Oddity from Disney - "A Symposium on Popular Songs"

Professor Ludwig von Drake (voiced by Paul Frees) gives a concert of songs he "wrote" from Rag Time, through the Roaring '20's, and ending in the early '60's. While von Drake's segments are cel animation, the songs are portrayed in stop-motion paper cut-out animation, unusual for Disney. The singers are Skip Farrell, Paul Frees, Billy Storm, and Gloria Wood. Words and music by Richard M. & Robert B. Sherman, arranged and conducted by Camarata.





At 4min 23sec, the Professor introduces "Puppy Love Is Here to Stay" performed by Jackie Babylon and his Babylonians.

In reality, the song was performed by Billy Storm,originally released as Buena Vista 403, circa September 1962 seen and heard here from the Walt Disney Production, "Symposium on Popular Songs", released 19 December 1962. Bill Justice did the stop-motion animation. Enjoy!

Dig That Crazy Stephen Foster ala Stan Freberg

In the wake of Stan Freberg's appearance at Comic-Con International in San Diego, here's an oldie, but a goodie: Rock Around Stephen Foster!

Voice Actor/ Writer Craig Crumpton Speaks Out on "Futurama" Pay Dispute

In his blog, Voice Actors in the News, Craig Crumpton has "An Open Letter to ‘Variety’ and ‘The Hollywood Reporter’" concerning the discrepancies between what the voice actors of "Futurama" were asking and what Fox was offering.

For an enlightening read, go here.

Interviews with June Foray & Paul Winchell on the passing of Hal J. Smith

Actor, Hal J. Smith, died on January 28, 1994, and while he was best known as Otis Campbell, the town drunk on The Andy Griffith Show,Smith was also a voice actor.



He voiced Goofy after Pinto Colvig died and provided the voices of Owl and Winnie-the-Pooh in many of the shorts and feature films. He provided the voices for many characters in Davey and Goliath,he did voices for The Flintstones, and he was the voice of Elmer Fudd after Arthur Q. Bryan died. He reprised his role as Owl and voiced Winnie The Pooh in the Disney Channel's Welcome to Pooh Corner television series to replace longtime actor Sterling Holloway. In 1988's, The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh TV series, Smith again played Owl and sometimes he alternated voicing Winnie the Pooh with fellow voice actor, Jim Cummings. In 1991, Smith provided the voice of Philippe the horse in Disney's Beauty and the Beast movie.

What follows are interviews with June Foray and Paul Winchell concerning Smith.

The Queen Speaks

"Did You Grow Up With Me, Too? - The Autobiography of June Foray" has hit the bookstores (or at least Amazon.Com) and will be promoted this weekend by June Foray at Comic-Con International in San Diego. You can find the book here.

Cut! Acting's Middle Class Losing Income.

I was listening to NPR and heard Madeleine Brand interviewing Beth Broderick (Aunt Zelda on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch) about how the economy has affected the acting profession. What would you do if you had your pay cut by 4/5ths? To read more or listen to the interview, go here.

Ken Levine has a few comments on actors communicating with writers.

I just finished reading Ken Levine's "Actors: How to give notes to writers" and thought it worthwhile reading, not only for the subjects mentioned, but also for those day-to-day encounters we all experience. Read it here.

Warming up before a recording session

Speaking at PodCamp London, Stephanie Ciccarelli, co-founder of Voices.com, shares tips on caring for your voice and preparing for a recording session.

Memoir of the Queen - June Foray

It looks like we'll soon be able to read the memories of June Foray, the undisputed Queen of Cartoons. According to Mark Evanier's blog, News From Me, the autobiography goes to press this week. With help from Evanier and noted animation historian, Earl Kress, Foray's book promises to be a blockbuster for the voice acting community. Foray will be signing her book at the upcoming Comic-Con International in San Diego where it has been rumored she'll be on a panel with her old friend, the legendary Stan Freberg.

The Genus of Daws Butler

I find myself thinking about Daws Butler a great deal these days. Here's what people who knew him personally had to say about the voice acting innovator.