Voice of Jolly Green Giant Dies at 80 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bossradio93 · 10-26-2005, 01:12 AM

Voice of Jolly Green Giant Dies at 80

Tue Oct 25, 9:17 PM ET

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - Elmer "Len" Dresslar Jr., who extolled vegetables to generations of TV watchers as the booming voice of the Jolly Green Giant, has died. He was 80.

Dresslar died Oct. 16 of cancer, according to daughter Teri Bennett.

Dresslar was an entertainer and singer for nearly six decades. But his voice rang through millions of households when he sang the simple refrain, "Ho, Ho, Ho," in an ad jingle for Green Giant foods.

"His was the most consistent and most frequent voice of the Jolly Green Giant over the years, the one consumers are going to recognize," said Tara Johnson, a spokeswoman for General Mills, which owns Green Giant Co.

Dresslar, a Kansas native, moved to Chicago with his wife in the early 1950s to study voice after touring with a production of "South Pacific." By the 1960s, the Navy veteran had carved out a career singing in clubs, on television and in advertising jingles.

He recorded 15 albums with The Singers Unlimited jazz group and appeared on the CBS television show "In Town Tonight" from 1955 to 1960. He and his wife, Dorothy, retired to Palm Springs in 1991.

Ad jingles were the most consistent part of his career, and he landed roles for Rice Krispies cereal, Marlboro cigarettes, Amoco oil and Dinty Moore canned beef stew.

He periodically re-recorded the "Ho, Ho, Ho" for Jolly Green Giant commercials, most recently about 10 years ago.

Bennett said her father auditioned for the Green Giant job without any idea his baritone would become so recognizable.

"He never got tired of it," she said. "If nothing else, it put my sister and I through college."

Yahoo! News/AP-October 25, 2005

ABlairican Pie · 10-26-2005, 01:19 AM

Who will ever replace that Ho Ho Ho?

RIP and God bless, Mr Jolly Green Giant. You towered over us and made yourself a welcome face who encouraged us to eat our vegetables. May you forever live in the land where the sprouts grow tall.

Stormtracker TF · 10-26-2005, 01:34 AM

Rest In Peace.

Mr. Television · 10-26-2005, 01:39 AM

Another great has left us.

Superstar · 10-26-2005, 03:23 AM

RIP.

Cactus Jack · 10-26-2005, 07:18 AM

RIP

Penny Lane · 10-26-2005, 09:10 AM

The Jolly Green Giant has been around my whole life!(which is a long long time)

RIP Mr. Giant

Shiki Minami · 10-26-2005, 11:13 AM

Rest in peace Jolly Green.

10-26-2005, 01:12 AM	#1
bossradio93 Game Show Fanatic! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2004 Location: Bellflower, California Posts: 2,392	Voice of Jolly Green Giant Dies at 80 Voice of Jolly Green Giant Dies at 80 Tue Oct 25, 9:17 PM ET PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - Elmer "Len" Dresslar Jr., who extolled vegetables to generations of TV watchers as the booming voice of the Jolly Green Giant, has died. He was 80. Dresslar died Oct. 16 of cancer, according to daughter Teri Bennett. Dresslar was an entertainer and singer for nearly six decades. But his voice rang through millions of households when he sang the simple refrain, "Ho, Ho, Ho," in an ad jingle for Green Giant foods. "His was the most consistent and most frequent voice of the Jolly Green Giant over the years, the one consumers are going to recognize," said Tara Johnson, a spokeswoman for General Mills, which owns Green Giant Co. Dresslar, a Kansas native, moved to Chicago with his wife in the early 1950s to study voice after touring with a production of "South Pacific." By the 1960s, the Navy veteran had carved out a career singing in clubs, on television and in advertising jingles. He recorded 15 albums with The Singers Unlimited jazz group and appeared on the CBS television show "In Town Tonight" from 1955 to 1960. He and his wife, Dorothy, retired to Palm Springs in 1991. Ad jingles were the most consistent part of his career, and he landed roles for Rice Krispies cereal, Marlboro cigarettes, Amoco oil and Dinty Moore canned beef stew. He periodically re-recorded the "Ho, Ho, Ho" for Jolly Green Giant commercials, most recently about 10 years ago. Bennett said her father auditioned for the Green Giant job without any idea his baritone would become so recognizable. "He never got tired of it," she said. "If nothing else, it put my sister and I through college." Yahoo! News/AP-October 25, 2005
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10-26-2005, 01:19 AM	#2
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,620	Who will ever replace that Ho Ho Ho? RIP and God bless, Mr Jolly Green Giant. You towered over us and made yourself a welcome face who encouraged us to eat our vegetables. May you forever live in the land where the sprouts grow tall.
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10-26-2005, 01:34 AM	#3
Stormtracker TF Happy Easter! Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 102,598	Rest In Peace.
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10-26-2005, 01:39 AM	#4
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10-26-2005, 07:18 AM	#6
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	RIP
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10-26-2005, 03:23 AM	#5
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10-26-2005, 09:10 AM	#7
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,252	The Jolly Green Giant has been around my whole life!(which is a long long time) RIP Mr. Giant Attached Images
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10-26-2005, 11:13 AM	#8
Shiki Minami Saruwatari Makoto Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 15, 2005 Posts: 112	Rest in peace Jolly Green.
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