Chapter 7 – Hollywood Studios - Citizens of Hollywood Studios posted Dec 2020
Credit: Citizens of Hollywood Facebook Page
Before we continue our tour of Hollywood Studios, we want to mention the wonderful entertainment that was performed daily for guests on Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard by The Citizens of Hollywood. Also because according to the group’s Facebook page, the 31-year run of Citizens of Hollywood has come to an end in October 2020. We hope this group will return sometime in the future, however as of now all of the Citizens have been let go. So this is a tribute to these exceptional performers.
Citizens of Hollywood Facebook Page:
Citizens of Hollywood Facebook Page:
INTRODUCTION
The theme of Hollywood in the 1930s and ’40s is recreated in many ways throughout the Hollywood Studios.
But many people, once through the gates, rush to attractions or dining reservations and miss the essence of what’s around them; the details in the settings, but most of all extraordinary entertainment by the Citizens of Hollywood Studios.
The theme of Hollywood in the 1930s and ’40s is recreated in many ways throughout the Hollywood Studios.
But many people, once through the gates, rush to attractions or dining reservations and miss the essence of what’s around them; the details in the settings, but most of all extraordinary entertainment by the Citizens of Hollywood Studios.
Hollywood Public Works Crew
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KPUT Radio Game Show
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The Citizens of Hollywood are some of the most extraordinary performers at Hollywood Studios.
The Citizens of Hollywood are the hidden gems of the Hollywood Studios Also known as “Streetmosphere,” the Citizens of Hollywood are an assorted bunch of Cast Members who play Hollywood-themed characters from the 1930’s and 1940’s as talent agents, Hollywood actors and actresses, policemen, Hollywood directors and many more. Some of these skits are somewhat scripted like a KPUT radio game show, a dating game show hosted by Stone Granite or even magic show by the not so up and up Jack Diamond. These improv actors have developed personalities that the guests have come to love. Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard is the stage for their fun, and humorous shows that will entertain and sometimes even involve the guests. Other times they are just interacting with the guests, so be: discovered as the next big actor by talent agent Albert Dante, identified as the premier expert on alligators, or given a ride down Sunset Boulevard as the leading couple in the next big hit movie by the director. |
Jack Dianond
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ATTRACTION
Citizens of Hollywood Studios are all people that live in Hollywood, and you never know who you’ll meet! You may encounter starlets, gossip columnists, reporters, policemen, cabbies, and many others whose hilarious interactions with each other and with guests will have you laughing out loud.
They may simply cruising in an old school vehicle and shouting at guests, or they may set up full-scale productions and games that involve audience participation.
Citizens of Hollywood Studios are all people that live in Hollywood, and you never know who you’ll meet! You may encounter starlets, gossip columnists, reporters, policemen, cabbies, and many others whose hilarious interactions with each other and with guests will have you laughing out loud.
They may simply cruising in an old school vehicle and shouting at guests, or they may set up full-scale productions and games that involve audience participation.
Officer Percival Peabody, Paige Turner
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Phoebe Bizarre, Montgomery Dash
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Mayor Sonny Burbank
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The Citizens of Hollywood performers can usually be found along Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, sometimes even calling down from one of the windows above the shops.
They are usually performing in the morning and early afternoon — make sure to check your times guide or My Disney Experience app to see if there are any scheduled times. There have been well over 150 Streetmosphere performers since Disney’s MGM Studios opened 1989, performing as movie stars, directors, waitresses, public works employees, screenwriters, rising stars, and more! They are the only opening day attraction left in the park. The improv troupe was originally called Streetmosphere, but later renamed to the Citizens of Hollywood. There were about 20 Citizens of Hollywood in 2019. Over the years, the Citizens have come and gone. Some of the Citizens are regulars, and can be seen in Hollywood most days of the week. Others aren’t around as often and make special appearances on busy days or when they’re needed. There are three different categories of Citizens today: behind the scenes stars, the Hollywood Police Department, and movie stars. Several years ago there was also the Hollywood Public Works Department. |
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Rico El Bano (left), Frederick Lewenowsky (right)
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There is the delightfully ditzy Betty Shambles, who is engaged in a never ending quest to find true love, or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof.
There is also Evie Starlight, the glamorous starlet. It may surprise you to learn that Evie once had ambitions to become a rocket scientist. She was even voted “Most Likely to Win the Nobel Peace Prize” in high school. So, how did she become a Hollywood actress? She fell out of a tree and hit her head. From then on, she walked with a rather suggestive wiggle. The brain damage from the fall stole her science ambitions, but the wiggle made her perfect for Hollywood. 
Roman Holiday, 2nd from left, Evie Starlight, right
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Betty Shambles
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Each Citizen is a specific character with a personality, history, love-interest, job, and more. For example, Juan Scenario is always a movie director, and Dorma Nesmond is always a famous but fading star from the silent film era.
Juan Scenario
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Dorma Nesmond
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HISTORY
Streetmosphere has been a part of Hollywood Studios since it opened in May, 1989. C. McNair Wilson, who later became an Imagineer at Disney, came up with the idea of the Streetmosphere performers. Wilson was one of the directors of a street theater company, SAK Theatre, which performed at renaissance festivals throughout the country. In 1982, Disney Imagineers asked the group to perform in the Italy Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase. Soon thereafter, the group was extended to performing in the United Kingdom Pavilion and Future World. In 1985, they were brought into the plans for the upcoming Hollywood Studios Park as part of the planned 2-hour Backstage Tour show. Even though Disney decided to go in another direction, Wilson was inspired to make SAK part of this expansion. Wilson presented a collection of 40 characters that would make the guests feel like they were actually in Hollywood. The Disney executives were won over Wilson’s plans. While some of the characters have changed or have moved on, the Citizens of Hollywood’s popularity has kept them as a Hollywood Studios constant.
