Jimmy Weldon, a 1940s-era disc jockey and later kids TV host and voice actor whose ability to mimic a Donald Duck-like quacking voice led to his signature portrayal of a classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon duckling named Yakky Doodle, died July 6 in Paso Robles, California. He was 99.
Weldon, a Texas native born Ivy Laverne Shinn, was a World War II vet who had participated in the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp when, after his military service, he sought work in radio, landing a job at a Chickasha, Oklahoma, station. It was there he began using the Donal Duck impression he’d been honing for years, turning the routine into a character named Webster Webfoot.
The character caught on with listeners and within a few years led to Dallas kids TV show called The Webster Webfoot Show, featuring Weldon operating a baseball-capped duck puppet.
After a move to Hollywood in the early 1950s,...
Weldon, a Texas native born Ivy Laverne Shinn, was a World War II vet who had participated in the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp when, after his military service, he sought work in radio, landing a job at a Chickasha, Oklahoma, station. It was there he began using the Donal Duck impression he’d been honing for years, turning the routine into a character named Webster Webfoot.
The character caught on with listeners and within a few years led to Dallas kids TV show called The Webster Webfoot Show, featuring Weldon operating a baseball-capped duck puppet.
After a move to Hollywood in the early 1950s,...
- 7/11/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Jimmy Weldon, the cheery ventriloquist, kids TV host and actor who provided the voice for the endangered duck Yakky Doodle on Hanna-Barbera cartoons starting in the early 1960s, has died. He was 99.
Weldon’s death on Thursday in Paso Robles, California, was reported by American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood, where he was chaplain emeritus.
With the puppet Webster Webfoot, a duck he created in the 1940s, Weldon hosted TV shows for youngsters in New York, Los Angeles and cities in the San Joaquin Valley. The Texan also appeared on episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Dragnet, The Waltons, S.W.A.T., B.J. and the Bear, Dallas, The Rockford Files, Diff’rent Strokes and It’s a Living.
Weldon voiced Yakky Doodle, a yellow duckling with green wings who is constantly being bailed out of trouble by his best friend, a protective bulldog named Chopper, on recurring segments of The Yogi Bear Show in 1961-62.
From left: Yogi Bear,...
Weldon’s death on Thursday in Paso Robles, California, was reported by American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood, where he was chaplain emeritus.
With the puppet Webster Webfoot, a duck he created in the 1940s, Weldon hosted TV shows for youngsters in New York, Los Angeles and cities in the San Joaquin Valley. The Texan also appeared on episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Dragnet, The Waltons, S.W.A.T., B.J. and the Bear, Dallas, The Rockford Files, Diff’rent Strokes and It’s a Living.
Weldon voiced Yakky Doodle, a yellow duckling with green wings who is constantly being bailed out of trouble by his best friend, a protective bulldog named Chopper, on recurring segments of The Yogi Bear Show in 1961-62.
From left: Yogi Bear,...
- 7/11/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Video Version of this Article Photo: William Hanna and Joseph Barbera When talking about the growth of animation in Cinema and television, there are plenty of names you could list: Pixar, Disney, Warner Bros., Studio Ghibli, etc. While all these companies have made strides in their contributions to the field and to the childhoods of many, there’s one company that stands out among its peers in terms of its output and reverence: Hanna-Barbera. Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Hanna-Barbera absolutely dominated the TV animation field for decades, creating a plethora of shows that are universally loved. With cartoons like ‘The Yogi Bear Show’ and ‘Scooby-Doo: Where Are You!’, their reign over American television and Saturday morning cartoons is unlike anything else. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to...
- 9/7/2022
- by Ben Ross
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Don Jurwich, a longtime writer-director-producer at Hanna-Barbera and Marvel Productions, died July 13 of natural causes. He was 87.
Starting his career in animation as a layout and background artist, Jurwich worked his way up in storyboarding, eventually becoming a producer and director.
While working at Hanna-Barbera, Jurwich produced and directed “Scooby Doo,” “The Superfriends,” “Captain Caveman, “Richie Rich,” “Fonz and the Happy Days Gang,” along with one hour prime-time special, “Scooby Goes Hollywood.”
At Marvel, Jurwich directed “Spiderman and His Amazing Friends.” He also produced 85 half-hour episodes of “G.I. Joe,” along with the miniseries “G.I. Joe: The Movie,” which was later released as a feature film.
Over the course of his 40-year career, Jurwich contributed to animated series including “Road Runner,” “The Pink Panther,” “Rocky and Bullwinkle,” “The Flintstones,” “George The Jungle,” “Yogi Bear,” “Tom & Jerry” — along with their mini-me successor, the “Tom & Jerry Kids Show.” Jurwich also...
