I was at my Parents' house Sunday and my Mom came out with an old book that her Dad used to read to her when she was a child back in the 1950's. It was called "Uncle Remus Stories" or something like that, and when I saw the cover, I said "hey, it's the people from Splash Mountain!"
I have seen people here mention how Splash Mountain is based on "Song of the South", but what you might not realize (at least I didn't) is that Song of the South was an animated adaptation of the Uncle Remus stories, which were, as many "Disney" stories, "Disneyized" adaptations of older stories. Just as Disney adopted and adapted many of the old Grimm's Fairy Tales stories, apparently, the Brer Rabbit stories originated long before Disney, but Disney adopted them and created the character of "Uncle Remus". Uncle Remus was a fictional character who was reading the Brer Rabbit stories to some of the local children. He was a black former slave and the books are written as if he is reading these stories to the children. Since he is a former slave from the old south, he talks like the uneducated black slaves of the day, such as pronouncing "teeth" as "teef", etc. Therefore, the stories are hard to read...almost like trying to read a book written in old Shakespearean English. I would like to get a copy of that book just to say I have it and to be able to read it to my son, which is why my Mom dug hers out. We have a 4 month old son and Mom wants to read it to him as her Dad read to her. Her copy is all worn out around the binding and looks and feels as if it could fall apart at any time. Unfortunately, in our ultra-sensitive, politically correct society, these stories would no doubt be considered "racist" which is surely why I have never seen it at bookstores. Is anyone else familiar with "Uncle Remus" and know where I can get a copy?
I post this for two reasons. First, because I thought it an interesting bit of Disney Trivia...something that you all might find interesting if you aren't aware of it already. Secondly, to inquire if anyone knows where I can get a copy.
I have seen people here mention how Splash Mountain is based on "Song of the South", but what you might not realize (at least I didn't) is that Song of the South was an animated adaptation of the Uncle Remus stories, which were, as many "Disney" stories, "Disneyized" adaptations of older stories. Just as Disney adopted and adapted many of the old Grimm's Fairy Tales stories, apparently, the Brer Rabbit stories originated long before Disney, but Disney adopted them and created the character of "Uncle Remus". Uncle Remus was a fictional character who was reading the Brer Rabbit stories to some of the local children. He was a black former slave and the books are written as if he is reading these stories to the children. Since he is a former slave from the old south, he talks like the uneducated black slaves of the day, such as pronouncing "teeth" as "teef", etc. Therefore, the stories are hard to read...almost like trying to read a book written in old Shakespearean English. I would like to get a copy of that book just to say I have it and to be able to read it to my son, which is why my Mom dug hers out. We have a 4 month old son and Mom wants to read it to him as her Dad read to her. Her copy is all worn out around the binding and looks and feels as if it could fall apart at any time. Unfortunately, in our ultra-sensitive, politically correct society, these stories would no doubt be considered "racist" which is surely why I have never seen it at bookstores. Is anyone else familiar with "Uncle Remus" and know where I can get a copy?
I post this for two reasons. First, because I thought it an interesting bit of Disney Trivia...something that you all might find interesting if you aren't aware of it already. Secondly, to inquire if anyone knows where I can get a copy.