In my earliest days of Armchair Imagineering, all the way back in 2008, I produced a script for a California-themed Country Bear show that was “leaked” from Visions Fantastic and circulated as a “leaked script” for a coming revival at DCA. This, of course, was debunked, but in high school I found the ordeal rather humorous. That show, which was “A Tribute to the Music & Lore of California,” directly inspired today’s addition to the Mirror Disneyland project. In the sense... It didn't work. In fact, I’ve completely dropped the “American West” theme from the promised project, and revisited the attraction's roots. Gone is the Country Bear Revue altogether. Instead, I have opted for additions and changes to the original three shows, plus the brand-new Halloween show.
The intro below is borrowed heavily from Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real. Enjoy.
In 1966, as Imagineer Marc Davis was creating character designs and storyboard sketches for a new attraction, he was paid a special and memorable visit. At the time, plans were in the works for a ski resort development in Northern California called Mineral King. Marc, an animator turned Imagineer, was developing ideas for an Audio-Animatronics musical revue for Mineral King that would feature a cast of musical, singing bears. Whenever Marc was deeply involved with an idea, he would literally cover his office walls with sketches.
One day, as Walt so often did, he stopped in to see what Marc was up to. From literally hundreds of pinned-up sketches, he immediately singled out one that featured a bear playing a tuba, and began to laugh hysterically. He told Marc, between guffaws, that he “really had a winner with these musical bears.”
As Walt began to leave the office, he turned and said, “Goodbye, Marc.” This took the artist by surprise as Walt never said goodbye, but rather, always said, “so long” or “see ya.” Walt died a few days later. Marc believes this was the last time Walt ever had a good laugh.
The Mineral King was canceled, but the bears refused to go into hibernation. In 1971, they made their debut at Walt Disney World, where they put on a hand-clappin’, foot stompin’ centerpiece show called Country Bear Jamboree. The “Bear Show” was such a rousing hit there that plans for creating a duplicate at Disneyland began almost immediately. The southwest section of Frontierland, once the location of the Indian Village, became the Pacific Northwest of Folktale Forest, opening in March 1972. And since then, they have entertained millions of guests at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disneyland. The echo of Walt’s laugh lives on today.
Country Bear Jamboree, opening on an extended run, was at first, the hit show and sole attraction of Disneyland’s then-official eighth land, Folktale Forest. Though later renamed “Country Bear Playhouse” to enjoy the success of interchangeable shows, the look of the playhouse has never changed. The "underground" theater was located beyond a covered bridge and across a lazy stream, nestled in a forested hillside surrounded by Australian tree ferns and azaleas. Wood carved bears and humorous signposts lead to the entrance of the rustic, playhouse lobby.
The seasonal Country Bear Christmas Special debuted in 1984, and the summer-themed Country Bear Vacation Hoedown followed in 1986. In 1993, the Country Bear Halloween Hootenanny debuted. In 2012, both the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Country Bear shows closed for refurbishment. The original Jamboree returned on both coasts, albeit condensed to better accommodate more audiences per day.
The warm lobby of Country Bear Playhouse is “decorated” with the dressing room doors of the various ursine performers, each built to the exact height, width, and shape of its respective bear. Tiffany-style wall lights offer a relaxed warmth to the room, with soothing bluegrass and country themes serving as an appropriate underscore while we wait for the next show. Throughout the lobby are various awards, photographs, posters, and records detailing the acclaimed histories of the various Country Bear performers, always humorous and never dull. Most notable though is a framed series of Marc Davis “bear-i-catures,” one for each of the famous stars of the show.
Like the main theater itself, the lobby is decorated based on the season. For Christmas, evergreen garland and a bear-inspired Christmas Tree. For Halloween, bear-shaped jack-o-lanterns and spooky autumn bunting.
A number of Country Bear-themed arcade cabinets also populate the lobby, including “Hoofin’ Henry,” where we make a marionette Henry dance, and “Big Al’s Clock,” among others. But, we’ll save the video games for Pecos Bill’s Wilderness Arcade next door, for now, the attendant has called us in as the automatic theater doors have opened and the rustic, northwoods lodge of “Grizzly Hall” beckons for us to come inside and enjoy the show.
Imagineer Dorothea Redmond created the styling for the rustic interior of the Country Bear Playhouse, all too reminiscent of a northwoods saloon or dance hall. Ornate carvings and elegant, brass designs frame each of the five performance stages in Grizzly Hall, each concealed by a velvet, red curtain with fringed, yellow trim. The words “Country Bear Playhouse” are embroidered in gold across the large curtain of Stage #3, the largest and centermost of the five stages. In the framing above Stage #3, we find a portrait of the dignified and stately Ursus H. Bear, founder of Grizzly Hall and the Country Bear Playhouse.
