The River Belle Chorus are a group of characters who appeared in defunct attractions America Sings and Splash Mountain.
Description[]
The River Belle Chorus was a choir of anthropomorphic animals active during the 19th century. The group was known to perform on the Zip-A-Dee Lady, a riverboat which made harbour in Doo-Dah Landing along the rivers of Chick-a-Pin Hill. The chorus consisted of several hens, foxes, a sow, three can-can dancing geese, "Big Daddy" the pig providing pipe-organ accompaniment, and the singing guitarist dog Tex Ranger. Hen members of the chorus are sometimes depicted as singing while playing tambourines. The group would also sometimes be accompanied by a group of singing bull-frogs.
Members[]
- Big Daddy: A pig on the Zip-a-Dee Lady who plays the pipe-organ for choral accompaniment.
- Can-Can Geese:
- Foxes:
- Hens:
- Showgirl Pig:
- Tex Ranger:
History[]
Background[]
The River Belle Chorus was active during the 19th century. After Br'er Rabbit outsmarted the predators Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear in his attempt to leave home, the River Belle Chorus performed "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" in Doo-Dah Landing as part of a celebration to welcome Br'er Rabbit back home. During this event, the chorus sang alongside the Swamp Boys, Br'er Raccoon & Porky Pine, and the Collegiate Quartet.
Development history[]
The River Belle Chorus and its respective characters were designed by animator Marc Davis for extinct Tomorrowland attraction, America Sings. The singing for the characters were provided by the Gwen Lightner Group, the Bill Cole Group, and Jewel Hall.
After the attraction shut down, they were amongst the many animatronic characters repurposed for Splash Mountain, an attraction based on the infamously racist 1946 Disney film, The Song of the South. The bull-frogs which the chorus performed alongside were moved to different portions of the attraction, while other characters from the attraction like Tex Ranger were added.
In the 2020s, Splash Mountain shut down in American parks to be replaced by Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
Appearances[]
America Sings[]
The group appeared in the Going South sequence, singing "Down By the Riverside".
Disneyland Railroad[]
The River Belle Chorus could be seen and heard singing while the railroad passed through Splash Mountain.
Disney's Dreams On Parade: Moving On[]
Hens from the chorus appeared in this parade.
Splash Mountain[]
The River Belle Chorus appeared in the finale scene, aboard the Zip-a-Dee Lady singing "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah".
Trivia[]
- Less characters appeared on the Magic Kingdom's version of the chorus.
- In the Disneyland version of the attraction, there was a sign on the side of the boat which read, " Playbill - Capt. Andy Presents Song of the South in 3 Acts". This referenced the infamous 1946 Disney film Song of the South of which Splash Mountain was based.
- Various anthropomorphic foxes appear in the chorus, similarly to Br'er Fox. It is unclear why they wouldn't have similar predatory nature to Br'er Rabbit.
- The Country Bears are another animal-composed musical group associated with Frontierland and Critter Country.