Wally Boag R.I.P.

Comedian Wally Boag passed on 3 June 2011 at the age of 90. He was best known for his many performances at Disneyland. His role as Pecos Bill in Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue was listed in Guinness World Records as the longest running stage show of all time.

Wallace Boag was born in Portland, Oregon on 13 September 1920. He entered show business while young, joining a professional dance team at age nine. By the time he was nineteen years old he had become a comedian. He performed as far afield as Radio City Music Hall in New York City,  the Palladium in London, and theatres in Australia and New Zealand. Starting in 1945 he was briefly under contract to MGM, appearing in bit parts in Without Love (1945) and Thrill of a Romance (1945).

It was in 1955 that a friend told Wallace Boag about auditions Walt Disney was holding for the Golden Horseshoe Revue in Disneyland. In 1971 Wallace Boag would take the character of Pecos Bill to Disney World in Florida. The original Golden Horseshoe Revue would end in 1986.

Wallace Boag would have roles in the Disney movies The Absent Minded Professor (1961), Son of Flubber (1963), and The Love Bug (1969). He appeared on such television shows as The Borden Show, The Wonderful World of Disney, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Muppet Show.

Wallace Boag would entertain literally millions over the years at Disneyland and Disney World. His performances would also have a last influence on various comedians over the years. No less than Steve Martin has cited Wallace Boag has one of his idols. In fact, Mr. Martin even studied Mr. Boag's performances. While Mr. Boag may not have been among the most famous comedians, he was certainly among the most influential.