It's been a sad week for fans of Classic Television. We lost Frank Gorshin and Howard Morris, both of whom embodied iconic TV characters The Riddler and Ernest T. Bass respectively.
But we also lost two men known more for their vocal talents. You probably couldn't even play "Place That Face" with these gentlemen until they started speaking.
First there was Henry Corden, who had been making a nice career for himself as a bad guy in the movies, foreign diplomats, and various cartoon voices when he became the heir to the role of Fred Flintstone after the passing of Alan Reed in 1977.
I can only picture him in one TV show - an episode of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' in which he was a guest waiting for the Armenian wedding that was going to take over the auditorium after the Teddy Awards ceremony.
And then today we learned of the passing of Thurl Ravenscroft. Is that one cool name or what? It sounds almost like it's a title of nobility.
Th' Earl of Ravenscroft.
As distinct as that name is, perhaps you don't recognize it. You might know Mr. Ravenscroft better by the name of Tony. As in Tony the Tiger. He was the Kellogg's spokesman since 1952, responsible for making "It's grrrrrrRRRRRREAT!" such an integral phrase in all of our lexicons.
And he was also the singer of "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" in the Chuck Jones version of Dr. Seuss' classic "How The Grinch Stole Christmas".
I've been moved to tears by plenty of songs and singers over the years, but Mr. Ravenscroft's delivery of the songs in this annual holiday classic is probably the only time I got chills up the spine.
Gentlemen, thank you for your contributions. May you both rest in peace.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
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