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.