The Beauty Inside the Heart of Kiki Ebsen

Among the first of Kiki Ebsen’s original songs that became synonymous with my perception of her is that she possessed an inner beauty and honest truth with which she offered her gifts and talents to the world. My first opportunity to hear her sing in concert was from Row 7 stage right at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston, Texas over 20 years ago.

Last evening in North Hollywood, California, I had another perfect seat in a packed house in Theatre West. And this time, the beauty had transcended from inside her heart to rest gently on her face as she delivered an exceptional montage of music, multimedia, and truthful memories about growing up with two talented parents, mother Nancy, trained stage actress and theatre director, and father, Buddy, an entertainment icon.

Against a backdrop of beautiful images that show the nuances of two entertainers named Ebsen, it is true that you can see an unmistakable family resemblance but one could never imagine of either performer that there would be so many parallels in their careers. It’s likely that most people assume that Buddy Ebsen’s life as “Jed Clampett” in “The Beverly Hillbillies” and "Barnaby Jones" of the eponymous TV series, coupled with portraying Davy Crockett’s best friend, "Georgie Russell" would have had, as precursor, an unparalleled series of successes.

Then, too, when you hear Kiki sing anything she chooses¬—from Great American Songbook, to slammin’ hard rock, Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, then on to classical selections, or her latest favorite, jazz, her voice, as my friend next to me said, “has an ethereal, effortless tone.” I agree.

What’s different in an audience’s perception of Buddy and Kiki, from what Kiki shared last night, is that there was an honest estrangement between them for many years. Looking in from the outside, it’s abundantly clear that the two were more alike than either would realize at the time.

Fiercely independent, refusing to be “owned” by anyone, fully capable and in charge of any task given them, passionate about causes they believe in, and a generous spirit of giving that is, frankly, unique in the world of many successful entertainers. They’re also both hardheaded as all get out, and in that is their survival. No one ever, ever keeps them down for long. They’ll get right back up again when someone says, “You’ll never be able to do that.” And yet they possess the grace not to tell naysayers, “I told you so” to their faces.

Kiki shared Buddy’s beautiful life philosophy in a quote from her dad:

Remember, that of all the elements that comprise a human being, the most important, the most essential, the one that will sustain, transcend, overcome and vanquish obstacles is Spirit! ~~Buddy Ebsen

The story of how “To Dad with Love: A Tribute to Buddy Ebsen” is best shared when you see the show for yourself. The music selections you’ll hear Kiki sing are from reviewing the music of Buddy's Broadway, film, and television career, and they take you back to a day when people were thoughtful, civil, kept their promises and had integrity. Your word was your bond.

Kiki makes the audience listen, laugh, sing a little, enjoy a lot, and yes—cry—as she reveals challenges in her life, particularly in the teen years in which she and her brother Dustin were formulating the kind of adults they would become. Choices—it’s all about choices you make and some are more sacrificial than others. And yet, you have each day to start anew, block out the naysayers, determine on your own to create on your own terms and to succeed, simply for yourself first, sharing your time, gifts, and talents with others as the occasion arises.

As Kiki performs her father’s composition, “Angelica,” a composite of the mischief that a little girl with red hair can get into (with six daughters, Buddy never lacked for storyboard!), one can just imagine her as a youngster who thought the last place she’d ever be was on stage. And yet, she would grow to be a performer who belongs and is easily at home on anystage she chooses. Author Charlotte Steiner wrote a popular children’s book series that revolved around a little girl, about the same age, which Kiki’s mother, Nancy, got her many books in the series.

Her first book she received was “Kiki Loves Music.” Another is “Kiki Dances.” Seeing her dance with Gregory Gast, check "Yes" to that one! Yet another is “Kiki is an Actress.” Just as the child created by a woman named Charlotte “could do anything she set her mind to,” so can the woman born Nancy Kiersten Ebsen. Versatility is key to Kiki’s happiness, never content just to reside in a world of other’s expectations. Nor can you overlook the love, support, encouragement and enthusiasm of her brother, Dusty, who was “in” for whatever Kiki dreamed up, and no prouder advocate of her brother’s achievements as a multimedia creative and father is there than Kiki.

So, it’s only natural that a show would come from a beautiful album, “Scarecrow Sessions” released in 2014. The story behind the album is beautifully shared by Kiki in her show. For those who are attending performances tonight and tomorrow, let them find out for themselves what they have to look forward to.

Director Steve Feinberg is a gift from above as he has vision, patience, wisdom, and talent as theatre director equal to his abilities as author and playwright. The sound system which made the evening an aural joy was made possible thanks to Bryan Frieders, with expert engineering by Steve Wallace, talented in his own right with numerous years of sound design for Grammy-winning artists in his prior carer, and also proud husband to Kiki.

The music for the evening is another gift from above—Jeff Colella playing Theatre West’s piano—a generous loan from Lee Meriwether of her mother’s beautiful instrument—made it even more special to hear. Granville “Danny” Young on bass, Kendall Kay on drums and Kim Richmond on woodwinds are a quartet with such synergy and talent, you just have to hear them for yourself—they accompany Kiki with precision, joy, and grace.

