I have during the past five years examined scores of memoirs written or related to writers by old-time cowboys and cattlemen—the number who have recorded their range experiences is rather amazing—and I have found in them no mention or allusion to a character called Pecos Bill. This is the case despite the fact that seldom did these men write stories of their lives on the range without devoting considerable space to the hilarious tall tales told around the campfire.
Notwithstanding his uncertain origins, the earliest published references to Pecos Bill date back to 1923 in stories by Edward O’Reilly for The Century Magazine called the “Saga of Pecos Bill.”
Disney’s connection to Pecos Bill began in 1948 as part of the animated compilation film Melody Time. The film represented the twelfth animated feature released by Disney. It was also the fifth of Disney’s “packaged” films that combined multiple short animation features into one film. These packaged films became popular during the World War II era because of their lower costs as compared to full-length animated feature films. Melody Time followed Saludos Amigos (1942), The Three Caballeros (1944), Make Mine Music (1946), and Fun and Fancy Free (1947). Disney’s last “packaged” film, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, would be released one year after Melody Time in 1949.
Melody Time featured the work of various noted Disney animators including Ollie Johnston, John Lounsbery, Milt Kahl, and Ward Kimball (who animated Pecos). The film also featured the work of Imagineers Mary Blair and Claude Coats, who provided the “Color and Styling” for the film. Blair was best known for her masterful artwork and design for the “it’s a small world” attraction. Coats worked on numerous projects for the Disney parks, most notably the Haunted Mansion, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Horizons.
Melody Time was divided into seven segments that each featured colorful animation set to charming musical scores: “Once Upon a Wintertime,” “Bumble Boogie,” “The Legend of Johnny Appleseed,” “Little Toot,” “Trees,” “Blame It on the Samba,” and “Pecos Bill.” Pecos Bill was the longest of the segments at approximately twenty-two minutes. Famed cowboy singers Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan, and the Sons of the Pioneers provided its charming narration and soundtrack. Interestingly enough, Rogers, Nolan, and the Pioneers tell the story of Pecos Bill to child stars Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten who also starred in the controversial 1946 Disney film Song of the South, which served as the inspiration for Splash Mountain, a Frontierland neighbor of the Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe.
The Melody Time rendition of Pecos Bill is fanciful and joyous, and recounts the story of a boy orphaned in the desert and raised by coyotes, but who grew up to be the toughest critter west of the Alamo. Pecos out “loped” the antelope, out “hopped” the jackrabbit, and even out “hissed” the rattlesnake. His numerous legendary exploits include:
Meeting his horse Widowmaker by fighting fifty buzzards
Meeting Slue Foot Sue, the love of his life
Taming a cyclone
Bringing rain from “Californy” to create the Gulf of Mexico
Knocking gold fillings out of the mouths of cattle rustlers to create the Gold Rush
In the late 1990s, Pecos Bill found himself at the center of a not-so-legendary animation controversy. In the “Pecos Bill” segment of Melody Time, Pecos smokes cigarettes. In fact, he is shown with a cigarette in his mouth in several scenes, including one in which he rolls a cigarette, lights it (with a lightning bolt), and smokes it. The narration for the segment made no secret of Bill’s nicotine vice: “While that cyclone bucked and flitted, Pecos rolled a smoke and lit it.”
The public perception and political correctness of smoking was drastically different in 1948 when Melody Time was first released than in 1998 when the film was re-released on video. As such, and much to the chagrin of animation purists, Melody Time was heavily edited to remove the scenes featuring Pecos smoking. The “edited” version was also used when Melody Time was released on DVD in 2000.
In 1995, almost fifty years following the release of Melody Time, Disney released another film starring Pecos Bill, this time in a live-action format. Tall Tale (also known as Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill) featured Pecos Bill and two other legendary figures from American folklore: Paul Bunyan and John Henry. The film recounts the story of Daniel Hackett, a young boy growing up in the early 1900s in a fictional western town known as Paradise Valley. Daniel struggles to save his family’s farm from J.P. Stiles, a greedy land baron seeking to acquire farms in Paradise Valley by any means necessary. Along the way, Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, and John Henry, all characters from “tall tales” told to Daniel by his father, help Daniel. With the assistance of his legendary friends, Daniel saves his family’s farm and Paradise Valley while learning some important life lessons in the process.
