Tony Beaver

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Tony Beaver is a character in several tall tales, often in tandem with stories of Paul Bunyan. [1] Beaver was a West Virginian woodsman located up Eel River, often described as a cousin of Paul Bunyan, and champion griddle skater of the Southern United States. [2] The stories appeared in print in the early 20th century and were later compiled by Mary E. Cober. [3]

"Tony Beaver" is also the title of a folk operetta created by Josef Marais in 1952 with Max Berton writing the libretto and was published by G. Schirmer Inc. [4] This 60 minute, one act folk opera has a West Virginia hillbilly theme created by Marais to have a country music sound. [5] "Tony Beaver" was first performed at the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts, Idyllwild, CA, in 1955.

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References

  1. Brown, Charles Edward (1930). Paul Bunyan and Tony Beaver tales. C. E. Brown
  2. Shay, Frank (1930). Here's audacity!: American legendary heroes. The Macaulay company
  3. Fischer, Marjorie (November 29, 1953). Busy Beaver; The Remarkable Story of Tony Beaver, Montana. (review). New York Times
  4. https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/media/e0pfwxcy/opera-ballet-catalogue-rev-2017.pdf
  5. "Music: South African Country". Time. 1953-02-02. ISSN   0040-781X . Retrieved 2023-11-13.