Mister Ed’s Jockey

On January 4th, 1958, the CBS Network began airing a new sit-com entitled Mister Ed (1958-1966). The show centered upon the misadventures of a talking horse named Mr. Ed and his human friend, Wilbur Post, portrayed by Alan Young. Young was chosen for the part of Wilbur Post by producer George Burns simply because according to Burns, Young “just seemed like the sort of guy a horse would talk to.” The show won a Golden Globe for Best TV Show: Comedy, in its 5th season. 

Young was born on November 19th, 1919, in North Shields, England to Scottish parents. The family relocated to Edinburgh, Scotland when Young was a toddler and then to West Vancouver, Canada when he was 6 years old. As a high school student, he started his own Comedy radio show on the CBC. He was discovered on the show by an American agent who brought him to New York City where he appeared on the Philco Radio Hall of Fame. That led to his television debut, The Alan Young Show (1950-1953), which aired on NBC. Prior to that show, Young also appeared in the movies, Margie (1946), Chicken Every Sunday (1949).

Alan Young was hired in the 1970s by the Walt Disney Animation Studios to lend his Scottish-American accent to voice the character of Scrooge McDuck, one of Donald Duck’s uncles. His first performance as Scrooge McDuck was on the Disneyland Record: An Adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, performed by the Walt Disney Players in 1974. In that album, he also provided the voice of Mickey Mouse and Merlin the Wizard from The Sword in the Stone (1963). The album spawned the creation of the Oscar-nominated short, Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983). Young continued to voice the character of Scrooge McDuck for the animated series DuckTales (1987-1990), until his death on May 19th, 2016 at the age of 96. He also was the voice-acting mentor of Russi Taylor who provided the voices of Huey, Dewey, and Louie Duck on the show. (Russi Taylor is also the current voice of Minnie Mouse. Her late husband, Wayne Allwine, was the former voice of Mickey Mouse.) 

In addition to Scrooge McDuck, Alan Young also starred in the live-action Disney film, The Cat from Outer Space (1978) and lended his voice to the animated film, The Great Mouse Detective (1986) as Hiram Flaversham. Young also lent his voice to one episode of the series TaleSpin (1990-1991) as the turtle, Dr. Cooper.

In between his roles as Wilbur Post and Scrooge McDuck, Alan Young also acted in the 1960 film adaptation of H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine. He also did a cameo in a 2002 remake of The Time Machine, which starred Guy Pearce and was directed by Simon Wells, the great-grandson of H.G. Wells. Young also provided the voice of Jack Allen, one of John Avery Whitaker/“Whit’s” good friends on the Christian radio series, Adventures in Odyssey (1987-present). Doctor Who actor (2005-present), David Tennant will succeed Alan Young in the role of Scrooge McDuck for the upcoming Disney XD “sequel” series DuckTales scheduled to air in Summer 2017.

Alan Young will forever be remembered as Wilbur Post on “Mister Ed,” and the as the original voice of Scrooge McDuck. His distinctive voice defined those characters in the minds of audiences.  

Tyrus Wong: The real-life Bambi

On August 21st, 1942, 75 years ago, Walt Disney Animation Studios released Bambi. The film garnered three Academy Award Nominations for Best Original Score, Best Original Song, “Love Is a Song,” and Best Sound and was a critical hit, but a commercial failure. Today, however, it is regarded as a true Disney classic thanks to the many talented artists who worked on the film. One of the film’s artists was Tyrus Wong, who passed away on December 30th, 2016 at the age of 106.

Born in China on October 25th, 1910, Wong immediately developed an interest for drawing and was encouraged by his father to pursue it. In the 1920s, due to the deficient economy in China at the time, Wong and his father relocated to the United States, leaving his mother and sister behind. Just like Bambi, Wong unfortunately would never see his mother again.       

After graduating the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, California in the 1930s, Wong’s father passed away. From 1936-1938, Wong worked for the WPA (Works Progress Administration) making paintings for libraries and other public spaces. In 1938, he found employment at the Walt Disney Animation Studios. He was hired as an “in-betweener,” which means an artist that creates thousands intermediate drawing that help bring the animated sequences to life.

Not long after Tyrus Wong was employed at Disney, he learned that the studio was working on adapting the novel Bambi: A Life in the Woods by: Felix Salten for the screen. As he took to heart what Walt Disney told all of his artists, “Don’t animate thoughts, animate feelings,” and with inspiration from the landscape paintings of the Song Dynasty (960-1279 A.D.), Wong created atmospherical watercolors and pastel paintings for the film that astonished. Because of his good work, Wong was promoted by Disney to the job of inspirational sketch artist for the film.

