A prime example of old-fashioned Disney ingenuity.
Written: Jul 28 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lots of fun; A classic; Good for young children, families
Cons: Disinteresting to seekers of mindless thrills
The Bottom Line: Make this a regular stop - and, by all means, clap your hands and stomp your feet.
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| cactus_matt's Full Review: Country Bear Jamboree |
The Country Bear Jamboree comes from a time in Disney history where ‘imagineers’ took it upon themselves to create truly unique attractions without the backing of popular characters or films. Back then, hardly anything outside of Fantasyland was based on a well-known license. That’s part of what made the park so special, because it really was something different and didn’t feel like walking through an oversized toy commercial. Today, it’s a rare sight indeed to have a new attraction pop up without a marketing tie-in. That’s why I’ve got such an attachment to the Country Bear Jamboree – it’s a dying breed.
The CBJ, as I’ll call it from now on, was one of the original attractions at Disney World when it opened in 1971. It was initially intended for a ski resort that never came to fruition. The attraction was such a hit that Disneyland got its own a couple years later, throwing in an additional theater to handle the crowds. It’s hard to imagine, but people used to be forced to line up outside in the streets of Frontierland just to get in. Today, lines are a lot more subtle, and you’ll probably find yourself sitting inside a rustic queue area waiting for the previous performance to end. We’ve still only got one theater. Nevertheless, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever be forced to sit through more than one showing before you’re allowed to enter.
Upon entering ‘Grizzly Hall’, you’ll see antique-looking posters promoting the featured acts. The host will warn you to stand back from the doors, as they’ll open outwards. Nobody listens, though. I’ve been waiting to see the day where one of the doors would open and smack some overactive kid in the nose. You’re led into a wide theater with one main stage and two separate sub-stages on each side, all with curtains drawn about them. The large mounted heads of a deer, buffalo, and moose hang on the wall opposite from where you came in. Each has a plaque underneath, identifying them respectively as Max, Buff, and Melvin. The attendant will ask you to abstain from flash photography until the finale. After everyone’s down in their seats, the doors close and the lights dim.
Three spotlights are cast on the mounted heads, and Buff asks what the holdup on the show is. Buff is given his voice by Thurl Ravenscroft, who you probably know better as Tony the Tiger or the singer of ‘You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.’ He also did some other work for the parks, including acting as one of the ‘Mello-Men’ for the Haunted Mansion, one of the birds in the Tiki Room, and the conductor on the Disneyland Railroad. Max implores Buff to be patient, as preparation for these things take time. Melvin adds that they’re not going anywhere anyway, as they’re sort of hung up. Haha.
The curtains of one of the right sub-stages open up to reveal Henry, the host of the show, who announces that they’re ready to go. Henry is a country gentleman-looking bear with a top hat and bowtie. He asks for a lead-in from Gomer, the piano-playing bear, who ascends from center stage. Henry welcomes you to the show in a typical carnival-barker and asks you to refrain from hibernating. Gomer goes off on a short solo, and Melvin comments that he’s a regular ‘Liber-ay-chee.’
Henry introduces the house band, ‘The Five Bear Rugs,’ Zeke, Zed, Ted, Fred, and Tennessee. The Bear Rugs are an oldschool hillbilly band who come out on a platform from behind the main curtain toting instruments like banjos, jugs, and washboards. Is it a big surprise that the development of this attraction coincided with the popularity of the Beverly Hillbillies? Then again, it also coincided with the release of ‘Deliverance’, so I probably ought to leave that one alone.
Henry asks you to clap your hands and stomp your feet in tune to the music. I remember that years ago the whole crowd used to comply and the place really got swinging. Unfortunately, I guess it’s a deep-rooted fear of looking uncool that prevents people from clapping along these days. It seems that myself and a few small children were the only ones doing so the last few times I’ve been. What is it with people today?
The Five Bear Rugs fade back behind the curtain after their initial serenade, which is coincidentally their biggest number of the whole show. A scenery tarp drops over the front of the stage depicting a park setting with a statue of a bear in civil war getup. Wendell, a mandolin-playing, bowler-wearing bear ascends and requests guitar backup by Henry in the playing of ‘A Fractured Folk Song.’ Henry shows up on the other side of the stage this time and the two have an argument over his role in the show. The song they finally play is fun, but short.
In fact, you’ll probably find that all the songs offered are pretty concise. This helps keep the audience from getting restless, keeps the show moving, and allows them to offer a wider variety of music. It’s not quite as if they’re here to put on an excessive concert – this attraction is designed to get people in and out as efficiently as possible. I think most people will agree that the length of the presentation is just perfect.
Next, Henry introduces the CJB’s own ‘growler of song,’ Liver Lips McGrowl, a bear with, you guessed it, prominent lips. Liver Lips sings about his woman and how ‘she ain’t purdy, but I ain’t, too.’ There are some pretty funny lyrics in this one, with some sort-of-surprising bluntness considering how it’s Disney and all.
Once Liver Lips is done, another scenery tarp drops down, this time of a farm scene. Wendell comes back out and he and Henry join together to sing ‘Mama, Don’t Whoop Little Buford.’ This one is almost guaranteed to get a laugh out of the crowd, even if for surprise alone. ‘Mama, don’t whoop little Buford; Mama, don’t pound on his head. Mama, don’t whip little Buford – I think you should shoot him instead.’ Most people really don’t expect this out of Disney, and the reaction is always great to see. A lot of these songs were originally novelty titles before they were chosen to be used in the attraction, so I wouldn’t be surprised to hear them while listening to Dr. Demento.
