(no subject)

[spatch]

Word came down the tubes that Dallas McKennon died yesterday at the age of 89. You may not know the name and he may not have been that prolific a voice actor, but he voiced both Gumby and Archie Andrews, and he played some important roles in Disney attractions. Most notably, he was this guy (and I'm writing this from memory so don't razz me for a misplaced preposition):

Howdy, folks! Please keep your hands and arms inside the train and remain seated at all times. Hang on to your personal belongings now, especially them hats and glasses, cause this here's the wildest ride in the wilderness!

The safety spiel on Big Thunder was amended slightly after a bizarre accident, and Disney lawyers insisted that "legs" be added to the list of things you must keep inside the train. If I'm remembering this right, however, Dal wasn't in any shape to re-record the spiel at the time so they had someone else re-record the phrase and just spliced it in. The result is a little mishmosh, but Dal's voice stayed for the most part.

He seemed like a pretty cool guy.

Comments

[scout1222.livejournal.com]

I can hear it in my head. I've always enjoyed that safety message. I'm also a fan of hearing the Spanish version on the Matterhorn - I don't understand it, but it rolls off the tongue well.

yay for the matterhorn!

[spatch]

Please Remain Seated. Permanece Sentados, Por Favor!

Much better than the pre-recorded spiel you used to hear at Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in Walt Disney World.

When the car stops, please step out to your right.
Step out to your right, please.
When the car stops, please step out to your right.
Step out to your right, please.

I wonder how anybody could run that ride and not hear that in their head for ages. Then again, Mr. Toad had two tracks, so I guess you could have switched over to the other one and heard "When the car stops, please step out to your left" for a change.

[dale62676.livejournal.com]

Awww, thanks for posting that. I love BTMRR and that spiel is the best on any Disney ride. His Ben Franklin always makes me cry in the finale of the American Adventure at EPCOT.

[gee-tar.livejournal.com]

His voice was probably heard by more people on Big Thunder Mountain than anything else he's done.

[tonysalieri.livejournal.com]

Holy crap. THAT GUY was still alive?! Dayam!

[sanspoof.livejournal.com]

Does he sound like Artie Choke? That's how I imagine him to sound. (Gumby + my idea of Archie's voice + The Funway)