WILL RYAN DEAD AT 72

 

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He voiced Wishing Well in an episode of The Wuzzles; Slime, Selwyn Quarrel, Cousin McDougall, Wizard Anton, and additional voices in The Smurfs (1981); Chubs in Teen Wolf: The Animated Series; Ogres, Gad and Zook in Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears; McKraven, Webster the Rabbit and additional voices in Garfield and Friends; Mr. Cross Ghost, a Medic Guardian and Voices in The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat; Willie the Giant in Disney’s House of Mouse; and played various characters in various episodes of ABC Weekend Specials, for which also wrote, produced and provided music for an episode. 

35TH ANNIVERSARIES

SATURDAY MORNING MASTERS: BILL SCOTT

BILL SCOTT

(August 12, 1920-November 29, 1985)

Notable Roles: Bullwinkle J. Moose, Mr. Peabody, Dudley Do-Right, George of the Jungle, Super Chicken, Tom Slick, Fillmore Bear, moosel, Gruffi Gummi, Sir Tuxford, Toadwart

Scott’s career began during WWII when he worked in the US Army’s First Motion Picture Unit under the command of Ronald Reagan. Following the war, he became a story man at Warner Bros. working under Arthur Davis, a writer for Bob Clampett’s Time for Beany puppet show, and worked on the adaptations of Gerald McBoing-Boing and The Tell-Tale Heart for UPA. He later served as the voice director for The Gerald McBoing-Boing Show and dialogue director for the film 1001 Arabian Nights. Scott was recruited into Jay Ward Productions when Jay Ward’s original partner and writer, Alex Anderson, was content with civilian life. He helped develop The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle and subsequently became the voice of the titular Bullwinkle when Ward liked the voice Scott used during their scripting sessions. He continued to write, produce and act in all of the shows created by Ward, although he never received on-screen credit for his voice work. Because Ward’s studio was primarily sponsored by General Mills and the Quaker Oats Company, Scott also had the opportunity to write many of their commercials. In 1952, he became President of the Screen Cartoonist’s Guild and was also a member of the Screen Actors Guild. He was elected to the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. After a decade of inactivity, Scott returned to writing and acting in the 80s, doing Rah Rah Woozy for Ward followed by The Puppy’s Further Adventures for Ruby-Spears Productions, Alvin & The Chipmunks for Bagdasarian Productions, and Walt Disney Television Animation’s first two productions, The Wuzzles and Adventures of the Gummi Bears. Scott died of a heart attack in 1985.

Saturday Credits:

The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle

Hoppity Hooper

George of the Jungle (1967)

The Puppy’s Further Adventures

Alvin & the Chipmunks (1983)

ABC Weekend Specials

CBS Storybreak

The Wuzzles

Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears

ALAN ZASLOVE DEAD AT 92

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He was an animator on Fractured Fairy Tales, The Gumby Show and George of the Jungle; served as a producer on Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears, DuckTales, Darkwing Duck and Aladdin; and directed episodes of The Smurfs, Snorks, Galtar and the Golden Lance, The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, Challenge of the GoBots, Yogi’s Treasure Hunt, Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears, DuckTales, Darkwing Duck and Aladdin. He also provided titles for The Smurfs and served as story director for Space Stars.

RUSSI TAYLOR DEAD AT 75

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Best known as the permanent voice of Minnie Mouse since 1986 as well as Donald Duck’s nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie since 1987. Along with their portrayal in various media, she played Minnie in Mickey Mouse Works, House of Mouse and Mickey Mouse (2103) and Huey, Dewey and Louie in DuckTales (1987), Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue and Mickey Mouse (2013).

She also had a long career on Saturday mornings. Her various roles included Pebbles Flintstone and Cavemouse in The Flintstone Comedy Show; Barbie Winslow in Heathcliff (1981); Pac-Baby in Pac-Man; Hasty and Leota in episodes of ABC Weekend Specials; Gonzo, Robin and Captain Blackwig the Blue Pirette in Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies; Rex’s owner in the “Chocolate Fever” episode of CBS Storybreak; Hilda Brewski in an episode of The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo; Amber the Fairie Dragon in an episode of Dungeons & Dragons; Grover’s Mommy in Five Sesame Street Stories; Beehonie and Donna in an episode of Kissyfur; Ralphie in Little Clowns of Happytown; Melissa, Candy and Chinook Puppy in episodes of Pound Puppies (1986); a girl in an episode of Yogi’s Treasure Hunt; Lana Lang in an episode of Superman (1988); Laura in an episode of The Smurfs; Webby Vanderquack in DuckTales and in an episode of Raw Toonage; a Louisiana Boy in an episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987); Ethalyn, Emmadryl and Madame Placebo in episodes of Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears; a woman in an episode of Disney’s Aladdin; a fairy and a puppet in an episode of The Lion King’s Timon & Pumbaa; kids and voices in The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat; a tour guide in an episode of The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries; Beck and an old lady in episodes of Buzz Lightyear of Star Command; Clara Cluck in Mickey Mouse Works and House of Mouse, where she also played Fairy Godmother and Fauna; Fauna and Winifred in episodes of Sofia the First; Lorbs, Florina and Lorb Guard in episodes of Tangled: The Series; and Young Donald in an episode of DuckTales (2017).

