The Tiki Cabana??


s8ntmark

s8ntmark

Member
Im trying to work on a website (a definitive Tiki Room site) and Im not finding anything online about The Tiki Cabana, the show they proposed to replace the Tiki Room in the late 80's...All I remember is the little blurb they wrote about it in a past issue of Disney News where they mentioned that Danny Devito and Bette Midler would do voices and the birds would be owned by these famous celebrities (the ones that did their voices).

It just seemed cool, because It took the somewhat generic Tiki birds and made each one a character in the vein of the CBJ. (from the pictures I saw one was a Toucan with a Hawaiian shirt and they other was a very flamboyant Buddy-looking bird from Tokyo's Get The Fever show)

But the point of all this is-and yes there is one-does anyone know anything about this show? Could you give me some details (or direct me to a site that might already have them) Im looking for pictures as well, Although I know thats a long shot (Ill have to scan they shots from my video if I can find it :)

Anyway...Thanks for your time

Mark!
 
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SharonKurland

Active Member
Mark-

I did a search of Google. Only relevant thing I found was a message that someone wrote on rec.arts.disney on May 31, 1995:

A few years ago, They were going to update
the Tiki show into somthing called The Tiki
Cabana. I saw some pictures of the characters
and the host bird was hilarious! He had a big pompadour and a tuxedo. There was also a
macaw who I guess was going to be voiced by
Danny Devito. I think if they mix the old song
into a new Tiki Cabana show, they could renew
interest in the show without destorying the
spirit of the old concept. It seemed to be
very much like the country bear show in terms
of the different range of characters and seems
like it could be fun.

Author was some dude named S8ntMark. Maybe you can get in touch with him or something... ;)

-Sharon-
 
Gurgitoy2

Gurgitoy2

Active Member
Wow, I've never heard about this! I wonder what ever happened to the idea? It seems like it would have been a good way to spruce up the attraction. I wonder if maybe parts of it were used for Tokyo's "Get the Fever" show? Also, since Disneyland is the only park left with the original show (and although it's sort of nice to have it), I think it's time for a fresh show there too. Especially considering the delapidated state of the current show/building...

I remember on my most recent trip to Disneyland, a friend and I were seriously the only people waiting for the show. People just walked on by, not knowing or caring what was inside because it looked so badly. It was close to dusk, so not wanting to be the only ones in the show my friend and I started doing the cast member's job (there was not a cast member in sight). We started to be "barkers" and advertise the show to the passing people. It was fun, and it worked! People were getting excited about it once we let them know what it was. We got a pretty good crowd to go see the show with us, and it made the experience much more enjoyable. We both thought it was really a shame that the attraction was just left to rot there with no cast member to get people in. It really didn't even look open.
 
Gurgitoy2

Gurgitoy2

Active Member
Hmm...Bette Midler and Danny Devito, huh? I guess it must have been after the success of "Ruthless People".

But if they were to resurect the show idea today, I think they should go with Eminem and Britney Spears!!

OK, NOT!!!
 
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ex-wdi

Member
I believe that version of the show was blue-skied by Joe Lansizero - next time I see him I will ask him about it...

I worked on the "Get The Fever" Tokyo re-hab, but still feel it pales in comparison to the original. But I have a tendancy to like the older stuff over new now matter what!

Chris
 
s8ntmark

s8ntmark

Member
Thanks, Chris Id love to hear what you come up with!

And Sharon, That guy had the same screen name as me because I wrote that! LOL, I think it was almost 10 years ago! That was one of the first times I made an attempt to find out what the show was...All I have is the Disney News (which my friend who has a massive collection of the old DNs is finding for me right now as we speak) and an image on a video i still have yet to find.

(If anyone might have it, it was the old "Imagineering" shorts that used to show between shows on the Disney Channel...it was the first episode. The hostess of the show walks through the halls of Imagineering and looks in one of the rooms where someone is standing (I assume Joe Lansizero) and the pictures are on the wall, very quick shot and no mention anything...)

But in regards to Get the Fever using elements of the Tiki Cabana show, I think thats a very safe bet...Buddy looks the one of the birds (The host I assume) who was a very flamboyant bird- Head thrown back, a tuxedo, big pompador and a cane stuck under his feather, possibly a Buster Poindexter-type bird? Im sure Hot hot hot, and Conga where part of the show.

Another picture was of a toucan with a hawaiian flower print shirt on...maybe an early Danno?

Also, strangly enough when The original Tiki room was going to close there was supposed to be a sign at the front gate that said "Under New Management" while they changed the show...weird huh? (my friend said he saw this sign himself then the tiki room reopened..can anyone confirm this?)

As soon as I get the Disney News article, Ill give everyone the info it possesses.
 
M

MitchB

Member
Over the years I have tried to find enough tracks to put
together the whole show, does anyone know how long
the original show is. I think I'm mostly missing some dialogue. It would be wonderful if disney would release all of the related tracks on one CD, like the pirates and
haunted mansion. It's sad that people don't appreciate
the tiki room.
 
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SharonKurland

Active Member
Mark-

Dontcha worry...I figured it was you . I still can't help you one bit but I hope you get the information you're looking for EVENTUALLY...lord knows you've been looking long enough!

-Sharon-
 
s8ntmark

s8ntmark

Member
Sharon-Ya know? You'd think Id find something by NOW ;)

Mitch-They released the entire Tiki room show about 2 years ago on the wdw Forever system-Im sure SOMEone has it and would be willing to help where you need it.
 
s8ntmark

s8ntmark

Member
Pooh!

And I dont mean Winnie-the... I just spent the day looking through my friends Disney News's hoping to find the blurb I read about the Tiki Cabana (way back in 87 or 88) and I couldnt find what I was looking for...which means that it is in another magazine :(

Pooh, again...

I also collected Theme Park magazine back then so now Im thinking it was that...sigh..I hope no one was too anxious to hear about this show.
 
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