On this day in 1971, audiences were first able to see, or not see as the case may be, Now You See Him, Now You Don’t. Disney Legend Kurt Russell appeared . . . and disappeared . . . as Dexter Riley, but this wasn’t the first time audiences saw Russell as Riley. He first introduced the character in 1969’s The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, in which Riley possessed all the knowledge of a school computer. He again materialized as Riley in 1975, no longer with transparent capabilities, but this time becoming The Strongest Man in the World. All three Dexter Riley flicks were set at the prestigious Medfield College. In fact, Medfield appeared in seven Disney films of the ’60s and ’70s. But don’t start vying for a Medfield scholarship . . . the fictional college only existed in the world of Disney. However, you can learn the Medfield College fight song, which was featured in 1961’s The Absent Minded-Professor (and incidentally was the first Sherman Brothers song written for a Disney film): “Proud are we of mighty Medfield, Alma-Mater dear. All your sons and daughters hail to thee: Medfield College of Technology. And while we hold your banner high . . . Rah! Rah! We shout your praises to the sky. Rah! Rah! For proud are we of mighty Medfield, loyally we cheer, “Medfield! Medfield! Rah! Rah! Rah! Our Alma Mater, Dear!”