Not long after “Bambi,” finished production the Walt Disney Studio strike occurred and Tyrus Wong was unfortunately fired from the studio. Wong was one of the very few artists who had not been a part of the strike, but he was simply let go of amidst all the other artists who had grown to resent Walt Disney which led to the strike in the first place. He was hired in 1942 by Warner Bros. Studios where he did concept art for Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Around the World in 80 Days (1956) and The Wild Bunch (1969). He retired in 1968.

Surprisingly, Tyrus Wong received no literal recognition for his work until many years after his retirement in the 1990s. In addition to being a Hollywood artist/painter, he was also a printmaker, calligrapher, greeting-card illustrator, and kite maker. He was awarded the Disney Legend Award in 2001. His work continues to be influential at Disney even today. It is extraordinary that just like Bambi the deer, Tyrus Wong was orphaned as a young man, and suffered a great deal of other trials in life but in spite of all those trials, became a incredibly remarkable artist.    

Robert Stevenson: An Actor’s Director

When the Walt Disney Studios first started producing live-action films in the 1950s, Walt  began hiring a single director, for each film rather than small groups of directors which had been his practice for animated films. Byron Haskin directed the studio’s very first live-action film, Treasure Island (1950). In 1957, two years after the opening of Disneyland in 1955, Walt Disney hired Robert Stevenson to direct the feature film Johnny Tremain (1957). Stevenson wound up being one of Walt Disney’s most-frequently used directors, directing a total of 19 films for the Walt Disney Studios, including “Tremain.”

The same year as “Tremain,” Robert Stevenson directed Old Yeller (1957), which was released on Christmas Day. He also directed a total of 26 episodes for Walt Disney’s television series, Disneyland (1957-1982) and 3 episodes of Zorro (1957-1959). Robert Stevenson’s next film for Disney would be Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959). He directed Kidnapped (1960) the following year, which he also wrote the screenplay for. After “Kidnapped,” Stevenson directed The Absent-Minded Professor, in 1961 and it’s sequel, Son of Flubber, in 1963. In both “Flubber,” movies, Stevenson directed Disney Legend/child star Tommy Kirk, whom he also directed in “Yeller,” The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964) and The Monkey’s Uncle (1965). In between the “Flubber” films, Robert Stevenson directed In Search of the Castaways (1962) with other Disney Legend/child star Hayley Mills. He would reunite with Mills when he directed her in That Darn Cat! (1965), released the same year as “Monkey’s Uncle.”

The same year as “Misadventures of Merlin Jones,” Walt Disney assigned Robert Stevenson to direct Mary Poppins (1964). This was Stevenson’s very first attempt at making a musical and it earned him an Academy Award Nomination for Best Director. His guidance helped Julie Andrews earn the Best Actress Oscar for her performance as the lead and audience favorite in “Poppins.”

After “Poppins,” “Monkey’s Uncle,” and “Darn Cat,” Stevenson directed The Gnome-Mobile (1967) which reunited him with the children from “Poppins,” Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber, as well as Ed Wynn, who portrayed Uncle Albert in “Poppins,” and Tom Lowell who played Canoe in “Darn Cat.” (Ed Wynn also played Mr. Hofstedder in “Darn Cat.) His next film was Blackbeard’s Ghost (1968), which reunited him with Dean Jones from “Darn Cat,” Elsa Lanchester from “Poppins,” and Elliot Reid from the “Flubber,” movies. The same year as “Blackbeard’s Ghost,” Robert Stevenson directed The Love Bug (1968)—his third collaboration with Dean Jones, as well as his second collaboration with David Tomlinson who played Mr. George Banks in “Poppins.” Stevenson also directed Tomlinson in Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971). 

Next for Stevenson was Herbie Rides Again (1974), the first sequel to “The Love Bug,” which reunited him with Keenan Wynn, who reprised his role as Alonzo P. Hawk from the “Flubber,” movies. The Island at the Top of the World (1974) and One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975) followed and “Dinosaurs,” reunited him with Peter Ustinov from “Blackbeard’s Ghost.” His nineteenth and final film for the Walt Disney Studios was The Shaggy D.A. (1976), the sequel to The Shaggy Dog (1959). “Shaggy D.A.” was his fourth and final collaboration with Dean Jones and Keenan Wynn.

