Ira J. Stadlen(January 16, 1924 – April 18, 2010[1]), known professionally asAllen Swift,was an American actor, writer and magician, best known as a voiceover artist who voiced cartoon charactersSimon Bar Sinisterand Riff-Raff on theUnderdogcartoon show.[2]He took his professional name from radio comedianFred Allenand 18th century satiristJonathan Swift.
Allen Swift | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ira Stadlen January 16, 1924 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | April 18, 2010(aged 86) New York City |
| Occupation | Voice actor |
| Years active | 1946–2010 |
| Spouse | Lenore Loveman |
| Children | Lewis J. Stadlen,Maxime Zahra, and Clare A. Stadlen |
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(March 2024) |
Early life and education
editHe was born January 16, 1924,[3]inWashington Heights, Manhattan,and raised inBrooklyn.Swift graduated from theHigh School of Music & Art,after which he enlisted in theUnited States Army Air Forces,where he served from November 1942 to November 1945.[2][4]While in the Army, he was an entertainer and became a private first class.[5][6]
Career
editThis sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(March 2024) |
Children's television
editAllen Swift was an early television star who began his career by replacing Buffalo Bob Smith onThe Howdy Doody Showwhile Smith was recovering from a heart attack. At various times, he played the characters ofClarabell the Clown,Chief Thunderchicken, and the voice of the Howdy Doody puppet, as well as other characters. From September 10, 1956, to September 23, 1960, Swift was the host of another popular children's show,ThePopeyeShow,onWPIXin New York City, playing a sea captain named "Captain Allen Swift". In the show, he commented on the cartoons, told stories, sang sea shanties and did magic tricks.[citation needed]
Cartoon voices
editSwift is best known for providing the fiendish voices for the cartoon villainsSimon Bar Sinisterand Riff-Raff on theUnderdogcartoon show, and Popeye in thePopeyecartoons created in the 1960s. He also voiced the cartoon character, Clint Clobber.[citation needed]
Swift voiced the cartoon mascotTwinkie the Kidin animated TV advertisements forHostess's cream-filled snack cakes,Twinkies,in the 1970s.[citation needed]He also voiced many of the characters in the 1960s underwater puppet showDiver Dan,andGene Deitch's 1961–1962 group ofTom and Jerrycartoons, as well asThe Bluffers.According toMoparmagazine, he was also the voice of "Tech" for their series of service training films, providing color commentary and dry humor to help keep things digestible and interesting. He also voiced his talents forSesame Street.[citation needed]
Rankin/Bass
editSwift provided the majority of the voices inRankin/Bass'sMad Monster Party?,credited as Alan Swift in the movie's credits.[7]He was also in other Rankin/Bass productions, including the TV specials,The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye: The Emperor's New Clothes,as the voice of Musty,[citation needed]and as the voice of Gadzooks the Bear inThe Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town.[citation needed]
Howdy Doody
editSwift supplied most of the character voices for the NBCHowdy Doodyshow. WhenBuffalo Bob Smith— who did the voice of the lead puppet character Howdy Doody, and had proclaimed many times that "nobody else could do Howdy" — suffered a heart attack, Swift took home some recordings over the weekend, came back Monday, and supplied Howdy's voice for more than a year.[8]
Writing
editSwift became the second comedy writer forHowdy Doodyfollowing the abrupt departure of the series' first comedy writer and songwriter,Edward Kean.[9]He also wrote the playChecking Out,which was the basis of the film of the same name starring Peter Falk, Laura San Giacomo, Judge Reinhold and David Paymer.[10]
Toward the end of his life, Swift penned the memoir,Chutzpah! Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee, An Actors Life For Me.[citation needed]
Commercials andMADMagazine
editSwift provided the original voice of theFrito Banditoin the animatedFritosCorn Chips commercials of the 1960s. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was the talking drain inDranotelevision commercials, the voice of the Mirinda Craver inJim Henson'sMirindacommercials, and the voice of TheBurger King.Because of his uncanny ability to create so many different sounds, tones and accents, he was able to voice competing products, including Tip-Top,Braun,Stroehmannor Taystee.[11]He impersonatedCarroll O'ConnorasArchie BunkerandAdolf Hitleras "Dolf" onMADmagazine's vinyl insert recording of "Gall in the Family Fare", theAll in the Familysatire that ran in the magazine's Super Special No. 11 in 1973.[12]He also playedCaptain Cupcakein the Hostess Brands commercials.[13]
Personal life
editSwift was married to actress Lenore Loveman, and is the father ofcharacter actor,mimic and singerLewis J. Stadlen,holistic health practitioner Maxime Zahra, and eating disorder specialist/entrepreneur Clare A. Stadlen. He resided inManhattan.He was also a figurative painter, creating and exhibiting landscapes and figures reminiscent of those of artistsLeland BellandFairfield Porter.
