Saddlesore Swanson

"Saddlesore Swanson" was an audioanimatronic turkey in Act 2 of America Sings, which was a rotating-theater attraction in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, from 1974 through 1988.

Overview

America Sings opened June 29, 1974, and closed April 10, 1988. The America Sings rotating theater, which had previously housed the Carousel of Progress, was divided into six parts:
* Intro (Enter theater)
* Act 1 (Deep South)
* Act 2 (Headin' West)
* Act 3 (Gay 90's)
* Act 4 (Modern Times)
* Epilogue (Exit Theater)

Saddlesore Swanson appeared in Act 2, where he sang "The Old Chisholm Trail."

Headin' West

Like all four Acts in America Sings, Headin' West began with a medley of period songs by the Geese Quartet, highlighting key historical themes (e.g., "Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill" and "I've Been Working on the Railroad"). As the geese sang, the on-stage action intensified, finally ending in a cataclysmic train crash, followed by an echoed shout, "Yahooooo!" Apparently disturbed by the violence, the show's narrator, Eagle Sam, comments, "My, my!" Then changes the pace of the show with a dramatic introduction, "And now, Saddle-Sore-Swanson!"

The Saddlesore Song

Upon being introduced, Saddlesore Swanson sings this version of "The Old Chisholm Trail":

"Yeah! Well come along boys and listen to my tale"
"And I'll tell you all my troubles on the old Chisholm Trail"
"Come a ti yi yippee yippee yea, come a ti yi yippee yippee yea"

"Now I went to the boss to draw my roll, and"
"He had me figured nine dollars in the hole!"
"Ay, yi, yi, yi..."

addlesore's Voice

Saddlesore Swanson's gravelly voice was provided by cowboy actor Chill Wills. According to Alice Estes Davis, who was married to America Sings creator Marc Davis, Chill Wills never saw the show that featured his voice, because he was unwilling to enter any building that moved, including, of course, the America Sings carousel theater.

After America Sings

When America Sings closed in April, 1988, most of the audioanimatronic figures were relocated to Splash Mountain. Saddlesore's cowboy hat and guitar were replaced with a straw hat and a turtle-shell guitar, and he now sings the Laughing Place song. Chill Wills, who died in 1978, did not contribute to Saddlesore's Splash Mountain performance.

References

* [http://01508f4.netsolstores.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2 America Sings Historical DVD] ( Fully Narrated Historical Documentary, featuring the full history of the attraction.)
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1GuVelpDQs America Sings Farewell Part 1] (YouTube video capturing the final performance of America Sings) -- accessed 6 July 2008.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lssN5C0fOo America Sings Farewell Part 2] (YouTube video capturing the final performance of America Sings) -- accessed 6 July 2008.

External links

* [http://www.yesterland.com/amersings.html Yesterland entry on the show]
* [http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/amersing.htm Deborah Gail Stone on rumor-site snopes.com]