She also provided additional voices in The Little Rascals, Laverne & Shirley with Special Guest Star the Fonz, The Littles, Saturday Supercade, Jim Henson’s Little Muppet Monsters, The Smurfs, Dink the Little Dinosaur, Rick Moranis in Gravedale High, TaleSpin, Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa, What a Mess and Star vs. the Forces of Evil.

Taylor made a rare live cameo appearance in the 1984 CBS Saturday morning preview special Saturday’s The Place in a recording booth with some of her Muppet Babies co-stars.

CHUCK McCANN DEAD AT 83

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McCann had a wide pedigree in television and film, starring both on and off the camera with a distinctive, easily recognizable voice, and also working behind the scenes. McCann co-created, produced, and starred as Barney in Far Out Space Nuts for Sid and Marty Kroft, as well as wrote several episodes of their show Wonderbug.

Other starring roles included Boogie and Blubber in C.B. Bears; Billy Joe in The New Shmoo; Mummy Man in Drak Pack; Blinky and Pinky in Pac-Man; Orlock in Galtar and the Golden Lance; Duckworth, Burger Beagle, Bouncer Beagle, and several minor roles in DuckTales; Mayor Grody in Toxic Crusaders; Dumptruck, Gibber and a rhino goon in TaleSpin; and Beefsteak in Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1991). He also guest-starred as Number One, The Owl, Tom McCool in Cool McCool; Badladdin in an episode of The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show; Artemis and some mutants in an episode of Thundarr the Barbarian; Moving Man Grizz, Billy Beagle, Roary, Cousin Wilton, and several minor roles in The Get Along Gang; Biff Barker in Pound Puppies (1986); Cashmore and additional voices  in an episode of A Pup Named Scooby-Doo; Sir Gaya, a knight, a chef and a tadpole in episodes of Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears; Heff Heffalump and a Tigger lookalike in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh; Uncle Ed and a dog in two episodes of Garfield and Friends; Codger Eggbert in an episode of Animaniacs; Santa Claus in an episode of ABC Weekend Specials; a worm and talents of trial in two episodes of The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat; and Filth #2 in an episode of The Tick (1994).

McCann also provided unspecified additional voice work for Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979), Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, Space Stars, Richie Rich (1982), Snorks, The Smurfs, Where’s Waldo?, Tom & Jerry Kids Show, and All-New Dennis the Menace.

ON TV IN 1987

As Doc Brown once said: "30 years. It's a nice round number." We agree, and with that thought in mind, and what with it being September when new programs traditionally began airing, we figured we'd show you the Saturday morning television schedule for all the major networks (alphabetically) from the fall of 1987. While watching on Saturday morning, you may have seen these:

8:00 A.M.

8:30 A.M.

(1 1/2 hours)

(1 1/2 hours)

9:00 A.M.

9:30 A.M.

10:00 A.M.

10:30 A.M.

11:00 A.M.

11:30 A.M.

12:00 P.M.

12:30 P.M.

NOTE: Some regions may have had slightly differing schedules due to local programming or other considerations.

JUNE FORAY DEAD AT 99

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June Foray was an actress whose career began during the golden age of animation and led her to work for just about every production company there ever was. Her longest-standing role was that of Granny throughout the various incarnations and spin-offs. She also performed several other roles, notably that of Witch Hazel. Her other longest roles were Rocket J. Squirrel and Natasha Fatale in the Rocky & Bullwinkle franchise.

On Saturday mornings, she starred as Mother Gruesome in Frankenstein Jr. & the Impossibles; Ursula and Marigold in George of the Jungle; a gypsy fortune teller in an episode of Scooby Doo, Where Are You!; Mrs. Baker in The New Scooby-Doo Movies; Granny, Sonja, Iggy, Muggsy, Crazy Shirley and Marcy in Heathcliff (1980); Jokey Smurf and Mrs. Sourberry in The Smurfs; Aunt May in Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends; Grandma Howard and Mrs. Seslick in Teen Wolf (1986); Grandma Cavemom in several episodes of The Flintstone Kids; Bertha Bird in an episode of Denver, the Last Dinosaur; Constance McSnack in an episode of A Pup Named Scooby-Doo; Mrs. Rogers, the Mayor’s wife, and Mrs. Dweeb in The Real Ghostbusters; Magica De Spell, Ma Beagle, Mrs. Featherby and Scrooge’s mother in DuckTales; Bathsheba, Saturna, Sister Mouse and Duchess in various episodes of The ABC Weekend Specials; Grammi Gummi and several other roles in Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears; various roles throughout Garfield and Friends; Blocky and Svetlana the Spy in Rugrats; and Martha Wilson in All-New Dennis the Menace.

She also provided voices for Super 6, The Pink Panther Show, The Incredible Hulk (1982), Saturday Supercade, Alvin & the Chipmunks, Foofur, CBS Storybreak, Tom & Jerry Kids, and The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat.