The Nifty Nineties

Set in the springtime of the 1890s, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse cross paths in a sunlit public park, where Minnie wields a playful charm by dropping her handkerchief so that Mickey will return it. The moment feels light and observant, a gentle meeting that hints at budding companionship.

Their day continues with a trip to a vaudeville stage, where the pair are drawn into a series of short acts. They first encounter a slideshow titled Father, Dear, Father, accompanied by the song Come Home, Father by Henry Clay Work. The narrative in the slideshow follows a daughter who tries to urge her father to leave a tavern and come home, because he had not kept his promise to return from work and has fallen into drink at the tavern. The mother remains at home, watching tea time pass while her sick son rests in her arms. The clock ticks toward 1:00 am, and the story unfolds with a tender concern for the family’s struggles. The presentation makes Minnie cry, prompting a comforting response from Mickey who says, “Don’t take it so hard. It’s only a show.” The final slide reveals a postcard bearing the words, “P.S. He came home!”—a hopeful coda that suggests reconciliation and arrival.

Next on stage is the act Fred & Ward, Two Clever Boys From Illinois, featuring two song-and-dance performers who bring a playful energy to the show. The duo is a lighthearted homage to Disney’s own animators, with the performers Fred Moore and Ward Kimball currently playing versions of themselves onstage. In this portion, the audience is treated to lively motion and comic timing that echo the studio’s own spirited animation style. The narrative nod to the creators behind the magic is clear, offering a wink to fans who recognize the caricatured facets.

When the curtain falls on the vaudeville portion, Mickey and Minnie leave the venue and cruise the countryside in a Brass Era automobile. The quiet drive is punctuated by a cameo of Goofy rolling by on a penny-farthing bicycle, which wobbles and eventually topples over. Ahead of them, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and the trio Huey, Dewey, and Louie ride a bicycle built for five, adding a sense of bustling whimsy to the journey. The road trip moment feels dreamlike, a retro mosaic of beloved characters sharing space and motion in a simple rural moment.

The little misadventure culminates in a playful collision: the car crashes with a cow, yet Mickey and Minnie emerge unhurt from the wreckage. They lean in for a kiss, only to have the cow unexpectedly lift its head between them, turning romance into a humorous interruption that lands the couple squarely back in the moment. The sequence blends nostalgia with gentle slapstick, leaving the pair to laugh off the chaos and continue their day together. Throughout the journey and its quirky interruptions, the film carries a light, affectionate tone that emphasizes charm, companionship, and the small wonders of an ordinary day rendered extraordinary by whimsy.

• The voices of Minnie and the chickens contribute a touch of whimsy to the world, with Florence Gill providing the chickens’ vocal cues.

• The on-screen duo of Fred Moore and Ward Kimball contribute a meta-layer of humor, with Fred Moore and Ward Kimball appearing as the “Two Clever Boys From Illinois” and lending their likenesses to the performance.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:18