Put On a Happy Face

“Love God, whistle every morning, and be in a good mood . . . while you can.” – Bob Williamson

Disney used to be a purveyor of nothing but quality family entertainment. Unfortunately, that company policy began to change in 1984 when Disney Studios launched Touchstone Films (later renamed Touchstone Pictures) to produce PG-13 and R-rated movies.

Since then, Disney has drifted farther and farther away from Walt Disney’s original vision. In recent years, ‘wokeism” has infiltrated the company from top to bottom as it began to embrace LGBTQ+ ideology… and Disney stock has plummeted as a result.

However, things were different back in 1937 when Disney released “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” That iconic film included a song written by Frank Churchill and Larry Morey titled, “Whistle While You Work.” The message it conveyed was that honest hard work should be enjoyable.

A similar sentiment was at the heart of “Put On a Happy Face,” a song written by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse, and introduced on Broadway by Dick Van Dyke in the 1960 stage production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” “Gray skies are gonna clear up,” sang Van Dyke as Albert Peterson, “put on a happy face. Brush off the clouds and cheer up. Put on a happy face.”

The next two stanzas go like this…

Take off the gloomy mask of tragedy
It's not your style
You'll look so good that you'll be glad
You decided to smile

Pick out a pleasant outlook
Stick out that noble chin
Wipe off that 'Full of doubt' look
Slap on a happy grin

But my favorite line is the last one… and so, I’ll leave you with that.

And spread sunshine all over the place
Just put on a happy face

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President