Robert Stevenson remains the only director in the history of the Walt Disney Studios to receive a Best Director Oscar Nomination. He unfortunately lost the Oscar to George Cukor for My Fair Lady (1964). Despite that, “Poppins,” continues to be one of Disney’s most highly regarded films for many reasons, including his direction. His directing skills helped bring many beautiful stories to life, and he directed many of the actors who have been awarded the “Disney Legend Award” today because of films they made under his supervision. Robert Stevenson truly was an actor’s director!   

Rita Moreno: Película-Musical Leyenda (Movie-Musical Legend)

She has performed on Broadway, Television, Film…and even at one of our nation’s presidential inaugurations. She has worked with the likes of Gene Kelly, Natalie Wood, Yul Brynner, George Chakiris, Leslie Nielsen and has appeared under the direction of Michael Curtiz, Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins, Stanley Donen, and Walter Lang. Rosita Dolores Alverio—whom we know better today as Rita Moreno—has had a career in the entertainment industry that has lasted for more than 70 years.

A native of Puerto Rico, Moreno was born on December 11th, 1931. She relocated with her mother to New York in 1936, at the age of 5. There she took up dancing lessons, and made her Broadway debut at the age of 13 in a show called Skydrift. Her performance in the show grabbed the attention of Hollywood talent scouts.

    Moreno made her film debut at the age of 19 in a dramatic film called So Young So Bad (1950). Two years after that, Gene Kelly cast her as Zelda Zanders in Singin’ in the Rain (1952), a film in which Kelly both acted opposite and directed Moreno (along with Stanley Donen). Not long after “Singin’ in the Rain,” production began on the film adaptation of Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s The King and I (1956). When the film’s producers were casting for the role of Tuptim the slave in the film, Moreno went only for a test, but impressed the producers so much, that she wound up being cast in the part. Moreno said in a later interview, that France Nuyen was in consideration for the role, but didn’t get it because she wasn’t under contract to 20th Century Fox. (Interestingly, Nuyen wound up getting cast as Liat in the film of Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s South Pacific (1958)). The same year as “The King and I,” Moreno starred in the movie-musical, The Vagabond King (1956) starring opposite Kathryn Grayson and Leslie Nielsen, and under the direction of Michael Curtiz (the Oscar-winning director of Casablanca (1942) and White Christmas (1956)). 

In 1961 was cast as Anita in West Side Story (1961)—Jerome Robbins’s and Robert Wise’s film adaptation of Leonard Bernstein’s and Stephen Sondheim’s musical based on “Romeo and Juliet.” Chita Rivera had originated the role on Broadway. (Moreno was also in consideration for the role of Rosie DeLeon in Bye Bye Birdie (1963), a role that Chita Rivera had also originated on Broadway, but Janet Leigh was cast instead.) Moreno’s performance as Anita won her the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. (“West Side Story,” won a total of ten Oscars and three Golden Globes, including Best Picture of 1961 and Best Supporting Actor, George Chakiris, who played Moreno’s love interest, Bernardo).

Nine years after “West Side Story,” in 1970, Moreno returned to Broadway in a musical called Gantry, based on the 1927 book Elmer Gantry and the 1960 film Elmer Gantry. The show closed after one performance, but despite that, Moreno wounded up being cast in the play, The Ritz, in 1975, which won her the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress.        

For Disney/ABC Television, Moreno had bit parts in the series Zorro (1957-1959), The Golden Girls (1985-1992), and Grey’s Anatomy (2005-present). She also did additional voices for the Disney Channel Series Bonkers (1993-1994) and Raw Toonage (1992-1993), which was produced by Disney though it aired on CBS. She played Abuela in the Disney Channel Series Special Agent Oso (2009-2012) and made an Emmy-winning appearance as herself in an episode of The Muppet Show (1976-1981) as well as the television specials The Muppets Go Hollywood (1979) and Best Ever Muppet Moments (2006). She also appeared as herself in the Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular special which aired on television in 1988.

Moreno performed at former President Bill Clinton’s first inauguration in 1993. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President George W. Bush in 2004.

Moreno is one of 13 performers in the entertainment industry to have won an Oscar, Golden Globe, Emmy, and Tony. Otherwise known as the EGOT Club, joining the likes of Mel Brooks, Richard Rodgers, and Audrey Hepburn. Moreno also won a Grammy Award in 1972 in the category of Best Album for Children for The Electric Company Album (1972), which was based on the television show in which she was a regular, The Electric Company (1971-1977).   

