Sponsored By
An organization or individual has paid for the creation of this work but did not approve or review it.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Songs from the 'Mouse Cave' revive theme park memories

Superior man's interest in Disney discology led to the launch of a website featuring old classics.

080720.n.st.Mouse1.jpg
Ken Stigen holds a Disneyland record in front of some of his vast collection in his “Mouse Cave” at his Superior home Monday, August 3. Stigen runs waltsmusic.com, a website devoted to Disney music. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)

Ken Stigen’s basement is awash in Disney memorabilia.

His “Mouse Cave” houses thousands of Disney records, as well as books, posters, cups, plates, toys and more that he’s collected over the years. The Superior man makes his vast record collection available to the public through the website waltsmusic.com .

“I post it on here for people to listen to the music, see the covers,” Stigen said. “There’s a lot of people my age that grew up listening to these things that don’t have a record player or they want to show it to their grandkids. My site was actually the homeschool site of the month a few years ago.”

080720.n.st.Mouse4.jpg
Some of the more well known records in Ken Stigen’s “Mouse Cave” at his Superior home Monday, August 3. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)

ADVERTISEMENT

Stigen, a retired Navy officer, works as a nurse informaticist at St. Luke’s. He and his wife Mary Anne moved to Superior from the Seattle, Washington, area five years ago to be near their three grandchildren. That’s when his collection moved from the garage into the basement.

The stacks of vinyl offer a peek into the history of Disney — its theme parks, record company, music, voice talents —and Stigen himself. A picture of him clutching a Disneyland lunch box rests on a shelf. It marks the first time he visited a Disney theme park.

“My first trip to Disneyland was 1962. I was 6,” said Stigen, who grew up in San Diego. “I went for my sixth birthday.”

Years later, he started going to the park regularly. The thing that really captured him was the music of the parks. One ride in particular, Carousel of Progress, was a favorite. Its melody was written by the Sherman brothers, who wrote the songs for “Mary Poppins,” as well as the theme park’s signature tune, “It’s a Small World.”

080720.n.st.Mouse8.jpg
Ken Stigen holds “Your trip to Disneyland” children’s record in his “Mouse Cave” at his Superior home Monday, August 3. Stigen runs waltsmusic.com, a website devoted to Disney music. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)

Stigen’s love of the song, and the music behind the rides, would eventually set him on a journey down the mouse hole.

“Twenty years ago, in my 40s, I started collecting the music and the records,” Stigen said. “I started picking up records at thrift stores, mainly. And then when eBay came out, I started collecting from eBay.”

ADVERTISEMENT

His albums run the gamut from theme park soundtracks to little LP records that were paired with read-along books. The collection includes soundtracks from the Matterhorn, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and more. It features both a Sherman Brothers collection and one devoted to Jack Wagner’s work.

“Jack Wagner was the voice of Disneyland” beginning in the late 1960s, Stigen said. “If you’ve ever been to Disney world and rode on the monorails, you’ll hear his voice saying ‘Please stand clear of the doors,’ things like that.”

080720.n.st.Mouse5.jpg
Professor Ludwig Von Drake sits next to a Disneyland lunchbox with other memorabilia in Ken Stigen’s “Mouse Cave” at his Superior home Monday, August 3. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)

Wagner was also the first to create background music loops for the theme park. His work remains popular today.

“There’s lots of people that love just background music. You’ll see YouTube videos that will play for hours, background music,” Stigen said. “Because that’s part of the experience of going to the park.”

The Superior man said he's made "less than 50" but more than 20 trips to Disney theme parks over the years, including the sites in California, Florida and Tokyo. He also attends regular Disneyana conventions and events to share his knowledge and seek new treasures.

Stigen launched the waltsmusic.com website in 2008 using a Magnavox console stereo with RCA jacks that could be plugged directly into the computer. He transferred his trove of 78, 45 and 33 ⅓ records into computer files and made them available to all.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It’s a labor of love for me,” Stigen said. “Also, I just like sharing it.”

The Superior man has received positive comments from all over the world about the site. He continues to sift through thrift stores and visit Globe News on the hunt for new titles to add to the collection. There has been no pushback from Disney over the website, Stigen said.

"I’m friends with the record producer for the theme parks. He and I have conversed quite a bit through the years; I’ve actually sent him some tracks," Stigen said, and Disney Music Emporium, official seller of albums, liked the page.

A disclaimer on the website makes it clear that it is a fan site not affiliated with Disney. Visit the website or WaltsMusic - Dedicated to Disney Records on vinyl Facebook group for more information.

Maria Lockwood covers news in Douglas County, Wisconsin, for the Superior Telegram.

ADVERTISEMENT

What To Read Next
Get Local

ADVERTISEMENT