Starting his career in animation as a layout and background artist, Jurwich worked his way up in storyboarding, eventually becoming a producer and director.
While working at Hanna-Barbera, Jurwich produced and directed “Scooby Doo,” “The Superfriends,” “Captain Caveman, “Richie Rich,” “Fonz and the Happy Days Gang,” along with one hour prime-time special, “Scooby Goes Hollywood.”
At Marvel, Jurwich directed “Spiderman and His Amazing Friends.” He also produced 85 half-hour episodes of “G.I. Joe,” along with the miniseries “G.I. Joe: The Movie,” which was later released as a feature film.
Over the course of his 40-year career, Jurwich contributed to animated series including “Road Runner,” “The Pink Panther,” “Rocky and Bullwinkle,” “The Flintstones,” “George The Jungle,” “Yogi Bear,” “Tom & Jerry” — along with their mini-me successor, the “Tom & Jerry Kids Show.” Jurwich also...
- 8/5/2021
- by Jennifer Yuma
- Variety Film + TV
It’s blockbuster season and Amazon Prime is celebrating by bringing a major action film to its stream.
That’s right, Amazon Prime’s list of new releases for July 2021 is highlighted by none other than The Tomorrow War on July 2. The year is 2051 and mankind is locked in a vicious war against an alien species. Our only hope is to go back in time and find…Chris Pratt. Ok, perhaps that’s a little reductive of the film’s plot. Future humanity also comes back to bring Sam Richardson to the future.
In terms of originals, there isn’t much else to speak of on Amazon Prime this month. The only other major release is The Pursuit of Love on July 30. This BBC series is directed by Emily Mortimer and takes place during the WWII era and follows two cousins as they navigate their lives. Lily James and Andrew Scott star.
That’s right, Amazon Prime’s list of new releases for July 2021 is highlighted by none other than The Tomorrow War on July 2. The year is 2051 and mankind is locked in a vicious war against an alien species. Our only hope is to go back in time and find…Chris Pratt. Ok, perhaps that’s a little reductive of the film’s plot. Future humanity also comes back to bring Sam Richardson to the future.
In terms of originals, there isn’t much else to speak of on Amazon Prime this month. The only other major release is The Pursuit of Love on July 30. This BBC series is directed by Emily Mortimer and takes place during the WWII era and follows two cousins as they navigate their lives. Lily James and Andrew Scott star.
- 7/1/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Donald Douglas, a film editor known for Murder, She Wrote, George Washington and The Eddie Capra Mysteries, has died. His family announced that Douglas died October 3 at Grace Pointe in Greeley, Co, after a brief illness. He was 87.
The two-time Emmy nominee was born in 1932 in Kendall, Fl. At seventeen, Douglas enlisted in the Air Force and served for four years as a radar operator during the Korean War. While training for his Air Force service in California, Douglas met and married his first wife Kaye, with whom he would have four children.
After his time in the Air Force, Douglas returned to Southern California, where he caught the attention of Hanna Barbera boss Bill Hanna and dipped his feet into film editing. Douglas launched his decades-long film editing career at Hanna Barbera and went on to work multiple shows including The Yogi Bear Show, The Jetsons, The Flintstones and Jonny Quest.
The two-time Emmy nominee was born in 1932 in Kendall, Fl. At seventeen, Douglas enlisted in the Air Force and served for four years as a radar operator during the Korean War. While training for his Air Force service in California, Douglas met and married his first wife Kaye, with whom he would have four children.
After his time in the Air Force, Douglas returned to Southern California, where he caught the attention of Hanna Barbera boss Bill Hanna and dipped his feet into film editing. Douglas launched his decades-long film editing career at Hanna Barbera and went on to work multiple shows including The Yogi Bear Show, The Jetsons, The Flintstones and Jonny Quest.
- 10/14/2020
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Voice actor veteran Julie Bennett died Tuesday in Los Angeles from complications related to coronavirus at 88, according to talent agent and friend Mark Scroggs.
Bennett was best known for her work in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series “The Yogi Bear Show” as Cindy Bear, Yogi’s sweet, southern love interest.
Bennett was born in Manhattan on Jan. 24, 1932, but grew up in Los Angeles. After graduating from Beverly Hills High School, she returned to New York where she began her career in theater, radio and television before eventually settling in L.A.
Her live-action TV credits include “Dragnet,” “Leave It to Beaver,” “Get Smart,” “Love, American Style” and “Superman,” as well as appearances on variety shows such as “The Tonight Show,” “The Sid Caesar Show” and several specials on “The Bob Hope Show.”
