…coming from? Figuring out what made Janet Waldo tick might even be more difficult than finding the other Waldo in a crowd of greedy celebrities. If you are not familiar with the name Janet Waldo, I can bet that you’ve probably heard her voice at some point in your life. She provided voices for all kinds of cartoons, radio shows, commercials, and even a Disney World ride. Her most famous voice-over was probably for that of Judy Jetson in The Jetsons. She can also be heard in the The Flintstones, Wacky Races, The Perils of Penelope Pitstop, Josie and the Pussycats, The Smurfs, and The Chipmunks – just to name a small handful. Also of personal interest, she did voices on the Laurel and Hardy Cartoon series and The New Adventures of Superman (as Lana Lang).
One of my personal favorites was her role as Emmylou on the radio show The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, where as the Nelson’s young neighbor girl, she would often leave Ozzie flustered. She’d go on to star in 16 episodes of the Ozzie & Harriet TV show as well. In fact she’d often appear onscreen in such shows as The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy, and Petticoat Junction. She provided the voice for the Grandmother during the fourth scene of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at Walt Disney World.
Understandably, I was interested in meeting this person. I had already obtained a signed photo of her when she had appeared at Hollywood Collector Show in late 1990’s through my friend Bob. My only goal when she appeared at the Hollywood Show on February 12, 2011, was to get a photo with her.
Chatting with her was an awesome experience at first. We talked about working with Ozzie & Harriet, and she seemed genuinely ecstatic that someone my age had such fond memories of her work in old radio. She was falling all over herself with appreciation and gratitude. I was so taken with her that I decided to go ahead a buy one of the nice photos she had on her table, from her appearance on I Love Lucy in the episode The Young Fans.
But in the midst of all of the gushing and falling over each other, after I had already paid for my photo, I asked to get a picture with her, which was really all I wanted in the first place… and I swear I heard her say “It’s gonna cost you.” I wasn’t sure if she was serious or what, but immediately my selective hearing went into place. I also am pretty sure that I heard her handler (which I believe was her daughter) say to her that she didn’t need to charge. I may or may not have heard her mention charging me a second time.
I went behind the table, got my picture with her, and then I walked away from the table. I’m not sure what I heard, and I hope I didn’t hear what I think I heard, but I’m pretty sure I know what I heard. And if I truly heard the word that I thought I heard, even if slurred, this obscure 87-year old woman has nerve to herd this nerd with a charge that was this absurd. But nevertheless, I found Waldo, and here she is…
Celebrities of the 2011 Winter Hollywood Show will continue…
So what did you hear?
Aaron
December 21st, 2011
That she wanted to charge me to get a picture with her.
Brad
December 21st, 2011