Moreover, the amazing team Theatre West is understated, yet brilliant. They are prolific in productions they offer as well as those they host for audiences to enjoy. Publicity specialist Sandra Kuker made Hollywood sit up and take notice of this special engagement, and the night’s opening performance—a benefit for Theatre West—was deemed a major success by Executive Director Spike Dolomite Ward.

Board members functioned in so many roles, just consider them the engine that flies the plane, as to how vital and dynamic their contributions were. I witnessed this personally as I had a chance to watch them all in action during final rehearsal for the show. I’m convinced that Linda Rand was the inspiration for creating Lindsey Wagner’s hit, “The Bionic Woman” as she was in nine places within two minutes, accomplishing 17 things and made it look easy!

No matter how much behind the scenes viewing I had, though, nothing had prepared me for the newly expanded performance of “To Dad with Love.” I only thought I knew what I was going to see and hear, but I was not expecting to be so impacted by Kiki’s sharing her truth that I’d break into tears five times during the show. And yet, the tears were unstoppable to hear what challenges she’d been through. The story ends happily though as the irrepressible Kiki is, and always will be, able to face and conquer any challenge life may present her with. She deserves the greatest respect for her revelations, and the standing ovation she received and numerous show interruptions to applaud and embrace her gifts and those of her musicians were beautifully deserved.

We only get one life and we have every day to live it to the fullest or fill our time with unproductive lamentations of “coulda, shoulda, woulda.” Kiki and Dusty Ebsen, and all those who love them love them even more after seeing “To Dad with Love: A Tribute to Buddy Ebsen.”

And as the thunder held forth above Theatre West last night, and the rain came flowing down to the surprise of everyone, it was as though the sky had opened and shed tears of joy for the healing felt by all who heard her story and could identify with times in their own lives.

From Kiki’s own composition she performs in the show, from “The Beauty Inside” reflect her:

“Are we not beautiful in all of our brokenness And do you still love me when I am crying out loud? Can you see that I was not put here on this earth Just to make you so incredibly proud?“ ~~Kiki Ebsen

She played and sang the song she wrote so long ago from her album, “The Beauty Inside” and as you saw her and heard her, you could feel the pain she once felt. By the end of the show you could revel in the healing that she led for all of us. As I studied the image of a beautiful Audrey Hepburn last night staring into the eyes of a handsome, debonair Buddy Ebsen, with his trademark beautiful blue eyes, some quotes attributed to Audrey Hepburn” flew into my mind and I wrote them down as soon as I got home.

“The beauty in a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carried, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty in a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.” ~~ Audrey Hepburn

And so, with this latest offering of talent and inspiration, from the heart, soul, and mind of Kiki Ebsen, and the loving gifts of her brother Dustin, we all experienced a great and glorious healing last night. Kiki Ebsen: the real deal. The beauty inside, indeed.

[Special thanks to Sheryl Aronson, Arting Around for the beautiful photos taken last evening at Theatre West.]

Walt Disney and Buddy Ebsen — Two of a Kind from Frontierland to Happily Ever After

Walter Elias “Walt” Disney was born 116 years ago today. In 1901 our country was in the Second Industrial Revolution, or “Technological Revolution,” and the United States was about to experience major changes in how things were made. At this exciting time of exploring the unknown, time, creativity, and imagination were three of the most important assets anyone could have.

The first cartoon or animated film was credited to Emile Cohl, a French animator in 1908, the same year Christian Ludolf “Buddy” Ebsen was born. In 1928, at age 27, Walt Disney released “Steamboat Willie,” featuring the product of his wonderful imagination: Mickey Mouse.

Eight years later, Buddy Ebsen would star alongside his sister Vilma Ebsen and Eleanor Powell in “Broadway Melody of 1936.” In the iconic YouTube clip, Buddy is proudly wearing a Mickey Mouse sweater as he sang and danced his way into American’s hearts, never then realizing what was to come.

In 1951, according to an article in D23, the Disney publication, “Walt Disney hired Buddy to demonstrate a dance routine; the dance was filmed, and Walt’s crew analyzed the action, frame by frame, to devise a way to animate a nine-inch figure with the same movements.” The actual date of 1951 is subject to correction as a display of Project Little Man notes the year 1949 when Buddy was hired to dance against the grid. It makes sense that he began the process in 1949 and it took the engineers at least two years to go from drawing to reality figure.

The endeavor was called “Project Little Man” and morphed into Disney’s “Audio-Animatronics®” that would become the precursor for Disney theme park exhibits including “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” In “To Dad with Love: Finding Buddy Ebsen,” Kiki remembers that when Buddy would take the children to Disneyland, he paused for the longest time, reflecting at the Mr. Lincoln exhibit, yet never saying a word to them about his role in the entire process.

The blog “The Wonder of Miniatures” recently shared this photo and the story from a plaque in the Walt Disney Imagineering Collection.

Buddy and Walt enjoyed a personal friendship as well as a great professional relationship. Here’s a photo where Buddy is showing Walt Disney and others a few dance steps, with Walt trying them out.