On the left-hand side of the playhouse, we notice a familiar set of three mounted trophy heads: Buff, a buffalo, Melvin, a moose, and Max, a stag deer. On the right-hand side, we notice a curtained opera box, though this “stage” will not be used for today’s performance…
Having procured our seat on one of several log-built benches, we anxiously wait for the show to start. The cheerful (and human) attendant of Grizzly Hall has a few last reminders before we begin. Following this, the lights dim, and spotlights are shone on the three heads.
The original Jamboree show is the condensed version of the original, as seen in the video above. The only major difference is "Fractured Folk Song" is retained, as well as some of the cut dialogue from the three mounted heads. "Ole' Slew Foot" also retains its cut verse and interlude of standard country whoopin' and hollerin' from the bears. Otherwise, the show is practically the same.
1. "Pianjo" - Gomer and Henry
2. "The Bear Band Serenade" - The Five Bear Rugs and Henry
3. "If You Can't Bite, Don't Growl" - Ernest and the Five Bear Rugs
4. "Fractured Folk Song" - Wendell and Henry
5. "My Woman Ain't Pretty (But She Don't Swear None)" - Liver Lips McGrowl
6. "Mama, Don't Whip Little Buford" - Wendell and Henry
7. "Tears Will Be the Chaser For Your Wine" - Trixie
8. "How Long Will My Baby Be Gone" - Terrence
9. "All the Guys That Turn Me On Turn Me Down" - The Sun Bonnet Trio
10. "Heart, We Did All That We Could" - Teddi Barra
11. "Blood on the Saddle" - Big Al
12. "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" - Henry and Sammy
13. "Ole Slew Foot" - Company (minus Ernest and Trixie, and Big Al who continues singing "Blood on the Saddle")
14. "Come Again" - Henry, Sammy, Max, Buff & Melvin
The Vacation Hoedown remains almost entirely the same as the 1986 original. "Rocky Top," however, is cut. Ernest's song "Nature" is cut and replaced with "I've Been Everywhere" by Johnny Cash, with revised lyrics for a California theme, as inspired by "The Muppets Take the Hollywood Bowl." Big Al's original song "On My Way To Your Heart" is replaced with "Home on the Range."
1. "The Great Outdoors" - Henry and the Five Bear Rugs
2. "Life's No Picnic Without You" - Trixie
3. "On the Road Again" - Wendell
4. "We Can Make It To The Top" - Liver Lips McGrowl (as Elvis)
5. "California Bears" - The Sun Bonnet Trio, Gomer, Max, Buff & Melvin
6. "Two Different Worlds" - Terrence & Dolores, the Octopus
7. "I've Been Everywhere" - Ernest
8. "Singin' In the Rain" - Teddi Barra and Henry
9. "Ghost Riders In The Sky" - The Five Bear Rugs
10. "Home on the Range" - Big Al
12. Thank God I'm a Country Bear" - Company (except Ernest and Trixie)
Now, here are excerpts from the "script" so you can see the lyrics for the two new songs.
(ERNEST THE DUDE appears on STAGE #1, playing the fiddle. ERNEST has the backdrop of Route 66 behind him.)
ERNEST: I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the desert's bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've a ‘had my share, man
I've been everywhere
MAX: Sing it!
(A slideshow appears on Stage #3 and shows a postcard from each city that ERNEST says he has visited - incredibly fast, one after the other.)
ERNEST: I've been to Hollywood, Inglewood, Westwood, Eagle Rock,
Glenwood, Lakewood, Packwood, Norwalk,
Glendale, Palmdale, Irwindale, Van Nuys,
Hidden Hills, Bunker Hill, Mandeville, 405,
La Mirada, La Cañada, and Gardena,
West Covina, Pasadena, Catalina, See-What-I-Mean-A?!
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the desert's bare, man
I've been everywhere, man
I’ve been everywhere, man
I’ve been everywhere… (His curtain closes.)
***
(The chirping crickets, hooting owls, and other nocturnal sound effects following "Ghost Riders in the Sky" continue, as we hear the familiar, out-of-tune guitar cords of BIG AL. The curtain on STAGE #1 opens to reveal a befuddled BIG AL dressed in a too-tiny cowboy costume, complete with boots. He is backed by the painted backdrop of a Western prairie at sunset.)
