Voices of Disney Archives - Living a Disney LifeLiving a Disney Life

Along with millions of other Disney vacationers, I am crazy about the Haunted Mansion. While I’ve only had the opportunity to visit the one at Walt Disney World, I feel certain that all the Disney Haunted Mansions are equally as wonderful. I’ve written a Haunted Mansion Halloween Homage and a bit about bringing some Haunted Mansion home. Today I want to revisit my love for the home of 999 happy haunts – specifically, I want to talk about a very important character, without whom our Haunted Mansion experience would be greatly diminished: The Ghost Host voiced by Paul Frees.

The voice of the Ghost Host is unique and forceful – absolutely perfect for a dark and scary Doom Buggy ride through the spooky rooms, hallways, attic and graveyard of the house at the end of the lane in Liberty Square. It doesn’t matter if he’s telling me that HE will lower the safety bar, explaining a pause in the ride, or warning me that a ghost may follow me home – the ride needs a host and I can’t imagine any other voice being as perfect.

Turns out, Paul Frees (born in 1920) voiced a great number of our favorite characters from movies, cartoons, and stop-motion specials over more than four decades until his death in 1986. Now, maybe you knew all about Mr. Frees other works, but I did not and am so surprised and thrilled to find out my beloved Ghost Host was also the voice of these characters (and many more)…

“Dead men tell no tales” – the voice in Pirates of the Caribbean that echoes this phrase over and over – Paul Frees! He also did other voices in this ride.

Ludwig Von Drake in Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (1957 – 1986)…Do you remember him?

Boris Badenov in Rocky and His Friends (1959-1961) and The Bullwinkle Show (1961) While Rocky and Bullwinkle were, technically before my time – I grew up on the reruns and LOVED Boris and Natasha!!! Can you believe it?

Santa Clause in the much loved Frosty the Snowman (1969) – wouldn’t be Christmas without this special cartoon, would it? FYI – he was also in the 1976 Christmas hits Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (as Santa Clause, Eon, and General Ticker) and Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (as Jack Frost).

Ignatz Mouse in Krazy Kat (1963) – If you’ve not seen this very different cat and mouse cartoon series, you really need to check out some samples on YouTube.

Burgermeister Meisterburger – Seriously, it’s TRUE! Paul Frees is the village villain in Santa Clause is Coming to Town! (1970)

Okay, last one. Paul Frees was the voice of Crusty in The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)…if you missed out on this cinematic comedy classic starring Don Knotts as the title character, well you need to get your hands on the DVD!

So, how many of Paul Frees’ voices did you already know about?

Have you ever ridden Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? How many times have you heard the prospector’s voice say, “Howdy, folks! Please keep your hands, arms, and legs inside the train, and remain seated at all times. (Laugh) Now then, hang onto them hats and glasses, ’cause this here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness!” ? If you’re like me, Big Thunder Mountain just wouldn’t be complete without that announcement!

The prospector is none other than Dallas McKennon! Who, you ask? Well, if you don’t know about the late Dallas McKennon, let me tell you all about him! Dallas McKennon’s contributions to Disney go way beyond the voice of BTMRR’s prospector. During his 50-year career, Dallas McKennon’s face and voice appear in so many places! Some are going to surprise you.

Born Dallas Raymond McKennon in Oregon in 1919, Dal McKennon made numerous memorable contributions to both movies and cartoons, for Walt Disney and other companies. Remember the Owl in Sleeping Beauty? Dallas McKennon! He provided the voices for no less that FIVE characters in Marry Poppins: Fox, Hunting Horse, Penguin 1, Carousel Guard, and Reporter #1. Have you ever visited the American Adventure in Epcot? Guess who provided the voice for Ben Franklin? You betcha! – it was Dallas McKennon. He also voiced four roles in Lady and the Tramp (Pedro, Toughy, Hyena, and Professor) and characters in several other Disney movies and attractions – including Zeke in the Country Bear Jamboree. Sounds and voices in The Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World, and even barking dogs in 101 Dalmatians were all part of Dallas McKennon’s work.

Providing the voices of a huge number of characters in the Saturday morning cartoons I grew up with, Dallas McKennon has been a constant presence in my life. Until I started blogging about Disney, I never even realized it. He played 81 characters in Woody Woodpecker cartoons alone. If you’ve ever watched any Archie cartoons, Dallas McKennon was the voice of Archie Andrews. He also voiced the likes of both Gumby and Pokey, Kellogg’s Tony the Tiger and all three of the Rice Krispies characters Snap, Crackle, and Pop!

In live action movies, Dallas McKennon played innkeeper Cincinnatus along side Fess Parker in the Daniel Boone TV series. He also appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and with Elvis Presley in Clambake!

Gone, since July 14, 2009 (just five days shy of his 90th birthday), Dallas McKennon is still contributing to the happy Disney memories of millions of children today. Next time you’re on vacation and you hear Ben Franklin or the Big Thunder Mountain prospector, please tip your Earhat to the man behind some of our favorite Disney moments.