The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[Too Many Hats]

My grandmother on my mother's side LOVED the Country Bear Jamboree when it debuted in 1972.

But here's where that gets weird. She was a very gracious woman who had come from comfortable wealth, a native Southern Californian. She attended the Symphony regularly, donated to the various Fine Arts in her community and was on stylish ladies volunteer boards, and had a very tastefully decorated home with incredible artwork. Classical music always played softly at her dinner parties and holiday gatherings. They knew her by sight at Bullocks Wilshire, and she was always impeccably tailored.

But that woman LOVED the Country Bear Jamboree. She would clap along and stomp her feet and swoon over Big Al.

It was the funniest thing to see this elderly Lady Who Lunches to become a rootin' tootin' country girl for 15 minutes any time we went to Disneyland in the 70's. To this day, we have no idea where it came from, or why. But she loved that show.

Love this.

I suspect just about every demographic enjoys CBJ. It certainly seemed that way when I saw the show (for the first time in many, many years) back in January. It’s got that timeless, universal brand of comedy Disney perfected during the 1960s/70s. And it’s a tight show — there’s no fat in that 13 minutes.

The show is pretty unassuming. It took a few minutes for my audience (a packed house) to “get it.” But by the time Big Al was singing Blood On The Saddle? People sitting around me were losing it.

 

[Too Many Hats]

I too had a great time in CBJ with a pack and involved crowd during my last visit. We took my mother for her first visit and she was excited to go on CBJ being it was a favorite of her family back in the day. She had a great time with everyone hootin' and hollarin' and clapping along with the music.

CBJ reminds me of a simpler time and just having fun and enjoying simple jokes and music.

Exactly. It’s such a bummer 2023 Disney doesn’t value these things.

Too many modern attractions are joyless.

 

[Too Many Hats]

And certainly Big Al and Trixie will need to be presented in a much more “body positive” way.

I laughed out loud.

 

[TP2000]

I laughed out loud.

The DEI jokes are going to write themselves when this new Country Bears show opens.

I am looking forward to a Parks Blog post about how a team of young Imagineers took a research trip to Nashville to immerse themselves in that foreign and exotic local culture to learn what makes Non-Coastal Americans laugh, and why they like Country Music so much. An immersion into a bizarre and mysterious world no one in Silver Lake even knew existed.

Coincidentally, a Four Seasons Hotel recently opened in Nashville. So you know where the Imagineers will be camped out during their exhaustive research into the local culture.

 

[PiratesMansion]

The DEI jokes are going to write themselves when this new Country Bears show opens.

I am looking forward to a Parks Blog post about how a team of young Imagineers took a research trip to Nashville to immerse themselves in that foreign and exotic local culture to learn what makes Non-Coastal Americans laugh, and why they like Country Music so much. An immersion into a bizarre and mysterious world no one in Silver Lake even knew existed.

Coincidentally, a Four Seasons Hotel recently opened in Nashville. So you know where the Imagineers will be camped out during their exhaustive research into the local culture.

I doubt this change is about DEI nearly to the extent that it's about the feeling internally that Disney just MUST increase the amount of Disney content in their parks at any cost.

The only DEI complaint I have ever heard about CBJ is the name (and not any other attribute; just their name) of ONE character, and that would be easy to change without changing the entire show if they were so inclined to do so.

 

[TP2000]

Look at this @mickEblu, this brilliant thread you created has just hit 1 Million views.

Thank you for thinking of this and creating this repository of Miscellaneous Thoughts. It's been very entertaining.

 

[Consumer]

I doubt this change is about DEI nearly to the extent that it's about the feeling internally that Disney just MUST increase the amount of Disney content in their parks at any cost.

The only DEI complaint I have ever heard about CBJ is the name (and not any other attribute; just their name) of ONE character, and that would be easy to change without changing the entire show if they were so inclined to do so.

Definitely a combination of both. The show was already greatly butchered several years ago to make it more PC, but even since then wusses have found it horrific. Even just the fact it's country music is enough to raise alarms (that's the kind of music racists listen to!).

 

[TP2000]

I doubt this change is about DEI nearly to the extent that it's about the feeling internally that Disney just MUST increase the amount of Disney content in their parks at any cost.

The only DEI complaint I have ever heard about CBJ is the name (and not any other attribute; just their name) of ONE character, and that would be easy to change without changing the entire show if they were so inclined to do so.

There is absolutely no way that 1971 show could ever be created by today's Disney. Not with jokes about whooping little Buford, finding a ladder to go up and see Teddi some time, having all the guys that turn me on turn me down, etc., etc.

This show has been on the chopping block since Disney got their DEI team involved in creative decisions a few years ago.

If they wanted to just update the show with newer styled Country songs from the Garth Brooks era onward, they would do that with the existing show and simply rework it. Instead, they are rewriting and restaging the entire show, turning it into an HR approved medley of "Disney" songs.

Their recent track record is not good. Frankly, I no longer trust Disney and WDI with stuff like this. Maybe they'll surprise us? But I doubt it. I'd bet two churros that in 2024 the DEI jokes are going to write themselves for this "updated" classic.

 

[brb1006]

I recently lessened to a recent episode of The Disney Dish Podcast from Jim Hill and @lentesta where they discussed the origins of The Bippity Boppity Boutique. They talked about the origins and birth of the "Disney Princess" brand. However, their discussion brought back vivid memories when Disney tried making a male counterpart to the Disney Princess Brand called "Disney Heroes".

At first I thought my memory was playing tricks on me. Until I discovered that yes Disney did indeed create a male version. After rediscovering the official logo!

 

[brb1006]

For those unfamiliar, Disney Heroes was an extremely short-lived attempt by Disney to make merchandise and a character brand aimed at young boys focusing on male protagonists and heroic Disney Characters from their animated films. Including Peter Pan, Merlin and Arthur from Sword in the Stone, Tarzan, Hercules, and Robin Hood.

Here are rare photos of official merch created between 2004 and 2005.

Disney decided to discontinue "Disney Heroes" due to selling very poorly.

I vividly remember seeing these at my local Disney Stores and a few stores during the mid 2000s.

 

[TP2000]

For those unfamiliar, Disney Heroes was an extremely short-lived attempt by Disney to make merchandise and a character brand aimed as young boys focusing on male protagonists and heroic Disney Characters from their animated films. Including Peter Pan, Merlin and Arthur from Sword in the Stone, Tarzan, Hercules, and Robin Hood.

Disney decided to discontinue "Disney Heroes" due to selling very poorly.

I vividly remember seeing these at my local Disney Stores and a few stores during the mid 2000s.

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

What probably destroyed that attempt at Boys toys was the wild success of the Cars franchise from Pixar. Cars turned into a merchandise juggernaut in the mid 2000's did Ten Billion Dollars in sales for toys and clothing for boys.

Why bother trying to relaunch Robin Hood toys for boys, when Lightning and Mater are flying off the shelves?

Pixar boss reveals Cars movie merchandise made $10bn

The boss of Pixar animation says merchandise from the first Cars film sold £10bn worth worldwide.

www.bbc.com

 

[Consumer]

For those unfamiliar, Disney Heroes was an extremely short-lived attempt by Disney to make merchandise and a character brand aimed as young boys focusing on male protagonists and heroic Disney Characters from their animated films. Including Peter Pan, Merlin and Arthur from Sword in the Stone, Tarzan, Hercules, and Robin Hood.

Here are rare photos of official merch created between 2004 and 2005.
View attachment 742433
View attachment 742434
View attachment 742435
View attachment 742436
View attachment 742437

Disney decided to discontinue "Disney Heroes" due to selling very poorly.

I vividly remember seeing these at my local Disney Stores and a few stores during the mid 2000s.

Considering these all look like girl toys, I'm not surprised this was a failure. I will say, though, I'd love to get my hands on that Indian encampment.

 

[TP2000]

Considering these all look like girl toys, I'm not surprised this was a failure. I will say, though, I'd love to get my hands on that Indian encampment.

I saw that too and thought "Wow...."

But it really bugs me that they've got a Plains Indians tipi and a Coastal Salish Indian totem pole all in the same camp.

Clearly, no one was doing 10 minutes worth of research to even confirm that was physically or culturally possible.

It would be like putting a Arizona style adobe house in a Pocahontas tableau set in coastal Virginia.

 

[mickEblu]

Look at this @mickEblu, this brilliant thread you created has just hit 1 Million views.

Thank you for thinking of this and creating this repository of Miscellaneous Thoughts. It's been very entertaining.

Wow! No wonder I haven’t been banned yet! Lol jk.

Slightly less middle aged mickEblu would have never thought this day was possible. Thanks for sharing!

 

[brb1006]

Since I posted about "Disney Heroes", this bring me to Disney's latest attempt at recapturing the "Disney Princess" type brand with "Disney Animals". It was first revealed on July 8th, 2018 in France at an event called Rendez-vous Des Partenaires 2018 ("RDVDisney2018") where concept art for "Star Wars Resistance" was shown off.

It focused on Disney characters from Disney Animated Films that focused heavily on animals (Dumbo, Lady and The Tramp, Bambi, The Aristocats, The Jungle Book, and 101 Dalmatians) and aimed at the unisex demographic (both genders). It was planned to launch sometime in 2019 but never happened for unknown reasons. Since 2018, Disney has been very radio silent on the "Disney Animals" brand and has either been placed on the back burner or quietly cancelled.

I recently sent a PM to @lentesta noticing about Disney's idea on the "Disney Animals" brand and "Disney Heroes". Because I would seriously love to hear Jim Hill's thoughts and discussions on this in a future episode of "The Disney Dish", "Fine Tooning", or "I Want That" podcast.

 

[SuddenStorm]

Look at this @mickEblu, this brilliant thread you created has just hit 1 Million views.

Thank you for thinking of this and creating this repository of Miscellaneous Thoughts. It's been very entertaining.

The best part of this thread?

That we can all enjoy discussion without complaints of being 'off topic'

 

[chadwpalm]

where concept art for "Star Wars Resistance" (now known as "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistence) was shown off.

Star Wars Resistance was an animated series on Disney XD that lasted 2 seasons and that was what was being shown as concept art, not the theme park ride Rise of the Resistance.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8336340/

 

[brb1006]

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

What probably destroyed that attempt at Boys toys was the wild success of the Cars franchise from Pixar. Cars turned into a merchandise juggernaut in the mid 2000's did Ten Billion Dollars in sales for toys and clothing for boys.

Why bother trying to relaunch Robin Hood toys for boys, when Lightning and Mater are flying off the shelves?

Pixar boss reveals Cars movie merchandise made $10bn

The boss of Pixar animation says merchandise from the first Cars film sold £10bn worth worldwide.

www.bbc.com

In the age of Disney+, I could see the "Disney Heroes" and "Disney Animals" idea making for a decent series as a D+ Original Show.

 

[TP2000]

I think Labor Day should be retired as a federal Holiday and 9/11 should take its place. Does anyone even know what Labor Day is?

Here's why that idea gives me pause.

Labor Day (ostensibly a holiday to commemorate America's labor and workers) is always the first Monday in September. It's become the de facto end of summer, and many schools still start their year the day after Labor Day. It perfectly bookends summer in America, with Memorial Day kicking it off in late May. But most impactfully, it's always the first Monday.

If we swapped it with Patriot's Day, sure we'd effectively extend the summer by a week. But, it would be a random holiday that changed every year. Sometimes the 11th would be a Friday, sometimes a Wednesday, etc. You could do the second Monday in September as "Patriot's Day Observed", but that then untethers it from the true importance of 9/11.

But more importantly, Patriot's Day would just become another national barbecue weekend. It would be a beach holiday, a final summer fling of pool parties and hamburgers and Twisting in the sand one last time before you went back to school. That's not what 9/11 should be. It should be about a solemn remembrance, much like December 7th, 1941 or November 22nd, 1963.

Keep Labor Day where it is, and make the union bosses shell out some of that dues money they suck up all year for hamburgers and barbecues. And keep Patriot's Day as a more solemn and dedicated day of remembrance.

 

[mickEblu]

Here's why that idea gives me pause.

Labor Day (ostensibly a holiday to commemorate America's labor and workers) is always the first Monday in September. It's become the de facto end of summer, and many schools still start their year the day after Labor Day. It perfectly bookends summer in America, with Memorial Day kicking it off in late May. But most importantly, it's tethered to the first Monday.

If we swapped it with Patriot's Day, sure we'd effectively extend the summer by a week. But, it would be a random holiday that changed every year. Sometimes the 11th would be a Friday, sometimes a Wednesday, etc. You could do the second Monday in September as "Patriot's Day Observed", but that then untethers it from the true importance of 9/11.

But more importantly, Patriot's Day would just become another national barbecue weekend. It would be a beach holiday, a final summer fling of pool parties and hamburgers and Twisting in the sand one last time before you went back to school. That's not what 9/11 should be. It should be about a solemn remembrance, much like December 7th, 1941 or November 22nd, 1963.

Keep Labor Day where it is, and make the union bosses shell out some of that dues money they suck up all year for hamburgers and barbecues. And keep Patriot's Day as a more solemn and dedicated day of remembrance.

You make some great points. Labor Day should stay where it is and we add a new Federal Holiday a week later! Lol. It can’t truly be a day of remembrance if you’re stuck working in your cubicle all day. I’d rather remember over a couple cold ones with family/ friends and some BBQ.