (?)

It's several months early for his 100th, but that just means there is plenty of cake to go around.

Hats off to your Mom and Pop, and may they have plenty more happy years ahead of them. My Dad just turned 77, but sadly my Mom died years back in her young 60s due to strokes. Definitely cherish every moment, as life zooms by way too fast it seems. I always enjoy hearing my Dad talk about his younger days, stories from his time serving in the US Army, growing up, etc.

I love MeTV also, but haven't caught too much of the DickVanDyke show on it due to my schedule. Just discovered Barnaby Jones not too long ago, and am getting hooked on it.

Anyhow, God Bless our parents and all those who have trekked through the craziness of this world far longer than we have.

 

[donaldtoo]

Welcome to the birthday party. Or should I say, Bert Day party (?)
View attachment 848393

It's several months early for his 100th, but that just means there is plenty of cake to go around.

Hats off to your Mom and Pop, and may they have plenty more happy years ahead of them. My Dad just turned 77, but sadly my Mom died years back in her young 60s due to strokes. Definitely cherish every moment, as life zooms by way too fast it seems. I always enjoy hearing my Dad talk about his younger days, stories from his time serving in the US Army, growing up, etc.

I love MeTV also, but haven't caught too much of the DickVanDyke show on it due to my schedule. Just discovered Barnaby Jones not too long ago, and am getting hooked on it.

Anyhow, God Bless our parents and all those who have trekked through the craziness of this world far longer than we have.

I’m so very sorry about your Mom, and my sincerest condolences.
I’m such a lucky man.
My Pop was in the Army back in the early 50’s. He drove a deuce-and-a-half named “Sabre”.
Was two weeks away from being sent to Korea, and then the peace agreement was signed. He always jokes, they knew I was comin’, so they gave up…!!!!!

Yes, life goes by like a shot…when I was a kid, summer seemed to take a glorious year…now, it’s gone in what seems like 2 weeks…exponential aging time warp, AFAIK…!!!!!
Such precious people, and our 3 kids, and now 2 granddaughters (my folks great granddaughters) also very much appreciate them, as well…!!!!!

ETA…
And yes, Barnaby Jones was another one we always watched…!!!

 

[Baloo124]

Getting closer to the big 1-0-0

My favorite movie moments of his are from Mary Poppins obviously. Another more overlooked musical is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, about a flying car. Just like Poppins, it was well before my time, and I came to appreciate its charm through the magic of television.

We have a small model from the film we keep in a Disney collectible area (for some reason, it just feels like a Disney musical in the realm of Poppins fantasy).

Two of my favorite musical numbers from this movie are this, as it has the same energy and feel as "Step In Time".


And also Hushabye Mountain

 

[Comped]

I'd be surprised if Disney doesn't have something in the works for Dick but doesn't want to jinx him like what happened to Betty White.

 

[Baloo124]

I'd be surprised if Disney doesn't have something in the works for Dick but doesn't want to jinx him like what happened to Betty White.

I personally don't believe in jinxes or superstitions. The only driving force behind when it's someone's time to go is their body saying "I quit". When you're in your upper 90's, the odds of that moment arriving are ever increasing daily.

For the forums at least, it seems like whenever we have a tribute to some celebrity, it's because they just died. Why not honor this great performer while he's still alive?

I hope Disney has something big planned to honor DickVanDyke when he hits the 100 yrs milestone. Certainly deserving of something special.

 

[Baloo124]

https://apnews.com/article/dick-van...6bd88d17a979?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share

Movie theaters across the country are pulling out the stops for Dick Van 's 100th birthday in December. A new documentary about the song and dance man’s life, “Dick Van : 100th Celebration,” will be in theaters over his birthday weekend on Dec. 13 and 14, Fathom Entertainment said Wednesday.

 

[mf1972]

i share 1 thing in common with him. we have the same birthday. he’s aging better though.

 

[Baloo124]

i share 1 thing in common with him. we have the same birthday. he’s aging better though.

Cheers, fellow December Bday'er (a.k.a. People sometimes forget ours because we're in the mix of the busy holiday season).

I'm just over a week prior to you both. He's aging better than me too.

 

[Phroobar]

You two need to do more singing and dancing and marry someone 46 years your junior.