Sooo, I may have accidentally stumbled onto the inspiration for the loveable and good-natured, Melvin Moose from the Country Bear Jamboree.
What started as a project on Mickey’s family tree, quickly flew off the path and pulled me deep into a rabbit hole. Bear (haha) with me for a moment. I was perusing Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Album, a comic book first released in 1959. The comic includes stories from Mickey’s various vacations, one in which he visits his Canadian Uncle Mukluk, who lives in Alaska…very specific, I know. Anywho, Uncle Mukluk found a small moose wandering in the woods, he adopted him (obviously) and named him Melvin! Well, Melvin is a part of the family and apparently very, very “naughty.” He doesn’t listen much, isn’t the brightest, and will eat just about anything. At this point, nothing out of the ordinary stood out to me. If I lived in Alaska by myself, I would probably want to adopt a moose too. In the end, Mickey reluctantly agrees to watch Melvin while his Uncle (possibly??) mines gold with his old partner. Doesn’t matter the why, what matters is THIS-
As soon as I saw this picture I had an epiphany. Could it be? Noooo. But…maybe? So I did a little digging.
Backstory
Before I went totally off the deep end, I thought it wise to check when the comic story came out versus when The Country Bear Jamboree opened. As mentioned, this specific issue was first released in 1959, with several reprints in following years. The Country Bear Jamboree opened first at Walt Disney World in 1971, followed by Disneyland in 1972.
The story goes- in the mid sixties, Imagineers Marc Davis and Al Bertino (the inspiration for Big Al), were working on concept art for a show featuring a bear band. Marc and Al came up with a bear marching band, a bear mariachi band, and a show featuring Dixieland Bears. When Walt saw the Dixieland group, he loved them and laughed. On his way out of Davis’ office, he turned around and said goodbye, something he never did. A few days later, Walt unexpectedly passed away.
Time to Prove It
The project continued on but as many things do, changed a hundred times until it took on a life of it’s own and was debuted at the Magic Kingdom in 1971. 
Score! One point for possibly being inspired by the comic story!
Next, I looked into the script writer for the comic story, Mickey Mouse with Uncle Mukluk. It was written by a talented guy named Carl Fallberg. Carl began working with Disney in 1935 and worked on the animated features Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, and Bambi. He then began writing for Disney comic books with illustrator Paul Murry from 1950 until 1973. Now remember, this comic first appeared in 1959 and Imagineer Davis created the concept art in 1966. Sweet! Point numero dos!
What finally sealed the deal for me…Carl was the assistant director and storyman for Bambi. Guess who designed and animated the Bambi characters Bambi, Thumper, and Flower?! It was Marc Davis! I do not think it is too far fetched to believe that Marc and Carl could have been friends. They most certainly worked together. I’m going to take it! Last point for possible work buddies, maybe best friends, for sure knew each other.
I know that was a lot to unpack, but…what do you think? Could Mickey’s Uncle Mukluk’s pet moose Melvin (say that three times fast) be the inspiration behind Melvin from the Country Bear Jamboree? Do you think I am on to something, or am I moostaken?
Sadly, since both men behind Melvin have long passed away, I am unable to confirm this theory. If anyone has any books about Marc Davis and they find any information about Melvin, please share!
You can read the entire comic story, Mickey Mouse with Uncle Mukluk here:
