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{{short description|American voice actor}}
{{short description|American voice actor (1924–2010)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
Line 17: Line 17:
|spouse = Lenore Loveman
|spouse = Lenore Loveman
|domesticpartner =
|domesticpartner =
|children = 3 (including [[Lewis J. Stadlen]])
|children = [[Lewis J. Stadlen]], Maxime Zahra, and Clare A. Stadlen
|website =
|website =


}}
}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2024}}
'''Ira Stadlen''' (January 16, 1924 &ndash; April 18, 2010<ref name="death">{{cite web| title=Allen Swift (1924&ndash;2010)| url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/classic/allan-swift-1924-2010.html| access-date=April 18, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100421013511/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/classic/allan-swift-1924-2010.html| archive-date= April 21, 2010| url-status=live| website=[[Cartoon Brew]]| date=July 24, 2006}}</ref>), known professionally as '''Allen Swift''', was an American actor, writer, and magician, best known as a voice-over artist who voiced cartoon characters [[Simon Bar Sinister]] and Riff-Raff on the [[Underdog (TV series)|''Underdog'']] cartoon show.<ref>{{cite news| title=Allen Swift, Voice Actor for Radio and TV, Dies at 86| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/arts/28swift.html?mtrref=r.search.yahoo.com&gwh=77477745C4FE3FF224E0575B5818D66A&gwt=pay&assetType=PAYWALL| last=Grimes| first=William| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| date=April 28, 2010| page=B18| url-access=subscription}}</ref> He took his professional name from radio comedian [[Fred Allen]] and 18th century satirist [[Jonathan Swift]].
'''Ira J. Stadlen''' (January 16, 1924 &ndash; April 18, 2010<ref name="death">{{cite web| title=Allen Swift (1924&ndash;2010)| url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/classic/allan-swift-1924-2010.html| access-date=April 18, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100421013511/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/classic/allan-swift-1924-2010.html| archive-date= April 21, 2010| url-status=live| website=[[Cartoon Brew]]| date=July 24, 2006}}</ref>), known professionally as '''Allen Swift''', was an American actor, writer and magician, best known as a voiceover artist who voiced cartoon characters [[Simon Bar Sinister]] and Riff-Raff on the [[Underdog (TV series)|''Underdog'']] cartoon show.<ref name="NYTobit">{{cite news| title=Allen Swift, Voice Actor for Radio and TV, Dies at 86| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/arts/28swift.html | last=Grimes| first=William| author-link=William Grimes (journalist) | newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| date=April 28, 2010| page=B18| url-access=subscription}}</ref> He took his professional name from radio comedian [[Fred Allen]] and 18th century satirist [[Jonathan Swift]].

==Early life and education==
He was born January 16, 1924,<ref name=nytobit>{{cite news|last=Grimes|first=William|title=Allen Swift, Voice Actor for Radio and TV, Dies at 86|work=The New York Times|date=April 27, 2010|accessdate=January 16, 2024|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/arts/28swift.html}}</ref> in [[Washington Heights, Manhattan]], and raised in [[Brooklyn]]. Swift graduated from the [[High School of Music & Art]], after which he enlisted in the [[United States Army Air Forces]], where he served from November 1942 to November 1945.<ref name=NYTobit/><ref>"Index Record for Ira Stadlen (1924) Veterans Affairs Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem Death File", ''[[Fold3]] by Ancestry.com website''. Retrieved November 22, 2020. Enlistment Date is listed as "1 Nov 1942" and Release Date is listed as "1 Nov 1945".</ref> While in the Army, he was an entertainer and became a private first class.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/998170129/ "PFC. Ira Stadlen Presents Program"], ''[[Santa Ana Register]]'', Santa Ana, California, 39th year, number 83, March 4, 1944, page 7. {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/117018107/ "Army Exhibit Opens Today"], ''[[Arizona Republic]]'', Phoenix, Arizona, 55th year, number 248, January 21, 1945, page 7. {{subscription required}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2024}}
⚫
===Children's Television===

⚫
''Allen'' Swift was an early television star who began his career by replacing Buffalo Bob Smith on "The Howdy Doody Show" while Smith was recovering from a heart attack. At various times he played the characters of Clarabell the Clown, Chief Thunderchicken, and the voice of the puppet Howdy Doody, as well as other characters. From September 10, 1956, to September 23, 1960, Swift became the host of another popular children's show called ''The [[Popeye]] Show'' playing a sea captain named "Captain Allen Swift" on [[WPIX]] in New York City. In the show he commented on the cartoons, told stories, sang sea shanties, and did magic tricks.
⚫
===Children's television===
⚫
Allen Swift was an early television star who began his career by replacing Buffalo Bob Smith on ''[[Howdy Doody|The Howdy Doody Show]]'' while Smith was recovering from a heart attack. At various times, he played the characters of [[Clarabell 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, ''The [[Popeye]] Show'', on [[WPIX]] in 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.{{cn|date=December 2023}}


===Cartoon voices===
===Cartoon voices===
Swift is best known for providing the fiendish voices for the cartoon villains [[Simon Bar Sinister]] and Riff-Raff on the [[Underdog (TV series)|''Underdog'']] cartoon show, and Popeye in the Popeye cartoons created at that time. He voiced the cartoon character, Clint Clobber. He also voiced many of the characters in the 1960s underwater puppet show ''[[Diver Dan]]'', and [[Gene Deitch]]'s 1961–1962 group of ''[[Tom and Jerry]]'' cartoons, as well as ''[[The Bluffers]].'' According to Mopar Magazine, 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 for ''[[Sesame Street]].''
Swift was best known for providing the fiendish voices for the cartoon villains [[Simon Bar Sinister]] and Riff-Raff on the [[Underdog (TV series)|''Underdog'']] cartoon show, and Popeye in the ''Popeye'' cartoons created in the 1960s. He also voiced the cartoon character, Clint Clobber.{{cn|date=December 2023}}
Swift voiced the cartoon mascot [[Twinkie the Kid]] in animated TV advertisements for [[Hostess Brands|Hostess]]'s cream-filled snack cakes, [[Twinkie]]s, in the 1970s.{{cn|date=December 2023}} He also voiced many of the characters in the 1960s underwater puppet show ''[[Diver Dan]]'', and [[Gene Deitch]]'s 1961–1962 group of ''[[Tom and Jerry]]'' cartoons, as well as ''[[The Bluffers]]''. According to ''Mopar'' magazine, 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 for ''[[Sesame Street]]''.{{cn|date=December 2023}}


===Rankin/Bass===
===Rankin/Bass===
In addition, Swift provided the majority of the voices in [[Rankin/Bass]]'s ''[[Mad Monster Party?]]'', credited as Alan ([[sic]]) Swift in the movie's credits.<ref>{{IMDb title|0061931|Mad Monster Party?}}</ref> He was also in other Rankin/Bass productions including the TV special ''[[The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye|The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye: The Emperor's New Clothes]]'' as the voice of Musty.
Swift provided the majority of the voices in [[Rankin/Bass]]'s ''[[Mad Monster Party?]]'', credited as Alan Swift in the movie's credits.<ref>{{IMDb title|0061931|Mad Monster Party?}}</ref> He was also in other Rankin/Bass productions, including the TV specials, ''[[The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye|The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye: The Emperor's New Clothes]]'', as the voice of Musty,{{cn|date=December 2023}} and as the voice of Gadzooks the Bear in ''[[The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town]]''.{{cn|date=March 2024}}


===Howdy Doody===
===Howdy Doody===
Swift supplied most of the character voices for the NBC ''[[Howdy Doody]]'' Show. When [[Buffalo Bob Smith]]—who himself did the voice of the lead puppet character Howdy Doody and had many times proclaimed that "nobody else could do Howdy"—suffered a heart attack, Swift took home some recordings over the weekend, came back on Monday, and supplied Howdy's voice for more than a year.<ref>Tv Bloq section of TV Party.Com</ref>
Swift supplied most of the character voices for the NBC ''[[Howdy Doody]]'' show. When [[Buffalo 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.<ref>Tv Bloq section of TV Party.Com</ref>


