The American frontier comprises the geography, history, folklore, and cultural expression of life in the forward wave of American westward expansion since the colonial era. Enormous popular attention in the media focuses on the second half of the 19th century, a period sometimes called the Old West, or the Wild West. As defined by Hine and Faragher, "frontier history tells the story of the creation and defense of communities, the use of the land, the development of markets, and the formation of states." They explain, "It is a tale of conquest, but also one of survival, persistence, and the merging of peoples and cultures that gave birth and continuing life to America." Through treaties with foreign nations and native peoples, political compromise, technological innovation, military conquest, establishment of law and order, and the great migrations of foreigners, the United States expanded from coast to coast (Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean), fulfilling advocates' belief in Manifest Destiny. In securing and managing the West, the U.S. federal government greatly expanded its powers, as the nation evolved from an agrarian society to an industrialized nation. First promoting settlement and exploitation of the land, by the end of the 19th century the federal government assumed stewardship of the remaining open spaces. As the American frontier passed into history, the myths of the west took firm hold in the imagination of Americans and foreigners alike.

Walter Elias "Walt" Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O. Disney, he was co-founder of Walt Disney Productions, which later became one of the best-known motion picture producers in the world. The corporation is now known as The Walt Disney Company and had an annual revenue of approximately US$36 billion in the 2010 financial year.

Disney is particularly noted as a film producer and a popular showman, as well as an innovator in animation and theme park design. He and his staff created some of the world's most well-known fictional characters including Mickey Mouse, for whom Disney himself provided the original voice. During his lifetime he received four honorary Academy Awards and won 22 Academy Awards from a total of 59 nominations, including a record four in one year, giving him more awards and nominations than any other individual in history. Disney also won seven Emmy Awards and gave his name to the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in the U.S., as well as the international resorts Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland.

Dr. Busker is a musician based in England. He is often billed as The Last Victorian Pub Pianist, and is well known in the world of preservation and steam rallies, at which he is a regular performer.

The original Victorian pub pianists would keep a steady stream of tunes and songs flowing, while the Pub Landlord kept a steady stream of beer flowing in the pianist's direction. Dr. Busker is keen to continue the tradition and often plays in pubs and bars in exchange for free beer from the Landlord and the chance to pass the hat round at the end of the session. Dr. Busker also plays the accordion (sometimes called the squeezebox). The latter, complete with cannon of John Hampden's Regiment of the English Civil War Society, is featured on the album Thrashing Machine (see below).

Dr. Busker performs a wide range of music, including folk songs, ballads, sea-shanties, rugby songs and music hall songs, as well as his own compositions. One such composition "Mister Dull And Boring" caused an outcry in Milton Keynes, and local residents complained to the local BBC Radio radio station, claiming that their new town was anything but "dull and boring" as the song suggested. A large proportion of the songs composed by Dr. Busker can potentially be perceived as 'risque' and offensive, as they are commonly based on taboo subjects and can contain illicit lyrics. For example, the 'Lobster Song' found on the Pandamonium album, mixes a traditionally folk sound with crude and bawdy lyrics;