Tall Tale featured a surprisingly star-studded cast, including Patrick Swayze of Dirty Dancing (1987) and Ghost (1990) fame in the title role of Pecos Bill. Oliver Platt, who also starred as Porthos in the 1993 Disney film The Three Musketeers, played the role of legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyan. The film featured a heartwarming story characteristic of early Disney live-action films. Unfortunately, it was a commercial disappointment and was unable to recoup its budget of approximately $32 million.
The Official Backstory
Disney Imagineers outdid themselves in terms of a backstory for the Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe. Rather than leaving it up to guest speculation and/or investigation, the Imagineers provide a detailed narrative about the restaurant’s backstory that can be found (and read) just inside the doors of the restaurant:
Considered by many as the meanest, toughest, roughest cowboy of them all, Pecos Bill has been credited for inventing all things western, from rodeos to cowboy dancing, to spurs, hats and lassos. He can draw faster, shoot straighter and ride a horse harder than any man alive. Unfortunately, we don’t know when and where he was born, just that he was raised by coyotes and that his name comes from the river in Texas. Over the years, Pecos Bill along with his trusty horse, Widowmaker, have made quite a name for themselves forging new trails and taming others. Legend tells us several tall tales like the time Pecos Bill jumped on a powerful twister and road it like a bucking bronco. Then there was the time when Pecos Bill dug out a path to create the Rio Grande river during a severe drought that hit his beloved Texas. And then there was the day Pecos Bill was so bored he took his handy six-shooter and shot out all of the stars in the sky except for one. That’s why they call Texas the “Lone Star State.” In 1878, with the encouragement of his friends, Pecos Bill decided to open his own watering hole, a restaurant whose motto very much reflects its one-of-a-kind owner. “The tastiest eats and treats this side of the Rio Grande.” Pecos Bill called it the Tall Tale Inn and Cafe and it quickly became a popular hangout for some of his legendary friends. As time went by, it became a tradition when each friend paid a visit they would leave something behind for Pecos Bill to remember them by. As you can see from the articles and artifacts that don the walls, many of which carry inscriptions, Pecos Bill had some mighty impressive friends. Seems that every trail eventually led to the Tall Tale Inn and Cafe.
This sign can be seen hanging on the wall upon entering the café through the doorway to the right of the Town Hall façade. The sign hangs to the left of a window that overlooks the main dining area. In keeping with the theme of the restaurant, the backstory is printed on what appears to be an old piece of leather or cowhide that is stretched across a frame constructed of old sticks held together by horseshoes in each of its four corners.
In addition to the official backstory, guests are provided with the “Code of the West,” which further conveys the story of the restaurant. It instructs visitors to “Respect The Land. Defend the Defenseless. And Don’t Ever Spit in Front of Women and Children.” You have to love that! The Code of the West is displayed just like the backstory, on a weathered piece of leather stretched across a makeshift frame of sticks and horsesh
oes. You can find it hanging opposite the backstory sign to the right of the window overlooking the main dining area.
Storytelling Elements
The Building Façade
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is replete with fun finds and props that help convey its story. This storytelling begins before you enter the front doors, as the building façade plays into the theme of not only the café but also that of Frontierland as a whole.
The building housing the café is massive and straddles both Frontierland and Adventureland. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is unique in that it has multiple entrances and multiple façades that are themed in different styles.
On the Frontierland side, the exterior represents an Old West saloon, and is composed of distinctive blue plank construction. The roof of the saloon is stamped with the year “1878” which, as we know from the backstory, is the year that Pecos originally founded his famous watering hole. A second-story balcony and door are also visible and, while not accessible by guests, I imagine that this is where Pecos would walk out each morning to survey his Frontierland surroundings. The “saloon” portion of the façade represents the area formerly occupied by the Mile Long Bar (discussed below), and features a sign for the restaurant with a picture of our smiling hero hanging out front.
