The barker bird that once enticed guests into Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room is a relic of the past. Today's post will celebrate that long-gone bird and show how it underwent a series of changes during its short tenure outside this Adventureland attraction. In this 1962 pre-opening shot, he is hatless.
By January 1964, a straw hat and cane had been added to the mix:
This May 1965 shot shows a change from blue to red, as if the fairies from "Sleeping Beauty" had flown over the attraction and used their wands on the Barker Bird:
In August 1966, the Barker Bird is back to his original blue plumage:
Final shot for today is one from the archives of Bill H., dated July 1979:
I hope you all have a festive 3-day weekend and are able to get a little R&R; I know I plan to!
See more vintage & current Disneyland Enchanted Tiki Room photos on my Tiki Room web page.
Nice post showing the colorful changes and evolution of the Barker Bird. I learn so much detail from reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteI experienced the Enchanted Tiki Room the first summer it was open, but don't remember the Barker Bird at all. I don't even remember the Tiki Garden back then either, but do remember the actual show the first time I saw it in 1963. Perhaps it was so long ago and I was too young to notice or remember the Barker Bird.
And there's Uti, long gone from the roof in her canoe but still my favorite Tiki. I love that closeup of her and the Barker Bird!! I'm planning on Rolly's sketch of her for my next tattoo. What a great post!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that the Barker Bird went back to blue at some point! Hooray, new trivia!
ReplyDeleteI remember him as red, but probably saw the show before that. Interesting to see the hat and cane were additions.
ReplyDeleteDo you know when he was taken down? I heard it was because he caused traffic jams?
I know for years I thought he was figment of my imagination since he was no longer there.
Thank you, Dave!
JG
JG: Looks like it might have been around 1968.
ReplyDeleteDave, TY,
ReplyDeleteJG