Irving Kaufman - Steamboat Bill (1919)

Steamboat Bill
Words by Ren Shields, music by The Leighton Brothers
Sung by Irving Kaufman
Recorded April 1919
Columbia A2809

Although the story told in this song is entirely fictional, there are many elements that are factual. Mark Twain in his book "Life on the Mississippi" states "the most enjoyable of all races is a steamboat race ..." There was also gambling with the racing of boats on the river and pushing the boilers hard would cause fires to break out on the wooden deck structures. In 1870 the steamboat "Robert E. Lee" raced and beat the "Natchez" between New Orleans and St. Louis in 3 days and 18 hours over a distance of 1154 miles. Only 12 years later, in 1882, a fire would destroy the Robert E Lee. Steamship boiler explosions were not uncommon. In 1865 the riverboat SS Sultana exploded in the the greatest maritime disaster in US history resulting in the loss of 1600 passengers when three of the ship's four boilers exploded and it sank near Memphis.

The title "Steamboat Bill" was an inspiration for "Steamboat Bill Jr." (1928) a feature-length silent film starring Buster Keaton. The same year the Disney cartoon film "Steamboat Willie" was released in which Mickey Mouse whistles this tune. The film is also notable for being one of the first cartoons with synchronized sound.

The lyricist, Ren Shields is probably best know for writing the words to "In The Good Old Summertime."