Officer William Club, Beau Wrangler, Mayor Sonny Burbank
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Betty Shambles
Buddy Flowers
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Officer William Club – Known for keeping the peace and handing out citations for speeding strollers and loitering.
Beau Wrangler – cowboy movie star
Mayor Sonny Burbank – Mayor of Hollywood Studios
Betty Shambles – new girls in Hollywood looking for a husband
Buddy Flowers – the Hollywood Public Works Department
Beau Wrangler – cowboy movie star
Mayor Sonny Burbank – Mayor of Hollywood Studios
Betty Shambles – new girls in Hollywood looking for a husband
Buddy Flowers – the Hollywood Public Works Department
Melvin Macheezmo, Buzz Oddman, Rita Story
Melvin Macheezmo – wannabe actor Buzz Oddman – the Hollywood Public Works Rita Story – aspiring actress Mimi Kaboom – New leading lady with a knack for dropping “R’s” and loves having a drink or two Officer Pat Friskem - Hollywood Police Department Officer Percival Peabody – Hollywood Police Department Paige Turner – Former Miss Cow Patty Princess looking to prove she has what it takes to be the next leading lady. Assistant to the stars Phoebe Bizarre – Femme fatale and movie star Montgomery Dash – Movie Star 
Officer Pat Friskem
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Mimi Kaboom
Officer Percival Peabody, Paige Turner
Phoebe Bizarre, Montgomery Dash
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Roman Holiday (2nd from left)
Otto Von Aeroflex - Director Roman Holiday – Screen Legend Shelby Mayer – Studios Mogul Cloe Canard – Hollywood gossip columnist and President of The Society of Refined and Sophisticated Palettes 
Shelby Mayer
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Otto Von Aeroflex
Cloe Canard (right)
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Officer Percival Peabody
Alberto Dante, Officer Prime Brody
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Dame Sadie Whimsy, Bunny Hop
Officer Percival Peabody – Hollywood Police Department, known for his speed traps. Dame Sadie Whimsy – Silent Movie Actress Bunny Hop – Dancer Rosie – Cleaning Lady Alberto Dante - Director Officer Prime Brody – Hollywood Police Department 
Rosie
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click on photo to enlarge
click on photo to enlarge
Please note we did not include every Citizen of Hollywood performer in this Chapter. It was not intentional, but partly due to not having any current photos or information on them. If our readers have any favorite Citizen that they wish to be included, send us a photo and any background information.
For more information on the Citizens of Hollywood:
For a complete list of all Citizens of Hollywood through the years:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney%27s_Hollywood_Studios
- https://www.focusedonthemagic.com/2014/04/citizens-of-hollywood-streetmosphere-at.html
- https://magicaldistractions.com/the-citizens-of-hollywood-add-streetmosphere-to-disneys-hollywood-studios/
- https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Citizens_of_Hollywood
- https://themouselets.com/the-citizens-of-hollywood
- https://www.capturingmagicalmemories.com/citizens-of-hollywood-studios/
- https://brennawolfephotography.zenfolio.com/blog/2014/11/disneys-hollywood-studios---citizens-of-hollywood http://www.charactercentral.net/L4288_DisneyCharacters_WaltDisneyWorld_DisneysHollywoodStudios_CitizensofHollywood.aspx
- https://allears.net/disney-hollywood-studios/citizens-of-hollywood-streetmosphere-disneys-hollywood-studios/
- https://www.celebrationspress.com/2019/05/26/the-weird-and-wonderful-citizens-of-hollywood/
- https://themouselets.com/disneys-citizens-of-hollywood-names-and-description
- https://allears.net/2013/01/02/officer-peabody-citizen-of-hollywood/
- https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/10/the-citizens-of-hollywood-speed-trap/
- https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/12/citizens-of-hollywood-taste-test-festive-favorites/
For a complete list of all Citizens of Hollywood through the years:
Jack Diamond
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Even those guests who rushed through the park to get to an attraction will note that something is missing on Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard.
We’re definitely going to miss these talented entertainers. We hope that in the near future they return to continue making our visit to Hollywood Studios a fun and memorable experience. But the rest of us will have to move on, so in the next Chapter we’ll continue our pictorial tour down Sunset Boulevard. 
Sunset Boulevard
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Afterword:
WDWMousing.com is designed to be a tour of Walt Disney World through photos. We have been to Walt Disney World countless times over the past 25 years and accumulated a magnitude of photos in that time. This website is an intention to combine two of our favorite pastimes, Walt Disney World and photography, and provide an insightful pictorial tour. While doing so, we've done an extensive research of the internet and literary sources for background information on each area and atrraction. The information is available, but most bits and pieces are scattered all over. WDWMousing doesn't intend to rewrite the stories, legends or data, but to try and collect it into one location with reference and links to the original articles and authors. And giving rightful credit. We've stumbled through quite a bit of mis-information, most of which came to life by fans because the origins were lost, forgotten or no one seems to remember. Over the past 25 years we've also lost most of the great Imagineers that helped develop, design and build the original concepts of Walt Disney World. So we believe it's extremely important to make sure that their efforts, intentions, details and creativity in making this Happiest Place on Earth isn't lost. So we ask for feedback, insights, and suggestions. Thank you WDWMousing 
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