The Lowell Sun from Lowell, Massachusetts • Page 50

Barbara Luddy voice of Disney cartoon characters By MAZURKf Copley News Service HOLLYWOOD "People expect to meet a tall willowy blonde instead of a short, dumpy brunette," mused Bar bara Luddy, one of radio's most famous voices. The versatile actress is a perennial favorite around the Wall Disney Studio having lent her vocal talents to the of the lovely cocker spaniel, "Lady and the Tramp," and the meek Kanga in the featurettes. "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree" and the Oscar winning "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day." In old radio days Miss Luddy was the star or one oi the day's most popular programs. "First Nightcr" in which she starred opposite Les Tremayne. "Everyone expected us to be in Idvc but we were just good friends," said Barbara who runs into the actor every often in'tinseltawn.

"I have been in every type of show business except circus," Barbara proudly emphasizes. "When 1 was eight' years old I began singing with Red Cross productions in my home town of Helena, Mont. Then when the family moved to California got lo do it professionally because my parents were ill." BARBARA TOURED with shows on the West Coiisl as a singer and dancer. Later when her voice changed she switched to nonsinging roles and its unusual timber started a new career for her. "I was an extra in pictures when I was 111 and I was under contract to the old Kox studio." she recalled.

"1 appeared in a series of eomedv shorts called "East Side, West Side!" After a year and a half with the studio stock company they dropped my contract, and that of another promising comedienne, Carole Lombard. Barbara free lanced with Hollvwood radio stations until 'Joining the cast of "First Nighter." When the program moved to Chicago she was put under exclusive contract fa the sponsor. She has acted in TV series including "Adam 13." "Ironside," "Marcus Welby M.D.," "The Shakiest Gun in the West" and Alfred Hitchcock's "Topaz." THE LOWELL SUN Jan. 5, 1972 Page 50 By WILLIAM E. ARM KN'J'O Cast of characters Actress Barbara Luddy is surrounded by Walt Disney feaiures.

the cartoon characters she hos played for Sun Drama Critic NEW YORK Unl.il Billy DeWolfc won his early nightclub fame with a characterization called "Mrs. Murgatroyd," hats held no particular significance for him. They merely served their conventional purposes of providing warmth and something lo be tipped, waved, tossed into rings and taken off to lofty personages and monumental deeds. But sinco the night the eomrdian brought Mrs. Murgatroyd fo life by slapping a flowered hoinet on his head, hats have topped off many of his portrayals.

His mosl recent involvement with a millinery role was his stinl as the voice of the villainous Professor Hinkle, a magician whose magical hat controls the action on "Frosty the Snowman," an animated special fnr Christmas. "My Mrs. Murgatroyd was so effective that everybody who remembers her thinks I was dressed up like a woman," recalls DeWolfe. "Actually, the only unusual thing I had on was a waman't hat. or course, I carried a bag of groceries." The comedian always used the same hat for the routine about the dowdy, lovable housewife with the hilarious escape valves from drudgery.

"I still have that hat," he odds. BORN WILLIAM JONES, he changed his name on the advice of a manager at (he Quincy Theatre in Quincy. where he worked as an usher after school. "The manager, who was a retired actor, look me aside one day," recalls the comedian, "and fold mc the name Jones was ton common for an entertainer. He gave me a job as a dancer, but lie warned mc that I'd never gu anywhere unless I changed my name.

Then he offered me his own namcDeWolfc." DeWoife remained convinced I he wisdom of his name changing decision, especially as his own career prospered and he discovered that performers such as Ray Milland had changed iheir names from Jones, loo. THEN CAME THE occasions on which actresses Shirley Jones and Jennifer Jones won their respective Oscars from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. DcWo'lfe's whole theory was blown. BLONDIE Ted Brs new TV By VERNON SCOTT UPI Hollywood Correspondent HOLLYWOOD (UPI) Ted Bessell, ho spent five years with Mario Thomas in "That Girl," where tillers of romance flourished, begins a new series Jan. 13 with the flat statement that he detests his leading lady.

"She is uncouth, ill mannered, rude, dirty and untalented," said Ted. "There is no communication with Jackie at all," he continued, "She can't lake direction and has answered calls to nature four times while sitting on my lap." The outraged actor was discussing Jackie, a chimpanzee of indeterminate age who co stars with Bessell in "Me and the Chimp," the show that replaces "Funny Face" for the halance of the season. LIKE W.C. Fields, Ted Bessell has a low tolerance for children and animals. His speciai loathing, however, is for Jackie.

He calls the little darling a monkey, refusing even to give the creature the stature of chimpanzt chood. "If the monkey doesn't like a scene she climbs up in the Bessell said. "Ynu Billy De Wolfe: A special topping to his career "I was even more incredulous," he adds, "when I learned that Jennifer Jones originally was Phyllis Isley. I wonder what theatre she ushered at!" The name might not have made a difference in DeWolfe's career, but the dancing break given him by the Quincy Theatre manager led lo a lour with Jimmy Connors' Band and limn supper clubs where he met "Mrs. Murgulroyd." Su his hat is off fo (he CJuincv Theatre and its origilnal DeWolfe.

Billerica churches third annual editio BILLERICA In the tradition of the "Billerica Christus," the third annual edition of "Christus, the Life Story of Christ," will be presented this year. Last year many of (he Billerica rommu nily members became involved in the annual Lenten production. Being an ecumenical effort on the behalf of all Billerica's churches, it is hoped that a big turnout In help make this year's "Christus" the higgesl and best vet will be made. should see a bunch or PHr 'iinunl executives polling banfiiicis end pleading with her to come down. "The monkey is called Buttons' in the show and is supposed to be male.

