Dallas McKennon

Tony, the Tiger’s Frosted Sugar Flakes character was born with the pipes of Dallas McKennon, who was Tony from 1952 to 1953.

Dallas Raymond McKennon was born on July 19, 1919, near La Grande, Oregon. His childhood was marked by hardship when his mother died while he was still young, after which he was raised by an aunt and uncle on their farm. Growing up in rural northeastern Oregon fostered a lifelong fascination with nature, history, and storytelling that would later influence both his educational work and his entertainment career. Information regarding his formal education is limited, as he entered the workforce at a

young age and developed his talents largely through practical experience rather than extensive academic training. During World War II, McKennon served in the United States Army Signal Corps in Alaska, where he continued to refine his remarkable ability to mimic voices and accents while entertaining fellow servicemen.

After the war, McKennon moved to California and began building what would become one of the longest and most versatile careers in American voice acting. During the late 1940s and early 1950s he became involved in radio and television, creating and hosting the Los Angeles children’s television program Space Funnies/Capt. Jet. The program became notable for introducing young audiences to

classic comedy shorts featuring Laurel and Hardy and the Little Rascals. McKennon’s friendly personality, improvisational skills, and ability to create dozens of distinctive character voices quickly made him a sought-after performer in animation. Over more than six decades in entertainment, McKennon lent his voice to hundreds of animated characters while also serving as a voice director and casting director.

Tony the Tiger has been the mascot since the beginning of 1952. For 5 decades, Thurl Ravenscroft was the voice of Tony and is credited with the catchphrase “They’re Grrreat!”. Tony, the Tiger’s Frosted Sugar Flakes character was born with the pipes of Dallas McKennon, who was Tony from 1952 to 1953. Lee Marshall served as an understudy to Ravenscroft and provided a singing voice from 1999 to 2005 and took over for Ravenscroft from 2005 until 2014. Tex Brashear and Jim Cummings have taken over since then, and several other voices can be heard in other countries.

His work with animator Art Clokey on Gumby and Davey and Goliath became particularly influential, and he remained closely associated with the Gumby franchise throughout his career. He also worked extensively on Filmation productions,

including several Archie animated series, and contributed to numerous Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker cartoons. His vocal performances appeared in productions ranging from Q.T. Hush and The Hardy Boys animated series to The Jetsons, The Flintstones, The Smurfs, and many other television programs.

Disney audiences heard his voice in attractions at Disneyland, and filmgoers recognized him in classic productions such as Lady and the Tramp, where he provided the voices of the beaver and the wolf, as well as numerous live-action films in supporting roles. Under the pseudonym Charles Farrington,

he also served as voice director for Gumby: The Movie. His versatility extended into video games, where he voiced characters in the Crash Bandicoot series late in his career, introducing his talents to a new generation.

Movies

The following lists are from Wikipedia

  • Pinocchio (1940) – Donkeys (voice, uncredited)
  • Lady and the Tramp (1955) – Toughy / Pedro / Professor / Hyena (voices)
  • Paul Bunyan (1958, Short) – Cal McNab (voice)
  • Sleeping Beauty (1959) – Owl/Diablo (voice)
  • Bend of the River (1952) – Miner (uncredited)
  • Tom Thumb (1959) – Con-Fu-Shon
  • The Tingler (1959) – Projectionist (uncredited)
  • Have Rocket, Will Travel (1959) – The Unicorn (voice, uncredited)
  • One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) – Barking Dogs (voice)
  • Womanhunt (1962)
  • Let No Man Write My Epitaph (1960) – Court Clerk (uncredited)
  • Wagon Train (1960) – Hotel Clerk Kelly
  • The Silent Call (1961) – Old Man
  • Twist Around the Clock (1961) – Motel Proprietor (uncredited)
  • Son of Flubber (1963) – 1st Juror (uncredited)
  • The Birds (1963) – Sam, the Cook (uncredited)
  • House of the Damned (1963) – Mr. Quinby
  • Twilight of Honor (1963) – Mr. Phillips (uncredited)
  • The Wheeler Dealers (1963) – Sea Captain / Prissy Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
  • Come Out Party (1963, Short) – Inspector Willoughby (voice)
  • The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964) – Detective Hutchins
  • A Tiger Walks (1964) – Reporter (uncredited)
  • 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) – Lean Cowboy
  • Mary Poppins (1964) – Fox / Penguin #2 / Hunting Horse / Merry-Go-Round Operator (voices, uncredited)
  • The Glory Guys (1965) – Karl Harpane
  • Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966) – Bees (voice, uncredited)
  • Clambake (1967) – Bearded Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
  • Sissy Sheriff (1967, Short) – Sugarfoot / Dirty McNasty
  • Cat and Dupli-cat (1967, Tom and Jerry short) – Jerry Mouse (singing voice)
  • The Love God? (1969) – Bird Caller (uncredited)
  • Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) – Bear (voice)
  • Treasure Island (1973) – Captain Flint / Ben Gunn (voice)
  • Oliver Twist (1974) – Bookseller / Charlie Bates (voices)
  • Journey Back to Oz (1972) – Omby Amby (voice)
  • Emilio and His Magical Bull (1975)
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) – Bees (voice, uncredited)
  • The Cat from Outer Space (1978) – Charlie Cooney
  • Hot Lead and Cold Feet (1978) – Saloon Man
  • Tourist Trap (1979) – Mask (voice, archived recording of laugh)
  • Mystery Mansion (1983) – Sam
  • The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985) – Jim Smiley (voice)
  • The Puppetoon Movie (1987) – Gumby / Additional voices
  • Wee Sing: King Cole’s Party (1987) – Crooked Old Man
  • The Talking Christmas Tree (1990) – Santa Claus
  • Frozen Assets (1992) – Stud of the Year Octogenarian
  • Gumby: The Movie (1995) – Gumby / Professor Kapp / Fatbuckle / Lucky Claybert / Nobuckle (voice) (credited as Charles Farrington)
  • Elf (2003) – Jack-in-the-Box (voice, archived recording of laugh)
  • Over the Hedge (2006) – (voice, archived recording of laugh)

