By the early 60s, Woody Woodpecker had been a cartoon icon for nearly 20 years. He had gone through several makeovers physically, audibly and personality wise. He had established a legacy of outwitting such antagonists as Wally Walrus and Buzz Buzzard, and had even gained a few family members (Splinter and Knothead as voiced by June Foray :)
Later, the studio phased out Wally and Buzz became more scarce. New antagonists weren't nearly as memorable (Dooley and Mrs. Meaney...yawn) but Gabby Gator (voiced by the great Daws Butler) was the one character who came along that brightened a few of the "Woody version 5.0" cartoons. In the late 50s, Woody's eyes stopped being green. It was a sign that the Golden Age of cartoons was beginning to end. Animation studios were looking for ways to save money, and cheapening the animation process was but one offense. Stories had once been clever and funny. Now they were dull and lackluster. Though I have never had anything against Gracie Stafford voicing Woody, by the time she took the job, WW cartoons had become really boring and unremarkable compared with their predecessors.
But in this short, the delightful presence of Gabby makes all the difference. It may not be a masterpiece cartoon, but it's fun, and funny, to watch Gabby try desperately to deceive the woodpecker into thinking he's staying in a posh resort. Carrot flavored soap chips LOL
Later, the studio phased out Wally and Buzz became more scarce. New antagonists weren't nearly as memorable (Dooley and Mrs. Meaney...yawn) but Gabby Gator (voiced by the great Daws Butler) was the one character who came along that brightened a few of the "Woody version 5.0" cartoons. In the late 50s, Woody's eyes stopped being green. It was a sign that the Golden Age of cartoons was beginning to end. Animation studios were looking for ways to save money, and cheapening the animation process was but one offense. Stories had once been clever and funny. Now they were dull and lackluster. Though I have never had anything against Gracie Stafford voicing Woody, by the time she took the job, WW cartoons had become really boring and unremarkable compared with their predecessors.
But in this short, the delightful presence of Gabby makes all the difference. It may not be a masterpiece cartoon, but it's fun, and funny, to watch Gabby try desperately to deceive the woodpecker into thinking he's staying in a posh resort. Carrot flavored soap chips LOL