The Walt Disney Company and patriotism have always gone hand in hand. After all. Walt himself said, “Actually, if you could see close in my eyes, the American flag is waving in both of them and my spine is growing this red, white, and blue stripe.”

Disney is also noted for fun, although not necessarily for having fun at its own expense. There was a time and place, though, where this happened, and on Disney property. Pleasure Island opened in May of 1989 at Walt Disney World. It was an eclectic mix of clubs, shops, and entertainment venues, designed to appeal to adults who otherwise were spending their evenings (and dollars) in Orlando. Among the clubs was the Comedy Warehouse.

The Comedy Warehouse showcased stand-up comics and featured a revue-type show named “Forbidden Disney.” It was definitely an after-hours entertainment! I used to describe it to my friends as “the Magic Kingdom’s evil twin.” In songs and sketches, the energetic young cast spoofed Disney corporate culture, aggressively friendly cast members, the promise that everything would be perfect, and, of course, the high price of it all.

After all was said and done at the end of the evening, the exhausted cast would be stumped for a finale, until they remembered a cardinal rule (in those days): You can never go wrong with a big, patriotic spectacle to send the crowd home cheering. And here it is, from the evening of September 16, 1989, the Grand Patriotic Finale of “Forbidden Disney.” Enjoy it in the spirit in which it was intended.

Please note that all images are screenshots from the awesome VHS camera that was rented earlier that day at the Dark Room on Hollywood Boulevard in the Disney-MGM Studios. Quality varies.