===Writing===
===Writing===
Swift became the second comedy writer for ''Howdy Doody'' following the abrupt departure of the series' first comedy writer and songwriter, Edward Kean.<ref>"TV Bloq"/Past entry No. 168 at "TV Party.Com"</ref> He also wrote the play ''[[Checking Out (play)|Checking Out]]'', which was the basis of the film of the same name starring Peter Falk, Laura San Giacomo, Judge Reinhold and David Paymer.<ref>https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417532/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2</ref>
Swift became the second comedy writer for ''Howdy Doody'' following the abrupt departure of the series' first comedy writer and songwriter, [[Edward Kean]].<ref>"TV Bloq"/Past entry No. 168 at "TV Party.Com"</ref> He also wrote the play ''[[Checking Out (play)|Checking Out]]'', which was the basis of the film of the same name starring Peter Falk, Laura San Giacomo, Judge Reinhold and David Paymer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417532/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2|title=Checking Out|date=December 19, 2006|via=IMDb}}</ref>

Toward the end of his life, Swift penned the memoir, ''Chutzpah! Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee, An Actors Life For Me''.{{cn|date=December 2023}}


===Commercials and MAD Magazine===
===Commercials and ''MAD'' Magazine===
Swift, known provided the original voice of the [[Frito Bandito]] in the animated [[Fritos]] Corn Chips commercials of the 1960s. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was the talking drain on [[Drano]] television commercials, and the voice of The Burger 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, Stroehmann or Taystee<ref>https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,938905-2,00.html.</ref> He impersonated [[Carroll O'Connor]] as [[Archie Bunker]] and [[Adolf Hitler]] as "Dolf" on [[MAD Magazine]]'s vinyl insert recording of "Gall in the Family Fare," the ''[[All in the Family]]'' satire that ran in the magazine's Super Special No. 11 in 1973.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhIpR1x1-fI&t=5s MAD Magazine presents "Gall in the Family Fare," YouTube]</ref> He also played [[Captain Cupcake]] in the [[Hostess Brands]] commercials.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/Hostess/Captain-Cupcake/ |title=CAPTAIN CUPCAKE |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref>
Swift provided the original voice of the [[Frito Bandito]] in the animated [[Fritos]] Corn Chips commercials of the 1960s. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was the talking drain in [[Drano]] television commercials, the voice of the Mirinda Craver in [[Jim Henson]]'s [[Mirinda]] commercials, and the voice of The [[Burger King advertising|Burger 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 (company)|Braun]], [[Bimbo Bakeries USA|Stroehmann]] or Taystee.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,938905-2,00.html |title=Show Business: How To Be Rich Though a Pencil|magazine=Time |accessdate=2023-08-07}}</ref> He impersonated [[Carroll O'Connor]] as [[Archie Bunker]] and [[Adolf Hitler]] as "Dolf" on [[Mad (magazine)|''MAD'' magazine]]'s vinyl insert recording of "Gall in the Family Fare", the ''[[All in the Family]]'' satire that ran in the magazine's Super Special No. 11 in 1973.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhIpR1x1-fI|title=MAD Magazine presents "Gall in the Family Fare"|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> He also played [[Captain Cupcake]] in the Hostess Brands commercials.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/Hostess/Captain-Cupcake/ |title=CAPTAIN CUPCAKE |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Swift was married to actress Lenore Loveman, and is the father of [[character actor]], mimic and singer [[Lewis J. Stadlen]], holistic health practitioner [https://www.maximezahra.com/ Maxime Zahra], and psychotherapist Clare A. Stadlen. He resided in [[Manhattan]]. He was also a gifted figurative painter, creating and exhibiting landscapes and figures reminiscent of those of artists Leland Bell and Fairfield Porter.
Swift was married to actress Lenore Loveman, and is the father of [[character actor]], mimic and singer [[Lewis J. Stadlen]], holistic health practitioner Maxime Zahra, and eating disorder specialist/entrepreneur Clare A. Stadlen. He resided in [[Manhattan]]. He was also a figurative painter, creating and exhibiting landscapes and figures reminiscent of those of artists [[Leland Bell]] and [[Fairfield Porter]].


