Interviews

I heard this interview when it was first broadcast on ‘Those Were the Days,” and found it most insightful. When it was over, though, I realized I felt unaccountably tired. It dawned on me that I had been sitting at attention the whole time. Why I would do such a thing puzzled me, until I realized that Richard Beals had voiced the leader of every group of adventurous kids in the cartoons I had watched as a child! He had spoken with such authority that, even after thirty-five years, it still commanded respect. I had been sitting there waiting for orders!

After I finished laughing at myself, I rememgbered how, back then, I had so looked forward to being ten, as that youthful leader had been. He always seemed to know what was going on, and the best way to respond to the situation. I never did, and looked forward to the day when, like that leader, /I/ would /get/ it. I dissolved into laughter again upon realizing that, when Mr. Beals was voicing those characters, he was the same age I was now — and that I /still/ didn’t know what was going on! The fact that his work had remained influential after all those years demonstrates what a remarkable actor he is. It also demonstrates the power of the human voice. Visual images can be moving, but, for connection on an elemental level, it’s the voice that will do it. I can hardly remember what those old cartoons looked like; but, when Richard Beals speaks, I still say, “Yes, sir!”