The Headless Horseman's Laugh

Walt Disney's The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad has been a Halloween staple since early childhood, when I would fast forward through the Wind in the Willows segment so I could get to the "good stuff"... The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

An aspect of this adaptation of Irving's original tale that thrilled me as a child is the introduction of the Headless Horseman by way of his terrifying, ghostly cackle.  IMDB credits Billy Bletcher as the voice actor behind the Horseman's laugh.  In my mind, there is no other evil laugh that comes anywhere close to this one.

Listen to a collection of the laughs below (0:30). The first half is without echo, but the second half is how they are heard in the film.

The Old Bridge

     Over a deep black part of the stream, not far from the church, was formerly thrown a wooden bridge; the road that led to it, and the bridge itself, were thickly shaded by overhanging trees, which cast a gloom about it, even in the daytime; but occasioned a fearful darkness at night. This was one of the favorite haunts of the headless horseman; and the place where he was most frequently encountered.

     - Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Art by Vivien Mildenberger

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: 200th Anniversary

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving was originally published in 1820.  Though Covid impeded a larger celebration in 2020, a small gathering was held at Irving's grave this weekend to celebrate the story's 200th birthday.

Click below for @visitsleepyhollow's post. Cake by @bakehouse.us, created for the historic occasion.