Originally Posted By Mr F Look at These Photos: <a href="http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz352/loaloauk/Disney%20Planets/life3.jpg" target="_blank">http://i843.photobucket.com/al...ife3.jpg</a> This insert is from LIFE Magazine, and shows photos of Characters from Walt Disney World when it opened in 1972. On the left side shows a photo of a Character named "Giuseppi Cat" which is a big pink cat with a cowboy hat. My question: Who the heck is Giuseppi Cat?... and what film/cartoon/attraction is he from? I've never heard of this Character is my life, nor did I know he was a Disney Character.
Originally Posted By TP2000 Oh, Giuseppi! I had forgotten about him! He is a cat from Italy who is very stylish, always wearing colorful outfits and accesories and doing unique things with his fur color. He worked in a cat hair salon in Florence for a time (where he learned the fur coloring biz), before he emigrated to America after being an airline steward for Alitalia during the 1960's. He never did get married or really have a steady girlfriend, just a confirmed bachelor I guess. I haven't heard from him in ages. I wonder if he's let his fur go a natural gray by now, or if he's still coloring it?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros My guess is that he's supposed to be one of the 'swing cats' from the Aristocats. He kind of has that look, but could be something else too. He also looks like he may have been one of the cats from the end of America on Parade, sitting on the float with the oversized stack of vinyl records. I'm not sure of they were supposed to be recognizable characters, or just random neon cats. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremiah_good/2278293028/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/j...8293028/</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Here's a better picture that shows him more clearly. It's clearly the same costume (the strange hands make a lot more sense when he's playing guitar), so I guess the only question is whether or not he's supposed to be a specific character <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10202505@N05/3939445157/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/1...9445157/</a>
Originally Posted By DlandDug It appears to be Peppo, the Italian cat from Scat Cat's gang in The Aristocats. "Peppo" could be short for Giuseppi, I suppose.
Originally Posted By DlandDug WDW opened in 1971. America on Parade was in 1976. It may, indeed, be the same cat costume, but it wasn't that character in 1971. For what it's worth, Thomas O'Malley's full name is Abraham de Lacy Giuseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley the Alley Cat. Giusseppi...?
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle I'm just amused that he's one of the main attractions. Forget Donald Duck, don't miss Giuseppi Cat!
Originally Posted By tonyanton The Aristocats opened at Christmas 1970 and was a big hit for its time. They were heavily featured during WDW's early years and were even in a stage show at the long-gone "Fantasy Faire" stage at the northside of Fantasyland (this was the later reused as a covered seating area with a Little Mermaid theme when Ariel began meet-and-greets nearby).
Originally Posted By DlandDug Yep. I understand that Giuseppi Cat is now in a therapy group with Marsupilami, Roger Rabbit, and the whole gang from Atlantis: The Lost Empire. They are "working through" their fall from public love and adulation. SHOW THEM SOME LOVE WHEN YOU SEE THEM SLOUCHING AROUND THE BACK ALLEYS OF THE MAGIC KINGDOMS! (But for the grace of Walt, it could be you...)
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Yes, the pink cat was part of The Aristocats gang. Now it's Marie who's the popular one. You can see her at Epcot in the French section of World Showcase.
Originally Posted By DlandDug You never know when your stock will rise again. The day could come when the Witches of Morva will be leading the whole Black Cauldron gang in a lavish new nighttime parade at every Disney theme park around the world. It could happen.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORGOCH: Havin' a hangover, is ya, DLandDug, ducklin'? If'n so, move over 'cause I got one, my own dang self. Even so, I knows better 'n ta believe in a nightmare like that!
Originally Posted By leobloom >> ORWEN: Yes, the pink cat was part of The Aristocats gang. Now it's Marie who's the popular one. You can see her at Epcot in the French section of World Showcase. << Sounds like the Aristocats version of 'A Star is Born.'
