Growing Up in Disneyland

De: Ron DeFore

Narrado por: Michael Goodrick

Growing Up in Disneyland is part biography about Ron's father, Broadway, movie, and TV star, Don DeFore, and his own autobiography. Don DeFore earned a star on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame and was a household name in the 1950s and '60s. He co-starred in numerous TV shows, live theater, and feature films with many Hollywood legends. He is best known for The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, in which he played the next-door neighbor, "Thorny", and his costarring role as "Mr. B" in the 1960s TV series Hazel. The book includes much of Don's unpublished autobiography, Hollywood-DeFore 'n After.

Growing Up in Disneyland is a metaphor for Ron's life growing up in a celebrity family filled with Fantasyland adventures he equates to a Forest Gump-type life, from meeting the Beatles, Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, and other celebrities as Associate Director of the Steve Allen Show. His nearly 20 careers include a mid-life crisis as the Flying DJ at an LA discotheque to political positions within the Reagan Presidential Administration to establishing his own company. is also to be taken literally, as Ron spent much of his youth in Disneyland where his father owned "Don DeFore's Silver Banjo Barbecue" restaurant in Frontierland. Ron and his brother, Dave, have given presentations to various Disneyland interest groups after which many attendees suggested, you should write a book.

Growing Up in Disneyland will be enjoyed by any age group from baby boomers that remember Don DeFore's many beloved acting roles to those that don't but are curious how life was in the good old days, especially growing up in a Hollywood celebrity family. Ron has had so many careers and adventures along the way that listeners will have much to keep them gripped.

©2019 Waldorf Publishing (P)2019 Waldorf Publishing

LOVE DON DEFORE

In 2024, I began watching Hazel. I Was hooked. Don Defore seemed to be a guy, an actor, an everyday person you would love to have as your friend. After listening to Ron's story, Id say I was on target. Ron was truly blessed to have the family that he did. The lives that both Ron and Don lived were Epic. I wish Ron would publish Dons book that he wrote. He could go to a publisher in South America and get it done at Low cost.

The narrator can not pronounce names

The narrator mispronounces the names of so many people and places that it is distracting. And I only picked up the names of famous people.

Red Skeleton
Irene Dune
Bet Davis
RAF-er Johnson
Olivia DaHayVaLand
Joel McCreeAh
Denise Day
Mervyn LeeRoy
Deena Shore
Donny MossT
Peter Lore
Da-See-Lou
Katie Seegl


Will-SHIRE Blvd
Pecking Duck

The story is good and Don DeFore was a fine actor. And he sounds like a fine family man as well. Ron DeFore sounds like he had an interesting life as well. They both deserved better than this narrator. With people, it is an insult to them to mispronounce their names. Aside from this flaw, the book and stories were very interesting.

Great book ruined by narrators mispronunciation

I loved this book. I’d have given it 5 stars if it for the terrible mispronunciations by the narrator. Bette Davis’ first name is NOT pronounced “Bet”. Michael Curtiz’s last name is not pronounced “Curtis”. That’s only the start.

The first half is great.

The first part of this book, about Don Defore and Disneyland is a must read (listen) for anyone who loves early TV, Don Defore, or Disney. It deserves five stars. The latter part of the book is disappointing and largely liberal bashing and climate denial. It's one star material. Overall, I recommend this book, but it's much better if the listener stops after the discussion of Disneyland.

good book, poor performance

I have been looking forward to this book. Having been a Don Defore fan for quite some time this surely was going to be a treat. The book is insightful, delightful, funny and deeply heartfelt. To hear accounts of time gone by is just wonderful and I truly enjoyed it. However, the narrators mispronunciation of many names and such was off putting . The start and stop type of reading was unpleasant also. The read should be fluid and the reader should take care with regards to commas and periods etc...thats what gives the read feeling and emotion.