TV

  • Woody Woodpecker (1952–1972) – Buzz Buzzard / Willoughby / Paw (voices)
  • Captain Jet and the Little Rascals (1956–1957) – Captain Jet (voice)
  • Hergé’s Adventures of Tintin (1957) – Tintin / Professor Calculus (voices)
  • The Gumby Show (1957, 1960–1964) – Gumby / Pokey / Prickle / Nopey / Gumbo (only in Chicken Feed) / Henry (re-dubbed voice) / Rodgy (re-dubbed voice) / Granny (voices)
  • The Woody Woodpecker Show (1957–1958, Walter Lantz Series) – Buzz Buzzard (voice)
  • Bucky and Pepito8 – Bucky and Pepito (voice)
  • Q. T. Hush (1960) – Q.T. Hush / Shamus (voices)
  • Inspector Willoughby (1960–1965, Walter Lantz series)
  • Gunsmoke (1961–1962) – Jake / Homesteader
  • Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse (1960–1962) – Courageous Cat / Minute Mouse / Additional voices
  • Ben Casey (1962) – Waco Martin
  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1963) – Jim Tolliver
  • My Favorite Martian (1963) – Mailman
  • Daniel Boone (1964, 80 episodes) – Cincinnatus
  • Sinbad Jr. and His Magic Belt (1965–1966) – Sinbad Jr. (voice)
  • Bonanza (1966) – Jenkins
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) – Max (voice)
  • The Andy Griffith Show (1967) – Brian Jackson
  • Iron Horse (1967) – Gabe
  • Dundee and the Culhane (1967, TV Series) – Al
  • Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? (1968) – Old Soldier
  • Lotsa Luck (1968) – (voice)
  • Archie’s Funhouse (1968) – Archie Andrews / Hot Dog / Mr. Weatherbee (voices)
  • The Archie Show (1968) – Archie Andrews / Hot Dog / Mr. Weatherbee (voice)
  • The Hardy Boys (1969) – Joe Hardy / Chubby Morton (voice)
  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1969–1970) – Salem / Archie Andrews / Hot Dog / Mr. Weatherbee / Batso / Ratso (voices)
  • The Andersonville Trial (1970, TV Movie) – First Guard
  • Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies (1970) – Salem / Archie Andrews / Hot Dog / Mr. Weatherby / Rover / Batso / Ratso (voices)
  • Aesop’s Fables (1971) – Owl / Frog / Rooster and Beaver (voices)
  • Cannon (1971) – Bucky Fosdick
  • Daffy Duck and Porky Pig Meet the Groovie Goolies (1972) – Sylvester the Cat (voice, meowing sounds)
  • The U.S. of Archie (1974) – Archie Andrews / Hot Dog / Mr. Weatherbee (voices)
  • Space Academy (1977) – Johnny Sunseed
  • The American Adventure (1982) – Benjamin Franklin / Soldier #2
  • Goof Troop (1992) – Old Man in Bathtub (voice)