BIG AL: Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam
Where the deer and the antelope play (we hear a dog howl)
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
(Now, an entire chorus of dogs howl in time with the music.)
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day (Blackout.)
***
Very few changes to what I would consider the perfect Christmas attraction. Big Al's original song, "Another New Year" is swapped for a version of "Auld Lang Syne" from the Tokyo Disneyland version.
1. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Melvin
2. "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" - Henry & Gomer
3. "Tracks in the Snow" - Henry and the Five Bear Rugs
4. "Twelve Days of Christmas (Oh, What a Christmas)" - Wendell
5. "The Hibernating Blues" - Trixie
6. "Deck the Halls" - The Five Bear Rugs
7. "Rock and Roll Santa" - Liver Lips McGrowl & Gomer
8. "Blue Christmas" - Terrence & a Penguin
9. "Sleigh Ride" - The Sun Bonnet Trio, Max, Buff & Melvin
10. "Hungry as a Bear" - Ernest and the Five Bear Rugs
11. "The Christmas Song" - Henry and Teddi Barra
12. "Auld Lang Syne" - Big Al
13. "Let It Snow/Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Winter Wonderland" - Company (except Ernest and Trixie)
***
(Instrumental of "Auld Lang Syne" is heard.)
MAX: I sure am lookin' forward to the New Year.
BUFF: Yep! Ain't nothin' like a brand, new year to lift your spirits! (Music is interrupted by a sour guitar cord.) Of course, I could be wrong...
(The curtain of STAGE #1 parts to reveal BIG AL, appearing to have partied too hard. He is dressed as Baby New Year, complete with a diaper and sash. He wears a party hat, an ice pack, and is surrounded by confetti, streamers and deflated balloons, as well as a "Happy New Year" banner with various years etched on over and over again, always X'd out for the following year to replace it. Hound dogs howl in time with AL's music.)
BIG AL: The time has come to celebrate
And bring in the New Year
But my wife took off with my hound dog
And left me sittin' here.
I miss my old hound dog, my dear
I miss that old hound dog!
It's gonna be a sad New Year
Without my old hound dog. (Blackout.)
***
The intro below is borrowed heavily from Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real. Enjoy.
***
In 1966, as Imagineer Marc Davis was creating character designs and storyboard sketches for a new attraction, he was paid a special and memorable visit. At the time, plans were in the works for a ski resort development in Northern California called Mineral King. Marc, an animator turned Imagineer, was developing ideas for an Audio-Animatronics musical revue for Mineral King that would feature a cast of musical, singing bears. Whenever Marc was deeply involved with an idea, he would literally cover his office walls with sketches.
One day, as Walt so often did, he stopped in to see what Marc was up to. From literally hundreds of pinned-up sketches, he immediately singled out one that featured a bear playing a tuba, and began to laugh hysterically. He told Marc, between guffaws, that he “really had a winner with these musical bears.”
As Walt began to leave the office, he turned and said, “Goodbye, Marc.” This took the artist by surprise as Walt never said goodbye, but rather, always said, “so long” or “see ya.” Walt died a few days later. Marc believes this was the last time Walt ever had a good laugh.
The Mineral King was canceled, but the bears refused to go into hibernation. In 1971, they made their debut at Walt Disney World, where they put on a hand-clappin’, foot stompin’ centerpiece show called Country Bear Jamboree. The “Bear Show” was such a rousing hit there that plans for creating a duplicate at Disneyland began almost immediately. The southwest section of Frontierland, once the location of the Indian Village, became the Pacific Northwest of Folktale Forest, opening in March 1972. And since then, they have entertained millions of guests at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disneyland. The echo of Walt’s laugh lives on today.
Country Bear Jamboree, opening on an extended run, was at first, the hit show and sole attraction of Disneyland’s then-official eighth land, Folktale Forest. Though later renamed “Country Bear Playhouse” to enjoy the success of interchangeable shows, the look of the playhouse has never changed. The "underground" theater was located beyond a covered bridge and across a lazy stream, nestled in a forested hillside surrounded by Australian tree ferns and azaleas. Wood carved bears and humorous signposts lead to the entrance of the rustic, playhouse lobby.
The seasonal Country Bear Christmas Special debuted in 1984, and the summer-themed Country Bear Vacation Hoedown followed in 1986. In 1993, the Country Bear Halloween Hootenanny debuted. In 2012, both the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Country Bear shows closed for refurbishment. The original Jamboree returned on both coasts, albeit condensed to better accommodate more audiences per day.
