Prospector

Not to be confused with "Stinky Pete" from the "Toy Story" franchise who is also known as "The Prospector".

The Prospector^[1] is a character from the defunct America Sings attraction at Disneyland.

History[]

Background[]

The prospector is an anthropomorphic mongrel^[2] who sings the song "Who Shot the Hole in My Sombrero?". He is shown to be riding on a mule while singing a song about who exactly shot a hole in his hat caused by an unknown outlaw who fired a bullet on his hat to receive a hole.

Development[]

The prospector was created in the former America Sings attraction which opened on June 29, 1974 at Disneyland where he appeared in the attraction's second act focused on the Old West. America Sings later closed on April 10, 1988 where the Weasel and the rest of the animatronics would be moved to Splash Mountain in order to retheme the former "America Sings" building to "Innoventions". However, while the prospector himself does not appear in the attraction, his mule can be seen during the "How Do You Do?" sequence. The reason why the prospector didn't appear in Splash Mountain is unknown. But he did appeared on the opening day poster for the attraction.

Appearances[]

America Sings[]

The prospector appears singing the musical number "Who Shot the Hole in My Sombrero?", where he is seen sitting on his mule while singing a song about an unknown culprit who fired a hole in his sombrero. After singing, the Weasel pops out of a TNT barrel next to him just before the attraction loops into the "End of Billy the Kid" sequence performed by the Boothill Boys.

Gallery[]

The Prospector in America Sings. (1974-1989)

The Prospector's photo cameo in Professor Barnaby Owl's Photographic Art Studio.

Concept art of the Prospector by Marc Davis.

Second concept art of the Prospector with a weasel by Marc Davis.

Concept art of the Prospector next to Colonel Houndstoothe in Splash Mountain.

Concept art of the Prospector on a geyser, next to Br'er Donkey in Rainbow Hollow in Splash Mountain by John Stone.

The Prospector on the Splash Mountain opening day poster.

Trivia[]

• Originally, the prospector was inserted with a Mexican accent during an early version of the recording of the song "Who Shot the Hole in My Sombrero?", but the press didn't like it and ordered a change for the accent. The song was re-recorded in the final version of the attraction where he speaks in a Texan cowboy accent.
  • Despite this, the audio track of the prospector speaking with a Mexican accent still exists on the 1974 LP recording of the attraction.

References[]

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