I had long looked forward to meeting Stan Freberg at the Hollywood Show on April 2, 2011, whose fascinating career has spanned over six decades and whose work includes (but is not limited to) writing, drawing, puppeteering, voice-overs, acting, advertising, and stand-up comedy. His works might be frequently seen in the early days of MAD Magazine. His comedy recording of Saint George and the Dragonet was an audio satire which became a rare non-musical performance that reached #1 on Billboard record charts. His face graced the film It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World which was ironic since despite being known for his voice-work, the deputy sheriff character he played remained totally silent.
Stan Freberg had auditioned for the voice role of C3PO in Star Wars, but ultimately recommended to George Lucas that the voice work go to mime actor Anthony Daniels. He voiced the role of Beaver in Disney’s Lady and the Tramp, and did voice work in several Warner Bros. cartoons. The original performances if Beany and Cecil were in a TV puppet show called Time for Beany, with Freberg performing as Cecil. The list of accomplishments goes on and on…
My only disappointment came when I saw that Mr. Freberg was charging $20 for a photo with him in addition to the $20 for an autograph. I has already obtained a signature (via my friend Bob) in my It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World program – as seen here, so I was originally only going for a photo with him. Eventually I spotted the great photo below and decided to get that as well, asking his handler (who happened to be his wife), if I bought a picture, could I get a photo with him included? She said absolutely, so I thought I was making out quite well.
Photo taken at Capitol Records for a Friars Club roast of Glenn Wallichs. Rear: Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, Gordon MacRae, and Nat King Cole. Front: Glenn Wallichs, Dean Martin, and Stan Freberg.
The first sign of trouble came when she jumped in the photo. Fortunately since the flash had been turned off, we took another and she backed out of it. Secondly, a few minutes after I walked away from the table with my goods, a fan came over and said I needed to go back there. I thought I had left my Sharpie there, but it turns out that she was now ready to charge me the $20 for the photo op! I told her that she had said it was included, but she pointed to the price list and said that it was $20. We bantered for a bit, and then I offered to $10 to make up for the misunderstanding. Eventually she agreed.
The photo with the unwanted addition
With the legendary Stan Freberg – but at what cost?
It was sad that this left a sour taste in my mouth about Stan Freberg, but being friends with Freberg’s son Donavan on Facebook, I’ve noticed allusions to the fact that this woman isn’t too popular with a lot of people. So I’ll choose to believe that Stan Freberg himself is probably still a pretty good guy.
Celebrities of the Spring 2011 Hollywood Show will continue…
Poor Stan Freberg. He was shanghai-ed by that broad. ripped him and his kids off. a true golddigger. he’s one of my family’s favorites. sad end for a giant.
C.
Christine
January 14th, 2021