Country Bear Playhouse Showtimes
Country Bear Jamboree: January - May
Country Bear Vacation Hoedown: June - August
Country Bear Halloween Hootenanny: September - October
Country Bear Christmas Special: November - December
Country Bear Jamboree: January - May
Country Bear Vacation Hoedown: June - August
Country Bear Halloween Hootenanny: September - October
Country Bear Christmas Special: November - December
The warm lobby of Country Bear Playhouse is “decorated” with the dressing room doors of the various ursine performers, each built to the exact height, width, and shape of its respective bear. Tiffany-style wall lights offer a relaxed warmth to the room, with soothing bluegrass and country themes serving as an appropriate underscore while we wait for the next show. Throughout the lobby are various awards, photographs, posters, and records detailing the acclaimed histories of the various Country Bear performers, always humorous and never dull. Most notable though is a framed series of Marc Davis “bear-i-catures,” one for each of the famous stars of the show.
Like the main theater itself, the lobby is decorated based on the season. For Christmas, evergreen garland and a bear-inspired Christmas Tree. For Halloween, bear-shaped jack-o-lanterns and spooky autumn bunting.
A number of Country Bear-themed arcade cabinets also populate the lobby, including “Hoofin’ Henry,” where we make a marionette Henry dance, and “Big Al’s Clock,” among others. But, we’ll save the video games for Pecos Bill’s Wilderness Arcade next door, for now, the attendant has called us in as the automatic theater doors have opened and the rustic, northwoods lodge of “Grizzly Hall” beckons for us to come inside and enjoy the show.
Imagineer Dorothea Redmond created the styling for the rustic interior of the Country Bear Playhouse, all too reminiscent of a northwoods saloon or dance hall. Ornate carvings and elegant, brass designs frame each of the five performance stages in Grizzly Hall, each concealed by a velvet, red curtain with fringed, yellow trim. The words “Country Bear Playhouse” are embroidered in gold across the large curtain of Stage #3, the largest and centermost of the five stages. In the framing above Stage #3, we find a portrait of the dignified and stately Ursus H. Bear, founder of Grizzly Hall and the Country Bear Playhouse.
On the left-hand side of the playhouse, we notice a familiar set of three mounted trophy heads: Buff, a buffalo, Melvin, a moose, and Max, a stag deer. On the right-hand side, we notice a curtained opera box, though this “stage” will not be used for today’s performance…
Having procured our seat on one of several log-built benches, we anxiously wait for the show to start. The cheerful (and human) attendant of Grizzly Hall has a few last reminders before we begin. Following this, the lights dim, and spotlights are shone on the three heads.
Country Bear Jamboree
The original Jamboree show is the condensed version of the original, as seen in the video above. The only major difference is "Fractured Folk Song" is retained, as well as some of the cut dialogue from the three mounted heads. "Ole' Slew Foot" also retains its cut verse and interlude of standard country whoopin' and hollerin' from the bears. Otherwise, the show is practically the same.
1. "Pianjo" - Gomer and Henry
2. "The Bear Band Serenade" - The Five Bear Rugs and Henry
3. "If You Can't Bite, Don't Growl" - Ernest and the Five Bear Rugs
4. "Fractured Folk Song" - Wendell and Henry
5. "My Woman Ain't Pretty (But She Don't Swear None)" - Liver Lips McGrowl
6. "Mama, Don't Whip Little Buford" - Wendell and Henry
7. "Tears Will Be the Chaser For Your Wine" - Trixie
8. "How Long Will My Baby Be Gone" - Terrence
9. "All the Guys That Turn Me On Turn Me Down" - The Sun Bonnet Trio
10. "Heart, We Did All That We Could" - Teddi Barra
11. "Blood on the Saddle" - Big Al
12. "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" - Henry and Sammy
13. "Ole Slew Foot" - Company (minus Ernest and Trixie, and Big Al who continues singing "Blood on the Saddle")
14. "Come Again" - Henry, Sammy, Max, Buff & Melvin
Country Bear Vacation Hoedown
The Vacation Hoedown remains almost entirely the same as the 1986 original. "Rocky Top," however, is cut. Ernest's song "Nature" is cut and replaced with "I've Been Everywhere" by Johnny Cash, with revised lyrics for a California theme, as inspired by "The Muppets Take the Hollywood Bowl." Big Al's original song "On My Way To Your Heart" is replaced with "Home on the Range."
