Saddlesore Swanson

Saddlesore Swanson
Background information
Park attractions	America Sings Splash Mountain
Designer	Marc Davis (America Sings) John Stone (Splash Mountain)
Voice	Chris Wills
Character information
Affiliations	The Laughin' Place Band
Home	Rainbow Hollow, Critter Country, Georgia
Paraphernalia	Guitar
Status	Unknown

Saddlesore Swanson is a character from Disney Parks.

History

Background

Saddlesore Swanson is a scraggly anthropomorphic turkey from the old romantic days of the American west. He would be a resident of Rainbow Hollow following its flooding and live amongst its critters.

Development

Saddlesore Swanson was created for the attraction America Sings in Tomorrowland, where he was one of the characters in the Old West scene. When America Sings closed in the 1980s, he was amongst the audio-animatronic figures moved to the new Critter Country attraction Splash Mountain.

As of 2020 due to Splash Mountain being completely reimagined into a theme inspired by The Princess and the Frog in order to remove references to Song of the South, it is currently unknown of what will replace Saddlesore's animatronic in the rethemed version of the attraction. The California version of Splash Mountain permanently closed on May 31, 2023.

Appearances

Disney Parks

America Sings

Saddlesore appeared in the third act of America Sings, themed around the old west. The turkey had the third musical number in this scene, singing "The Old Chisholm Trail", where he recounted his troubles.

Splash Mountain

Saddlesore appeared in Splash Mountain albeit with a few design alterations. He lost his spur, was given a straw-hat in favor of his cowboy hat, and had a guitar made from a turtle shell. He could be seen in Rainbow Hollow in the "Everybody's Got a Laughing Place" sequence next to Blossom-Nose Murphy and Br'er Chicken.

Gallery

Disney Parks

Saddlesore Swanson in America Sings. (1974-1988)

Saddlesore Swanson in the "Everybody's Got a Laughing Place" sequence in Splash Mountain at the Disneyland Park. (1989-2023)

Development

Concept Art

Concept art of Saddlesore Swanson for America Sings by Marc Davis.

Concept art of Saddlesore Swanson for America Sings by Marc Davis.

Rough sketch of Saddlesore Swanson for "Turkey in the Straw" for America Sings by Marc Davis.

Concept art of Saddlesore Swanson next to Br'er Pig in Rainbow Hollow for Splash Mountain by John Stone.

Concept art of Saddlesore Swanson next to Betsy and Br'er Stork in Rainbow Hollow for Splash Mountain.

Clay model of Saddlesore Swanson.

Sculpture model of Saddlesore Swanson by George Snowden.

Miscellaneous

A pin of Saddlesore Swanson and the Boothill Boys in America Sings.

Trivia

• There is a replica model of Saddlesore Swanson but repurposed as Br'er Turkey in the Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland version of the Splash Mountain attraction.