===Death===
===Death===
Swift 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 director [[Gene Deitch]]. "Even though [I've been] here for 50 years, hardly a year went by without a visit to his 57th Street apartment, nor a day go by without e-mail and most recently Skype visits," added Deitch, an American expatriate living in the Czech Republic.
Swift died in his home of at the age of 86 on April 18, 2010.<ref name=nytobit /><ref>"[http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Allen_Swift_86_was_voice_of_Simon_Bar-Sinister_P108339/ Allen Swift, 86, was voice of Simon Bar-Sinister ] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120721185819/http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Allen_Swift_86_was_voice_of_Simon_Bar-Sinister_P108339/ |date=July 21, 2012}}". ''forum.bcdb.com'', April 19, 2010</ref> 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 director [[Gene Deitch]].


⚫
==Filmography==
Allen Swift died at his home on April 18, 2010.<ref>"[http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Allen_Swift_86_was_voice_of_Simon_Bar-Sinister_P108339/ Allen Swift, 86, was voice of Simon Bar-Sinister ] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120721185819/http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/Allen_Swift_86_was_voice_of_Simon_Bar-Sinister_P108339/ |date=July 21, 2012 }}". ''forum.bcdb.com'', April 19, 2010</ref>

⚫
== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
Line 58: Line 66:
!Notes
!Notes
|-
|-
|1947-1960
|1947-60
|[[Howdy Doody]]
|''[[Howdy Doody]]''
|Most of the characters' voices
|Most of the characters' voices
|
|
|-
|-
|1956-1960
|1956-60
|The [[Popeye]] Show
|''The [[Popeye]] Show''
|Host
|Host
|
|
|-
|-
|1960-1963
|1960-63
|[[King Leonardo and His Short Subjects]]
|''[[King Leonardo and His Short Subjects]]''
|Odie Cologne, Itchy Brother, Tooter Turtle, narrator in "King and Odie" segments
|Odie Cologne, Itchy Brother, Tooter Turtle, narrator in "King and Odie" segments
|
|
|-
|-
|1961-1962
|1961-62
|[[Tom and Jerry]]
|''[[Tom and Jerry]]''
|[[Tom Cat|Tom]]/[[Jerry Mouse|Jerry]]/Various others
|[[Tom Cat|Tom]]/[[Jerry Mouse|Jerry]]/[[List of Tom and Jerry characters|The Grumpy Owner]]/Various Others
|[[Gene Deitch]] era
|[[Gene Deitch]] era
|-
|-
|1964-1967
|1964-67
|[[Underdog (TV series)|Underdog]]
|[[Underdog (TV series)|''Underdog'']]
|[[Simon Bar Sinister]]/Riff Raff
|[[Simon Bar Sinister]]/Riff Raff
|
|
Line 88: Line 96:
|
|
|-
|-
|1966-1967
|1966-67
|[[The Beagles (TV series)|The Beagles]]
|[[The Beagles (TV series)|''The Beagles'']]
|Tubby, Scotty
|Tubby, Scotty
|
|
|-
|-
|1967
|1967
|[[Mad Monster Party?]]
|''[[Mad Monster Party?]]''
|[[Count Dracula]], [[Igor (character)|Igor]], [[Frankenstein's monster|the Monster]], Claude the [[Griffin (The Invisible Man)|Invisible Man]], Ghoul the Invisible Boy, Boobula ([[Count Alucard (character)|Count Dracula's son]]), Ron Chanley the [[Werewolf]], [[Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (character)|Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde]], Rosebud the [[vulture]], Harold, Harvey, Post Office Boss
|[[Count Dracula]], [[Igor (character)|Igor]], [[Frankenstein's monster|the Monster]], Claude the [[Griffin (The Invisible Man)|Invisible Man]], Ghoul the Invisible Boy, Boobula ([[Count Alucard (character)|Count Dracula's son]]), Ron Chanley the [[Werewolf]], [[Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (character)|Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde]], Rosebud the [[vulture]], Harold, Harvey, Post Office Boss
|
|
|-
|-
|1971-1972, 1976
|1971-72, 1976
|[[Sesame Street]]
|''[[Sesame Street]]''
|Voices in three animated segments
|Voices in three animated segments
|
|
|-
|-
|1972
|1972
|[[The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye]]
|''[[The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye]]''
|Mufti, Ivan
|Mufti, Ivan
|Television special
|Television special
|-
|-
|1974
| rowspan="2" |1974
|[[Where the Wild Things Are]]
|''[[Where the Wild Things Are]]''
|Narration (original soundtrack)
|Narration (original soundtrack)
|Film animated by Gene Deitch, Book by [[Maurice Sendak]]
|Film animated by Gene Deitch, Book by [[Maurice Sendak]]
|
|-
|-
⚫
|''[[Twas the Night Before Christmas]]''
|1974
⚫
|[[Twas the Night Before Christmas]]
|Santa Claus, City Clerk, Councilman #1
|Santa Claus, City Clerk, Councilman #1
|Television show
|Television show
|
|-
|-
|1976
|1976
|[[Checking Out (play)|Checking Out]]
|[[Checking Out (play)|''Checking Out'']]
|Wrote and starred on Broadway
|Wrote and starred on Broadway
|
|
|-
|-
|1980
1977
|[[Pinocchio's Christmas]]
[[Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure (movie)]]
|[[The Fox and the Cat|The Fox]], [[Santa Claus]], Mr. Cherry
Voiced Maxi-Fixit
|
|
|-
|-
|1986
|1986
|[[The Bluffers]]
|''[[The Bluffers]]''
|Many characters
|Many characters
|
|
|-
|-
|2000
|2000
|[[Courage the Cowardly Dog]]
|''[[Courage the Cowardly Dog]]''
|Hunchback
|Hunchback
|Final role
|
|}
|}