In 1954, Walt Disney wanted Buddy Ebsen to act in a new project he was developing, considered him for the title role of Davy Crockett, in a series of TV adventures about one of his favorite folk heroes. Then, Walt saw a young actor, Fess Parker, in a two-minute scene in “Them,” a movie about an army of giant mutant ants, which starred James Arness. Soon after, Fess “became” Davy and Buddy was re-cast as Georgie Russel, Davy’s right-hand man, a journalist.

In all, there were five hour-long television episodes of “Frontierland,” introduced by Walt Disney in 1954/1955). The shows included “Davy Crockett: Indian Fighter,” “Davy Crockett Goes to Congress,” “Davy Crockett at the Alamo,” “Davy Crockett’s Keelboat Race,” and “Davy Crockett and the River Pirates.”

Ultimately, they were repurposed into two feature-length cinema films (one was “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier” (1955), and “Davy Crockett and the River Pirates”), expanding the Davy Crockett craze.

Little boys from California to New York were running around in their coonskin caps, just like Davy. Record albums featured more “Davy Crockett” songs and themes, Fess Parker “received 10% of the merchandising for Disney coonskin caps and Old Betsy toy rifles,” and Buddy continued to work regularly toward his next big break, which would come via “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

On the opening day of Disneyland, July 17, 1955, Walt Disney had Fess Parker, Buddy Ebsen, Ronald Reagan, and Art Linkletter on hand to welcome the crowd. Part of the ceremony is featured in this video.

As you’ll see, Walt read the dedication:

Frontierland. It is here that we experience the story of our country’s past. The color, romance, and drama of frontier America as it developed from wilderness trails to roads, riverboats, railroads, and civilization. A tribute to the faith, courage, and ingenuity of our hearty pioneers who blazed the trails and made this progress possible.

There’s a charming story told by Grenade Curran, who was a general factotum at Disneyland, about this picture, taken before the grand opening in July 1955 (L to R: Fess Parker, Walt Disney, and Buddy Ebsen).

Buddy also appeared as Sheriff Matt Brady in “Corky and the White Shadow” in 1956, and he was on the “Mickey Mouse Club.” All of this happened, by the way, before Buddy’s two youngest children, Kiki and Dustin, were even born.

On March 3, 1967, an article in Kittanning, PA’s Simpson Leader-Times (among other UPI papers) ran Vernon Scott’s story, noting “Buddy Ebsen will take time out from his highly rated “Beverly Hillbillies” series to star in the last picture on which Walt Disney’s name will be seen as producer. The story went on to note that “…It was Walt Disney who prepared and engineered every detail of his final movie,”…“The One and Only Genuine, Original Family Band” (released March 1968) as “the sort of family entertainment with which both Disney and Ebsen have been identified for three decades.

Aired first in December, 1988, Episode 19 of the Disney Family Album starred Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen, which you can see here, narrated by Buddy.

In 1993, Ebsen was inducted as a Film and Television Disney Legend, together with others who were honored for Animation–Voice, Animation & Imagineering, Film, and Administration contributions.

Here’s a photo by David McNew (all rights reserved to Getty Images) of Buddy with Roy Disney (at the time Vice Chairman of the Walt Disney Company), taken Feb. 8, 2001, in Anaheim, when Disney opened their California Adventure theme park.

Walt Disney was born in Hermosa, Illinois, on December 5, 1901, and died on December 15, 1966, having just turned 65 years old. Buddy Ebsen was born April 2, 1908, about 175 miles away, in Bellevue, Illinois. He died on July 6, 2003, at the age of 92. The world of fun family entertainment has benefited for over 50 years of combined creativity of young men who saw opportunities to pursue their passion for entertainment, love of music and dancing, and with dedication and hard work, two legends were made.

The opportunities that Walt Disney gave Buddy Ebsen to showcase his talents defined his future and his eventual career as an internationally beloved actor. Even more would Disney impact the Ebsen family. Daughter Kiki graduated in Vocal Performance from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), which was founded in 1961, by Walt and Roy Disney, when they merged two schools together. The Disney family would be a major funding source to launch CalArts into its ranking as “America’s top college for students in the arts by Newsweek.”

At the time, Walt said, “CalArts is the principal thing I hope to leave when I move on to greener pastures. If I can help provide a place to develop the talent of the future, I think I will have accomplished something.” He did. The Disney Company and all of the wonderful interactions between Buddy and Walt are featured prominently in “To Dad with Love: A Tribute to Buddy Ebsen.” A brief video EPK follows:

Kiki Ebsen’s theatre show features her vocals and storytelling, with exquisite multimedia by videographer brother Dustin Ebsen. Three musicians accompany her on the songs that span seven decades of their father’s career. The show concludes with the final image of the full-page ad that The Disney Company took out upon Buddy’s passing: it’s a drawing of Mickey Mouse, shedding a tear.

Today, we celebrate the 116th anniversary of Walt Disney’s birth. His phenomenal imagination and creative live on for many generations to come and as Kiki says, “Just because someone is out of your life, doesn’t mean they’re out of your life.” Truth.

by Dawn Lee Wakefield and Kiersten Ebsen