Milt Kahl: King of Prince Charmings

Many movies created by Walt Disney Studios are based on “princess stories,” and while not always central to the story, the princess was often accompanied by a prince. “Prince Charming,” as it was often called, became an important part of the success of Disney films, and those characters are exactly what one of Walt Disney’s “Nine Old Men,” Milt Kahl, was known for. Like every animator at Disney, he achieved great versatility as an “animator/actor,” at the studio, animating heroes, sidekicks, and even some classic Disney villains throughout his time at Disney. But he was most famous for his work on the princes.

Milt Kahl grew up in San Francisco, California. He took up drawing as a kid but was unfortunately unable to receive training for it having to drop out of high school at the age of 16 to help provide for his family. He continued drawing through his teens, and after seeing the classic Disney short, The Three Little Pigs (1933), Kahl knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, and was officially employed by Disney the following year in 1934. Milt’s first assignment was animating Mickey Mouse in the short Mickey’s Circus (1936).

It’s been said that an animator’s most difficult assignment is animating human characters, simply because they have to be drawn as they are photographed; more like normal, natural humans-while animal characters don’t. Kahl was admired for this king of work, however, and Disney took advantage of it. Kahl’s first chance to animate a prince was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), along with drawing the forest animals and the dwarfs dancing. He also animated Prince Charming as well as the King, the Grand Duke, and the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella (1950), and Prince Philip, King Hubert, King Stefan, Samson, Goons, and Forrest Animals in Sleeping Beauty (1959).

In addition to his “Prince” assignments, Kahl animated Pinocchio, along with some scenes of Jiminy Cricket and Gepetto in Pinocchio (1940). In between “Snow White,” and “Pinocchio,” Kahl both animated and provided the voice of Ferdinand the Bull in a short that the Disney Studios produced called Ferdinand the Bull (1938). (Walt Disney himself provided the voice of Ferdinand’smother in the short. The short won the Oscar for Best Short Subject, Cartoons.) Kahl also animated Bambi, Flower, and Thumper as adults in Bambi (1942), Alice, the Dodo Bird, and the Flamingos in Alice in Wonderland (1951), Peter Pan and the entire Darling family in Peter Pan (1953), Lady, Tramp, Trusty, and Beaver in Lady and the Tramp (1955). Prior to animating Shere Khan and Medusa, Milt Kahl was the main animator for Roger, Anita, and some scenes with Pongo in 101 Dalmatians (1961), O’Malley the Alley Cat in The Aristocats (1970), Robin Hood, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Little John, and Allan-a-Dale (the rooster) in Robin Hood (1973), and Tigger in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977).     

Throughout his time at Disney, Kahl wanted to animate the villain characters, but dis not get his first villain assignment until The Jungle Book (1967) as the supervising animator for Shere Khan. His second villain assignment wound up being his very last assignment for the studio, when he was named the supervising animator for Madame Medusa in The Rescuers (1977). Kahl based his animation for the character off of his ex-wife, Phyllis Bounds Detiege, who ironically was the niece of Walt Disney’s wife, Lillian Bounds Disney. (Kahl never particularly liked her!). In “Rescuers,” Kahl also animated Mr. Snoops, Penny, Brutus and Nero, and a few scenes with Bernard and Miss Bianca.

Milt Kahl also mentored Brad Bird, 2-time Oscar-winning writer/director of Disney/Pixar’s The Incredibles (2004) and Ratatouille (2007).

Milton “Milt” Erwin Kahl was a true virtuoso at the Walt Disney Studios. His handiwork was foundational to many Disney successes, from animating Mickey Mouse, to forest animals, to princes, and villains. A true master of the art form throughout his career. Kahl’s name may not be known to many Disney fans, but his work is loved by young and old. 

Debbie and Carrie: Mother-Daughter Magic

On December 27th, 2016, Carrie Frances Fisher, best known throughout the world as Princess Leia Organa in the Star Wars film franchise (1977-present), died of a heart attack. A very unfortunate 24 hours later, her mother, legendary movie star Debbie Reynolds, died of a stroke. They were close in death and in life. Likely best friends in their later years, their relationship was rocky at times, but their careers had much in common.

Both Reynolds and Fisher were 20 years old when they made the signature films of their careers: Reynolds in Singin’ in the Rain (1952) and Fisher in Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope (1977). Each of those films went on the be highly regarded in the history of film-“Singin’ in the Rain,” as the ultimate blockbuster movie-musical and “Star Wars,” as a culture-defining phenomenon. Both Reynolds and Fisher made films for the Walt Disney Studios as well: 

Reynolds portrayed Agatha “Aggie” Cromwell in the “Halloweentown,” movie series for the Disney Channel (Halloweentown (1998), Halloweentown 2: Kalabar’s Revenge (2001), Halloweentown High (2004), and Return to Halloweentown (2006)). Reynolds provided the voices of Kim Possible’s grandmother, Nana Possible in the Disney Channel Series, Kim Possible (2002-2007), Great-Great-Grandmommers Whimsical in the Disney XD series, The 7D (2014-present), and Madame in the direct-to-video film Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989). Reynolds also lent her voice to an episode of the Disney XD series, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil (2010-present). She also starred in one episode of ABC's The Golden Girls (1985-1992).

