Tuesday, June 28, 2005

TIP O' THE HAT SQUAD: PAUL WINCHELL

In such a visual medium as Television, it takes a real gift to be known more for just your voice. Paul Winchell, even when standing right there in front of the camera, was best known for his voice - especially when he was throwing it as a "belly-talker", a ventriloquist.

And then there are all of those cartoon voices he supplied, most notably as Tigger in so many short films. "Winnie The Pooh And The Blustery Day" marked Winchell's first appearance as Tigger and I like to think that it was his robust over-the-top playful energy that helped earn the short an Oscar.

But do you know what was my favorite of all his voice-over roles? That of the Scrubbing Bubble in the Dow commercial back in the 1970s. There was just something about his energy and verve, and the earnest pride he took in his work as a cleanser.

"Oh, we work hard! We do! We do! We really do! Woohoo!"

I've even got one of the promotional rubber toys which I paid a nice penny for at some memorabilia convention because I enjoyed the ads so much.

But Paul Winchell was more than just an entertainer. As many of his obits have noted, he was also an accomplished inventor and he held many patents; none of which was more famous than for the artificial heart he created.

During the run of 'St. Elsewhere', the show had a sub-plot over several episodes about a ventriloquist who invented an artificial heart, and Winchell was asked if he'd like to play the role. He turned them down and so Alan Young was tapped for the honors.

I always wondered why he didn't the offer, especially since he wasn't getting much screen time, face-wise during the 80s. But perhaps he felt that he already had accomplished the feat in real life; why sully it with a fictionalized version that didn't tell the true story?

Then again, he had no problem playing a fictional ventriloquist in an episode of 'The Dick Van Dyke Show'......

Since he appeared as the tele-version of himself in an episode of 'The Lucy Show' and because he hosted his own variety show with his "pals" Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff, as well as hosting 'Runaround', someday Paul Winchell will be made an honorary member of the Toobworld Crossover Hall of Fame. I'll be proud to use my Birthday Honors option to grant him entry.

TV SERIES
"The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" (1988) TV Series (voice) .... Tigger (1988-1989)
"The Gummi Bears" (1985) TV Series (voice) .... Zummi (1985-1989)
"Meatballs and Spaghetti" (1982) TV Series (voice)
"Heathcliff" (1980) TV Series (voice) .... Marmaduke (1981-1982)
"The Smurfs" (1981) TV Series (voice) .... Gargamel (1981-1989)/Baby Smurf/Nosey Smurf
"Spider-Man" (1981) TV Series (voice)
"Casper and the Angels" (1979) TV Series (voice)
"Yogi's Treasure Hunt" (1978) TV Series (voice) .... Dick Dastardly."The C.B. Bears" (1977) TV Series (voice) .... Shake
"The Skatebirds" (1977) TV Series (voice) .... Moe Howard/Woofer
"Fred Flintstone and Friends" (1977) TV Series (voice)
"The Three Robonic Stooges" (1977) TV Series (voice) .... Moe
"Clue Club" (1976) TV Series (voice) .... Woofer
"The Oddball Couple" (1975) TV Series (voice) .... Fleabag
"Hong Kong Phooey" (1974) TV Series (voice)
"These Are the Days" (1974) TV Series (voice)
"Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch" (1974) TV Series (voice) .... Revs
"Goober and the Ghost-Chasers" (1973) TV Series (voice) .... Goober
"Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch" (1971) TV Series (voice) .... Bubi Bear
"Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines" (1969) TV Series (voice) .... Dick Dastardly/The General
"The Perils of Penelope Pitstop" (1969) TV Series (voice) .... Clyde/Softy
"The Banana Splits Adventure Hour" (1968) TV Series (voice) .... Fleegle
"Wacky Races" (1968) TV Series (voice) .... Dick Dastardly/Clyde/Pvt. Meekley
"The Jetsons" (1962) TV Series (voice) .... Additional Voices

TV MOVIES
The Tiny Tree (1975) (TV) (voice) .... Turtle
Adams of Eagle Lake (1975) (TV) .... Monty
"The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie" (voice) in episode: "The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park" 25 November 1972
Tabitha and Adam and the Clown Family (1972) (TV) (voice) .... Ronk/Mr. McGurk/Haji/Ducks/Railroad Conductor

