The attraction is a stage show featuring audio-animatronic figures. Most of the characters are bears who perform country music. Characters rise up to the stage on platforms, descend from the ceiling, and appear from behind curtains. The theater includes three audio-animatronic animal heads mounted on the walls who interact with characters on stage.
Due to popularity, The Country Bear Jamboree was given a "spin-off" show which appeared during the 1984 winter season at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. It was called The Country Bear Christmas Special. In 1986 it was given a summertime version called The Country Bear Vacation Hoedown. This version was so popular at Disneyland that it became the park's standard edition until the attraction's closing in 2001.
In 2002, a movie titled The Country Bears was released which was based on the attraction and its characters.
History
The Country Bear Jamboree was originally intended by Walt Disney to be placed at Disney's Mineral King Ski Resort in California which he was trying to build in the mid-1960s. Disney knew he wanted some sort of show to provide entertainment to the guests at the resort, and he knew he wanted the show to feature some sort of bear band. The project was assigned to imagineerMarc Davis.[1]
Davis, together with Al Bertino, came up with many bear groups, including bear marching bands, bear mariachi bands, and Dixieland bears.[2]
After Disney's death, plans for the show still carried on. The bears would be featured in the resort's Bear Band Restaurant Show, and it was decided that they would have a country twang. But while plans for the show progressed, plans for the ski resort did not. Instead, the Imagineers working on the project decided to place the show in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in time for its grand opening in 1971. Imagineer X Atencio and musical director George Bruns created songs for the bears to sing.
On October 1, 1971, The Country Bear Jamboree opened its doors in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. It received so much positive feedback that Imagineers immediately planned to make a replica of the show to be placed in Disneyland. The addition to the show in Disneyland inspired a brand-new land appropriately titled Bear Country. Because of the tremendous popularity of the show in Walt Disney World, excess capacity was added to the Disneyland incarnation in the form of two identical theaters, each housing a copy of the show in its entirety. The Disneyland clone of the attraction opened on March 4, 1972.
Due to the huge popularity of the Disneyland and Magic Kingdom versions a third version of the attraction was planned to open at Tokyo Disneyland on April 15, 1983. The Tokyo version also houses two identical theaters, like the Disneyland version. However, unlike Disneyland, the trophy heads of Max, Buff and Melvin hang on the right side of both identical theaters (in the same arrangement as Magic Kingdom's).
On August 21, 2012, the Walt Disney World version of the Country Bear Jamboree closed for a nearly two-month-long refurbishment. All the characters in the show received new skin, fur, and costumes. The songs "Pretty Little Devilish Mary" and "Fractured Folk Song" and some of the dialogues were removed, while other songs were shortened. The show was now 4 to 5 minutes shorter than it was before. The shorter version of the show opened on October 17, 2012.[4]
In September 2023, it was announced that the Walt Disney World version would receive a new show titled the Country Bear Musical Jamboree.[5] In June 2024, Magic Kingdom announced that Country Bear Musical Jamboree would open on July 17, 2024.
Characters
Bears
The queue for the Disneyland version included fake doors in appropriate shapes for each of the bear performers.
Henry – The Master of Ceremonies of the show, Henry is a welcoming and friendly brown bear. He wears a grey top hat, starched shirt front, and a string tie. In some parts of the show, he plays a yellow guitar. It is implied that he and Teddi have some sort of backstage romance. In addition to being the leader of all the bears, he is often depicted with Wendell and Sammy the Raccoon as his sidekicks. He is the grandson of Ursus H. Bear, who founded Grizzly Hall, the venue the bears perform at in Florida.
Gomer – Gomer is a bear who never sings but instead plays his piano, which has a honeycomb on top of it. He is considered Henry's right-hand bear. He was originally brown, but during the Florida 2012 refurbishment his appearance changed and was given dark burgundy fur with a blonde goatee and a hat. In the Country Bear Musical Jamboree, his fur was once again changed to black, which reflects his original concept art by Marc Davis.
The Five Bear Rugs
Zeke – Considered the leader of The Five Bear Rugs, Zeke plays a banjo and taps on the dishpan with "a real ol' country beat". He is a grey bear with glasses who wears a tan top hat. He was voiced by Dallas McKennon from October 1971 until July 1975, when Randy Sparks rerecorded his vocals. McKennon's recording as Zeke can still be heard on the 1971 record and the 2003 CD. Zeke's solo song "Pretty Little Devilish Mary" was removed from the Florida version of the show in October 2012.
Zeb – Zeb is brown bear with a light brown stomach. He plays the fiddle as well as wears a bandanna around his neck and a derby hat. His wife models fur coats — always the same one — at a nearby boutique, which is why their son Baby Oscar travels with the band.
