Daws Butler Work For Jay Ward? Options

[ohmahaaha]

I apologize if I am regenerating an old thread, but I tried to do a search and came up empty. I was wondering it anyone could tell me for sure if Daws Butler did voice work for Jay Ward on the Rocky & Bullwinkle and Friends cartoons? I've been watching the Season 1 DVD and I have heard many of Butler's voices on many characters, but he is never mentioned in the credits. If in fact it was him, why did he not receive credit? Did he have some kind of exclusive contract with Hanna-Barbera? Again, my apologies if this is ground that's already been covered.

[detroittvguy]

You can hear Daws in Aesop and Son and Fractured Fairly Tales. His King voice in the Fairy Tales was later used for Cap'n Crunch.

[ohmahaaha]

You can hear Daws in Aesop and Son and Fractured Fairly Tales. His King voice in the Fairy Tales was later used for Cap'n Crunch.

Yes, I picked up on the Cap'n Crunch voice - he used that for the Fox in one of the Aesop stories, and he used kind of his "Dixie" voice for Aesop's son.

Anybody know why he never got credited?

[FleischerFan]

Butler definitely adds voices to a multitude of Jay Ward cartoons. I, too, have been puzzled why he received no screen credit. At least Bill Scott had his name appear in the credits somewhere.

[Am01ne]

Bill Thompson also lent his voice to some characters I believe, I could be mistaken.

[A. Leal]

First off, it must be recalled that the series had several incarnations (first "Rocky and His Friends," then later "The Bullwinkle Show"), and several sets of credits during the run. During the very first season, as evidenced by "grey market" tapes, Daws Butler was credited, as a matter of fact. However, according to historian Keith Scott (The Moose That Roared) and others, his name was removed thereafter due to a conflict. Butler was doing most of his work for Hanna Barbera, as we well know. Kelloggs Cereals sponsored all of the Hb shows at the time, and General Mills sponsored Bullwinkle. Due to this conflict, Daws eventually asked to have his name removed. (Remember, sponsors had more control in those days). More details and clarification can be provided in the aforementioned tome The Moose That Roared. (I've already packed my copy preparatory to a move). The voice credits on the Bullwinkle DVDs come from the *second* season, in 1960. Note, for example, that Hans Conried isn't listed either (he wouldn't join until the third season and the "Bullwinkle Show" incarnation).


Also, Bill Scott was never credited as a voice actor on any of the Ward series. This was apparently because he was already being credited as a writer and (usually) producer, and indications suggest that Scott himself preferred no credit. (He *was* billed for his subsequent work for HB, Ruby-Spears, and Disney during that brief period between the closure of Jay Ward Productions and Scott's death). Incidentally, Scott can be *briefly* glimpsed on camera (and again unbilled) in the DVD set of "Fractured Flickers," playing a sandwich delivery man opposite host Hans Conried in one sketch (and was heard in most of the Flickers, often as imitations of Bob Newhart, or using his Dudley Do-Right voice as Adolf Hitler, for example).


There were a few other unbilled actors on the series (and curiously, for Ward's last series, "George of the Jungle," *no* voice credits were included whatsoever). Charles Ruggles, the voice of Aesop, was unbilled (I believe Scott suggsted at his request), and there's two unbilled female voice artists of note, both substitutes when June Foray couldn't make a couple of sessions: Dorothy "Dot" Scott, wife of Bill (not to be confused with the earlier radio actress Dorothy Scott who voiced one of the elephants in Dumbo) filled in on a few Peabody installments, playing Lucrezia Borgia, Annie Oakley, and Queen Elizabeth. Julie Bennett (best known for playing Cindy Bear for HB) filled in on a few Fractured Fairy Tales, notably one half of the title pair in "The Fisherman and His Wife,"and was also heard in "The Little Princess" and "The goblins."


Bill Thompson, however, *never* worked for Jay Ward. Thompson's voice work began to decrease in the 60s, due to his new corporate work for the LA branch of Union Oil (though he still did some work for Disney and HB, playing Touche Turtle and one guest voice on The Flintstones). The voice you probably mistook for Thompson's was Bill Scott, a gifted mimic who used a meek, vaguely Droopy-esque voice for several characters, but a careful comparison between that voice and the real Thompson would show that it was not him.

