The Dapper Dans: Sweet Harmonies and Spectacular Main Street Serenades
Barbershop quartets were Walt Disney’s jam. If through the magic of space and time, Walt were to make a Spotify playlist today, it’d be brimming with four-part Acappella covers of his favorite tunes.
Don’t believe me?
Walt actually requested a musical group, The Mellomen, to record a barbershop album for him, and whenever he and Lillian visited Disneyland, they’d “call [the Dapper Dans] out to perform while they enjoyed breakfast in the back room of the Hills Brothers Cafe on Main Street.”1
The jolly ragtime songs, combined with a charismatic performance, are certainly fitting of Walt Disney, and his spirit shines on through the music of the Dapper Dans whenever they perform in Disneyland or our own Walt Disney World!
But wait—just who are the Dapper Dans? I’m glad you asked!
Bops from the Barbershop
The Dapper Dans are the official barbershop quartet of Main Street USA, both in Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom! Like traditional barbershop quartets, they have a tenor, a lead tenor, baritone, and bass for creating those iconic four-part harmonies.2
Of course, original barbershop music wasn’t always so cut and dry. In fact, the exact origins of America’s once-favorite genre are pretty foggy, but it’s believed barbershop music started in England in the 1600s.3 (Wait, should the Dapper Dans actually be singing in EPCOT‘s England pavilion?!)
The long, boring wait for a haircut is nothing new. Today, we often pass the time by flipping through a shop’s supply of magazines, but barbers of old kept stringed instruments on hand to entertain customers. While waiting to get the latest hair-do of the Enlightenment, folks were free to give the old cittern a strum.
By the mid-1800s in America, barbershops had become a sort of social club for the Average Joe. It wasn’t unusual for a barber to start singing and for patrons to join in, like that scene in The Strawberry Blonde with James Cagney. It was a way to pass the time and socially bond all at once.
As for the pinstripes, straw boaters, and ‘staches…that came along with Vaudeville and was a way to stand out on stage, even for the people way in the back!
A delightful and unforgettable piece of Americana, it’s no wonder barbershop music made its way to Main Street!
Dapper Disney World
“I’m a Dapper Dan man!” exclaims Ulysses Everett McGill in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? Sure, he’s talking about pomade, but the sentiment is still the same—once you experience the music of the Dans, there’s no going back. You’ll be a Dapper Dan fan, through and through!
Although the Dans are now integral to the magic of Main Street, for the first few years in Disneyland history, no four-part harmonies drifted through the air. Sounds kind of depressing, right? Entertainment director Tommy Walker thought so, too, and arranged for a quartet to come liven things up—and add to the turn-of-the-century authenticity—in 1957.4
By 1959, it was decided singing was good, but a full-blown routine would be better. Tap dancing and classic vaudevillian comedy were thrown into the mix, making for a memorable experience with every performance.
This evolution of the quartet inspired bass singer and group leader, T.J. Marker, to coin a new name—”the Dapper Dans”—a callback to the old phrase for a stylishly dressed gentleman.5
Officially the stars of Main Street, the Dans were transplanted to the Magic Kingdom in Orlando and were even part of the opening day festivities in 1971! Fifty years later, these spiffy songbirds are still making us smile!
The Dans Sing On
Today, the Dans still sing jazzy classics like “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (another James Cagney special!) and “Mr. Sandman,” but they also do ragtime takes on popular Disney hits, from “Let it Go” to “We Don’t Talk About Bruno!”
Being a Dan is a lot of work, and that’s why there are actually twelve of them in the park! While you’ll only see them in groups of four, the larger cast is necessary for rotations. With nine sets to perform every day, this tag-team method is key to keeping Dans (and their voices) feeling top drawer!
The Dapper Dans’ usual spot is in front of Walt Disney’s fire station, but they also venture out into parades to play musical chairs with Alice and the Mad Hatter and to attend the daily flag retreat ceremony.6 Sometimes, you’ll even catch the quartet pedaling by on their custom four-seater bicycle! (Fun fact: the original four-person bicycle was commissioned by Walt himself!7)
In addition to singing old barbershop songs (and “barbershopified” Disney hits), the Dans also incorporate dancing, beautiful Deagan Organ Chimes, and a sprinkling of punderful jokes into their routine. Each performance is about twenty minutes long and is held out on the street so you can come and go as needed. It’s definitely worth stopping by!
Up-to-date performance times can be found on the Disney World website, but as of writing, the Dans’ schedule looks something like this:
Four morning shows at 9:05 a.m., 9:55 a.m., 10:35 a.m., and 11:20 a.m., and three afternoon shows at 12:50 p.m., 1:50 p.m., and 3:40 p.m. (then often times the 5:00 p.m. flag retreat).
During holidays, the Dapper Dans barbershop routine gets a special seasonal makeover. Around Independence Day, their colorful pinstripes turn red, white, and blue, and at Christmas, carols are added to the repertoire. The most dramatic change occurs during Halloween when the Dapper Dans transform into the eerie, zombie-esque Cadaver Dans. (Ooh, spooky!)
No matter the season, it’s well worth stopping by to enjoy a toe-tappin’ show—the Dapper Dans are sure to leave a smile on your face and a song in your heart!
We love the Dans and think you will, too! Maybe you’ve already heard them! If so, what’s your favorite Dapper Dan song? Let us know in the comments below!
Cover Image
Photo: HarshLight via Flickr
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