Line 154: Line 159:
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:Animal impersonators]]
[[Category:Jubilee Records artists]]
[[Category:Jubilee Records artists]]
[[Category:Male actors from New York City]]
[[Category:Male actors from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Male actors from Manhattan]]
[[Category:People from Washington Heights, Manhattan]]
[[Category:United States Army Air Forces soldiers]]
[[Category:American television hosts]]
[[Category:American television hosts]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:The High School of Music & Art alumni]]

Latest revision as of 17:22, 29 November 2024

Allen Swift
Born
Ira Stadlen

(1924-01-16)January 16, 1924
New York City, U.S.
DiedApril 18, 2010(2010-04-18) (aged 86)
New York City
OccupationVoice actor
Years active1946–2010
SpouseLenore Loveman
ChildrenLewis J. Stadlen, Maxime Zahra, and Clare A. Stadlen

Ira J. Stadlen (January 16, 1924 – April 18, 2010[1]), known professionally as Allen Swift, was an American actor, writer and magician, best known as a voiceover artist who voiced cartoon characters Simon Bar Sinister and Riff-Raff on the Underdog cartoon show.[2] He took his professional name from radio comedian Fred Allen and 18th century satirist Jonathan Swift.

Early life and education

[edit]

He was born January 16, 1924,[3] in Washington Heights, Manhattan, and raised in Brooklyn. Swift graduated from the High School of Music & Art, after which he enlisted in the United 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

[edit]

Children's television

[edit]

Allen Swift was an early television star who began his career by replacing Buffalo Bob Smith on The Howdy Doody Show while Smith was recovering from a heart attack. At various times, he played the characters of Clarabell 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, The Popeye Show, on WPIX in 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

[edit]

Swift was best known for providing the fiendish voices for the cartoon villains Simon Bar Sinister and Riff-Raff on the Underdog cartoon show, and Popeye in the Popeye cartoons created in the 1960s. He also voiced the cartoon character, Clint Clobber.[citation needed]