TV SPECIALS
The Kingdom Chums: Little David's Adventure (1986) (TV) (voice) .... King Saul
Dr. Seuss on the Loose (1973) (TV) (voice) .... Joey/Sam-I-Am/Sneetches

TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"Garfield and Friends" playing "Mr. Baggett" (voice) in episode: "Supermarket Mania" (episode # 3.18)
"Ghost Story" playing "Carlson" in episode: "The Ghost of Potter's Field" (episode # 1.21) 23 March 1973
"McMillan and Wife" playing "TV Interviewer" in episode: "Cop of the Year" (episode # 2.3) 19 November 1972
"Love, American Style" in episode: "Love and the New Act" (episode # 4.3c) 29 September 1972
"Love, American Style" in episode: "Love and Lover's Lane" (episode # 3.21d) 18 February 1972
"The Brady Bunch" playing "Skip Farnum" in episode: "And Now a Word from Our Sponsor" (episode # 3.11) 5 November 1971
"Love, American Style" in episode: "Love and the Nutsy Girl" (episode # 2.18b) 29 January 1971
"Love, American Style" in episode: "Love and the Serious Wedding" (episode # 2.17d) 22 January 1971
"Nanny and the Professor" playing "Herbert T. Peabody" in episode: "The Humanization of Herbert T. Peabody" (episode # 2.13) 25 December 1970
"Love, American Style" in episode: "Love and the Dummies" (episode # 1.10b) 1 December 1969
"The Virginian" playing "Jingo" in episode: "Dark Corridor" (episode # 7.10) 27 November 1968
"The Lucy Show" playing "Doc Putman" in episode: "Lucy Puts Main Street on the Map" (episode # 5.18) 30 January 1967 & in episode: "Main Street U.S.A." (episode # 5.17) 23 January 1967
"The Lucy Show" playing "Paul Winchell" in episode: "Lucy and Paul Winchell" (episode # 5.4) 3 October 1966
"The Dick Van Dyke Show" playing "Claude Wilbur" in episode: "Talk to the Snail" (episode # 5.25) 23 March 1966
"Perry Mason" playing "Henry Clement" in episode: "The Case of the Nervous Neighbor" (episode # 7.18) 13 February 1964
"77 Sunset Strip" playing "Skeets Riley" in episode: "Falling Stars" (episode # 5.13) 4 January 1963
"The Beverly Hillbillies" playing "Grandpa Homer Winch" in episode: "No Place Like Home" (episode # 1.14) 26 December 1962 & "Home for Christmas" (episode # 1.13) 19 December 1962

TV VARIETY SHOWS & GAME SHOWS
"Runaround" (1972) TV Series .... Host
"Keep Talking" (1958) TV Series .... Himself/panelist
"The Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney Show" (1950) TV Series .... Himself
"The Bigelow Show" (1948) TV Series .... Himself (regular performer)
~~~~~
"Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" playing "Himself - Guest Performer" (episode # 1.13) 22 April 1968
"Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" playing "Himself - Guest Performer" (episode # 1.11) 8 April 1968
"Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" playing "Himself - Guest Performer" (episode # 1.8) 11 March 1968
"The Dean Martin Show" playing "Himself" 6 April 1967
"What's My Line?" playing "Himself - Guest Panelist" 5 August 1956
"What's My Line?" playing "Guest Panelist" 24 June 1956
"What's My Line?" playing "Guest Panelist" 17 June 1956
"What's My Line?" playing "Guest Panelist" 3 June 1956
"What's My Line?" playing "Guest Panelist" 29 April 1956
"Your Show of Shows" 23 December 1950
"Toast of the Town" playing "Himself" (episode # 3.40) 18 June 1950
"Toast of the Town" playing "Ventriloquist" (episode # 2.37) 22 May 1949

TV COMMERCIALS
Dow Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom spary cleaner (1970s)
Tootsie Roll Pops (1960s - still airing in 2001)

TV PILOTS
Vernon's Volunteers (1969) (TV) .... Chief Vernon

This isn't the last of my posts regarding Mr. Winchell. Stay tuned for more....

BCnU.....
Tele-Toby

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