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.

References

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  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 [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ "Music: South African Country". Time. 1953-02-02. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
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