Presents Mickey and his friends
The Mouse Factory is an American syndicated television series produced by Walt Disney Productions and created by Ward Kimball, that ran from 1972 to 1974. It showed clips from various Disney cartoons and movies, hosted by celebrity guests, including Johnny Brown, Charles Nelson Reilly, JoAnne Worley and many more, visiting the Disney studio and interacting with the walk-around Disney characters from the Disney Theme Parks. It was later re-run on the Disney Channel in the 1980s and '90s.
The theme played over the previews of each episode was a fast instrumental version of "Whistle While You Work" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The song played over the end credits is "Minnie's Yoo Hoo", the theme song from the original Mickey Mouse Clubs that met in theaters starting in 1929.
However, due to low ratings, the series was canceled after its second season.
Episodes Season Season 2 · 0/26 Season 1 · 0/17 0/26 watched · 1972
S02E01 Alligators 1972-09-11 22m
Host Johnny Brown explains that alligators have three parts: the eating part, the tail part and the middle part, which helps keeps the eating part from eating the tail part. He then explains the prominence of alligators and crocodiles in Disney films. more
S02E02 Paul Bunyan 1972-09-18 22m
Jim Backus takes a look at legendary folk hero Paul Bunyan. more S02E03 Bullfighting 1972-09-25 22m
Just as baseball is known as America's national pastime, so is bullfighting in Spain and Latin America. Host Bill Dana explains that part of the excitement is generated by the sheer size of the bulls that weigh over 1,000 pounds each. Although usually only the harvest of men will face these beasts, there are a few exceptions, as demonstrated by Goofy. more S02E04 Knighthood 1972-10-02 22m
Henry Gibson hosts this episode dressed as a court jester to set the mood for tales of brave knights and ladies in distress. more
S02E05 Pluto 1972-10-09 22m
Mickey's longtime pet and co-star, Pluto, is featured in his own special tribute, hosted by John Astin. more S02E06 Goliath II 1972-10-16 22m
Famed Disney star Kurt Russell hosts this look at elephants in general and Goliath II in particular. His guest star is a baby elephant. He uses scenes from live-action movies to explain a study of elephant life in the wild and the family structures these animals enjoy. more
S02E07 The Mouse Show 1972-10-23 22m
Although Mickey is certainly the world's most famous mouse, he was not the only mouse to come from Disney. Host Dave Madden looks at some Disney cartoons starring other mice. more
S02E08 Cats 1972-10-30 22m
Shari Lewis tries to convince her dog puppet friend, Hush Puppy, that not all cats are bad, but the dog disagrees, so Lewis educates him on the history of cats. She then shows him some Pluto cartoons that also involve felines, since Hush Puppy relates to Pluto's treatment of cats. more
S02E09 Ben Franklin 1972-11-06 22m
Wally Cox takes a look at Ben Franklin, one of colonial America's scientific and political leaders, remarking that a man is only as good as his inspirations, many of which, in Ben's case, succeeded thanks to a church mouse named Amos. more
S02E10 Mickey Mouse 1972-11-13 22m
Hostess Annette Funicello continues her long association with Mickey by hosting this look at the mouse's illustrious career. Among other things, we learn of Mickey's vital statistics: height 2 feet 3 inches, weight 13 pounds. more
S02E11 Lions 1972-11-20 22m
Henry Gibson explains that although lions had always been known as the proud "king of the jungle", not all lions are worthy of such a title and proves it with the episode's cartoons which include, among others, "Lambert the Sheepish Lion", a story about one of the most timid lions ever born. more
S02E12 Consciences 1972-11-27 22m
Harry Morgan claims that while everyone has a conscience, most people don't pay attention to it, and claims that mankind has been struggling between the battles of good and evil since the beginning of time. He uses different Disney cartoons of this type to express his point. more
S02E13 Noah's Ark 1972-12-04 22m
Over the years, Disney animators produced two very different versions of the story of Noah and his ark. Bill Dana introduces the earlier of the two, the Silly Symphony "Father Noah's Ark", produced using conventional animation techniques. He then introduces the Studio's second version of 1959, filmed using stop-motion animation and various household junk. more S02E14 Hunting 1972-12-11 22m
John Astin explores the different types of hunting and explains that man began hunting for food, but now hunt mainly for sport, as demonstrated in Disney cartoons about hunting. more
S02E15 Sports 1972-12-18 22m
Hosted by Nipsey Russell. more
S02E16 Tugboats 1972-12-25 22m
Big ships need the lowly tugboat's service, according to returning host Dave Madden. He claims that the bigger the vessel, the more it needs the assistance of a tugboat to safely dock in and navigate through crowded waters of modern harbors. What's more, the tugboat's assistance can also mean the difference between life and death for a big vessel. more
S02E17 Automobiles 1973-01-01 22m
Although cars have improved modern living, they still have their own problems. Host Ken Berry explains how the slightest puncture in so much as a single tire can throw a whole car out of commission, as seen in "Donald's Tire Trouble", which was released during a time of gas rationing and rubber shortage, due to World War II. Other complications are shown in other Disney cartoons as well. more
S02E18 Trains 1973-01-08 22m
Hosted by Harry Morgan. more
S02E19 Homes 1973-01-15 22m
Jim Backus hosts this look at how different homes have served the needs of different inhabitants, as seen in various Disney films. more S02E20 The Reluctant Dragon 1973-01-22 22m
In the guise of a wandering minstrel, Wally Cox explains that contrary to popular belief, not all dragon stories are true. Usually depicted as fire-breathing and basically bad, they've been blamed for kidnappings, droughts and famines. Cox decides to debunk this idea by retelling the story of The Reluctant Dragon. more
S02E21 Wheels 1973-01-29 22m
The core cartoon of this episode is "Donald and the Wheel", and Johnny Brown describes how the seemingly simple wheel has spurred many of mankind's greatest inventions. more
S02E22 Winter Fun 1973-02-05 22m
Hosted by Kurt Russell. more
S02E23 Penguins 1973-02-12 22m
Annette Funicello returns to the show, bringing with her an Adelie dwarf penguin to introduce cartoons starring this unusual bird. more
S02E24 Elephants 1973-02-19 22m
Hosted by Nipsey Russell. more
S02E25 Mickey and the Beanstalk 1973-02-26 22m
Hostess and puppeteer Shari Lewis tells the story of "Mickey and the Beanstalk" to her friend, Lamb Chop. more S02E26 Dancing 1973-03-05 22m
Ken Berry hosts this look at how the Disney artists have captured several unusual dance routines on film. more 
