Movie Musings: Disney and More

Adventures from Odyssey to Disney

If you grew up in the ‘90s, like I did, and went to church you might have at some point either listened to the radio series or watched the video series Adventures in Odyssey from Focus on the Family. Focus was founded in Southern California, but based in Colorado Springs, CO. Both programs told stories about faith in the Lord through the adventures of some kids who frequented an arcade and ice cream shop called “Whit’s End.” The continues, and now in its 32nd year. The show featured characters who were brought to life by talented voice actors, but, interestingly, many of those voice actors, in addition to lending their voices to “Odyssey,” also did voices for Disney!

• Hal Smith originated the role of John Avery “Whit” Whitaker from 1987 until his death in 1994. Before his unfortunate death, Smith explained that role of Whit was one of the most rewarding these he’s ever done in his life, and that Whit was also one of his all-time favorite roles. Smith was also generous enough to help fellow other actors at Disney be cast in “Odyssey.” Previously, Smith originated the role of Owl in the “Winnie the Pooh,” franchise at Disney at 1966 and continued to voice that character from 1966-1991. He was cast as Owl around the time he wrapped up eight seasons of playing his trademark role of Otis Campbell on The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1966). Smith also voiced Winnie the Pooh himself for nine years after “Pooh,” originator Sterling Holloway retired in 1977. Smith voiced Belle’s horse Philippe in Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Jafar’s horse in Aladdin (1992) as well. After his unfortunate passing, in the role of Whit was assumed by Paul Herlinger, who portrayed the character from 1996-2008. Whit is currently voiced by Andre Stojka, who coincidentally is Disney’s current voice of Owl in “Winnie the Pooh.”
• Will Ryan has voiced a variety of characters on “Odyssey,” though his best known role is that of brainiac Eugene Meltsner. On “Odyssey,” he also voiced Harlow Doyle, Officer David Harley, and over 100 others. For Disney, Will Ryan is the current voice of Willie the Giant, (the Giant from Fun and Fancy Free (1947)). He began voicing the character in 1983 for Mickey’s Christmas Carol, in which he also voiced the villainous Pete. Ryan also voiced Tigger, Rabbit, and was the singing voice of Eeyore in the Disney Channel Series Welcome to Pooh Corner (1983-1986), which also featured the voice of “Odyssey,” co-star, Hal Smith. In addition to lending his voice to shows, Ryan, who is also a gifted musician, co-wrote music for a Disney album called “Goin’ Quackers,” and has done voice-work for Disney Park Attractions, i.e. Gepetto at Pinocchio’s Daring Journey attraction and the Weasel at Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin, both of which are located at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland. Besides all of his Disney roles, Will Ryan also voiced Digit the cockroach in An American Tail (1986) and Petrie the Flyer in The Land Before Time (1988), both of which were directed by former Disney animator, Don Bluth.
• Katie Leigh was cast in the role of “Odyssey” youth Connie Kendall in 1987, even though in reality, Leigh was a legal adult at the time. For Disney, Leigh provided the voice of Dumbo the Flying Elephant on the Disney Channel Series Dumbo’s Circus (1985) which also featured the voices of Hal Smith and Will Ryan, as well as Jim Cummings, who voiced the character of Darkwing Duck in Darkwing Duck (1991-1992), in which Leigh voiced the character of Honker Muddlefoot. Prior to that show, Leigh, Cummings, and Ryan also lent their voices to Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985-1991). Outside of Disney, Leigh is also known for being the speaking voice of the Maharaja in Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and she also originated the role of Baby Rowlf in the CBS Series Baby Muppets (1984-1991).
• Alan Young was hired in 1994 to provide the voice of Whit’s college buddy, Jack Allen, in 1994. Long before he was cast in that role, however, he was already a Disney Veteran for voicing Donald Duck’s greedy uncle Scrooge McDuck, a role he began voicing in 1974 and continued voicing till his death in 2016. He also made a brief appearance in the film The Cat From Outer Space (1978), and later voiced Hiram Flaversham, father of Olivia Flaversham in The Great Mouse Detective (1986). Young also helped write the Disneyland Records 1974 Album An Adaptation of Dickens’ Christmas Carol, performed by the Walt Disney Players, where he voiced both Scrooge McDuck, and ironically Mickey Mouse! Besides his Disney roles, one might also recognize him as Mr. Ed’s Jockey, Wilbur Post from Mister Ed (1961-1996) or from The Time Machine (1960), and he also made a cameo in the remake which was released in 2002.           

These four actors are talented in everything that they do and the characters they voice are enduring because of them. I’m sure we can call agree that both Disney and Focus on the Family were lucky to have hired them.