Did You Grow Up with Me, Too? by June Foray

Author:June Foray [Foray, June]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BearManor Media
Published: 2015-09-12T00:00:00+00:00

Deck Us All With Boston Charlie,

Walla, Wall Wash and Kalamazoo!

Nora’s Freezin’ on the Trolley

Swaller, Dollar, Caulifl ower. Alley Garoo!

Don’t we know Archaic Barrel

Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou.

Trolley Molly Don’t Love Harold

Boola, Boola, Pensa Coola Hullabaloo.

A few weeks later, I shook hands with Walt Kelly himself and gave him the full Dr. Seuss treatment. Chuck directed us in the recording and even played one or two roles himself.

Afterward, I produced my Songs of the Pogo book and Walt readily autographed it with a sketch of Pogo, two hearts and the words, “I’m in toon with Joon,” and he signed it, “Walt.” Then he did something I hadn’t expected. He invited me to join him for cocktails at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which is where he was staying.

My first instinct was to decline. I’m not much of a drinker. Heck, when you’re my height, it’s sometimes a struggle to even get up on one of those bar stools, plus I was due later at another recording session, one for the Beetle Bailey cartoons. But how do you say no to your favorite cartoonist, especially when he’s a sweet guy like Walt Kelly? I couldn’t.

The stools at the Hollywood Roosevelt were high but they didn’t match how high I got from one martini. Walt was so nice and such a fascinating talker that I hated to say goodbye to him…but Beetle was waiting. A kiss on the cheek and I was off to a studio, a few blocks away on Vine Street.

The role of Private Beetle Bailey was played by Howard Morris, who everyone loved from the moment they first saw him on TV, playing sidekick to Sid Caesar. I played Beetle’s girl friend.

I’ve done hundreds and hundreds of recording sessions…so many that I can barely remember any one in particular. But I’ll never forget that one, and I don’t think Howie Morris ever forgot it, either. I missed lines. I read the other actors’ parts. I started laughing and couldn’t stop. We finally got through it, and I guess it turned out fine after the editors worked their magic on it. But as I think back, I’m surprised we aren’t still there, doing take number six million and something.

So I have Walt Kelly to thank for the one time I showed up at a session drunk…but I have so many other things to thank him for, as well. There’s an original Pogo strip on the wall of my home. I see it every day and I bless him for all his wonderful creativity.

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