Imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery, so today I flatter my pal and star StartedByAMouse.com columnist Steve Burns with a Disneyland rendition of his Remember This article.

The premise of this piece is to take a look at a few things around Disneyland that aren't quite the same as they used to be. Maybe some of these will spark some memories for you.

Pendleton Woolen Mills

Many Disneyland visitors today would be hard pressed to figure out why we would be remembering this store in Frontierland. After all, the storefront is still there and it still sells similar merchandise under the name of Bonanza Outfitters. However, Pendleton Woolen Mills, which originated in Oregon and still operates 14 stores, was one of the longest-running original participants of Disneyland, having run the facility from the park's opening until April 29, 1990. The store sold western clothing, blankets, hats, ties, gloves, wallets, belts and other dry goods. Birnbaum's Official Disneyland guide advised visitors to not overlook the "interesting old photographs, on the wall alongside the stairway, of the mills and some of the Indians with whom company founders traded."

Rufus

One of the best things that Imagineers do is draw on and preserve the past when creating new attractions. Splash Mountain was built at the entrance of what had been Bear Country. For Disneyland park guests who made the trip to see the Country Bear Jamboree, the ever-present snoring of a bear named Rufus -- who was never seen, even while working the lighting at the jamboree itself -- probably delighted you as one of the special, magical touches Disney is famous for. After Splash Mountain opened, Rufus' snoring could once more be heard from a cave just before the attraction's first drop. It was a wonderful tribute to the ol' bear but alas he didn't quite seem to fit into the ride's theme and he was later evicted in favor of Brer Bear. The snoring from an invisible bear continues today but this mailbox no longer reflects the tribute the Imagineers made for the ride.

Aladdin VR Adventure

If you blinked, you may have missed this "attraction" found on the lower level of Tomorrowland's Starcade. Aladdin's VR Adventure was an immersive video game experience where guests strapped on a binocular-like view screen over their eyes and "fly" over Agrabah trying to free the Genie while avoiding enemies like the Palace Guards. It was worth doing once but it was expensive -- maybe $5 per play -- for about 5 minutes. If I remember right, you were able to extend your time if you reached certain levels before time ran out. What was probably more entertaining than playing was watching other people move their heads all over the place as they looked around the virtual world of Aladdin. Another video game that is popular to watch sits near where Aladdin's VR Adventure once sat - Dance Dance Revolution, where players must match the dance moves of on-screen commands.

Rafts to Tom and Huck's Island

You may know it as Tom Sawyer's Island but for about a month in 1996, Huck Finn laid claim to part of it. Nothing changed on the island itself from what I can remember. The signage was pure Disney synergy, promoting the film starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Brad Renfro as the literary duo. I believe that the month-long "transformation" was for the film's video release. In today's economy with maintenance budgets cut, it is interesting to see a signage change for the sake to promote awareness of another Disney product.

Keel Boat Landing

Near the launch of the rafts to Tom and Huck's ... er, uh ... Tom Sawyer's Island, was perhaps one of the most underappreciated attractions in Disneyland history. While Adventureland's Jungle Cruise is considered a Disneyland classic, Mike Fink's Keel Boats would eventually meet its demise and cease to operate, even though it offered fantastic views of the Rivers of American and was a heck of a lot funnier than the Jungle Cruise. It probably didn't help that the attraction was named for a character on the Davy Crockett TV show and not for Davy himself, but Mr. Crockett had his own attraction in the Explorer Canoes. The Gullywhumper was Mike Fink's boat and the Bertha Mae, seen in this picture, was Davy Crockett's. When the attraction originally opened on Christmas Day in 1955, the keel boats were the actual ones used in the filming of the TV episode. Seating was available above on two levels to offer a unique view of the Rivers from those of the Mark Twain, Columbia and even Davy's canoes. The river guides were a riot and seemed to have a little more leeway than the JC Skippers. The dock currently serves as a designated smoking location with the "Keel Boat" plank removed from the sign.

One Man's Dream

No, the photo to the left isn't a black-and-white image. The opening to the One Man's Dream show at Videopolis began in a pre-Technicolor setting, complete with Mickey and Minnie sans fleshtones. However, in a visually exciting, innovative costume and set change, the entire stage came to colorful life. After beginning with such a transformation, guests knew they were in for a special treat and they weren't disappointed. This performance, which originated at Tokyo Disneyland and lasted more than five years after Disneyland's version closed, celebrated the animated achievements of Walt Disney, as much as the accomplishments of Disney's animated staff. Its four-month run ended to allow for a Dick Tracy stage show and never came back afterward, as guests were lead to believe. This show's return would make a wonderful tribute to Walt Disney for his 100th birthday, which is December 5, 2001. Will it happen? Nah, that's why you have to "remember this."

- Story and Photos by Matthew Walker
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