Colonel Houndstoothe[1] is a character at the Disney Parks.
History[]
Background[]
Colonel Houndstoothe is an anthropomorphic Basset hound and a retired[1] farmer. In the "Going South" sequence of the attraction, he is seen sitting quietly on his rocking chair while the song, "My Old Kentucky Home" is played in the background. Throughout the sequence, he is briefly seen saying, "It's the good life" just before the song resumes and loops into "Polly Wolly Doodle" performed by the Swamp Boys.
Development History[]
Colonel Houndstoothe was created for the America Sings attraction at Disneyland in the Tomorrowland section where he was placed in the "Going South" sequence, which opened on June 29, 1974. However, America Sings closed on April 10, 1988 in order to retheme the attraction to Innoventions, with Houndstoothe and most of the animatronics moved to Splash Mountain at the Critter Country section, which opened on July 17, 1989.
As of 2020, the Disneyland version of Splash Mountain was announced for closure of having the attraction being completely reimagined into a Princess and the Frog-themed attraction in order to remove references to Song of the South due controversy surrounding the film itself which the attraction is based on. Therefore, it is currently unknown of what will replace Houndstoothe's animatronic in the rethemed version of the attraction. Splash Mountain permanently closed on May 31, 2023 in Disneyland.
Appearances[]
America Sings[]
Colonel Houndstoothe was featured during the former attraction's first act, "Going South" where he is seen during the "My Old Kentucky Home" sequence. As the song plays, Houndstoothe then says, "It's the good life" while sitting quietly on his rocking chair while observing the landscape. Just as Houndstoothe continues sitting on his rocking chair, the ears of corn open themselves to reveal the yellow part inside just before the sequence fades with birds heard chirping in the background just as the weathervane on Houndstoothe's hut briefly spins. The sequence then fades into the "Polly Wolly Doodle" sequence.
Splash Mountain[]
In the California version of Splash Mountain, Houndstoothe can be seen in Rainbow Hollow during the "Everybody's Got a Laughing Place" sequence where he is seen quietly sitting on a rowboat where he is seen with several beehives on his boat, albeit his hat placed on it.
Professor Barnaby Owl's Photographic Art Studio[]
A picture of Charles Boyer's Splash Mountain artwork featuring Colonel Houndstoothe can be seen in the Professor Barnaby Owl's Photographic Art Studio store.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Colonel Houndstoothe's name is derived from the word "houndstooth", a checkered pattern which resembles a canine's tooth used in articles of clothing and jackets.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Page 2 of America Sings soundtrack book
