It started, I think, with a random link to Joe E. Brown, lead to Philip Wylie, forked to his short story, "The Paradise Crater" (a Nazis-on-the-Moon yarn from 1945 that had him under house arrest by the Feds for awhile -- I want to read it!) and another Wylie work, Gladiator, (considered a probable influence on Superman) which led back Joe E. Brown and from there to Daws Butler. (With side trips to see Don Messick and Time for Beany). (This leads inevitably to The Brain and his voice, the brilliant Maurice LaMarche. Oh, if only he weren't...Canadian. [Kidding!])
"Daws who?" Why, the voice of Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound and a long list of Hanna-Barbera characters, and one of Nancy Cartwright's mentors!
.....From Wylie article, it appears likely he was the godfather not only of the Man of Steel, but the Man of Bronze (Doc Savage) and the Man of the Future (Flash Gordon).
After reading a couple of versions of his bio, I wonder why the house arrest. Apparently he had a security clearance and worked with the government helping to form the Atomic Energy Commission. Guess I need to read the story also.
ReplyDeleteRemember him living in Miami in his later life. Always joked the thought everyone should leave South Florida except the Seminoles, and of course, him.
Terry
Florida
All those cats! Daws Butler, Maurice LaMarche, Nancy Cartwright, June Foray, Bill Scott, Paul Frees, Edward Everett Horton, Paul Winchell, Don Adams and the great Mel Blanc!
ReplyDeleteBOY! You lit up my brain this AM!
Thanks!
gfa