Voice of Father at Carousel of Progress

[las3888]

Does anybody know who the voice of the father is at the Carousel of Progress? I have seen this attraction dozens of times but this past week I noticed his voice sounded so much like the narrator of 'A Christmas Story'...anybody else notice the similarity?

 

[Metro West]

According to this website, you're right about the voices being the same. Check it out: http://www.carouselofprogress.com/The Carousel of Progress show.htm

 

[las3888]

Thanks! I now know I'm not crazy! Now I hear the Bugs Bunny too in Uncle Orville...neat info!

 

[Johnfish]

The gentleman who voices the COP and Christmas story are one and the same. Jean Shepard was an amazing fellow. He was one of my favorite late night radio talkers in new york during the sixties. He used to tell all these great childhood stories about flick and schwartz and ralphie ( he is actually ralphie) A Christmas Story is based on one of his short stories "The Red Ryder Strikes Again or You'll Shoot Your Eye Out". If you enjoy his humor pick up some of his books. The Red Ryder story is in the book "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash". The other books of his I have read is " The Ferarri in the Bedroom" and "Wanda Hickies Night of Golden Memories". All three books are great and contain stories about his (Ralphies childhood). I beleive there are others but I dont recall the titles. There is also another move out called "A Summer Story" with the same characters but different actors (Charles Groden as the Old Man). Its not quite as good as "A Christmas Story" But still very funny. He also had several PBS series that followed these stories. He has a unique voice and narritive style. I think he is a perfect fit for the COP.

Sorry if I rambled on. Jean Shepard just happens to be one of my favorite celebrities!!


John

 

[JoannaOhio]

Sorry if I rambled on. Jean Shepard just happens to be one of my favorite celebrities!!

Mine, too, John. Besides the Red Ryder story, I also love "The Great Orpheum Gravy Boat Riot". (If others are intrigued by the title, please look it up. You'll be surprised and delighted.)

 

[Johnfish]

Hi JoannaOhio, that is one I think I missed. I am going to have to go to barnes and noble and try to find someof his books. It has been some time since Ive read them.

Did you happen to catch any of his radio shows? I am hoping they come out with some on cd.

John

 

[perdidobay]

I love Jean Shepard too. In his book In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, the story about he and his dad and their yearly fireworks sale cracks me up.

 

[snowy76]

Wow! I love Jean Sheperd and never noticed this. Someone mentioned the Summer Story in an earlier post... Disney Channel also made a Sheperd movie back in the late 80s or early 90s. It was called "Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss." It starred Jerry O'Connell as Ralphie and James Sikking as the dad. It always cracked me up.

BTW, I just discovered that DD9 thinks the CoP narrator (the figure, not the voice) is supposed to be Walt Disney. She keeps asking me if we'll go on "that ride, you know, where Walt Disney sits there and the room keeps changing???"

I guess when you think about it, to a 9 year old he MIGHT look like Walt!

 

[slp87]

COP has always been one of my favorite attractions so I love learning more about it. I never connected the dad's voice with the Christmas Story one. This is an interesting article that ran on Mouse Planet a while back that talks about the man who was the physical model for the dad.

Magical Memories