Death
editSwift died in his home of at the age of 86 on April 18, 2010.[3][14]He had been "suffering with a series of health calamities for several years, since he fell and broke his hip while walking his dog. From that moment, one thing led to another," said personal friend and directorGene Deitch.
Filmography
edit| Years | Film/Show | Roles | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947-60 | Howdy Doody | Most of the characters' voices | ||
| 1956-60 | ThePopeyeShow | Host | ||
| 1960-63 | King Leonardo and His Short Subjects | Odie Cologne, Itchy Brother, Tooter Turtle, narrator in "King and Odie" segments | ||
| 1961-62 | Tom and Jerry | Tom/Jerry/The Grumpy Owner/Various Others | Gene Deitchera | |
| 1964-67 | Underdog | Simon Bar Sinister/Riff Raff | ||
| 1960s | FritosCommercials | Frito Bandito | ||
| 1966-67 | The Beagles | Tubby, Scotty | ||
| 1967 | Mad Monster Party? | Count Dracula,Igor,the Monster,Claude theInvisible Man,Ghoul the Invisible Boy, Boobula (Count Dracula's son), Ron Chanley theWerewolf,Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,Rosebud thevulture,Harold, Harvey, Post Office Boss | ||
| 1971-72, 1976 | Sesame Street | Voices in three animated segments | ||
| 1972 | The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye | Mufti, Ivan | Television special | |
| 1974 | Where the Wild Things Are | Narration (original soundtrack) | Film animated by Gene Deitch, Book byMaurice Sendak | |
| Twas the Night Before Christmas | Santa Claus, City Clerk, Councilman #1 | Television show | ||
| 1976 | Checking Out | Wrote and starred on Broadway | ||
| 1980 | Pinocchio's Christmas | The Fox,Santa Claus,Mr. Cherry | ||
| 1986 | The Bluffers | Many characters | ||
| 2000 | Courage the Cowardly Dog | Hunchback | Final role |
References
edit- ^"Allen Swift (1924–2010)".Cartoon Brew.July 24, 2006.Archivedfrom the original on April 21, 2010.RetrievedApril 18,2010.
- ^abGrimes, William(April 28, 2010)."Allen Swift, Voice Actor for Radio and TV, Dies at 86".The New York Times.p. B18.
- ^abGrimes, William (April 27, 2010)."Allen Swift, Voice Actor for Radio and TV, Dies at 86".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 16,2024.
- ^"Index Record for Ira Stadlen (1924) Veterans Affairs Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem Death File",Fold3by Ancestry.com website.Retrieved November 22, 2020. Enlistment Date is listed as "1 Nov 1942" and Release Date is listed as "1 Nov 1945".
- ^"PFC. Ira Stadlen Presents Program",Santa Ana Register,Santa Ana, California, 39th year, number 83, March 4, 1944, page 7.(subscription required)
- ^"Army Exhibit Opens Today",Arizona Republic,Phoenix, Arizona, 55th year, number 248, January 21, 1945, page 7.(subscription required)
- ^Mad Monster Party?atIMDb
- ^Tv Bloq section of TV Party.Com
- ^"TV Bloq" /Past entry No. 168 at "TV Party.Com"
- ^"Checking Out".December 19, 2006 – via IMDb.
- ^"Show Business: How To Be Rich Though a Pencil".Time.RetrievedAugust 7,2023.
- ^"MAD Magazine presents" Gall in the Family Fare ""– via www.youtube.com.
- ^"CAPTAIN CUPCAKE".Behind The Voice Actors.RetrievedJanuary 13,2020.
- ^"Allen Swift, 86, was voice of Simon Bar-SinisterArchivedJuly 21, 2012, atarchive.today".forum.bcdb.com,April 19, 2010