1. "The Great Outdoors" - Henry and the Five Bear Rugs
2. "Life's No Picnic Without You" - Trixie
3. "On the Road Again" - Wendell
4. "We Can Make It To The Top" - Liver Lips McGrowl (as Elvis)
5. "California Bears" - The Sun Bonnet Trio, Gomer, Max, Buff & Melvin
6. "Two Different Worlds" - Terrence & Dolores, the Octopus
7. "I've Been Everywhere" - Ernest
8. "Singin' In the Rain" - Teddi Barra and Henry
9. "Ghost Riders In The Sky" - The Five Bear Rugs
10. "Home on the Range" - Big Al
12. Thank God I'm a Country Bear" - Company (except Ernest and Trixie)
Now, here are excerpts from the "script" so you can see the lyrics for the two new songs.
(ERNEST THE DUDE appears on STAGE #1, playing the fiddle. ERNEST has the backdrop of Route 66 behind him.)
ERNEST: I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the desert's bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've a ‘had my share, man
I've been everywhere
MAX: Sing it!
(A slideshow appears on Stage #3 and shows a postcard from each city that ERNEST says he has visited - incredibly fast, one after the other.)
ERNEST: I've been to Hollywood, Inglewood, Westwood, Eagle Rock,
Glenwood, Lakewood, Packwood, Norwalk,
Glendale, Palmdale, Irwindale, Van Nuys,
Hidden Hills, Bunker Hill, Mandeville, 405,
La Mirada, La Cañada, and Gardena,
West Covina, Pasadena, Catalina, See-What-I-Mean-A?!
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the desert's bare, man
I've been everywhere, man
I’ve been everywhere, man
I’ve been everywhere… (His curtain closes.)
***
(The chirping crickets, hooting owls, and other nocturnal sound effects following "Ghost Riders in the Sky" continue, as we hear the familiar, out-of-tune guitar cords of BIG AL. The curtain on STAGE #1 opens to reveal a befuddled BIG AL dressed in a too-tiny cowboy costume, complete with boots. He is backed by the painted backdrop of a Western prairie at sunset.)
BIG AL: Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam
Where the deer and the antelope play (we hear a dog howl)
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
(Now, an entire chorus of dogs howl in time with the music.)
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day (Blackout.)
***
Country Bear Christmas Special
Very few changes to what I would consider the perfect Christmas attraction. Big Al's original song, "Another New Year" is swapped for a version of "Auld Lang Syne" from the Tokyo Disneyland version.
1. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Melvin
2. "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" - Henry & Gomer
3. "Tracks in the Snow" - Henry and the Five Bear Rugs
4. "Twelve Days of Christmas (Oh, What a Christmas)" - Wendell
5. "The Hibernating Blues" - Trixie
6. "Deck the Halls" - The Five Bear Rugs
7. "Rock and Roll Santa" - Liver Lips McGrowl & Gomer
8. "Blue Christmas" - Terrence & a Penguin
9. "Sleigh Ride" - The Sun Bonnet Trio, Max, Buff & Melvin
10. "Hungry as a Bear" - Ernest and the Five Bear Rugs
11. "The Christmas Song" - Henry and Teddi Barra
12. "Auld Lang Syne" - Big Al
13. "Let It Snow/Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Winter Wonderland" - Company (except Ernest and Trixie)
***
(Instrumental of "Auld Lang Syne" is heard.)
MAX: I sure am lookin' forward to the New Year.
BUFF: Yep! Ain't nothin' like a brand, new year to lift your spirits! (Music is interrupted by a sour guitar cord.) Of course, I could be wrong...
(The curtain of STAGE #1 parts to reveal BIG AL, appearing to have partied too hard. He is dressed as Baby New Year, complete with a diaper and sash. He wears a party hat, an ice pack, and is surrounded by confetti, streamers and deflated balloons, as well as a "Happy New Year" banner with various years etched on over and over again, always X'd out for the following year to replace it. Hound dogs howl in time with AL's music.)
BIG AL: The time has come to celebrate
And bring in the New Year
But my wife took off with my hound dog
And left me sittin' here.
I miss my old hound dog, my dear
I miss that old hound dog!
It's gonna be a sad New Year
Without my old hound dog. (Blackout.)
***
Country Bear Halloween Hootenanny
COMING SOON!
COMING SOON!
It takes a lot of time and energy to complete these projects, and unfortunately, I have neither of those in me right now. It's more important for me right now to focus on work and my mental health and not put myself through stress over this. I think there comes a point in time where I hit a wall and I just can't bring myself to enjoying the project anymore. 
