The Country Bear Jamboree at Disneyland

The Country Bear Jamboree at Disneyland was my favorable audio-animatronic show based attraction as a kid. My Mother and I went to Disneyland every year growing up and that show was one thing we always hit. I was really excited the year we went in December as I got to see the Christmas show instead.

I remember walking into the big walkway into a building that was long and narrow. I remember the penny stretching machines, the "stars" doors and the mounted talking animals.

Here are some websites on the attraction:

• Yesterland
• Wikipedia
• Despite Fans’ Fears, Disney’s Country Bears Remain Corny
• Country Bear Jamboree Disney Wiki
• A historical look at the Country Bears Jamboree part 1
• A historical look at the Country Bears Jamboree part 2

Here it is. My favorite show as a kid. I remember having to go down a bunch of stairs into the building. The very first thing I would do is go for the penny machines. 

Here would be pennies from said machines. This is a random picture I found online but I would think I have mine somewhere. It's funny how you wish you kept better track of stuff as a kid? 

Once you got passed the machines you'd find these doors. I'd always just watch them and wait for them to move. They never did. I do remember them talking as the show got closer to starting. 

These guys where always in the hallway. I think they talked too. They are Melvin, Buff & Max

This is the fellas during the actual show. Max was always my favorite. Above is obviously during the Christmas show.

These are the original boys from the first pic. When the attraction was torn down at Disneyland, these guys stayed and are now part of the "Adventures of Winnie the Pooh." attraction as a reminder. I missed them when I went on the ride however. My guess is they are hidden.  

Here is the ride now.

More pictures of this awesome attraction:

Shaker

Little Oscar

Fred

Teddi Barra

This is The Sun Bonnet Trio

Trixie

Wendell

 This dude is here is Henry. The ring leader and MC of the show. Another one I loved. I always enjoyed it when that damn raccoon, Sammy would tap dance on his hat.

This fellow right here always made me worried as a kid. I thought to myself "he's scared!" If you have been to this show you know that this fellow as Big Al. He went camping and all the critters that go bump in the night where after him.I vaguely remember scary eyes and the like in the background making things worse. I always felt bad for the dude. So much so that I bought the tiny stuffed version of him to take home so I could protect him. 

 Here he is again. This is the scared camping part I was talking about. This is also the costume he had on in my stuffed animal.

Going through pictures I found out he was once a wondering character at the park. If I still had all my autograph books I'd tell ya if I met him or not. I am very confident though that if I saw him, I met him.

This guy to the right is Liver Lips. My mom adored this bear because he was an obvious image of Elvis. Or that's what I always got from it.

Gomer

More Gomer.

The Five Bear Rugs

 I adored this show as I have already said several times. In April 2013 I went to Disneyland for the first time in 12 years. I wanted to see this from the second I knew I was going. I didn't have to whip out my map, the second I was in Critter Country I knew exactly where to go. I was rather impressed with the fact that I didn't even really have to pay attention. I was just there. I turned to my girlfriends family and said "We have to see this show." her mom knowing the attraction well agreed and apparently was just as excited. I turned and saw the "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh " sign and my heart sank.

I was genuinely upset and annoyed.  I asked the ride operator who I am sure gets asked this every time she does that station about it. Her response was simple: "It wasn't really popular anymore." I smiled and thanked her for her time than got in line for the ride. I get that things that no longer draw crowds need to go, this is how a place like Disneyland stays in the money, they don't cling to the old. However, I firmly believe that an attraction that held such smiles and fun only died because Disney let it. If anyone in the world is amazing at being creative it's Imagineers. This attraction went away due to pure laziness.

On the bright side, from my understanding is everything was either we reused or remastered and than shipped to another Disney park to be loved by someone else. This, in my opinion is very important.