Video_Games

  • Crash Bandicoot (1996) – Ripper Roo
  • Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (1997) – Ripper Roo
  • Vampire Savior (1997) – Laugh sound effect
  • Crash Team Racing (1999) – Ripper Roo
  • M.U.G.E.N (1999) – Various voices
  • Crash Bash (2000) – Ripper Roo
  • Disney’s Magical Mirror Starring Mickey Mouse (2002) – The Ghost
  • Grabbed by the Ghoulies (2003) – Laugh sound effect
  • LocoRoco (2006) – Stock laughter heard in the Dolangomeri level theme; reused in the sequel in the same world’s level theme

Albums

  • Story and Songs of Mary Poppins – Bert/Narrator
  • Story and Songs of The Jungle Book – Narrator/Bagheera
  • More Jungle Book – Narrator/Bagheera
  • Story and Songs of Bedknobs and Broomsticks – Emelius/Narrator
  • Story of Lady and the Tramp – Tramp
  • Story of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea – Ned Land
  • The Story of Sword in the Stone – Sir Ector
  • Hector, the Stowaway Pup – Hector
  • Donald Duck and His Friends – Scrooge McDuck
  • The Wizard of Oz – Scarecrow, other voices
  • The Scarecrow of Oz – Captain Andy
  • The Tin Woodman of Oz – Scarecrow, other voices
  • The Cowardly Lion of Oz – Scarecrow, other voices
  • The Story of Treasure Island – Narrator
  • The Story of Robin Hood – Narrator
  • The Story of The Boatniks – Narrator/Harry
  • The Story of The Love Bug – Peter Thorndyke
  • Toby Tyler in the Circus – Mr. Tupper
  • The Story of Swiss Family Robinson – Father
  • The Hall of Presidents Soundtrack – Andrew Jackson
  • The Story of 101 Dalmatians – Collie, other voices
  • tom thumb Soundtrack – Various Voices
  • Woody Woodpecker and His Friends – Inspector Willoughby
  • The Animal Village – Various Voices
  • Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies (1985) – Narrator / Crooked old man
  • Wee Sing America (1987) – Various voices
  • Wee Sing Silly Songs (1988 re-recording) – Various voices
  • Wee Sing: Fun n Folk (1989) – Various voices
  • Wee Sing Around the Campfire (1990 re-recording) – Various voices
  • Wee Sing Dinosaurs (1991) – Various voices
  • Wee Sing Animals Animals Animals (1999) – Various voices
  • Centerpoint: Poetry & Music for Christmas – Featured reader

Theme_Park

  • Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland – Narrator
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Safety spiel
  • Country Bear Jamboree – Zeke
  • The Hall of Presidents – Andrew Jackson
  • It’s a Small World – Laughing hyenas
  • The American Adventure – Benjamin Franklin
  • The Haunted Mansion – Deaf Old Man

Outside the entertainment industry, McKennon devoted considerable energy to preserving the history of the Oregon Trail. He became an accomplished amateur historian and frequently visited schools throughout the Pacific Northwest to educate children about westward expansion and Oregon history. He also worked with the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, where he developed educational

presentations, stories, songs, and historical programs. His enthusiasm for teaching extended to language education as well, as he collaborated with Oregon Public Broadcasting on The Pappenheimers, an instructional series designed to help children learn German. McKennon married his childhood sweetheart, Betty Warner, in Portland, Oregon, in 1942. Their marriage lasted for more than six decades and produced eight children, including six daughters and two sons. Although much of his professional work centered in Southern California,

the family relocated to Cannon Beach, Oregon, in 1968, and McKennon commuted as needed for recording sessions while enjoying a quieter life in his home state. Friends and colleagues consistently described him as generous, enthusiastic, and deeply committed to encouraging young performers and educating children.

Although he never received major competitive entertainment awards, McKennon earned widespread respect within the animation industry as one of its pioneering voice performers and directors. His extraordinary range, professionalism, and longevity made him an important figure in the development of television animation, and many later voice

actors cited him as an inspiration. His contributions to children’s entertainment, animation, and historical education ensured that his influence extended well beyond the characters he portrayed. Dallas McKennon died of natural causes on Tuesday, July 14, 2009,

at the Willapa Harbor Care Center in Raymond, Washington, just five days before his ninetieth birthday. He was survived by his wife, Betty, their eight children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and generations of admirers who remembered his unmistakable voice from countless cartoons, films, television programs, and educational projects.

His legacy remains firmly established as one of the most prolific and versatile voice actors of the twentieth century, whose work helped shape American animation from its earliest television years through the dawn of modern digital entertainment.

Further Reading
Sources

Author: Doyle

I was born in Atlanta, moved to Alpharetta at 4, lived there for 53 years and moved to Decatur in 2016. I've worked at such places as Richway, North Fulton Medical Center, Management Science America (Computer Tech/Project Manager) and Stacy's Compounding Pharmacy (Pharmacy Tech).

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