Fisher reprised her trademark role as Princess Leia Organa for Disney/Lucasfilm ltd.’s Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars Episode VIII (2017). In both films she got to act opposite her daughter, Billie Lourd, who portrayed Lieutenant Connix. Archival footage of her saying the word “hope” and a CGI image of herself were used to portray Leia in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Fisher also played Franny Jessup in a telefilm called Sunday Drive (1986) that aired on the program, The Wonderful World of Disney (1954-present) on the ABC Network. Fisher was also a little-known, but much sought-after “script doctor,” and made uncredited rewrites for the screenplay of the Touchstone Pictures film Sister Act (1992).

Both mother and daughter were also accomplished authors. Reynolds published Debbie: My Life in 1988 and Unsinkable: A Memoir in 2012. Fisher published Postcards from the Edge in 1987, which inspired the film of the same name with Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine in 1990, (and for which she which Fisher wrote the screenplay). Just recently, Fisher published The Princess Diarist.

As a team, Reynolds and Fisher both also lent their voices to the “Tales of a Third Grade Nothing,” episode of Family Guy (2008). 

While both Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher had their own, unique career paths, together, they maintained a close relationship until the very end. Their work in films, television, and publishing never ceased to entertain and their legacy will continue to live on for many years to come.

Bob Newhart: What’s-s s-so f-f-funny?

When we think of the term “sit-com legends,” there are many names that come to our minds: Dick Van Dyke, Andy Griffith, Betty White, Lucille Ball, Don Knotts, and many others. Another name that could be included in that list would be Bob Newhart. Having begun his career as a stand-up comedian, Newhart brought laughter into the world with his deadpan humor combined with his slight stammer, transitioning into being the star of successful television shows and movies.

Bob Newhart first had his own television sit-com, The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978). The show earned him a Golden Globe nomination in its first season for his performance as Dr. Robert “Bob” Hartley. Next, Newhart starred in the sit-com Newhart (1982-1990), which earned him four Golden Globe Nominations and three Emmy Nominations for his performance as Dick Loudon. Tom Poston, who co-starred with Newhart in five episodes of “The Bob Newhart Show,” was promoted to a regular on “Newhart.” (Poston would also later marry Suzanne Pleshette, who played Emily Hartley, Bob’s wife, on “The Bob Newhart Show.” Pleshette also did one episode of “Newhart.”)   

When the Walt Disney Studios cast the voice talents for The Rescuers (1977) they originally thought of Walter Matthau as the voice of Bernard the mouse. But when Matthau, for unknown reasons, didn’t go through with it, Disney signed Bob Newhart instead. (Ironically, Newhart starred with Walter Matthau in the movie Little Miss Marker (1990)). Newhart reprised his role as Bernard the mouse for the theatrical sequel, The Rescuers Down Under (1990). He, along with Eva Gabor and Bernard Fox, were the only members of the voice cast from the first film who reprised their roles for the sequel. Gabor voiced Miss Bianca the mouse and Fox voiced the Chairman of the Rescue Aid Society. In “Down Under,” Fox also voiced the mouse doctor who operates on Wilbur the Albatross when he is injured. 

In both the “Rescuers,” movies Bernard acknowledges that he hates to fly, which is true in real life of Bob Newhart. 

  With his stammer and deadpan sense of humor, Bob Newhart has created a legacy of laughter unlike any other performer before him-characters without much charisma or charm, yet lovable nonetheless. His six decades in show business, were built on playing characters that look as though they have no emotions whatsoever on screen-yet somehow he always made us laugh.

In addition to his roles on television and in the “Rescuers,” series, Bob Newhart has also had bit roles in comedy films. He portrayed Tom Halliwell in In & Out (1997), Sid Post in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003), Papa Elf in Elf (2003), and Lou Sherman in Horrible Bosses (2011). He has also had a recurring role as Professor Arthur “Proton” Jeffries on The Big Bang Theory (2007-present), which won him an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. It was his first Emmy, but no doubt well-deserved body of work.