Dr. Z & Mr. D

Sordid stories and ribald remembrances from the life of show biz legend Dr. Z.

Those in the know have been to Disneyland’s Club 33, which is the only place in that steel-and-concrete pean to 1950's America, where everyone was welcome, be they straight, white and Christian or Christian, straight and white, where you can get a decent Rob Roy. Why is that important? Let’s say you’ve promised three separate sets of step kids a full day in the Anaheim Headquarters of Tiki-themed Caucasiana but you’ve woken up in Victoria Principal’s Mar Vista condo with a chainsaw hangover and a phone full of “Where ARE you?” texts. What you need to get to midnight is a couple stiff drinks and the only place you’re gonna get ‘em on site is Club 33, and you have the good Dr. to thank for it.

Here I am with Uncle Walt who, for the sake of getting ahead in business, liked to pretend he was Irish, but was actually Latin, as we co-hosted a Disney Sunday Night special courtesy of Leonard Goldenson losing a bet with some junior agent at MCA. Walt was nervous, as he'd never done live TV before, and he leaned on me like Margot Kidder at the Two Lane Blacktop premiere when she heard I was carrying Bert Schneider’s blow. Anyfleagle, I told Walt what he needed was two shots of Chivas so I took him behind a lighting truck and showed him where the teamsters kept the booze (James Riddle Hoffa taught me a thing or two). Uncle Walt guzzled half a liter of whiskey like it was Faygo at a Tigers game and, as you can see, he loosened right up. He grabbed these hats off some high school majorettes, yelled "I'm Bob Preston in The Music Man!” and 60 minutes of family fun went out to 178 affiliates across America. After we wrapped we had a nightcap with a couple of the Teamsters, one of whom told Walt in no uncertain terms that his theme park should have a bar or it might break its legs in an accident and voila! Club 33 was born. In fact, it’s named after the IATSE local on that shoot.

If you make it there, tell 'em Doc Z sent ya! You’re welcome!

Photo archive by @beardeddavid