After the song, Henry assures the audience that they’ve only got high-class material on the show. He then directs our attention towards the far-right stage, where an overly large female bear named Trixie sings ‘Tears Will Be the Chaser for My Wine.’ Trixie wears a tutu and holds a wine glass and tissue. Henry comments what a ‘mighty big song’ she sang, and Buff cuts in with ‘That sure ain’t all that’s big.’
The Five Bear Rugs finally return with a number entitled ‘Pretty Little Devilish Mary,’ with Zeke handling the vocals. Kick it oldschool, Zeke! The funniest part of this song is the crooning of the other band members as Zeke sings.
Next up is a large gray, ukulele-playing bear named Wilbur who sings ‘How Long Will My Baby Be Gone?’ One of the more forgettable songs, but Wilbur makes it up to us by bobbing his eyebrows to the beat. Henry shows up again and introduces ‘The Sun Bonnets,’ Bunny, Bubbles, and Beulah, a trio of little girl bears who rise from the front of the center stage to sing ‘All the Guys that Turn Me On Turn Me Down.’ A projection on the back wall gives us a humorous visualization of the lyrics, along with lyrics for anyone who should be so inclined as to sing along. I’m not sure that the people who were reluctant to clap their hands and stomp their feet will be very enthusiastic to comply.
A bear named Ernest shows up on one of the left stages and performs a fiddle solo. The Five Bear Rugs come back out as well, and croon just the same as Ernest sings his song, ‘If Ya Can’t Bite, Don’t Growl.’ Henry’s back out again, this time with probably the most enthusiastic introduction yet, that of Teddi Barra, whom he calls ‘the last of the big time swingers.’ And, what a surprise, she descends from the ceiling on a swing. She swings lightly and sings ‘Heart, We Did All that We Could,’ much to the apparent delight of all the male bears in the theater. This one reminds me a lot of an old Patsy Cline song. And then, Teddi is gone as fast as she came, inviting anyone to stop by later on. Henry promises to as soon as he finds a ladder.
Suddenly, everything goes dark and a lone spotlight is focused on a curtain to the far left. Three loud ‘twangs’ on the guitar later and the curtain opens to reveal a large, droopy-faced bear with a guitar and prospector’s cap – it’s the infamous Big Al! Big Al bellows out a hilarious rendition of ‘Blood on the Saddle,’ playing every word for all it’s worth. Big Al has amassed somewhat of a cult following throughout the park. He’s a caricature of Al Bertino, one of the show writers. Hey, I guess you’ve got to leave your legacy somehow.
Henry shows up back where he started, this time with a conspicuous tail hanging from his top hat. He starts singing ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett’ as his hat sprouts a raccoon head and begins singing as well. Big Al, however, has other ideas, and cuts in with an encore of ‘Blood on the Saddle.’ Henry, in an attempt to drown him out, calls everyone to join in on ‘Ole Slew-Foot’ for the finale. This is where you’re free to take pictures. The Five Bear Rugs, Wendell, Gomer, the Sun Bonnets, Teddi Barra, Liver Lips, and Wilbur all show up. Too bad for Ernest and Trixie – they’re stuck behind Wilbur and Henry. As the number comes to a close, Big Al’s curtain is yanked closed and some crashing can be heard off in the distance…Whatever did they do to Big Al?
We’ll have to find out next time, though, because Henry announces that the show has come to a close. He thanks us for attending and invites us back again. Sammy, the raccoon in his hat, adds ‘Ya’ll come back, y’hear?’ Maybe that Beverly Hillbillies connection wasn’t so unfounded after all? Music plays as the doors open under Max, Buff, and Melvin. They all three wish continually wish you well on your way out.
It was my memory that after this, you were led into a restaurant where the mounted heads appeared again. As a kid, I sure got a kick out of eating lunch while Buff made constant off-color comments directly overhead. I’m pretty sure that the restaurant no longer exists – it isn’t listed on my July 2001 guide map, at least.
So, what do I like so much about this attraction? I think the best part of it is the pure charm. There’s simply nothing like it.
The animatronics can tend to be somewhat jerky at times, but they’re pretty much on the same level as any equally old attraction. The show that can be seen at the Magic Kingdom today is the original version, although they offer a Christmas program from after Thanksgiving until New Years. Disneyland’s version has been perpetually converted into ‘The Country Bear Vacation Hoedown,’ which offers new costumes for the bears and a different selection of songs. Personally, I’d like to see the one here in Florida remain exactly the same, but, knowing Disney, they may feel obligated to change it. And after seeing their ‘improvements’ on other attractions, we could probably expect to see something hollow like ‘Country Bear Jamboree – Under New Management – Starring Winnie the Pooh!’ Gee whiz.
Honestly, I can’t think of any solid complaints about the CBJ. It’s fun, original, and holds a lot of tradition and memories. These attractions are the sort that made the Magic Kingdom the special place it used to be.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cactus_matt
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Location: Florida
Reviews written: 40
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