tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post8940148960339669102..comments2024-03-19T02:30:26.652-07:00Comments on GORILLAS DON'T BLOG: Knott's Beary Tales Map (and more)!Major Pepperidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09843598326995116014noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-44171720480775560112015-06-09T09:14:10.363-07:002015-06-09T09:14:10.363-07:00What do you think about Voyage To The Iron Reef? I...What do you think about Voyage To The Iron Reef? I think it was good, but nowhere near the level of the past rides. I think Knott's Bear-y Tales had the best set design and overall experience of the three rides in that building.T B K 02 02https://www.blogger.com/profile/11954547983708546423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-62764089802539373002012-07-20T09:04:46.143-07:002012-07-20T09:04:46.143-07:00My family and I always had passes to Knott's a...My family and I always had passes to Knott's and spent a ton of time there. I know we went on KBT, but that ride ended when I was only six. I loved Kingdom of the Dinosaurs though and was recently looking at websites about it and started seeing references to KBT. I'd completely forgotten about KBT but then I had a vague recall of a spinning multiple-tiered pie holder loaded with boysenberry pies. I mentioned this to my mom yesterday and she doesn't remember KBT either, but I'm sure the pictures here will remind her! Thanks for putting this post up. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-80785515046796244682010-01-09T04:21:22.167-08:002010-01-09T04:21:22.167-08:00What a great resource!What a great resource!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-90346369507870402942009-11-14T18:55:08.975-08:002009-11-14T18:55:08.975-08:00I, too, am also looking forward to yet another boo...I, too, am also looking forward to yet another book about my favorite amusement park. I was at Knott's last week and it seems they've already got a couple of books about the farm on their shelves. I picked them both up. Great reads! One had other chapters about Disneyland and Japanese Village too. The other book was about Knott's early years and was very informative. That particular book had photos I'd never seen before (and I'm a collector). I'd recommend both. Cheers!Tom Andersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-67389987199915303592009-11-14T11:43:53.222-08:002009-11-14T11:43:53.222-08:00Chris,
Beautiful pictures as usual. So glad to h...Chris,<br /><br />Beautiful pictures as usual. So glad to hear the book is close to completion. I can't wait to see it!<br /><br />-BobBob Barbernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-28518842360739956712009-11-14T10:01:18.997-08:002009-11-14T10:01:18.997-08:00I was in my cynical teens when Bear-y Tales opened...I was in my cynical teens when Bear-y Tales opened, and I approached the ride prepared to hate what I was certain would be a corny attempt to imitate Disney. Just a few seconds into the ride, it won me over with its creative design and nonstop imagination.<br /><br />The ride system was unique: Anyone remember how you'd crest a small hill(more like a hump)between each scene area? I'm assuming each area had its own independent chain/cable for pulling the vehicles along, and you were continually being transferred from one to the next.<br /><br />The ride used darkness in a unique way: magical and mysterious with activity and motion everywhere. I loved every single area. The special effects and animatronics alternated between impressive and charmingly funky (I remember one of the Weird Woods creatures was made of plastic hair curlers).<br /><br />I rode it many times and loved each trip through. The tune would stay in my head for hours, though I'd never remember a single lyric!<br /><br />Kingdom of the Dinosaurs was a huge letdown. It was kind of depressing traveling the same track layout through a duller, more empty presentation.Rich T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01218280822336323825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-2632776347202581432009-11-14T02:14:42.283-08:002009-11-14T02:14:42.283-08:00Thanks everyone for the nice comments! From starti...Thanks everyone for the nice comments! From starting with Bruce Gordon on this in the late 90s, to my current publisher, it's been a long ride. I'm really looking forward to finally, finally getting this book in print.<br /><br />Chiana - Thanks again for always saying nice things about my work. I'm kind of at critical mass for souvenirs, but thank you for offering. <br /><br />Mike - Thanks! Good to hear from you. You've been a big supporter of this book for many years as well. I appreciate it.<br /><br />Patrick - I think I only made 5 or 6 copies of that booklet. Pretty rough stuff! It did have a lot of info though, and a nice intro from Dave Mumford. <br /><br />Tim - I will be doing the requisite signing at Knott's, along with some extra surprises likely. There will be other signings in So Cal when I come back to promote it. I'll let you know.<br /><br />Thanks again everyone - I hope you all like the book.Chris Merritthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12759410855891198273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-58066062307505185032009-11-13T16:06:22.332-08:002009-11-13T16:06:22.332-08:00an very cool collaberation...