However, Bennett found her niche as a voice actor, bringing to life the personality of Cindy Bear for over...
Bennett was best known for her work in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series “The Yogi Bear Show” as Cindy Bear, Yogi’s sweet, southern love interest.
Bennett was born in Manhattan on Jan. 24, 1932, but grew up in Los Angeles. After graduating from Beverly Hills High School, she returned to New York where she began her career in theater, radio and television before eventually settling in L.A.
Her live-action TV credits include “Dragnet,” “Leave It to Beaver,” “Get Smart,” “Love, American Style” and “Superman,” as well as appearances on variety shows such as “The Tonight Show,” “The Sid Caesar Show” and several specials on “The Bob Hope Show.”
However, Bennett found her niche as a voice actor, bringing to life the personality of Cindy Bear for over...
- 4/2/2020
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Spinoffs are derivations of narratives from already existing shows; they are not a new thing in the entertainment industry. Since the 1980s, many of America’s famous TV shows have been recreated to develop spinoffs that focus on specific elements of the original shows. In the world of animation, the first animated spinoff was “The Yogi Bear Show,” which aired in 1961, and since then, producers have followed suit to create the best spinoffs ever. On October 3rd, 2019, at the New York Comic-com event, Netflix announced that they would be creating a new spinoff off their animation show, “Big Mouth.”
Everything We Know about the Big Mouth Spinoff from Netflix...
Everything We Know about the Big Mouth Spinoff from Netflix...
- 10/10/2019
- by Aiden Mason
- TVovermind.com
If Yogi Bear could ever have worked as a film, that time was around 1962 when the original The Yogi Bear show had just stopped producing new episodes. It wouldn’t have been a particularly polished film, but it would have stayed true to its roots in both tone, cast, and style. Daws Butler and Don Messick were the original bear duo and their voices in the roles are as iconic as the famous catchphrases; because of this, the announcement that Dan Aykroyd would take on the role of Yogi in the Yogi Bear movie and that he wouldn’t be studying Butler’s method put a lot of Hanna-Barbera traditionalists on edge. Were they right to worry? Yes, but not about him.
First, the things Yogi Bear did right. Do Yogi (Aykroyd) and Boo Boo (Justin Timberlake) like to steal picnic baskets? Yes. Does Yogi hatch stupid plans that Boo Boo warns him against?...
First, the things Yogi Bear did right. Do Yogi (Aykroyd) and Boo Boo (Justin Timberlake) like to steal picnic baskets? Yes. Does Yogi hatch stupid plans that Boo Boo warns him against?...
- 3/31/2011
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Opening this week is Yogi Bear, a 3D live-action/CGI reworking of the classic TV cartoon series of the same name. Originally aired in the early 1960s, The Yogi Bear show was a creation of the late, great producing team of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera whose Hanna-barbera Studios ruled television’s animation market with such shows as Huckleberry Hound, [...]...
- 12/16/2010
- by Bob Healy
- ReelRave
It looks like some famous faces may be on their way to Jellystone Park. Anna Faris, Dan Aykroyd, and Justin Timberlake are in talks to star in the upcoming Yogi Bear feature film.
Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Yogi Bear debuted on The Huckleberry Hound Show in 1958 and soon graduated to his own show, The Yogi Bear Show and numerous spin-offs.
Yogi was originally voiced by the legendary Daws Butler. Following his death in 1988, many of Butler's characters were taken over by Greg Burson, one of Butler's students. Yogi's pal, Boo-Boo, was performed by Don Messick until his retirement in the 1990s and has since been played by Tom Kenny and John Kricfalusi.
When the upcoming live-action Yogi movie was discussed last year, Ash Brannon (Surf’s Up, Toy Story 2) was slated to direct. The...
Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Yogi Bear debuted on The Huckleberry Hound Show in 1958 and soon graduated to his own show, The Yogi Bear Show and numerous spin-offs.
Yogi was originally voiced by the legendary Daws Butler. Following his death in 1988, many of Butler's characters were taken over by Greg Burson, one of Butler's students. Yogi's pal, Boo-Boo, was performed by Don Messick until his retirement in the 1990s and has since been played by Tom Kenny and John Kricfalusi.
When the upcoming live-action Yogi movie was discussed last year, Ash Brannon (Surf’s Up, Toy Story 2) was slated to direct. The...
