Research Guru
Posted:
Jun 20, 2003, 2:49 PM
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The Original Hulk
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With Hulk debuting today in over 3,500 theaters, let's not forget that The Incredible Hulk first came to the screen in 1966 -- in animated form, as part of The Marvel Superheroes Show.
Thirty-nine six-minute cartoons were produced for syndication by Grantray-Lawrence Animation of Toronto in collaboration with Krantz Film Productions and ARP. Stan Lee, one of two executive producers of the current live-action Hulk, was also executive producer of the TV series.
So...what happened to the original vocal talents for The Incredible Hulk? Here's a rundown:
Paul Soles (Dr. Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Rick Jones): Paul's had a long and distinguished career in voiceovers and live acting. He voiced the title character in Spider-Man and narrated The Wonderful Stories Of Professor Kitzel. He also did voice work in The Smokey Bear Show. A live-action host of many Canadian series, including Take Thirty; he also guested on L.A. Law.
Now in his late 60s, Paul lives in Toronto and still acts; he appeared this year as Irving "The Pickle" Brinkman in the made-for-TV comedy-drama In the Family. Soles, who is Jewish, recently played Shylock in The Merchant of Venice at the Stratford Festival. He'll be glad to do more acting work; his bio (which doesn't mention the Hulk!) is at http://www.etmltd.com/resumes/SOLES.html
He's also a licensed private pilot!
John Vernon (Major Glenn Talbot): Three decades later, he appeared in Marvel Productions, Ltd.'s The Incredible Hulk (1996-97), this time as General "Thunderbolt" Ross. He had the title role in the short-lived 1986 Hanna-Barbera series Wildfire, and had a recurring role as Rupert Thorne in Warner Bros.' Batman: The Animated Series.
Stage-trained, John's been a familiar "bad guy" in movies, including Topaz (1969; directed by Alfred Hitchcock), Justine (1969; directed by George Cukor) and The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976; directed by Clint Eastwood). But who can forget him as Dean Wormer in 1978's Animal House? He's still in the movies.
Peg Dixon (Betty Ross): Like Paul Soles, she worked in Spider-Man...as Betty Brant. She was Ada in the soap opera Strange Paradise and found continuing voice work in Rankin Bass Productions' Festival of Family Classics (1972-73), but then disappeared from the screen.
I've tracked Peg Dixon down! After 40 years as an actor and "sometime-journalist" in Winnipeg, Toronto and Vancouver, she now goes by the name Melissa Dixon. In LYNX, an online journal for poets, she wrote: "I am now retired, living happily on Vancouver Island, close to two sons and daughter on the Lower Mainland, B.C. Since 1992, I have had a number of haiku published in Canadian and American magazines, one which gained a "Best-of-issue Award" in Modern Haiku." She's also involved in tanka, another form of Japanese poetry.
One of her sons, Miles McNamara, has appeared often on TV as an actor; now living in Vancouver, he's a director, contract producer and editor. In 1978, he made a guest appearance on the live-action TV series The Incredible Hulk. Really!
Paul Kligman (General "Thunderbolt" Ross): Yep, Spider-Man again...as J. Jonah Jameson. Also in the abominable Rocket Robin Hood. Co-hosted the Canadian TV series Irish Coffee (1969-70) with Paul Soles. He had minor roles in a couple of 1980s TV-movies, including the 1985 drama Reckless Disregard. Kligman is no longer alive, although I do not know when he died.
Bernard Cowan (Narrator): Cousin of Paul Soles in real life. In Spider-Man as Peter Parker (Peter and Spidey had different voice talent, even if they were the same people); he also did some of the writing. Did vocal work in Festival of Family Classics. Recording supervisor for Rankin Bass Productions' The Smokey Bear Show (1969-70). Died in Toronto on July 17, 1990 of kidney disease.
I wonder what Bruce/The Hulk, Rick Jones, Major Talbot and Betty Ross think of the current Hulk...or of their old series!
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"Oh boy." -- Allan Sherman
(This post was edited by eminovitz on Jun 20, 2003, 4:18 PM)
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Forum Admin
Posted:
Jun 20, 2003, 3:24 PM
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Wow Ethan!
Thanks for that. I just MIGHT copy that over to BCDB, ok?
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Dave Koch
Big Cartoon DataBase
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Research Guru
Posted:
Jun 20, 2003, 4:15 PM
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If you like, "eh"!
Lots of Yahoo searching turned up all this information.
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"Oh boy." -- Allan Sherman
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Animator
Posted:
Jun 21, 2003, 6:33 PM
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Great post eminovitz!
I always enjoy reading your posts.
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Fry: Ooh. "Big Pink." It's the only gum with the breath-freshening power of ham.
Bender: And it pinkens your teeth as you chew!
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Research Guru
Posted:
Jun 21, 2003, 6:52 PM
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You're welcome, Dirt.
One other bit of trivia about Paul "The Hulk" Soles:
He's even had public affairs experience. When he won the job as the new anchor of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation public-affairs show Take Thirty, he beat out the 27-year-old co-anchor of another network's news show.
The "loser's" name was Peter Jennings.
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"Oh boy." -- Allan Sherman
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Member
Posted:
Jun 7, 2011, 2:20 PM
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I have never seen the original animated series, I didn't even know it existed. However, when I was a kid, I loved the television show. I have to admit, that I as a bit disappointed by the new movie, I expected it to be more like the television show, by I guess it was actually based more on the comic book, which makes sense.
[url=http://www.cantaloupe.tv/]web video production
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[url=http://www.cantaloupe.tv/]web video production
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Directing Animator / Contributor
Posted:
Jun 8, 2011, 7:19 PM
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I liked the 1982 "Incredible Hulk" cartoon series on NBC Saturday mornings (with "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" in the same hour block). Stan Lee provided the narration and the stories featured many Marvel villains.
Regular voice cast:
Hulk/Dr. Bruce Banner: Michael Bell
Betty Ross: BJ Ward
General Thunderbolt Ross: Bob Ridgely
Rick Jones: Michael Horton
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"Don't chew gum on camera. Don't whistle. You may kiss Bob Barker but please don't kill him." -announcer Johnny Olson briefing the audience of potential contestants for "The Price is Right"
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Apprentice
Posted:
Jul 30, 2011, 7:03 AM
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Heh i didnt know there was a cartoon of it!
Im glad because i think it would have ruined my love for the show: ONE OF MY FAVOURITES!!
"Retro Television Network" aires it :)
(This post was edited by dude111 on Jul 30, 2011, 7:04 AM)
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