The Alligator King



"The Alligator King" is an animated segment from 1971, in which an alligator king with seven sons is feeling mighty down and offers his crown to whichever son cheers him up.

The first six sons try to cheer him up with gifts that end up doing more harm than good. The seventh son, however, helps the king up after he falls down and is awarded the crown, which is revealed to have been purchased "on sale at a discount store" for seven cents.

The song not only teaches about the number 7, but that helping others is more important than material things.

This segment was animated, written, produced, performed, and directed by William "Bud" Luckey.

In a Sesame Street storyline in the 1990s, Celina has her dance class perform an "Alligator King" pageant, with Big Bird in the title role.

Album Releases

 * The Count Counts

Video Releases

 * Elmo's Sing-Along Guessing Game
 * Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration!
 * The Great Numbers Game
 * Sesame Street: Old School, Volume 1