Inside Mickey

Monday, February 8, 2010

Paul E. Castle Sr. joins our Lord Jesus Christ

Paul E. Castle Sr. -- August 1923 – January 2010 Resident of Edmond, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully after battling Alzheimer’s for two years and later contracted pneumonia. Paul was born to the late Richard and Anna Castle in Cleveland Ohio. At age 7 Paul put on his brothers speed skates and learned how to jump piles of snow in a flooded frozen-over baseball diamond. Soon he was skating in the Silver Skate’s Derby and took 5th place in the state. Later he met the three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Sonja Henie in the 1930’s. He started working in her show immediately after her manager saw him skating during the intermission. This led him to New York’s Rockefeller Center Theater where he met Alma, whom he married in 1947. Touring the world with Holiday on Ice and then Ice Capades as a headliner as the “Mighty Mite of Ice Capades”, he astounded thousands as the world’s smallest barrel jumper, jumping 15 feet of barrels, suitcases and other obstacles.

In addition to skating, Paul also worked part-time as an actor in Hollywood. His first movie was “Jungle Jim and the Moon Men” with Johnny Weissmuller in 1958. He did stand-ins for child actors in shows like “Dennis the Menace” and “National Velvet” TV series. While still skating with the Ice Capades, which Walt Disney would often attend, Walt saw him skating and hired him to be the first “Performing” Mickey Mouse in Disneyland California in 1961. Paul rode atop the world largest drum and led some 15,000 parades down Main Street Disneyland for 25 years. In 1978 Paul was honored to put his (Mickey Mouse’s) hands and footprints and Star in Hollywood’s Walk of Fame for Mickey Mouse’s 50th Birthday Celebration.

One of Paul’s favorite memories of all was with Walt Disney in the Rose Parade in 1966, the year Walt passed away. He was the grand marshal of the Rose Parade and Paul was in the car with him in the back seat, just Walt and Paul for three hours. Paul said “Of all the things I've done in my lifetime, that to me was my biggest day. Just Walt and me, January 1, 1966.” On April 23, 1965, Walt and Paul opened the Anaheim Stadium. Walt threw out the first ball and he gave it to Paul to throw, so he threw it. Goofy was the catcher. Paul was probably the most photographed person in the world and no one knew who he was. Paul was okay with that as long as he was making the kids happy.

Paul also enjoyed flying. And although he was only four-foot six inches tall, he obtained his pilots license and bought his own airplane. Paul continued his acting in such movies as “Under the Rainbow”, “Call Me Clause” and “One Hour Photo” with Robin Williams.

Paul is preceded in death by his first daughter Paula and is survived by his wife Alma, his daughter Chris, son Paul Jr., five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. It is nice to know he gave joy to thousands of people all over the world. He will be greatly missed.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

A Great Loss...

My father Paul Castle Sr. passed away Jan. 23, 2010. He was 86yrs. old and a wonderful father. I was so proud of him for overcoming being only 4'6" tall. He was the world's smallest professional speed skating barrel jumper in the world. He was in The Sonja Henie Ice Revue at Rockefeller Center Theater in New York for 10yrs. He then went on to become "The Mighty Mite of Ice Capades." He also performed in Ice Cycles and with Holiday on Ice in Europe for almost 2yrs. Having a command performance for a King and Queen in one the countries. He retired from the ice shows after 25yrs., moved the family to Calif. to become an actor. He was in some movies and commercials. His greatest accomplishment was being selected by Walt Disney to be his main Mickey Mouse at Disneyland, Ca. and to tour with Walt. He retired from Disneyland, Ca. after 25yrs. in 1986. He was honored with a Lifetime Achievement award from Walt Disney Productions and put in the Disney Hall of Fame. It has been such a wonderful life having him as my dad and to see the joy he brought to thousands around the world. "I will miss him dearly."