By now, you must have heard that this little film has entered the public domain. That’s right, this Mickey Mouse film Steamboat Willie, is now available for anyone to use as they see fit.
This one, in case you haven’t really sat through it.
But here’s the big secret. Why is it called “Steamboat Willie?” Who’s Willie? Is Mickey Mouse supposed to be Willie? Willie explain this at some point in the blog?
Okay. The reference to “Steamboat Willie” actually occurs from a 1911 recording by singer Arthur Collins. That song, “Steamboat Bill,” was quite popular in its day.
And this isn’t the first time that the whole “Steamboat” motif was made into film. Silent film star Buster Keaton produced a full-length motion picture, Steamboat Bill Jr., which contains one of his most iconic movie stunts – the one where the facade of a house falls on him, with only an open window sparing him from death. Scroll forward to 59:00 of the video below and you can see that scene.
Just a little piece of movie history trivia for your movie history nerds out there. :D
Chuck The Writer 
Collins’ song went to #2 on whatever charts they had back in 1911.
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