- 11/6/2009
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Justin Timberlake is really getting into this movie thing. The singer is already signed on for the upcoming Facebook movie, and now Ok! is reporting that Timberlake is in negotations to play the straight-talking bear cub, Boo Boo, in a new live-action and computer animated movie version of The Yogi Bear Show. Among the celebs in talks to star in the movie are Anna Faris and Dan Aykroyd, with shooting expected to start in New Zealand next month. Would you like to see J.T. in the Yogi Bear movie?...
- 11/6/2009
- by Celebuzz
- Celebuzz.com
Hey Boo Boo! Another classic cartoon character is making his way to the big screen. Yogi Bear is coming to movie theaters for a second time.
Yogi Bear was created by animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the founders of the Hanna-Barbera animation studio. The character debuted on The Huckleberry Hound Show TV series which began running in syndication in 1958. The Yogi segments usually revolve around a familiar plot: With the help of his faithful buddy Boo Boo Bear, Yogi tries to outsmart Ranger Smith and pilfer picnic baskets from tourists who come to visit Jellystone National Park.
A few years later, Yogi graduated to his own TV show, The Yogi Bear Show. From there, Yogi moved to the big screen and the 1964 animated musical, Hey There, It's Yogi Bear. The character's popularity continued for the next three decades and he was part of many spin-off series, comics, games, and products.
Yogi Bear was created by animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the founders of the Hanna-Barbera animation studio. The character debuted on The Huckleberry Hound Show TV series which began running in syndication in 1958. The Yogi segments usually revolve around a familiar plot: With the help of his faithful buddy Boo Boo Bear, Yogi tries to outsmart Ranger Smith and pilfer picnic baskets from tourists who come to visit Jellystone National Park.
A few years later, Yogi graduated to his own TV show, The Yogi Bear Show. From there, Yogi moved to the big screen and the 1964 animated musical, Hey There, It's Yogi Bear. The character's popularity continued for the next three decades and he was part of many spin-off series, comics, games, and products.
- 10/2/2008
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
New York -- Warner Bros. is taking a trip to Jellystone Park.
The studio is developing a feature version of "Yogi Bear," the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon, and "Surf's Up" co-helmer/co-writer Ash Brannon is attached to direct.
Endeavor-repped Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia, who exec produced "That '70s Show" and are writing the feature "Tooth Fairy" for Fox, are penning the screenplay. Donald De Line is producing via his De Line Pictures; Karen Rosenfelt is also producing, with Jon Berg overseeing for Warners.
The project, culled from Warners' vast library, is planned as a live-action/animated hybrid along the lines of Fox's 2007 hit "Alvin & the Chipmunks." Much of the movie will be live-action, but Yogi Bear and sidekick Boo Boo will be done in CG.
Yogi Bear first appeared as a supporting character in 1958 in another classic cartoon, "The Huckleberry Hound Show." In 1961, he got his own show, which has...
The studio is developing a feature version of "Yogi Bear," the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon, and "Surf's Up" co-helmer/co-writer Ash Brannon is attached to direct.
Endeavor-repped Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia, who exec produced "That '70s Show" and are writing the feature "Tooth Fairy" for Fox, are penning the screenplay. Donald De Line is producing via his De Line Pictures; Karen Rosenfelt is also producing, with Jon Berg overseeing for Warners.
The project, culled from Warners' vast library, is planned as a live-action/animated hybrid along the lines of Fox's 2007 hit "Alvin & the Chipmunks." Much of the movie will be live-action, but Yogi Bear and sidekick Boo Boo will be done in CG.
Yogi Bear first appeared as a supporting character in 1958 in another classic cartoon, "The Huckleberry Hound Show." In 1961, he got his own show, which has...
- 10/2/2008
- by By Steven Zeitchik
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Turner Broadcasting said Friday it plans to launch a new channel here named Cartoon Network TOO. The broadcaster also said it plans to introduce Boomerang+1, a one-hour time-lag broadcast channel to bolster its kids portfolio and penetration in the U.K. market. TOO will carry a range of modern classic cartoons and familiar favorites when it launches next year, the company said. TOO will carry such toons from the Hanna Barbera library as Yogi Bear, Wacky Races and Hong Kong Phooey alongside popular Cartoon Network Original properties such as Dexter's Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls. "With the largest cartoon library in the world as its basis, and having invested an average of $100 million a year on new shows internationally, Cartoon Network has now reached a point in its development where it has a treasure trove of back catalog content crying out for a channel of its own," said Dee Forbes, senior vp and general manager of Turner Broadcasting System U.K. and Ireland. In 2006, Turner also will launch Boomerang+1, a cartoon channel for the family, set at a one-hour time shift.
- 11/18/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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