Profile: Allen Swift

[tv star collector]

Allen Swift seemed destined for a show business career. At an early age, he displayed a talent for mimicry by imitating members of his family and clients of his father's realty business. Born Ira Stadlin, in 1924, he won an art contest in grammar school and by the time he was in his teens, he
was accepted into New York City's High School of Music and Arts. But Swift spent more time playing hooky from his class and watching movies and stage shows at NYC's Paramount Theater than paying attention to his studies. He soon left Music and Arts HS and went to The Catskills of Upstate New York where in his late teens, he made his debut as a stand-up entertainer.

Performing for hotel customers in "The Borscht Belt," Swift also found time to write, produce and perform on the many dramatic radio shows that were being broadcast in NYC and in many of NYC's most popular night clubs. He also did a stint at the mecca of Broadway musicals, The Palace Theater, in the 1950s, when Judy Garland played The Palace. But he became dissatisfied with the unacceptable atmosphere of the clubs and tried to find another venue for his talents.

He finally found that venue when he was invited to join the cast of CBS-TV's ROBERT Q. LEWIS SHOW. He appeared in sketches and sang some songs with Lewis and other members of the cast. It was during this time that Ira Stadlin changed his name to Allen Swift (taking the name from Fred Allen and Jonathan Swift). He performed on Lewis' show for a few years and also did
some voiceovers for radio and TV commercials.

In 1953, he would leave Lewis' show and join the cast of HOWDY DOODY. Swift not only utilized his talents as a comic/character actor and mimic but would also collaborate on the writing of one song for the show with HOWDY's first head writer and composer, Edward Kean, "Freddie the Mistreated Teddy Bear." He replaced Dayton Allen as the voices of Phineas T. Bluster, the
Flub-a-Dub, Inspector John J. Fedoozle, and other denizens of Doodyville. He also appeared as such live characters as Chief Thunderchicken. Later he
added salty sea Captain Scuttlebutt to his repertoire of puppet voices. During Buffalo Bob's absence from his heart attack in 1955, Swift even voiced Howdy Doody himself. He left the program in May 1956 (one source says that he was fired). Beginning on Sept. 10, 1956, he hosted the TV show for which he is best remembered by NYC youngsters, THE POPEYE SHOW. Set against the backdrop of the deck and captain's quarters of a ship, "Captain Allen" Swift would engage his viewers in songs, stories, craftmaking, hobbies, games, magic tricks, drawing lessons, informational segments and interview with guest performers and personalities in between showing Paramount Popeye movie cartoons.

Swift would continue to do voiceovers for radio and TV commercials and for numerous TV and movie cartoons (including Odie Cologne, Itchy Brother and Tooter Turtle on KING LEONARDO & HIS SHORT SUBJECTS, Simon Bar Sinister and Riff-Raff on THE UNDERDOG SHOW, narrations in Tom & Jerry shorts, Dracula, Yetch and Felix Flanken in "Mad Monster Party," Santa Claus in "T'was the Night Before Christmas," etc.). He would also write, produce, direct and perform in plays and musicals in summer stock, off-Broadway and Broadway theater. Swift's only on-camera TV appearances have been on KATE & ALLIE, THE EQUALIZER and LAW AND ORDER. His son, Lewis J. Stadlin, has become one of the most successful character actors and singers in theaters, movies and on TV.

[Source: the website tv.com and the 1996 book HOWDY DOODY COLLECTOR'S REFERENCE & TRIVIA GUIDE, by Jack Koch]