Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Newly found from the archives of Finley Holiday Films last week is 8mm footage shot of the original Knott's Bear-y Tales! Never before seen to the public until now!
We released this footage in honor of what would of been Rolly Crump's 95th Birthday! So to celebrate his life from Disney to the other Theme Parks including his work on Knott's Bear-y Tales at Knott's Berry Farm! Today seemed like the perfect fit to bring it to release!
This footage shot by Finley documents rare sights of the ride in its intended ride lighting that people saw when they rode the attraction. From the Incandescent spotlighting in the Factory and Characters in the ride. To the Blacklight and Fluorescent colors found in the Frog Forest up into the Country Fair scene. We took the footage of what Finley provided and spliced them to be in order of the scenes that were in the ride and also included the 2nd takes of certain footage so that way no piece is LOST MEDIA.
Footage never does things justice and thanks to Finley we can get a glimpse into what the current videos of KBT do not have! Which is the ride portrayed in its natural show lighting! Definitely more different than what you would find in the current Bear-y Tales ride.
Keep in the mind that although the footage captured the details you don't see to often. The footage was shot in 1985 and portrays some bits of the ride that were starting to slow down as the ride was getting close to its eventual closing in 1986. So expect to see certain animatronics or effects (like Thelma's tent animation) not fully working to their complete potential.
Despite the flaws and the state of the ride during this time. This footage documents the very rare aspect of the ride. That being its iconic ride lighting that is often talked about, but never given proper documentation...UNTIL NOW!
ENJOY!!!
If you're interested in the history of Knott's Bear-y Tales and want to learn more about Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump's iconic ride! We have a history book for you to purchase here!
fantasy-funwheel.com/store/p/manual-j6fna
Newly found from the archives of Finley Holiday Films last week is 8mm footage shot of the original Knott's Bear-y Tales! Never before seen to the public until now!
We released this footage in honor of what would of been Rolly Crump's 95th Birthday! So to celebrate his life from Disney to the other Theme Parks including his work on Knott's Bear-y Tales at Knott's Berry Farm! Today seemed like the perfect fit to bring it to release!
This footage shot by Finley documents rare sights of the ride in its intended ride lighting that people saw when they rode the attraction. From the Incandescent spotlighting in the Factory and Characters in the ride. To the Blacklight and Fluorescent colors found in the Frog Forest up into the Country Fair scene. We took the footage of what Finley provided and spliced them to be in order of the scenes that were in the ride and also included the 2nd takes of certain footage so that way no piece is LOST MEDIA.
Footage never does things justice and thanks to Finley we can get a glimpse into what the current videos of KBT do not have! Which is the ride portrayed in its natural show lighting! Definitely more different than what you would find in the current Bear-y Tales ride.
Keep in the mind that although the footage captured the details you don't see to often. The footage was shot in 1985 and portrays some bits of the ride that were starting to slow down as the ride was getting close to its eventual closing in 1986. So expect to see certain animatronics or effects (like Thelma's tent animation) not fully working to their complete potential.
Despite the flaws and the state of the ride during this time. This footage documents the very rare aspect of the ride. That being its iconic ride lighting that is often talked about, but never given proper documentation...UNTIL NOW!
ENJOY!!!
If you're interested in the history of Knott's Bear-y Tales and want to learn more about Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump's iconic ride! We have a history book for you to purchase here!
fantasy-funwheel.com/store/p/manual-j6fna
