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"In 1972, the Country Bears opened in what was then called Bear Country. The bears have presented three different shows here: the Original Country Bear Jamboree, the Country Bear Christmas Show, and the Country Bear Vacation Hoedown. But, as Walt Disney once said, Disneyland will never be complete, as long as there is imagination left in this world. So today, our curtains must close, to make room for a new attraction. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the final performance for the Country Bear Vacation Hoedown."

The lobby was filled with visitors wanting to see the bears one last time.

Some audience members made their own shirts to commemorate the closing of the show

With these words, the show hostess introduced the last performance this past Sunday of the Country Bears at Disneyland. Her comments were liberally punctuated with shouts of boos from the audience that sounded suspiciously like "Pooh." The standing- room only crowd was a mixture of guests and cast members, who had been given rare permission to attend this final day's showings in full work costume. Imagineer Tony Baxter was on hand for the final performance, along with some Disneyland managers and long- time Bear fans.

A banner was placed at the front entrance on the final day

Some of the bears (above and below) even made it out of the theater to say hello to visitors and pose for pictures!

Farewell shows ran every 10 minutes, playing to near- capacity crowds each time. The park used both theaters to accommodate the crowds that came to say goodbye to the Bears.

I wonder if this will be offered at the 2002 Disneyana auction?

The pressed penny machine probably did more business Sunday that it had in some months, with some folks waiting 20 minutes just to get one last souvenir. A few visitors seemed to want something larger than a penny to remember the Bears with. Signs and other props were missing from the walls of the lobby by Sunday night.

Max, Buff and Melvin. "Aw, heck - I'm only half moose as it is!"

Henry: "I've still got my old camp shirt. It still fits, kinda"

Although some visitors were completely unaware that the show was closing, many had traveled to Disneyland just to attend the final performances. Members of several "Save the Bears" groups were present in full force, wearing custom- designed farewell T-shirts and carrying "We Love the Bears" signs. One person arrived in a Tigger Halloween costume, which one cast member noted would be a "shape of things to come."

The Five Bear Rugs, with little Oscar. "Come join us bears and suck up some air in the great outdoors!"

Trixie: "A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and seven thousand ants"

The original plan had been to run a show at 8:50 p.m., and then the final show 10 minutes later. But when people started lining up before 7:00 for that final performance, it became clear that one theater would not suffice for the whole crowd. To make room for everyone, both theaters were loaded for a final show. While the second theater was filling, CMs in the first theater passed the time with Country Bear trivia and banter with the audience. At 9:00, CMs in both theaters synchronized their watches, and pushed their start buttons at the same time so both audiences could claim that they saw the last show.

"Oh no, not Wendel's vacation slides again!"

Liver Lips: "It's a looong way down"

Even with the dozens of video cameras in the theaters, I doubt anyone was able to get a good tape of those final shows. The clapping and cheering was so loud that it was difficult to even hear the show. The no- flash- photography rule was widely ignored, which bathed the Bears in a near strobe- light effect. Most of the audience sang along one last time, drowning out the audio in many parts of the show. The bears each received a loud cheer when they appeared, and even louder applause as they concluded each piece.

"Gomer, play something - anything! Anything but that!"

The Sun Bonnets: "I wish they all could be California bears"

With Henry's "Y'all come back now, you hear?" a rather sad parting blow, it was all over. The bears received a standing ovation, yet no one seemed inclined to exit the theater. Amid hugs and tears, guests slowly made their way to the exits. Many went to the stage to have one last photo taken in front of the bright red curtain. Groups of people milled around, unwilling to admit that it was all over. Finally, the CMs began asking guests to clear the theater, and were gently ushered out into the night.

Terrence: "This just ain't working out, Dolores"

Ernest: "There's nothing but trees, full of buzzards and bees!"

Unlike a lot of people there, I have no little childhood memories of the Country Bears. I know that I saw the original Jamboree once as a child, and my grandmother thought that once was about enough for that show. It was only after the new Vacation Hoedown show debuted that I had my reintroduction to the Bears, through a friend who really loved the show. We would occasionally meet at Disneyland for lunch, then go to see the show. My best memory of this show will be the fact that my friend and I were able to see this last one together.

"That's a mighty big song, Trixie"

Big Al: "It had a can opener and a spoon and everything..."

If you were not able to see the Bears before they went into their permanent hibernation, enjoy the photos here, and remember that you can still see the original show at Walt Disney World.

Finale: "Thank God I'm A Country Bear"

And now, we wait to see what becomes of the Playhouse. As I write this on Monday, I understand workers are already inside the theater to dismantle the show. I hope they treat the characters with the respect that any 30- year show business veteran deserves.

Editor's Note:

The park should be complimented in how they handled this attraction closure. Unlike in the past, where sometimes things just disappear overnight, the Bears were featured in the Disneyland Today brochure, and Cast Members alerted the visitors all through the resort wherever possible that day that the attraction was shuttering. Also Bears character costumes were pulled out of storage so visitors could meet and greet them, buttons were made for employees, and they even dug out the "Big Al" handstamp to be used for re-entering the park.

It's nice to see the park celebrate an attraction, even if only to close it, the lack of merchandise (which could have been easily brought in from Walt Disney World where the Bears will continue to play) was the one misstep that put a slight damper on things.

As we have come to understand it, the Bears will actually be going into a real hibernation - as Disneyland has apparently decided to store the animatronics until the new Country Bears movie is released, then make a decision at that time if they will be used somewhere else at the Disneyland Resort.  Watch MousePlanet for further updates on this.

- Al Lutz

Column by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

Photos by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix and David Lane

Two desktops for the Country Bears are now available