Ted – Ted is a tall, skinny bear who blows on the corn jug and plays the washboard. His fur is brown, and he wears a vest with a brown hat.
Fred – The biggest of the five bears, Fred ironically plays the smallest instrument: a harmonica. He is a brown bear and wears blue jeans held up with suspenders as well as a striped red and white tie. To Ted's older brother.
Tennessee – Tennessee Bear plays "The Thing" (an upright bass with only one string and a tiny bird sitting on it). He is blonde bear (brown in Tokyo Disneyland) and wears a bandanna around his neck.
Baby Oscar – Oscar appears with The Five Bear Rugs, but plays no instrument, though in the original show he would "beep" his teddy bear twice at the end of a few songs. In fact, he never says a word. He is a brown bear and always has his teddy bear to keep him company. In the 1971 album, it is mentioned that Zeb is his father.
Wendell – Wendell is a hyperactive golden brown bear who plays the mandolin. He wears a blue bandanna around his neck and a light brown hat. He also has a massive overbite and buck teeth. Wendell was originally portrayed as Henry's sidekick, having two duets with him. Wendell's role in the Florida version of the show was severely reduced during the October 2012 refurb when "Fractured Folk Song" was removed, and is no longer mentioned by name. In the Country Bear Vacation Hoedown, Wendell's vacation photos imply he has a wife and son.
Romeo McGrowl (originally named Liver Lips McGrowl) – He is a brown bear and plays the guitar. Since Florida's 2012 refurbishment, he has a messy, unkempt head of long hair in the Florida version of the show. He got his original name, Liver Lips, due to his large pronounced lips, meant to caricature musicians who "croon". In September 2023, it was revealed that he would be renamed Romeo McGrowl when the attraction was reimagined to Country Bear Musical Jamboree in Magic Kingdom.[6] Henry often calls Romeo "Mac", a nickname based off his last name. His original name continues to be used by Tokyo Disneyland in their Japanese Country Bear Jamboree, Jingle Bell Jamboree, and Vacation Jamboree shows.
Trixie – Trixie is a very large brown bear who wears a blue bow on her head, a blue tutu around her waist, and holds a blue handkerchief in her left hand. It is also implied that she has a slight crush on Henry.
Terrence (aka Shaker) – A tall bear with tan fur, Terrence wears a hat, a yellow vest (Since Florida's 2012 refurb), and plays the guitar. He gets his nickname from his signature dance move where he sways his hips back and forth. The original WDW animatronic achieved this effect by shaking the entire platform Terrence was on at the base, causing the curtains to shake violently as well. The Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland versions of Terrence added an independent hip-swaying mechanic separate from Terrence's legs and torso, allowing the hips to sway much further without shaking the entire animatronic's base.
The Sun Bonnet Trio
Bunny – Bunny stands in the center of the stage. Because she and her sisters are triplets, they all have brown fur and wear matching blue bonnets and dresses.
Bubbles – Bubbles stands to the audience's left between Gomer and Bunny.
Beulah – Beulah stands to the audience's right.
Ernest the "Dude" – Ernest is a brown bear who plays the fiddle. His nickname, "Dude", refers to his dandy appearance and personality, and is used in the context of the original definition of "dude" (a city dweller unfamiliar with life on the range). Ernest always takes his entire 17-trunk wardrobe everywhere he goes. He wears a derby and a red polka-dot bowtie around his neck. He was voiced by Van Stoneman from October 1971 until July 1975, when his vocals were rerecorded by Randy Sparks. Stoneman's recording can still be heard on the 1971 record and 2003 CD.
Teddi Barra – Teddi Barra is a unique bear because she never appears on stage. Instead she descends from a hole in the ceiling on her swing, which is decorated with pink roses. She is a brown bear and wears a blue hat with a pink feather (In 2012 of the Florida version of the show, she received a new violet sequined hat) as well as a long pink boa around her neck. She is implied to have a backstage romance with Henry.
Big Al – Big Al is the fattest bear. He is grey with a light grey belly (Though his fur was changed to brown in 2012 in the Florida version of the show) and wears a tan hat and a red vest. He plays an always out-of-tune guitar.
Rufus – Rufus is in charge of changing the scenery and the lights. He is never seen, only his loud footsteps and his heavy breathing as he climbs the stairs to fix something that has gone wrong are heard. While he does not appear in the original version of the show, he appears in all subsequent versions.
