Q: In the 1950s, my grandfather took me and my younger brother to a Fourth of July fireworks display in the Northwestern University foot stadium in Evanston, Illinois. My brother says that Walt Disney walked around the divide walkway waving. The event may have been a promotion for Disneyland. Is my brother’s memory correct?
John, Centerville, Utah
A: According to our lists of Walt Disney’s travels, he traveled to Evanston in July, 1957, to be in their Independence Day parade, along with Fess Parker (Davy Crockett), Hal Stalmaster (Johnny Tremain), and various Mouseketeers and Disney characters. The event continued with a twilight show and fireworks at Northwestern’s Dyche Stadium (now Ryan Field).
Dave Smith