Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Where is Max, Buff, & Melvin???




A recent Los Angeles Times article written by Geoff Boucher paid tribute to recently retired Disney archivist Dave Smith (link).  It contained the following paragraph, which caused a fuss online.
"So, despite turbulence, the team recently returned from Anaheim with three prized trophies from Disneyland: Melvin, Max and Buff, the three mounted animal heads that for decades serenaded visitors at the now-dismantled Country Bear Jamboree attraction."
Max, Buff, and Melvin were not only three lovable characters from the Country Bear Jamboree attraction, they are also current residents of the Winnie The Pooh attraction. In a tribute to Country Bear Jamboree, Disney Imagineers cleverly hid Max, Buff and Melvin towards the end of the Winnie the Pooh. The average guest does not know they are there, but if you look up and behind you as you exit the Heffalumps and Woozles room you will see the iconic animal heads.

Rest assured that Max, Buff, and Melvin are still a hidden part of the Winnie the Pooh attraction.

The Max, Buff and Melvin heads mounted in the Winnie the Pooh attraction are actually those formerly displayed in the Mile Long Bar before Bear Country became Critter Country. It is possible that heads Dave Smith was talking about were from the second theater at the Country Bear Jamboree attraction. It’s easy to forget that Country Bear Jamboree had two identical theaters, complete with two identical audio-animatronic casts.


Photo:  Disney-pal.com

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