Montague Gypsum's voice

[Steve Carras]

THIS IS YOUR LIFESAVERS (Season 2, from 1961-1962), guestsed pioneering puppeteer Walker Edmison (a Disney,Krofft and Bob Clampett as well as later, HB regular), as the conman Monty Gypsum, who pretends to be suicdical at episode's start.

I noticed that his voice was based on Hans Conried, who was already doing voices and a major raido character as well as on DANNY THOMAS, GILLIGAN and others, and who could just as easily, with other notable character disctinctive sound actors aboard (Frank Nelson, Howie McNear, and the celebs proper), have been hired but was done instead by Edmiston (who'd done this at the same time for Willie the Wolf, a Clampett BEANY character from the 1950 puppet shows).It's a character that animation vet mark Evanier on his blog http://www.POVonline.com (search: PUPPET SHOWS) remakrs was done as one R.Craven Ragwood on Walker Edmistons own puppet show

M.E.,as he's self-called, and who wrote GARIFELD cartoons among others. also recalled Walker's professionalism to the max in seeking the go hahead form the folks that he was imitating 9e.g.Paul Frees, when he and isney parted ways regarding Free';s Ludwing Von Drake on the Disney show).

I wondered why Conreid, who;'se last role was problay one that he actually DID at HB (the sinsiter Dr Dred in the Aussi-estudio produced DRAK PACK,1980,one of HB's few good shows in AGES), wasn't hired and Walker Edminston was,maybe cheaper, or they had a generic hammy "Shaakespere" character (all of the same apply to Edmiston as Willie the Wolf-Clampett, hsi creator also used the real deal when top talents were used as the basis..Mickey Katz,who was a popular Borsch Belt comic in the 40s and 50s,right up to the early 60s when he played GUMSNOKE inspired toad Slopalong Catskill (ALSO named after you know who..)

THIS IS YOUR LIFESAVER's a great episode anyway, and Mr. Edminston's,form what I know, never one to do another guy's voice unless there was a reaosn (this was basically true of many actors form the old school. Just shows why many of us prefer them so much.)

But I telly ya, when I hear Monty GYpsum, I was hearing Uncle Toonose (DANNY THOAMS), Capn Hook (PETER PAN) or Wrongway Feldman (GILLGIAN),all played by Conreid.

"Never mind friend..I see what you meannnn!"(great scene of Fred and mbarney sending the boulder after Monty!)

Oh, and one other thang..BTW Monty looks like the accented movie director form MONSTER FORM THE TAR PITS (voiced by Jerry Mann)!!

[Joe Rockhead]

"How do you stop it?!!!!??" (when he's on the boulder)