Ursus H. Bear – Ursus H. Bear was the founder of Grizzly Hall. He lived from 1848 to 1928, having passed before the time of the original show. The center stage proscenium of Grizzly Hall features a plaque decorated with a Victorian style portrait of Ursus, dedicated to his legacy. In the Country Bear Musical Jamboree, it was revealed that Henry is his grandson (identically resembling Ursus in appearance).
Other Animals
Melvin, Buff, and Max (left to right) at the Walt Disney World Country Bear Jamboree
Buff – Buff is considered the leader of the mounted animal heads and is also the largest. He is the head portion of an American bison.
Melvin – Melvin, the head portion of a bull moose, is one of the animal head trio. He often makes good-natured jokes.
Sammy – Sammy is Henry's raccoon pal who cuddles around Henry's top hat. He acts like a coonskin cap for Henry. In the Country Bear Vacation Hoedown, Sammy gets replaced by a skunk named Randy.
Randy – A skunk who appears in the Vacation Hoedown version of the show. At several points during the show, guests can hear some of the bears yelling about a skunk that got backstage, and eventually Randy finds himself on top of Henry's head. When confronted, Randy says he simply wanted to get into show business, and Henry invites him to join in the show's finale.
Webster – A penguin who appears in the Country Bear Christmas Special alongside Terrence. In the English versions of the show, Webster is frozen in a block of ice and does not speak, instead just rattling around every now and then as Terrence asks him to sing. In the Japanese version, Webster is thawed out and sings with Terrence.
Dolores – Another animal companion to Terrence, Dolores the octopus is found in the Country Bear Vacation Hoedown. She has a romantic relationship with Terrence, but in the English version of the show, it does not work out. In the Japanese version, she is a more cartoony octopus as opposed to the original realistic design, and she sings a love song with Terrence.
At Disneyland, Max, Buff, and Melvin currently reside in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which replaced the Country Bear Playhouse in 2003 (which had closed nearly two years prior). They hang above the entrance to the "Hunny Heaven" room, but riders must turn around in order to see them. The set of Max, Buff & Melvin featured there were the static non-Animatronic figures found in Mile Long Bar.[7]
At the Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland the three trophy heads of Max, Buff and Melvin hung on the right side of the theater (closest to Trixie / Henry & Sammy). At Disneyland, the configuration was flipped, with the three being hung on the left side (closest to Ernest / Big Al).
Voice Actors
Note: List does not include Gomer, Ted, Fred, and Baby Oscar, as they never speak in any of the shows. Also, list doesn't currently include Japanese voice actors.
The show is a continuous string of short country songs sung by the various bears. As each bear sings their song, a curtain opens to reveal them, except in the case of Wendell, Gomer, and the Sun Bonnet Trio (all of whom rise from the center stage), and Teddi Barra (who descends from the ceiling).
The set list for the Tokyo Disneyland version is the original set list for the Walt Disney World and Disneyland versions when the show first opened at both those respective parks. The Disneyland version remained unchanged until 1985 when it converted over to the Vacation Hoedown the next year. The Walt Disney World version remained unchanged until its 2012 refurbishment, when the set list was altered.
Songs
Walt Disney World (1971–2012) & Disneyland (1972–1985) Version
"Ole Slew Foot" (Howard Hausey) – Cast (minus Ernest and Trixie, who do not appear onstage, and Big Al, who reprises "Blood on the Saddle")
"Come Again" (Tom Adair & George Bruns) – Henry, Sammy, Melvin, Max, and Buff (sung in Japanese)
Christmas Special
In 1984, the Disney Imagineers created the Country Bear Christmas Special. The show debuted at Disneyland at the Disneyland Resort and at Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in the winter of 1984, while marking the first time an attraction at any Disney theme park to ever receive a seasonal overlay.[9] The show later premiered at Tokyo Disneyland at the Tokyo Disney Resort as the Country Bear Jingle Bell Jamboree during the 1988 Christmas season.
The Disneyland version continued to play every holiday season with its last show playing in 2000 before the attraction closed permanently.
The Walt Disney World version continued to play every holiday season until 2005.