v - e - d

Media Films and Television: Song of the South (soundtrack) • One Hour in Wonderland • The Walt Disney Christmas Show • House of Mouse Video Games: Mickey's Great Adventure in Tokyo Disneyland • Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour • Virtual Magic Kingdom • Kinect: Disneyland Adventures • Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two • Disneyland Explorer • Disney Infinity: 3.0 Edition • Disney Tsum Tsum • Disney Magic Kingdoms • Play Disney Parks App Books: The Wonderful Tar Baby • Brer Rabbit Rides the Fox • Brer Fox and the Rabbit Trap • Brer Rabbit's Laughing Place • Brer Rabbit Painting Book Disney Parks Mickey Mouse Revue • Splash Mountain • Beaver Brothers Explorer Canoes • Disneyland Railroad • Walt Disney World Railroad Entertainment: Mickey's Gift of Dreams • Once Upon a Mouse Parades: Disney's Dreams On Parade: Moving On • Disney's Party Express • Jubilation! Fireworks: Fantasy in the Sky • Remember... Dreams Come True • World of Color: Celebrate! Spring: Disney's Easter Wonderland • Hippity Hoppity Springtime • Usatama on the Run! Halloween: Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade • Br'er Rabbit's Laughin' Place Candy Patch! Christmas: Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade Restaurants: Grandma Sara's Kitchen • Rackety's Raccoon Saloon • Brer Bar • The Snackin' Place Shops: The Briar Patch • Professor Barnaby Owl's Photographic Art Studio • Splashdown Photos • Hoot & Holler Hideout Characters Song of the South: Br'er Rabbit • Br'er Fox • Br'er Bear • Mr. Bluebird • Uncle Remus • Johnny • Ginny Favers • Toby • Sally • Grandmother Doshy • Aunt Tempy • John • Mrs. Favers • Mr. Favers • Chloe • Pearl • Ned • Jake and Joe Favers • Bull • Teenchy • Br'er Terrapin • Miss Possum • Sis Moles • Hummingbird Trio • Br'er Frog • The Bees • Butterflies • Br'er Raccoon • Skunky • Sis Porcupines • The Fishes Splash Mountain: Professor Barnaby Owl • Boothill Boys • Swamp Boys • Br'er Goose • Br'er Gator • Br'er Porcupine • Br'er Dog • Br'er Roadrunner • Turtle Drum • Singing Geese • Singing Bullfrogs • Br'er Worm • The Donkey • Farming Rabbits • Pansy, Poppy, and Petunia • Hitchhiking Alligator • Hitchhiking Turtle and Turkey • Betsy • Sis Vixen • Singing Storks • Colonel Houndstoothe • Br'er Pig • The Laughin' Place Band • Blossom-Nose Murphy • Br'er Chicken • Saddlesore Swanson • Laughing Turtles • Little Weasels • Plaintive Possum • Mother Rabbit • Bats • Capt. Andy • River Belle Chorus • Geese Can-Can Dancers • Tex Ranger • Belle • Big Daddy • Collegiate Quartet • Br'er Turkey • Bass Frog • The Owl • Br'er Owl • Beaver Brothers • Phineas Firefly • Rackety Raccoon • Grandma Sara • Zachariah Muskrat • Jasper P. Woodchuck • Sis Raccoon • Bunny Bonnet Trio • Sis Weasel • Br'er Beaver • Br'er Mouse • Rufus the Bear • Ol' Gray Mare • Br'er Donkey • Br'er Goat • Forlorn Fox • Prospector • Hound Dog • Hippie Stork • Br'er Rattlesnake • Br'er Prairie Dog • Br'er Ground Squirrel • Desert Critters • Catfishes • Sis Frogs • Mr. Mayor • Mabel • Annie Gator • Ol' Ben Books: Molly Cottontail • Mrs. Bear • Br'er Possum • Br'er Wolf • Br'er Weasel • Br'er Buzzard • Mammy Bammy • Doc Crane • King Lion • Annie and Fannie Cottontail • Kubs and Klibs • Junior Bear • Br'er Stork • Br'er Crow • Br'er Sparrow • Mr. Man • Janey Malone • Granny Fox • Mr. Sheriff • Mr. Dog • Karel Kat • Miss Meadows • Miss Turkey • Miss Swan • Br'er Elephant • Br'er Lion • Br'er Rooster • Judge Owl • Deacon Beaver • Sis Bunny • Sis Goose • Br'er Turkey Buzzard • Nibbles • Kojinan Stad • Karl • Mrs. Frog • Sis Cow • Br'er Bull • Rollo and Rover Video Games: Shielded Frog • Dragonflies • Alligators • Vultures Cameos and Crossover characters: Henry • Five Bear Rugs • Sammy the Raccoon • Ernest • Liver Lips McGrowl • Shaker • Wendell • Gomer • Teddi Barra • The Big Bad Wolf • Li'l Bad Wolf • The Three Little Pigs • Chip and Dale • Bambi • Evil Witch • Owl • Madam Mim Others: King Sun Organizations Rabbit Tales • Finest King Carrots • Mugg & Bean Coffee • Moving & Storage Company • Hercules Oats • Quilted Northern • Dry Goods • Provisions • Chattanooga Plow Comp. • Critter Elixir Objects Muskrat Moonshine Songs Original songs:Song of the South • That's What Uncle Remus Said • Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah • Who Wants to Live Like That? • Let the Rain Pour Down • How Do You Do? • Sooner or Later • Everybody's Got a Laughing Place • All I Want Splash Mountain:Burrow's Lament • Little Brown Jug • Shortenin' Bread • Polly Wolly Doodle • Froggy Went a Courtin' • Shoo Fly (Don't Bother Me) • Goober Peas • Camptown Races • Dixie • Swing Low Sweet Chariot • When Johnny Comes Marching Home • Comin' Round the Mountain • Ol' MacDonald • Skip to My Lou • Freight Train Blues • Wabash Cannonball • St. James Infirmary • Tennessee Waltz • Show Me the Way to Go Home • Alabamy Bound • Down By the Riverside • My Old Kentucky Home • Blue Moon if Kentucky • Blue Ridge Mountain Blues • Carolina Moon • Deep River Blues • Goodnight Ladies • Honey Comb • Jailhouse Blues • Old Mill Stream • Salty Dog • Up a Lazy River • Tom Dooley • Oh, Susanna • John Henry • Sixteen Tons • I've Been Working on the Railroad • When the Saints Go Marchin' In • You Are My Sunshine Locations Georgia • Critter Country • Briar Patch • Chick-A-Pin Hill • The Corn Field • The Fishin' Place • Old Mill Pond • The Old Swimmin' Hole • Rainbow Ponds • Rainbow Hollow • The Burrows • Caverns • Doo Dah Landing • Critter Cave • Slippin' Falls • The Barn • Br'er Bear's cave • Catfish Bend • Br'er Terrapin's Home • Br'er Goose's Home • Br'er Gator's Home • Fowler's Cellar • Critter Country • Rufus' Cave • Tackle • Boat Rental • General Store • Dark Room • Pumpkin Patch • Turtle Ranch • Porcu Pines • Camp Alligator Boats Zip-A-Dee Lady See Also Disney Sing Along Songs: Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah • Tar Baby • The Laughing Place