As you continue along the path from Frontierland to Adventureland, you encounter the next exterior façade of the café, a dramatic town hall. This façade is composed of brick and wood construction, and is stamped with the year “1867.” It is also two stories tall with a second-story balcony and a bell tower that is no doubt used to notify the townspeople of important meetings or, more practically, to call the residents in for supper.
The restaurant continues to curve along the outer border of Frontierland toward Adventureland, as both the interior and the exterior of the café blend into a mix of Southwest and Mexican-style décor. The exterior located closest to Adventureland resembles the entrance to a Mexican hacienda, and features more rustic stonework in lieu of brick, clay tiles on the roof, and pueblo-style walls, blending nicely into the adjacent Caribbean theming of Adventureland. The restaurant actually connects to Tortuga Tavern in Adventureland.
Legendary Mementos and Other Thematic Details
A treasure trove of artifacts from Pecos Bill’s legendary friends are scattered throughout the interior. Disney has established a “tall tale” scavenger hunt for guests to explore. Those who take the time will discover numerous folktale artifacts.
To locate these mementos, we’ll divide the café into three dining rooms:
Dining Room 1 is the large dining area to the right of the walkway that runs through the interior seating area.
Dining Room 2 is the first dining room to the left of the walkway that is themed as a low-lit, outdoor Southwestern town square.
Dining Room 3 is the small dining area to the left of the walkway just past Dining Room 2.
PECOS BILL
A large stone fireplace sits to your immediate left as you enter the restaurant from the blue-planked saloon entrance. Hanging above the fireplace is a colorful portrait of Pecos Bill and his trusty horse Widowmaker performing some Texas-sized lasso tricks. (And speaking of lassos, three separate ropes hang on the fireplace’s rustic wood mantle.) In addition, Pecos’ signature cowboy hat also hangs above the mantle. But perhaps Pecos’ greatest contributions to the café are his signature six-shooters, which are displayed in a nearby case hanging on the wall.
Another fun tribute to the café’s proprietor is found on a wall behind the “fixins’ bar,” where you will find a “Warrant of Authenticity.” This document certifies that Pecos Bill received a “provisional captaincy” with the Texas Rangers. Bill’s occupation is listed as “Defender of the Defenseless.” Although his age is “unknown,” the warrant does specify that Pecos Bill was born at “Coyote Pass.” Governor Sam Houston signed the warrant.
SLUE FOOT SUE AND WIDOWMAKER
It should come as no surprise that Pecos’ very best pal Widowmaker and the love of his life Slue Foot Sue also left some mementos behind at the café.
Sue provided her spurs and gloves, which include a very personal note to Pecos: “To Billy, All my love, Slue Foot Sue.” Sue’s mementos hang on the wall in Dining Room 1.
Widowmaker’s picture is displayed on a wall along with a bridle hanging close beside it in Dining Room 3. A “Warrant of Authority” displayed behind the fixins’ bar notes that Widowmaker was enlisted on March 24, 1894, as an “honorary member” of the “Ranger Force of the State of Texas.” It also states that Widowmaker was born in the “Endless Desert.”
JOHNNY APPLESEED
Johnny Appleseed co-starred with Pecos in Melody Time and received his own segment in that feature. “The Legend of Johnny Appleseed,” narrated by Dennis Day, tells the story of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, who leaves his apple orchard carrying only a bag of seeds, a tin pot hat, and a Bible to brave the expanding West and bring the tasty benefits of apples to the new nation. The Melody Time feature exudes feelings of joyful inspiration and innocent hope.
For the café, Johnny Appleseed donated his signature tin pot hat that hangs on a wall in Dining Room 3.