Songs
"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" - Gomer and Henry
"Tracks in the Snow" - Henry and the Five Bear Rugs
"Oh, What a Christmas" - Wendell
"Hibernation Blues" - Trixie
"Deck the Halls" - The Five Bear Rugs
"Rock & Roll Santa" - Liver Lips McGrowl and Gomer
"Blue Christmas" - Terrence
"Sleigh Ride" - The Sun Bonnet Trio, Melvin, Max, and Buff
"Hungry as a Bear" - Ernest and the Five Bear Rugs
"The Christmas Song" - Teddi Barra and Henry
"Another New Year" - Big Al
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" - Henry, Sammy, and the Sun Bonnet Trio
"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Melvin, Max, and Buff
"Winter Wonderland" - Cast (minus Ernest and Trixie, who do not appear onstage)
Tokyo Disneyland Version
"Jingle Bells" - Gomer and Henry (sung in English)
"Tracks in the Snow" - Henry and the Five Bear Rugs
"Oh, What a Christmas" - Wendell
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Trixie (sung in English)
"Deck the Halls" - The Five Bear Rugs
"Rock & Roll Santa" - Liver Lips McGrowl and Gomer
"Blue Christmas" - Terrence
"Sleigh Ride" - The Sun Bonnet Trio, Melvin, Max, and Buff
"Hungry as a Bear" - Ernest and the Five Bear Rugs
"The Christmas Song" - Teddi Barra and Henry
"Auld Lang Syne" - Big Al (sung in English)
"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" - Henry, Sammy, and the Sun Bonnet Trio (sung in English)
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Melvin, Max, and Buff
"Winter Wonderland" - Cast (minus Ernest and Trixie, who do not appear onstage)
Vacation Hoedown
The Country Bear Vacation Hoedown was a summer overlay for the attraction. In Disneyland, it opened in February 1986 replacing the original show. That May, the Magic Kingdom version followed suit.[10] On July 15, 1994, the show opened at Tokyo Disneyland as the Country Bear Vacation Jamboree. It remained at Magic Kingdom until February 1992 when the original show returned. At Disneyland however, the Hoedown remained until the Country Bear Playhouse closed on September 9, 2001.[11]
Songs
"The Great Outdoors" – The Five Bear Rugs and Henry
"Life's No Picnic Without You" – Trixie
"On the Road Again" – Wendell
"We Can Make It to the Top" – Liver Lips McGrowl
"California Bears" – The Sunbonnet Trio, Gomer, Melvin, Max, and Buff
"Two Different Worlds" – Terrence
"Rocky Top" – The Five Bear Rugs
"Nature" – Ernest
"Singing in the Rain" – Teddi Barra and Henry
"Ghost Riders in the Sky" – The Five Bear Rugs
"I Lost My Way to Your Heart" – Big Al
"Thank God I'm a Country Bear" – Cast (minus Ernest and Trixie, who do not appear onstage)
Tokyo Disneyland Version
"The Great Outdoors" – The Five Bear Rugs and Henry
"On the Road Again" – Wendell
"Achy Breaky Heart" – Trixie
"Over My Head Over You" – Terrence
"California Bears" – The Sunbonnet Trio, Gomer, Melvin, Max, and Buff
"We Can Make It to the Top" – Liver Lips McGrowl and the Sunbonnet Trio
"Singing in the Rain" – Teddi Barra and Henry
"Mountain Music" – Ernest, Henry, and the Five Bear Rugs
"I've Been Working on the Railroad" – Big Al
"V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N" – Cast (minus Ernest and Trixie, who do not appear onstage)
Musical Jamboree
On September 9, 2023, it was announced at Disney's Destination D23 event that the show would receive an overhaul. The new Country Bear Musical Jamboree is inspired by Nashville musical revues, with the bears performing classic Disney songs, including "The Bare Necessities", reinterpreted in various genres of country music.[12] A soft opening preview was held on July 10, 2024.[13] It officially opened on July 17, 2024.[14]
Songs
"Country Bear Musical Jamboree" – The Five Bear Rugs with Henry, Melvin, Max, and Buff
Chuck E. Cheese restaurants were inspired by the Walt Disney World versions of Country Bear Jamboree and the Enchanted Tiki Room to produce their own animatronic musical shows.[15][16][17]
In 1977, the Phantasialand theme park in Brühl, Germany would receive "Die Klimbimski-Show." The stage design in setup and detailing was inspired by the Country Bear Jamboree, though it contained a cast of monkeys, bears, and birds as performers. It was the first animatronic show to be produced by German manufacturer Hofmann Figuren. After closing in 1985, this show would be refurbished and relocated to Avonturenpark Hellendoorn where it operated from 1989 up through 2003 as the "Hellendoorn Magical Monkey Show."[18][19]
Hofmann would later create more shows inspired by Country Bear Jamboree including "The Koala Country Show" for Dreamworld in Queensland, Australia (1982),[20] as well as "Le Niglo Show" for Nigloland in France (1991).[21][22]
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Francis Xavier Atencio, also known as X Atencio was an American animator and Imagineer for The Walt Disney Company. He is perhaps best known for writing the scripts and song lyrics of the Disney theme park attractions, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and the Country Bear Jamboree.
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