i have never been t...an very cool collaberation...<br /><br />i have never been there, but im sure i would have loved this ;)<br /><br />thanks to Chris and David for an exceptional post, and to everyone here who remembers it and shared their thoughts with us! :)<br /><br />ps...also looking forward to Chris's bookNancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09895614694411482044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-18576487378807738042009-11-13T11:07:08.787-08:002009-11-13T11:07:08.787-08:00You know I will be on pins and needles until this ...You know I will be on pins and needles until this book comes out.<br /><br /><i>"The suspense is terrible. I hope it lasts." - W. Wonka </i>Katella Gatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05562521359201308834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-63722869383314333992009-11-13T07:10:17.619-08:002009-11-13T07:10:17.619-08:00Thanks Major and Chris!!!
Perfect description of...Thanks Major and Chris!!! <br /><br />Perfect description of the ride "Inside Rolly Crumps Brain"! This attraction is about as close to Disneyland as Knott's ever got.<br /><br />When I watch the videos now it does resemble an acid trip, but to my preteen eyes, this was pure magic, a world I wanted to stay in each time I rode this attraction. For the record, one summer I rode it over 50 times...<br /><br />Can't wait for Chris' new book, where's the book signing-blogger party event being held?Vintage Disneyland Ticketshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14790755040005517146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-86656880920493289362009-11-13T06:07:12.199-08:002009-11-13T06:07:12.199-08:00Wow Chris, thanks for sharing and thanks Major for...Wow Chris, thanks for sharing and thanks Major for the nice post. The same as Mike, I flashed back to your Cal Arts booklet. Thanks for sharing your information, especially the original art.Matterhorn1959https://www.blogger.com/profile/07140583153080149244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-91509102553381213962009-11-13T04:31:08.727-08:002009-11-13T04:31:08.727-08:00Knotts was never Disneyland but was so special in ...Knotts was never Disneyland but was so special in it's own way! My family only went to Disneyland once a year but we lived at Knotts and had annual passes for years! <br /><br />I loved the Bear-y tales and miss the FROGS! They were so cute!<br /><br />I so miss the family atmosphere that Knotts once was. It has changed so much and not in good ways. :(Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614435122768314831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-68390325175444840432009-11-13T01:54:26.246-08:002009-11-13T01:54:26.246-08:00I miss Berry Tales....and yes, I even miss The Kin...I miss Berry Tales....and yes, I even miss The Kingdom of the Dinosaurs ride that replaced it....hey, at least it was a darkride! I was working at Knott's when they closed Beary Tales. The General Manager went on and on about how great the new dinosaur ride was going to be....saying that it would be so much better than Disneyland's dinosaurs. Every summer it was the same thing...the Gen. Manager standing on the stage of the Goodtime Theater trying to convince us how whatever it was they were opening that summer would be so much better than whatever Disneyland had. As if!TokyoMagic!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16340756514811789233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-43877909439039941932009-11-13T00:58:40.803-08:002009-11-13T00:58:40.803-08:00Wow Chris! This book is finally happening! A far c...Wow Chris! This book is finally happening! A far cry from your early CAL ARTS "booklet". A few weeks ago I ran across the photos from the day we set up all the "Tales" figures and props --seems like that was a hundres years ago. Mark me down for at least two books!!Hope to catch up with you when you return to the States!<br /><br />-Mike CozartAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-23963998783602752832009-11-13T00:38:35.537-08:002009-11-13T00:38:35.537-08:00Oh my gosh. Chris Merritt does it again. lol
My g...Oh my gosh. Chris Merritt does it again. lol<br /><br />My gosh I was so fascinated with that ride. Can still smell that and I crave me some boysenberries and boysenberry punch they're not offering online, dog gone it. When they closed it I felt they'd sold the store to someone who didn't care about it - I mean, they call it branding today and supposedly it's valued, why on earth would they give it up?<br /><br />I don't think I still have much of anything from Knotts but I used to have some souvenirs incl. some of the stuff they used to sell at a Ghost Town shop. Should I check? Are you looking for any stuff at this point Chris?Chiana_Chathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18329208224763179478noreply@blogger.com