Country Bear Jamboree [Looking Back]
"Howdy folks! Welcome to the one and only, original Country Bear Jamboree, featuring a bit of Americana"our musical heritage of the past."
Those words are spoken by Henry the bear, the host of the Country Bear Jamboree at the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland. The Country Bears are native to the Magic Kingdom, having been a part of Frontierland since the very beginning in 1971.
The Country Bears were conceived by Imagineer Marc Davis in the mid 1960s, for the never-built Disney's Mineral King Ski Resort. Walt Disney wanted a show with some sort of a bear band. Davis and Al Bertino came up with many bears, and eventually country bears were decided on. Imagineer X Atencio and musical director George Bruns composed the songs.
So when the Mineral King Resort didn't come into fruition, the decision was made to put it into the Magic Kingdom. The Bears were extremely popular in the beginning -- so much so that Disneyland not only copied the Disney World attraction, but created twin theaters to double capacity.
In 1984, a Christmas version of the show debuted, and in 1986, a Vacation Hoedown version. By 1992, attendance was down, so the Bears returned to their original show, with the special Christmas show during the holiday season. In 2005, the Christmas show was retired as well.
The show itself is a continuous string of country songs sung by the bears. Want to catch the whole show now? See it below.
Are you a fan of the Country Bear Jamboree? Or is it an attraction you find yourself skipping at the Magic Kingdom? Leave your comment below!
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JoAnn C wrote on Thu, 07/14/2011 - 12:14:
I love Country Bear Jamboree.
Txrayado wrote on Thu, 07/14/2011 - 15:07:
I love the country bears! you cant call yourself a disney fan with out seeing it at least once during your visit
JeffC wrote on Thu, 07/14/2011 - 23:27:
True confession time - for 5 trips we never bothered. I had no interest! "Country Bears? Seriously? Pass"....
Then, in 2009, there we were, walking around, with no real plans to do anything, it was a little warm and we needed a sit-down break.
So I said "Oh, why not - at least I can then say I saw it"...
I loved it! Now we go every trip :)
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