Waldo in Wonderland

 When you think of actress Janet Waldo, what cartoon characters come to mind? I imagine Judy Jetson, Penelope Pitstop, and Josie McCoy, among others, are the first you think of. Throughout her long career with Hanna-Barbera, she voiced many characters, some more famous than others.

One of those "others" happens to be Alice, the protagonist of the beloved Alice in Wonderland book. In 1966, Hanna-Barbera decided to give the storybook their own twist, leading to Alice in Wonderland (or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?) premiering on the ABC network on March 30th, 1966. Written by comedian Bill Dana, the special brought together classic Hanna-Barbera voice actors with TV celebrities, giving us an impressive cast that included names like Harvey Korman, Alan Reed, Sammy Davis Jr,. Zsa Zsa Gabor, and last but most certainly not least, Janet Waldo.

The special, with its colorful imagery and memorable musical numbers, has made it somewhat of a forgotten gem in Hanna-Barbera's expansive library of animated works. Sadly, the special has never had any sort of home video release, and even re-airings have been few and far between. Thankfully, the special is easily available online, so if you haven't seen it before, I highly recommend checking it out. I do not think you'll come away disappointed.

With all of the backstory out of the way, it's time to celebrate this special 58th anniversary with this tremendous interview with the specials star, Janet Waldo. As she speaks with The Tampa Tribune, she discusses her voice-acting career thus far, from her work with Hanna-Barbera to more obscure gigs.

The Girl With Multi-Voice

By Bernie McGovern
Tribute Entertainment Editor

    When one picks up the telephone and chats with 75 people at once, he is either the President addressing the national association of something convention, or he's the butcher, baker, or anyone talking to Janet Waldo, the girl with multi-voice.
    Multi-voice isn't an affliction, it's a talent, and Janet Waldo has it. Putting just one of her approximately 75 voices, or "characterizations" as she prefers to call them, to work tonight, she will be speaking the title role in the ABC-TV animated special "Alice in Wonderland, or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing In a Place Like This?"

    Her voice on the special will be a 12-year-old giggle in the adaptation of Lewis Carroll's fantasy as modernized by writer-comedian Bill Dana.
    "I just like to do voices," she said calling as Janet Waldo. She stayed as Janet Waldo through most of the conversation but on occasion she would become a little old lady, or any other requested character.
    "I guess I started out just fooling around with my voice when I was a kid."
    That fooling around has paid off. She is "many" of the voices in the Hanna-Barbera cartoons, including about 10 different "characterizations" on "The Flintstones."
    "And I'm still fooling around with my voice," said Janet.
    "When my husband, or neighbors or anyone calls and I'm breaking in a new character, that character will answer the phone. If I succeed in fooling them, the character is ready."
    Janet is the wife of writer Robert E. Lee, co-author of "Inherit the Wind." The couple has two children and Janet claims the youngsters can do many of her voices as well as she can.
    She doesn't confine herself to cartoons. Her voice is widely used for dubbing. She's done some dubbing of foreign films, but mainly she does commercials.
    When those gorgeous things step out of the shower to tell the television audience about being really clean, the voice that comes through often is Janet's.
    "They're very pretty," said Janet, "but it's amazing how few models can talk."
    No mean looker herself, Janet started into show business as network radio and television's "Corliss Archer."
    She's worked theater and last season was a regular on the "Valentine's Day" series with Tony Franciosa.
    This season she has been featured on "Get Smart," "The FBI," "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" and "Please Don't Eat the Daisies."
    When working as a visual actress, the voice she uses is her own, at least she thinks so.
    The biggest danger to her busy career is the common cold which naturally alters her distinctive voice.
    "This show," said Janet about "Alice," "is a little different. It's completely modernized and it's a musical comedy."
    For all practical purposes, Bill Dana has just borrowed the Lewis Carroll characters and put them into a new storyline. He has a character for himself, the white knight who sounds like, "Jose Jimenez."

And with that, I can officially say posts for March are done and accounted for! That being said, I've got some exciting stuff coming in April, starting with a piece celebrating 24 years of the Boomerang channel. Until then, have a splendid weekend, and for those who celebrate the holiday, have a great Easter as well!