Country Bear Jamboree

[J.E.Smith]

Originally posted by grizzlyhall
...and Chuck E. Cheese (and its whole CEC company) was created because they loved the Jamboree. In fact, this company made a Bear Country Jubille a couple years later...so I would say that CEC is a WAY WAY WAY underbown CBJ.

Ummm, a little correction here Grizz. Itwas Creative Enginerring that loved the Jamboree and made the Jubille show, but they didn't didn't have anything to do with CEC until 1984, when the company that ran the Billy Bob resteraunts bought out and merged with CEC.

Back when CEC first opened, I think it was orginally owned by the guy who founded Atari. (That's why the animatronics were REALLY lousy back then, I think they concentrating on the aracade games...)

I've always loved the CBJ, but I think you can tell by my avatar. I'm a die-hard fanboy actually, anyone's who's seen the Country Bear fanfic I wrote knows that!

By the way, what's with the deal with the C'yall in the future thing anyway??

 

[prberk]

More than meets the eye

Well, griz, you will be happy to know that I also like the show, partly for sentimental reasons like others, but also because it is truly authentic in some special ways. I only think that it would be a good idea to "digitally remaster" its soundtrack and reprogram the bears so that it will not sound and run as poorly as it has recently (last year).

On the sentimental side, I am 36 and remember going to it with my parents growing up. They loved country music and camping, and so it was a natural. But as I have grown up, I have found more reasons to appreciate it.

First, the park needs non-thrill rides that appeal to older audiences, and to rural tastes. That used to be WDW's greatest appeal: that it had something for everyone. It's nice to have something to share with "grandma," and I mean that. Especially older visitors from the South and mid-west may enjoy this.

Second, I am a fan and somewhat a historian of country music, and the voices on this show are true classics that really captured a style of vaudeville-meets-the-mountains that really existed in the early part of this century. Even the red-curtain staging and show style does a good job of "teaching" kids about an era that is mostly gone by. It actually follows the real style of the early Grand Ole Opry and other "barn dances" of the period, while having fun with them.

The voice list includes true country pioneers, such as Kitty Wells and Tex Ritter (John Ritter's father). As with most things that Disney did in the early park planning days, the research was real and the "extras" were there for authenticity sake. [For some more fun trivia, spend time looking into the other recorded voices around the park."]

The only thing that I suggest is that the equipment be overhauled and the soundtrack restored digitally for better sound. And I really wouldn't mind a new show recording itself with some newer, yet traditional country stars on occasion. (Walt himself wanted things never to be completed, but constantly revised.) I would like it preserved, however, for those reasons.

 

[J.E.Smith]

I don't think Kitty Wells voiced any of the bears...

 

[TURKEY]

There are rumors of it becoming a version based on the new movie coming out. You may not think that this is considered to be something happening, but it is. It will totally change the show (looks, sounds, number of bears).

I really enjoy it. Not as much for the show, but for the animal heads on the wall. I think they are the best part of the show.
It is a good show, the sound could be redone to be better quality.

 

[General Grizz]

Ya see, guys? We've got some grizzlies!

Yeah, I agree -anything to ENHANCE the ORIGINAL show would be PERFECT!!! Just none of that tie-in junk. I am all for maintenence and performance!

Thanks for the correction, Zeke...now I know! See ya at Mouse chat tonight!

 

[Lance]

Originally posted by turkey leg boy

I really enjoy it. Not as much for the show, but for the animal heads on the wall. I think they are the best part of the show.

You couldn't be more right, the buffalo and moose heads on the wall make the show.

 

[General Grizz]

Melvin and Max appreciate your comments! Buff doesn't care...LOL

You know, you can always email the country bears (please put who you want to talk to) at thecountrybears@yahoo.com

 

[NADisney]

Did you know?

Perhaps the most familiar face in Grizzly Hall is the melancholic bear known as Big Al. Although Big Al made his debut in Florida Oct 1,1971, he was originally supposed to star with his nineteen life-size Audio-Animatronic cohorts on the West Coast as early as 1966-but not at Disneyland. Walt Disney had intentions of buying land in the Sierra Nevada mountain town Mineral King,California,for a ski resort, but Congress voted to turn that land into the Sequoia National Park,preventing any private development.

Big Al is a tribute to the late Imagineer Al Bertino,who was responsible for writing and animating nineteen shorts from some in Make Mine Music in 1946 to the Warner Brothre's Road Runner/Wile E. Coyote cartoon Highway Runnery,in 1965.

Disney Animated Artist and Imagineer Marc Davis used Bertino as a model for the creation of Big Al,whose doleful performance of Blood on the Saddle, voiced by Hollywood cowboy star Tex Ritter, has become one of the hallmarks of the Country Bear Jamboree. :sohappy:

 

[dwldzm9]

knight in shining armor

Well,

I know it's just my opinion, but I LOVE the show. I went to watch it every year when I was younger, now I am about to turn 22 and I still go at least once every time i'm there. The only time the show isn't as good as it should be is when the crowd doesn't interact (clapping, stomping feet, "yee-haw" and all that sort of thing. I just wish people today were more able to make a temporary return to innocence... to be a kid again. I think that this one attraction as much as any other in the magic kingdom follows this ideal, an ideal which I consider to be the essence of the entire park. When I enter the park, I revert to a 8 year old's perspective, and I have a blast.

Oh - and Big AL is my FAVORITE !!!

 

[dwldzm9]

Walt...

Speaking of Walt and the plan for mineral wells resort...

There is an oft told story of a day when Walt walked into animator Marc Davis' office and began to look around at the drawings he was working on. He immediately spotted a drawing of one of the bears playing a tuba, and started laughing hysterically. He told Marc "you've really got a hit with these bears here." As he was leaving the office, he turned and said "Goodbye, Marc." This was rare because Walt normally would say "see you later" or something similar, but never "goodbye." That was the last time Marc ever saw Walt, as he died two days later.

It is believed to be the last time Walt had a good laugh.

Stories like this are why attractions like CBJ should be protected.

You agree, no?