Source: Four Kingdoms
March 1972 – April 2003
LOCATION
Bear Country – Teddi Barra’s Swingin’ Arcade faced the lower courtyard in Bear Country, near the exit to Splash Mountain. Today, the arcade space is part of Pooh Corner.
BACKGROUND
In the 70s, arcades started popping up across Disneyland. Frontierland, Main Street, Adventureland, and Tomorrowland all had their own versions of arcade games, and before long, Bear Country developed its own. The Swingin’ Arcade opened in spring 1972, next to the Mile-Long Bar.
EXPERIENCE
Like the Shootin’ Exposition in Frontierland, the Swingin’ Arcade games were pay-to-play. The small room had a collection of individual racing and interactive games, along with a few dancing marionettes and other offerings.
Source: Mickey Mouse Park
CLOSURE
This arcade was never popular, even during the arcade peak in the 70s and 80s at the park. The Starcade in Tomorrowland had way more games and a larger space, and the arcade’s back corner location didn’t lend itself to traffic flow at all. The arcade faded into the background in Bear Country, even surviving the initial shift to Critter Country, before finally closing in 2003.
TRIVIA
The name Teddi Barra comes from one of the animatronic bears in the Country Bear Jamboree. Her name was inspired by Theda Bara, an actress from the silent film era. It was called the “swingin’ arcade” because Teddi performs on a giant swing during her number in the show.
If you look closely at the facade, you’ll still see the Teddi Barra’s Swingin’ Arcade marquee painted to the left of the window.
Source: Mickey Mouse Park
THANK YOU for sharing this information. As a young boy, my family went to Disneyland from the late 70s through the 80s (in the days of Bear Country… Changed to Critter Country after). I played the games in this arcade. I remember it was very small, even from a boy’s size, and very dark. The area was shaded and it was hard to see inside. The games were not as good as those in the Penny Arcade (Main Street) or the Starcade (Tomorrow Land). In the first picture (above), there was a tiny store (just off to the right). There was always a 20 something year old lady working there. She was dressed in elegant Victorian attire. They had the best, hand-squeezed lemonade. Not even Minute Maid (Main Street) offered hand-squeezed lemonade. I made it my mission to go to Bear Country just for the lemonade. Splash Mountain opened in 1989, I believe. There was little to do in Bear Country. The arcade helped to keep out of the summer heat, enjoying the lemonade. Bank Panic and Superman were two of the arcade cabinets. I don’t recall the others. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. It was a very long time ago though.
I don’t remember the arcade, but I certainly remember the ‘mile long bar’ and I LOVED the Country Bear Jamboree.