But she's really a female and I hate her. Ilhink Jackie knows how I feel. Visitor's If the set don't even nod to me. They go right lo Jackie and start talking to her as if she can understand every word they say. She doesn't understand anything." BESSELL said he accepted the series be cause he llioughl i( was funny.

"1 like to do hostile humor," he explained. "I thought my attitude could be entirely negative toward the monkey. And that's true. Right after each scene 1 yell, 'Put her back in the cage." "Much as I don't like the ape, my sense of humor says there's something funny about a man stuck with a monkey he doesn't want." The CBS series is slotted opposite Flip Wilson, a tough opponent, if Hie show fails it will make a monkey of Bessell, If it succeeds the chimp will get the credit. Dean Jones in Disney comedy BURBANK, CALIF.

Dean Jones has been signed by executive producer Ron Miller to star in Walt Disney Productions' "Chateau Bon Vivant," tentative title of a winter comedy directed by Norman Tokar. It is Jones' eighth stellar film rule for the studio. Jones plays a junior executive from llio New York City rat race who runs into some wild surprises when he tries to convert an old Colorado hotel into a ski lodge. His Disney pictures include "Sl.OOO.OOO Duck." "The Love' Bug" and "That Darn Cat." "Chateau Bon Vivant," fo be filmed in color by Technicolor, is scheduled for Januarv 10 start on location in Crested Butte, Colorado. Don Tail wrote the screenplay from a book by Frankie and John O'Hear.

unite to offer of "Christus" Casting ror major speaking roles will start next Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Dale Hal of the First Congregational church on Anduver Road, Billerica. Notification will be given for casting of lesser roles, and mohbies." Help is also needed in the fallowing areas; Wardrobe: stage workers: makeup, advertising and ticket sales. If any persons arc interested in helping Ihcy are invited to attend Ihe meeting Sunday. niA 115" TWECE TO ITS 1 I DAGWOOO YOU RE HOME TEW MINUTES NOW GO OUT AMD I feof OTTER, JIM, 1 SailTTftN 1 YOU'VE EARLV AKD I HAVEN'T WEAWaS I TIGER MICKEY FINN 'J CANY I JUST f4.

COME IN AKO STAND IN IS CLEANI'N'waMnA I OKAY. Afcr 1 fc 'Tmmml pf linda was iw heaven WHEN 1 i did you part Kof coupse' linda is a WFlHEWKeSANCGWaaS, 3TIM lJ with VoUg hello, mjk browhI TSoRKeA I pYSSVi ohfrkno iKsm mo POGO GUMMER STREET isL i(PSgv( IStiTrfCSrl rwiT attach BHHHHHH Vff! LZ I I I Ljl OUT OUR WAY 7 kiu ohm ia dUT wc 'rr, cawtiue SWATTEPFORCOlM'THISTOyCUl DISCUSS LATERS' IT'S SI I 5ETTIrJ'50HOTIMHERE so harp its stuck; have vou hsv EVERSEEHTHEHAKOUUD pilLUM' ITOiER nT HERE BEFORE? WHAT PIC fS WHMJ 1 THEY LOOJi LlkE? CAU YSI) iv Bridge By OSWALD fi Tndav's hand minhl lio taken from a beginner's course on bridge, The bidding is simple anu siraigni loi ward. With 13 high card points North hns a yuund hut mininitiiTi.lTjni ninmonu opening, will) 12 liigli enrd noiiUs am! fivn South has a nonnal good heart rcsiKinsn, innn isacngntccl with hearts, bm contents himself with a raise hoeansr he rlnec not wanl to be in gaiiic unless his narlnor has renl values not the or 7 nolnl minimum li might have hid with mu; heart. The raise lo I wo lienrls Is Soulh's Cuji of ten and he hrmns to I he hoari game. West opens the Jack of clubs.

South wins and knocks out I lie ace of I rumps. Later on lie draws (runic loses tricks tn the other hvo aces. Of course, ir East and West forgcl la take the ace oT spades South winds up with an ovcrlrick. Experls would bid the hand exactly the same way, but we saw il mangled by a couple nf players. The bidding slartcd out mccly but after North's raise to two hearts Soulh decided In try a bid ol Ihrce diamonds.

Ho I played this as a force and wo suppose he had some idea lhal maybe there would be a slam in the combined hands. North jumpcrf to Tour hearts. South passed, but now West decided to try an unusual defense, (lie opened the ace and another diamond. Then he grabbed his ace nf trumps and led third diamond for his partcr to ruff. The defense would be unusual wllhrnil lluil exlrn bid.

As il was Koulh had dug his own grave, JNOIiTH (D) KQ 10 13 KJDS4 WKKT fl 8 2 A fi A73 JKHif! SOUTH PAST A A 10 73 4 Q8 74.1 AM VQJO Q.102 AK5 Budi viilncrnlilne West North South 1 Pnss 1 Puss Pass Puss Pnts Pass OpcninR lcnd By George wriling In George was boslilc Inward everyone," writes R.R.B. nf Downhill, Ariis. "Now I'm i(niy hostile toward DEAR GEORGE: My ideals are .1. Paul Golly and Howard Hughes. I low can 1 become like Ilium? What is your advice? What is Mm hard est part? PAUL DEAR PAUL; Well, I suppose vou can be come like Paul Getty and Howard Hughes if yon 'really try, It's easier to get older, of course.

Disappearing may be nit lougn, out with Medication you can work il mil. Probably the hardest part is gelling your hands on billion dollars or so. OUR BOARDING HOUSE DON HEEE. JUST trC MAj.T AM 71'Nl: I5.MP A FfiClrVt EVES WERE UNdLfvSSES LISTEN that; his 1 PtiniKi I I APE. THICKER 1 THE EfflSWIV BULBS IH THIS PLACE PBflfBLV BV TME PCME LliHT 0T A CAR VEKVOSJE NEEP5 SLA.5SES.