Pete Henderson, half of comedy duo Skiles and Henderson, dies at 79 - Disneyland history

Darkbeer1

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I am old enough to remember the act, but not at Disneyland. May he rest in peace.

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/...f-comedy-duo-skiles-and-henderson-dies-at-79/

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They hit it off and formed a band that played around Orange County, and when they realized they cracked up audiences with their on-stage banter they added more comedy into the mix. In 1956, they approached Disneyland for work, pitching themselves as an act that might roam around Frontierland playing homemade instruments and teaching kids to play them, but didn’t land the gig.


Two years later, when Henderson got a job playing bass in the Disneyland “Date Night” band, Skiles tagged along when Henderson went in to sign his contract. While there, they ran into a Disneyland exec who remembered them from their first audition, and they ended up getting hired to play nine comedy shows a day in the Plaza Gardens for $150 a week.


From Disneyland, they moved to Las Vegas and the Golden Nugget, which Henderson remembered as a rough joint back then, not at all like the slick casinos that would soon come to typify the Strip.<<
 

EPCOTCenterLover

Well-Known Member
Opened for Karen and Richard Carpenter- another Disneyland connection. He played at Coke Corner, and they returned at the height of their career to play at USC night at DL. Not to mention filming the "Please Mr. Postman" video there. Karen was a huge Mickey fan.
 

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