Swift voiced the cartoon mascot Twinkie the Kid in animated TV advertisements for Hostess's cream-filled snack cakes, Twinkies, in the 1970s.[citation needed] He also voiced many of the characters in the 1960s underwater puppet show Diver Dan, and Gene Deitch's 1961–1962 group of Tom and Jerry cartoons, as well as The Bluffers. According to Mopar magazine, 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 for Sesame Street.[citation needed]

Rankin/Bass

[edit]

Swift provided the majority of the voices in Rankin/Bass's Mad 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 in The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town.[citation needed]

Howdy Doody

[edit]

Swift supplied most of the character voices for the NBC Howdy Doody show. When Buffalo 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

[edit]

Swift became the second comedy writer for Howdy Doody following the abrupt departure of the series' first comedy writer and songwriter, Edward Kean.[9] He also wrote the play Checking 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 and MAD Magazine

[edit]

Swift provided the original voice of the Frito Bandito in the animated Fritos Corn Chips commercials of the 1960s. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was the talking drain in Drano television commercials, the voice of the Mirinda Craver in Jim Henson's Mirinda commercials, and the voice of The Burger 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, Stroehmann or Taystee.[11] He impersonated Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker and Adolf Hitler as "Dolf" on MAD magazine's vinyl insert recording of "Gall in the Family Fare", the All in the Family satire that ran in the magazine's Super Special No. 11 in 1973.[12] He also played Captain Cupcake in the Hostess Brands commercials.[13]

Personal life

[edit]

Swift was married to actress Lenore Loveman, and is the father of character actor, mimic and singer Lewis J. Stadlen, holistic health practitioner Maxime Zahra, and eating disorder specialist/entrepreneur Clare A. Stadlen. He resided in Manhattan. He was also a figurative painter, creating and exhibiting landscapes and figures reminiscent of those of artists Leland Bell and Fairfield Porter.

Death

[edit]

Swift 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 director Gene Deitch.

Filmography

[edit]
Years Film/Show Roles Notes
1947-60 Howdy Doody Most of the characters' voices
1956-60 The Popeye Show 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 Deitch era
1964-67 Underdog Simon Bar Sinister/Riff Raff
1960s Fritos Commercials Frito Bandito
1966-67 The Beagles Tubby, Scotty
1967 Mad Monster Party? Count Dracula, Igor, the Monster, Claude the Invisible Man, Ghoul the Invisible Boy, Boobula (Count Dracula's son), Ron Chanley the Werewolf, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Rosebud the vulture, 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 by Maurice 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]
  1. ^ "Allen Swift (1924–2010)". Cartoon Brew. July 24, 2006. Archived from the original on April 21, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Grimes, William (April 28, 2010). "Allen Swift, Voice Actor for Radio and TV, Dies at 86". The New York Times. p. B18.
  3. ^ a b Grimes, William (April 27, 2010). "Allen Swift, Voice Actor for Radio and TV, Dies at 86". The New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "Index Record for Ira Stadlen (1924) Veterans Affairs Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem Death File", Fold3 by Ancestry.com website. Retrieved November 22, 2020. Enlistment Date is listed as "1 Nov 1942" and Release Date is listed as "1 Nov 1945".
  5. ^ "PFC. Ira Stadlen Presents Program", Santa Ana Register, Santa Ana, California, 39th year, number 83, March 4, 1944, page 7. (subscription required)
  6. ^ "Army Exhibit Opens Today", Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, 55th year, number 248, January 21, 1945, page 7. (subscription required)
  7. ^ Mad Monster Party? at IMDb
  8. ^ Tv Bloq section of TV Party.Com
  9. ^ "TV Bloq"/Past entry No. 168 at "TV Party.Com"
  10. ^ "Checking Out". December 19, 2006 – via IMDb.
  11. ^ "Show Business: How To Be Rich Though a Pencil". Time. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  12. ^ "MAD Magazine presents "Gall in the Family Fare"" – via www.youtube.com.
  13. ^ "CAPTAIN CUPCAKE". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  14. ^ "Allen Swift, 86, was voice of Simon Bar-Sinister Archived July 21, 2012, at archive.today". forum.bcdb.com, April 19, 2010
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