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Disney voice actor Dallas McKennon dies at 89
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Dallas McKennon in "Daniel Boone." Photo: 20th Century Fox
Voice actor Dallas McKennon has passed away at 89, just shy of his 90th birthday, which would have been July 19. While best known for his extensive work as a voice for various animated features (including Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, 101 Dalmations, The Jungle Book, and Mary Poppins), McKennon also voiced numerous voice tracks used in the Disney theme parks - most notably his warning for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, in which he exclaimed "Hold on to your hats and glasses... this here's the wildest ride in the wilderness!" In Epcot, McKennon's voice gives life to an Audio-Animatronic Ben Franklin - another notable role.
Haunted Mansion afficienados might note that McKennon also voiced the deaf old man in the Haunted Mansion's graveyard, who, unable to decipher the mummy muttering through his bandages, has been doomed to an eternity of croaking out "What's that? Louder!" Additionally, McKennon claimed that he was also the voice behind the whimpering dog outside the graveyard gates, as well as a few assorted moans, groans and wails from inside the attraction - including the famously horrifying scream inside of the stretching gallery.
"Since he does some of the Haunted Mansion screams, his fans may be interested to know that he can be seen doing that on-screen in the schlocky Vincent Price movie "The Tingler," if they remember that one," recalled Tim Hollis, author of Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records. "Toward the end of the picture, Dal appears as a projectionist in a movie theater, with a giant rubber grubworm locked around his throat. Dal then lets loose with practically the same scream you hear in the Haunted Mansion stretch room."
Having had the pleasure of corresponding with McKennon many years ago, this writer recalls his wit and the pleasure he took in acknowleding his fans. In speaking with his daughter, she expressed delight in the number of fans that admired his work for Disney, as she wasn't sure the company had fully recognized his contributions to the theme parks.
Beyond the parks and films, McKennon was also a prolific contributor to Disneyland Records, appearing on numerous recordings over a period of nearly 15 years, beginning with 1957's "Stories of Uncle Remus." Outside of Disney, McKennon voiced many famous cartoon characters (including Gumby and Archie), and he also was featured in many live-action films and shows. Many people may remember McKennon as Cincinnatus the shopkeeper in the television series "Daniel Boone."
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