April 08, 2020

SATURDAY MORNING MASTERS: JANET WALDO


JANET WALDO
(February 4, 1919-June 12, 2016)

Notable Roles: Pearl Slaghoople, Libby Freeman, Lana Lang, Granny Sweet, Nancy, Penelope Pitstop, Judy Jetson, Josie McCoy, Morticia Addams, Mrs. Anders, Scooby Dee, Princess, Susan, Shanna the She-Devil, Zerona, Mayda Munny, Hogatha


Waldo got her start with bit parts and small roles in films beginning in 1938; although in 1941 she was the leading lady in three Westerns: Silver Stallion, The Bandit Trail and Land of the Open Range. Her big break came when she joined Cecil B. DeMille’s Lux Radio Theatre, leading to a radio career topped by the starring role in Meet Corliss Archer. Her likeness was used for the Meet Corliss Archer comic book published by Fox Feature Syndicate in 1948; the first time fans got any visual indication of what the character looked like. Waldo made the transition to television in 1952 with guest-starring roles on I Love Lucy, The Phil Silvers Show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (reprising the role she played on the radio version) and others. She would make an appearance in another Lucille Ball series, The Lucy Show, playing Lucy’s sister in 1963. That year, she began her career as a voice actor in animation as supporting characters in Hanna-Barbera’s Loopy de Loop and Johnny Quest. She assumed the recurring role of Pearl Slaghoople, Wilma Flintstone’s (Jean Vander Pyl) mother, in The Flintstones franchise from Verna Felton in 1964. She also had a starring role in the short-lived sitcom Valentine’s Day as Libby Freeman. By 1966, Waldo had edged out of appearing on camera in favor of a voice career, primarily working for Hanna-Barbera; although she did do voices for Ruby-Spears ProductionsThe Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show and The Puppy’s Further Adventures, Marvel ProductionsSpider-Man and His Amazing Friends, and anime dubs such as the Princess in Battle of the Planets. Her most recognizable characters included Judy Jetson from The Jetsons franchise, Penelope Pitstop from Wacky Races and its spin-off, and Josie McCoy from Josie and the Pussycats and its spin-off. Waldo continued acting until the new millennium, making a few documentary appearances afterward. Waldo died in 2016 from an inoperable brain tumor. At the time of her death, Waldo was the last surviving member of the original Jetsons cast.


Saturday Credits:
The Secret Squirrel Show
The Atom Ant Show
The New Adventures of Superman
The Space Kidettes
Shazzan
Fantastic Four (1967)
Wacky Races
The Perils of Penelope Pitstop
Josie and the Pussycats
Help!...It’s the Hair Bear Bunch!
The Roman Holidays
The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan
Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space
Around the World in 80 Days
The New Scooby-Doo Movies
The Addams Family (1973)
Inch High, Private Eye
Jeannie
Hong Kong Phooey
These Are the Days
The New Tom & Jerry Show
Clue Club
Jabberjaw
CB Bears
Yogi’s Space Race
The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour
The New Fred and Barney Show
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show
Heathcliff (1980)
The All-New Popeye Hour
ABC Weekend Specials (episodes)
Richie Rich
Thundarr the Barbarian
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
The Smurfs
The Gary Coleman Show
The Puppy’s Further Adventures
Rubik, the Amazing Cube
The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show
Pac-Man
Mister T
The Dukes
Saturday Supercade
Alvin & the Chipmunks
The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries
Dink, the Little Dinosaur
Tom & Jerry Kids Show
Droopy, Master Detective

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