Voice magicians

[jerry allen]

what i think Cartoon Network should do is air a program called "Voice Magicians" and pay tribute to voice actors. the following list is my opinion on who the best voice actors are and under their name is a listing of their most famous characters.

#1: Mel Blanc
(Bugs Bunny; Tweety; Porky Pig; Daffy Duck; Sylvester; Pepe LePew; Barney Rubble; Heathcliff; Captain Caveman; Foghorn Leghorn; Henery Hawk; Speedy Gonzales; Marvin Martian; Dino; Woody Woodpecker's laugh; Mr. Spacely)
#2: Daws Butler
(Yogi Bear; Huckleberry Hound; Elroy Jetson; Snooper and Blabber; Dixie Mouse and Mr. Jinx; Chilly Willy; Captain Crunch; Quickdraw McGraw and Baba Looey; Henry Orbit; Mr. Cogswell; Snagglepuss; Wally Gator; Reddy; Augie Doggie; Loopy DeLoop; Hokey Wolf)
#3: Don Messick
(Boo-Boo; Ranger Smith; Dr. Benton Quest; Papa Smurf; Hampton Pig; Droopy {TV versions}; Pixie Mouse; Scooby-Doo; Scrappy-Doo; Mutley; Ruff; Shag Rugg; Astro; Bamm-Bamm {the baby voice, not the teenage version}; Richochet Rabbit)
#4: Paul Frees
(Boris Badenov; Inspector Fenwick)
#5: Bill Thompson
(Droopy:theatrical versions; Touche Turtle; Bill's more famous for his Droopy voice on "Fibber McGee and Molly" as Wallace Wimple)
#6: June Foray
(Natasha Fatale; Nell Fenwick; Rocky the Flying Squirrel; Magica DeSpell; Ma Beagle; Grammie Gummie)

those 6 are the biggest voice actors in my opinion. there've been others like Jim Cummings, Hal Smith, Casey Kasem, Gary Owens, and Joe Alasky...but either they haven't been around long enough or they use their own distinct voice for cartoons instead of creating a different one. Jim is the most diverse of the bunch, he's Walt Disney's answer to Mel Blanc...but the others have shades of their natural voice leak into the roles. Hal Smith's biggest role is Owl on the Pooh cartoons. He's also voiced Pooh on the live-action children's show...but Hal's range is limited. he's better remembered as Otis on "Andy Griffith". of course, we all know Casey Kasem's voice via Top-40 countdowns and Shaggy on "Scooby-Doo". Gary Owens the same way: Blue Falcon, Space Ghost, Dirk Niblick, Roger Ramjet, Commander Farrell, and Captain Squash all sound like Gary's famed over-modulated voice he used on "Laugh-In". i urge everyone here to e-mail Cartoon Network and suggest a "Toon Heads" type program that spotlights voice actors instead of the producers or directors.

[Brian Damage]

That's a very good idea. I like it a lot.

[W.J. Griffin]

Ditto. Go with it!!

(Man, I REALLY need to get cable...)

[TJL]

It is a very good idea. Good thinking jerry...
I think Cartoon Network should do some more behind the scenes specials and shows devoted to the history of and people behind the cartoons.
A show profiling some of the famous voices would be a good start.

Another voice actor who will some day take his place among those jerry allen mentioned is Billy West.
He has amassed an impressive resume over the years...

[Nats the best]

Oh, how COULD you omit Frank Welker?! The man is a voice GENIUS!!! He can do so much, I can't list everything he's ben on, that would take all year! He's been doing Fred on Scooby for 32 years!! He's been invloved in all the Scooby shows even when Fred wasn't there!! Isn't that a record?
An Animaniacs, he's been known to do 5 voices at a time, 5 characters!!
Why did you omit him, he's excellent, he does such great impressions, check out his work on 'Mighty Ducks', or recently an ep of 'Whats New, Scooby Doo', he did the voice of so many animals in a jungle, I wondered how he was able to catch his breath!!
Come on, he's deserves to be menioned right along with Mel and June!!