The Accidental Mouseketeer - Before and After the Mickey Mouse Club

by Lonnie Burr

Entire '99 memoir updated through 2013 and the death of Annette Funicello, who in her 1994 autobiography talks of Lonnie and their youthful love affair the first year, 1955, of the "Mickey Mouse Club" and she writes, "I gave him my first kiss!" Photos and text about the deaths of Don Grady and Bonnie Lynn Fields, 3rd season Mice, and the November 30th, 2013 death of Mouseketeer Dickie, 1st season, who was a drummer and singer with the Standells. Dickie and Mary Espinosa were the two Hispanics on the show, just season 1 and black kids guested on Friday's "Talent Roundup". These aree SUBSTANTIVE issues in the mid-50s and Disney led the way. There were 39 Mouseketeers over the filming, most for 1 season, and 8 are now deceased. The Mouseketeers who lasted the entire filming were Annette, Karen, Sharon, Doreen and Darlene, and for the males Lonnie, Cubby, Tommy and Bobby.
But NOT JUST ABOUT THE MMC for Lonnie worked with Roy Rogera, Bob Hope, the Lone Ranger, Martin & Lewis, Jimmy Stewart and others BEFORE the MMC and Elvis, Carol Channing, Robin Williams, Bob Fosse, Stepen Spielberg, Gower Champion and tons of other stars since 1959.

363 pages, Paperback

First published February 22, 2014

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't even know where to start when reviewing this book. It's not the worst book I've ever read but it comes close. Reading this was a trial instead of a fun experience. At one point, the author states how he does not get along with editors. That is quite obvious as I believe with a good editor, the book could have been enjoyable instead of a tedious exercise in self-aggrandizement and hubris.

I learned that Lonnie Burr has a very high opinion of himself. He mentions multiple times that he has a masters degree and that he graduated from both high school and college at an age younger than the norm. He talks about so many minor aspects of his life that it was very difficult to determine what was important and what wasn't. I think if I asked the author, he'd say that everything was important. It's not necessary to list every single newspaper and magazine you've ever written for over the years nor would I ever think to list teaching for Learning Tree as a major part of my life (or serving as a docent for a local garden for a short period of time).

Readers should be aware that the author goes into great detail (as he does about everything) about his sexual history. He discusses with great pride his habit of sleeping with multiple partners at the same time (not together - but he would sleep with Woman A and then go over to Woman B the next day and then back to Woman A). He likes "honest" relationships (what most call "open") and tells way too much, including about his herpes lesion.

I would use the word pretentious but the author truly believes he is as wonderful as he says he is - therefore, he's not pretending to be amazing.

I am sorry I spent four days wading through this book. If you are interested in the Mouseketeers, I suppose this is interesting but it would not be my first choice.

[Len Knighton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was, with my sister Barbara, a faithful viewer of The Mickey Mouse Club beginning in 1955. We knew and still know the songs. And yes, Annette was our favorite. I remember Lonnie mostly because of the theme song for Friday’s Talent Roundup. He was the last Mouseketeer out of the stage coach for roll call and the first to be seen in HI TO YOU.
I was a fan. I’m not sure I am now. Lonnie uses this memoir to repeatedly tell us how wonderful he is; of graduating from high school and earning a Masters degree ahead of schedule; of all his roles on stage, screen, and television; of the wonderful reviews written about his performances; of his many affairs; of his often unrequited friendship to his fellow Mice, etc. So much self grandiosity.
A little humility would suit you well, Lonnie. I know actors must constantly sell themselves but I think most of your readers are already fans. You don’t need to tell us how great you are, over and over and over...
Burr refers to most of his supporting cast in the book by their first names, usually without giving us a last name. This is preferable in some cases, but not with public figures.
His tribute to Annette did bring tears to my eyes and because of that

Two stars slightly waxing.

[Lonnie Burr]

I am Lonnie Burr and the book was not published in 2009 but 2014. "Confessions of An Accidental Mouseketeeer" WAS published in 2009; THE ACCIDENTAL MOUSEKETEER is an update from the 2009 book adding a new chapter after Annie's [the late Annette Funicello] and other elements - my exclusion by the other "Mice" after the "Confessions" book et. al.

PLEASE correct the error.


Mr. Lonnie Burr [formerly, Mouseketeer Lonnie on the original "Mickey Mouse Club" TV show for kids which ran in every decade from 1955 into this new century and prompted two new versions of the series, the second one being the only success.]

Now it's time to say goodbye.................................

[Leila Kern · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say but what a life! At times I found the book a hard read but it was interesting to read about "behind the scenes" and what happens. Show business is a hard life and Lonnie Burr survived it!

[Pia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be quite outrageous in its massive amounts of detail and some anecdotes that aren't for the faint of heart (as I would say...), yet I feel Lonnie's memoir is the most humane book out of the autobiographies releated to the Mouseketeers that I've read so far, since it shows the complexities and struggles combined with triumphs and successes of a person who has been in show business for a long time and has been through a lot. He doesn't always paint himself as the hero, he showcases points of failure and bad luck that are important - not all parts of life are happy like endings of fairy tales, and it is true that they can come out awful at times. He tells life like it really is, something I found admirable about this book.

I feel like I need to read this multiple times to completly understand the events that shaped Lonnie, for it is pretty long. Also, I'll put out a longer review some other time which needs to do this book justice.

Another note, this book made me pensive about the works of life, though I'm still quite young. So yes, this memoir is thought-provoking.

4.5/5