Hope all this helps.

[Am01ne]

Thanks for clarifying A Leal.

I was almost certain that I could've discerned from Thompson's trademark voice through a number of supporting background characters in various segments but I guess Ward got some really good impersonators...


"Did you see what I saw Chauncey?"

[FleischerFan]

Bill Scott may be one of the most underappreciated voice artists in animation history. Both "Bullwinkle" and "Duddley Do-Right" are absolutely classic cartoon voices, instantly recongizable and note-perfect for their on-screen personas.

I was unaware of Scott's participation as a voice artist until I was out of college and viewing these shows again in their original VHS incarnation. Now, I can recognize quite a few of Scott's great characters.

[Steve Carras]

First off, it must be recalled that the series had several incarnations (first "Rocky and His Friends," then later "The Bullwinkle Show"), and several sets of credits during the run. During the very first season, as evidenced by "grey market" tapes, Daws Butler was credited, as a matter of fact. However, according to historian Keith Scott (The Moose That Roared) and others, his name was removed thereafter due to a conflict. Butler was doing most of his work for Hanna Barbera, as we well know. Kelloggs Cereals sponsored all of the Hb shows at the time, and General Mills sponsored Bullwinkle. Due to this conflict, Daws eventually asked to have his name removed. (Remember, sponsors had more control in those days). More details and clarification can be provided in the aforementioned tome The Moose That Roared. (I've already packed my copy preparatory to a move). The voice credits on the Bullwinkle DVDs come from the *second* season, in 1960. Note, for example, that Hans Conried isn't listed either (he wouldn't join until the third season and the "Bullwinkle Show" incarnation).


Also, Bill Scott was never credited as a voice actor on any of the Ward series. This was apparently because he was already being credited as a writer and (usually) producer, and indications suggest that Scott himself preferred no credit. (He *was* billed for his subsequent work for HB, Ruby-Spears, and Disney during that brief period between the closure of Jay Ward Productions and Scott's death). Incidentally, Scott can be *briefly* glimpsed on camera (and again unbilled) in the DVD set of "Fractured Flickers," playing a sandwich delivery man opposite host Hans Conried in one sketch (and was heard in most of the Flickers, often as imitations of Bob Newhart, or using his Dudley Do-Right voice as Adolf Hitler, for example).


There were a few other unbilled actors on the series (and curiously, for Ward's last series, "George of the Jungle," *no* voice credits were included whatsoever). Charles Ruggles, the voice of Aesop, was unbilled (I believe Scott suggsted at his request), and there's two unbilled female voice artists of note, both substitutes when June Foray couldn't make a couple of sessions: Dorothy "Dot" Scott, wife of Bill (not to be confused with the earlier radio actress Dorothy Scott who voiced one of the elephants in Dumbo) filled in on a few Peabody installments, playing Lucrezia Borgia, Annie Oakley, and Queen Elizabeth. Julie Bennett (best known for playing Cindy Bear for HB) filled in on a few Fractured Fairy Tales, notably one half of the title pair in "The Fisherman and His Wife,"and was also heard in "The Little Princess" and "The goblins."


Bill Thompson, however, *never* worked for Jay Ward. Thompson's voice work began to decrease in the 60s, due to his new corporate work for the LA branch of Union Oil (though he still did some work for Disney and HB, playing Touche Turtle and one guest voice on The Flintstones). The voice you probably mistook for Thompson's was Bill Scott, a gifted mimic who used a meek, vaguely Droopy-esque voice for several characters, but a careful comparison between that voice and the real Thompson would show that it was not him.

Hope all this helps.

That's interesting, Mr.Leal..It's well-known that Daws Butler was most commmited to his wprk for his "home,"H-B, & to its sponsor, Kellogg's,and that, tha was the reason for the anonyminty.and of course Bill Scott felt that HIS name was put on the creditsd enough (him nd Jay Wardr wee Ponsonby Britt, the exec.producers).

Why GotJ hs no voice credits(or Bob Clampett's Beany & CecilY) is beyond me,mybe so s not to spoilthe illusion ofli fe..