For Antonio Ruberto, Jr., winning the National Trivia Competition in 1997 made him somewhat of a celebrity. His success was even featured in an article in the Spring 1998 Disney Magazine entitled "Mr. Know-It-All." Working at the Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan helped his visibility.

"After winning the competition, I became a bit of a celebrity since my store had a lot of out-of-town cast members and guests visiting who had heard of me," said Antonio. "I got every guest trivia question and even was asked to pose for a few pics! Because our store was the flagship, we had huge traffic and people were always asking us questions. I was glad to be there to clarify things for cast members and guests alike."

1995's Triviateer gang pose with Mickey and Minnie in front of Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle.

In 1994, the Disney Store instituted what might best be called the "Gary Pyle Clause," in honor of the six-time Triviateer from the Annapolis Mall store in Maryland. This new rule restricted cast members from competing in the Nationals more than twice before being "retired" from competition in an effort supposedly intended to infuse "new blood" into the event. The year after Gary was retired from competition, he took it upon himself to return to the finals as an observer and a fan where the current batch of Triviateers paid him homage.

"The year after I was told I couldn't play anymore," said Gary, " I returned just to see the show. As a sort of salute to the old man, some of the contestants decided that if there was a question that they didn't know the answer to, the answer would be 'Gary Pyle.' Imagine the thrill when I first heard my name called out! It was so funny. I just stood and held my hands high in the air. It was quite a tribute and a thrill."

The Triviateers are treated to a parade down Main Street U.S.A. This picture is from 1993's trivia finals.

Over the years, there have been thousands of cast members who donned sweaters and greeted guests the Disney way in malls around the world. Some joined the team for the paycheck. Some joined for the merchandise discount. Some joined because of a love of Disney. At least one person joined simply to become a Triviateer - Kevin Burk.

"Walking through the local mall, I saw a sign announcing that the Disney Store was coming soon. At the job fair a few weeks later, in our group interview, they asked what we hoped to accomplish while working at the Disney Store. One girl said she wanted to make money for college, another girl said she was hoping to advance into management. I told them quite honestly, 'I want to win your trivia contest.'"

Kevin, from Southern Hills Mall in Sioux City, Iowa, would be the contest's final champion in 1999. The competition was ended in favor of the Biz Quiz, a contest featuring questions themed more to selling techniques and product knowledge than Disney history. The Biz Quiz ended after only one year.

Three-time Triviateer Steve Burns (r) poses with Disney Archivist Dave Smith in front of Club 33 before enjoying lunch.

"I am very honored to have been the last trivia winner," said Kevin, "but at the same time it's also a little bittersweet. I never had a chance to pass the trophy onto the next winner - it ends with me. There must be dozens, if not hundreds, of other Disney fans out there who never made it as far as we did. They'll never get the chance to 'go for the gold' as we did, and that disappoints me more than you'll know. I know how much fun I had, in the midst of a lot of work, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I'm just sorry that others won't have a shot at it like I had."

Being a Triviateer was the ultimate reward for a lot of hard work. Many of the contestants simply immersed themselves in all things Disney to prepare. A lot of cast members studied Disney books, including the "Ultimate Disney Trivia Book" series by Dave Smith and fellow Triviateer Kevin Neary, winner of the 1991 contest. Some would rent Disney movies from video stores - even traveling to out-of-state rental places to find new titles. There was a lot of note taking, including illegible ones scribbled in darkened movie theaters. And fellow cast members and family members would constantly be quizzing them. Many Triviateers said that they'd do the contest again in a heartbeat, that it was a very personally rewarding experience.

"My dad said I set a great example for my daughters," reflected Barb. "They saw me working hard for something I dearly wanted and I was able to reap the rewards of all that hard work. I saw it as a time when I came into my own - I wasn't somebody's wife or daughter or mom. I could just be me."

Triviateers from 1996's competition enjoy a complete trip around Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom from the luxury of the private Lilly Belle caboose.

For many contestants, though, it was simply the chance to meet and interact with other people who shared their knowledge and passion for Disney that meant so much to them. After the stress and anxiety of the contest was over, lifelong friends were made. Being a Triviateer is a special bond that is shared between very few people. Some Triviateers are hoping to reunite at the Disneyland Resort next year. And two former contestants are even engaged to marry one another.

Triviateer (and writer of this article) Matthew Walker posing for a picture inside Walt Disney's apartment above the firehouse in Disneyland.

With the Disney Store no longer hosting a National Trivia Showdown for its cast members, Triviateers will remain but a small footnote in the history of the Disney Company. With a few exceptions, not many people knew about the Triviateers, even in their heyday. And as time goes by perhaps fewer still will remember them. Maybe the most fitting tribute to the 50 men and women who put their Disney knowledge on the line would be if their legacy is remembered as the answer to a trivia question - "By what name were the Disney Store National Trivia Showdown Finalists collectively known?"

Triviateers.

-Story by Matthew Walker
Photos and artwork are courtesy Kevin Burk, Steve Burns, Sue Ann Finstick, Gary Pyle and Matthew Walker.
Posted

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