DAVY CROCKETT AND GEORGIE RUSSELL
Davy Crockett was a real-life frontiersman from Tennessee whose legendary exploits became the fodder of campground tales near and far. Crockett’s stories became extremely popular in the 1950s when Disney ran a five-part miniseries about the folk hero that aired on ABC. The episodes were:
“Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter” (December 15, 1954). Crockett and his best friend Georgie Russell coordinate an alliance with Native Americans and fight in a series of battles under the command of Andrew Jackson.
“Davy Crockett Goes to Congress” (January 26, 1955). Crockett and Russell battle a bully known as Big Foot who is running a group of Creek Indians off of their land. Crockett later returns to Tennessee and eventually (as the name of the episode implies) wins a seat in the United States House of Representatives.
“Davy Crockett at the Alamo” (February 23, 1955). Crockett and Russell travel to the Alamo to battle Mexican general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Crockett, Russell, and the other heroes of the Alamo were killed during the battle.
“Davy Crockett’s Keelboat Race” (November 16, 1955). Crockett and Russell encounter legendary boatman Mike Fink, who challenges Crockett to a keelboat race to New Orleans. Fans of Walt Disney World history will recognize the name Mike Fink from an attraction known as the Mike Fink Keelboats that plied the Rivers of America in Frontierland from 1971 to 1997.
“Davy Crockett and the River Pirates” (December 14, 1955). Crockett, Russell, Fink, and some of their Chickasaw allies engage in an adventure against river pirates who are impersonating Indians.
In 1955, Disney compiled the first three episodes from the television series into a standalone film called Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. To say that the Davy Crockett serial was popular would be a vast understatement. In fact, the television series was so popular that both Crockett and his signature coonskin hat became cultural icons. The affable Fess Parker played the staring role of Davy Crockett. Buddy Ebsen, most famous for his role as Jed Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies television series, played Crockett’s best pal Georgie Russell.
The Disney company would re-visit Crockett-based features in later years. A multi-episode rendition called The New Adventures of Davy Crockett was released in the late 1980s, with Tim Dunigan picking up the coonskin cap to play the role of Davy Crockett. In 2004, Disney moved forward with a much more ambitious project in the form of The Alamo, a live-action movie starring Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett and Dennis Quaid as Sam Houston. Unfortunately for Disney, The Alamo was a box-office failure, and neither that film nor The New Adventures of Davy Crockett was able to recapture the magic of the original television series.
The Magic Kingdom featured an attraction, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, which allowed guests to
paddle along the Rivers of America in 30-foot canoes. The attraction opened with the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971, and closed in 1994.
In the Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, Crockett left behind his leather bag and powder horn, as well as a vintage schematic drawing of “Old Betsy,” his trusted rifle. I suppose the thought of leaving behind his signature coonskin cap was too much to ask of the King of the Wild Frontier.
For his part, Georgie Russell left behind some of his trail supplies and a handwritten letter recounting a shooting match between Crockett and Big Foot Mason that is hidden high atop a shelf near the back of the restaurant. All of these items can be found in Dining Room 3.
Paul Bunyan
In 1958, Disney released a musical short film entitled Paul Bunyan, which recounted the story and exploits of the giant lumberjack and his sidekick ox, Babe. The film features the same type of innocence and joy in storytelling of the Disney package films of the 1940s, including Melody Time. Among Bunyan’s “gigantic” accomplishments were:
Creating the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” when his footprints in the snow filled with water
Digging the Missouri River to help transport his logs
Turning Yellowstone Falls into a shower fit for a giant
Creating the Grand Tetons during a wrestling match with Babe
The film culminates with Paul and Babe facing off against a travelling salesman selling gas-powered chainsaws and steam trains as replacements to the traditional methods of lumberjacking. The result is a competition where Paul and Babe are sadly defeated by a narrow margin.
Veteran voice actor Thurl Ravenscroft voiced Bunyan. Ravenscroft provided the voice of Tony the Tiger in many Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes commercials and was the vocalist for “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” from the classic Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas television program. Ravenscroft also had close ties to Disney, providing his voice talents to many Disney films and attractions including the Haunted Mansion, the Country Bear Jamboree, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
The Backstories and Magical Secrets of Walt Disney World Page 18
