Hit or Miss: Clarence Wheeler

[kaseykockroach]

What do you think of Clarence Wheeler's Lantz scores?
I think that, while they're nowhere near as great as Calker's music, his scores are still pleasing to listen to.

[Matt the Y]

My feelings about Wheeler's music echo Kasey's. His music is, in fact, a definite step down from Calker's (but, then again, so are just about any post-Calker Lantz musician's.....) but Wheeler was a capable composer in his own right. At times, his scores can be a bit lackluster (he was at his worst when he tried to imitate Carl Stalling when he came off as pretentious at best) but whenever Wheeler tried to be his own composer and had a good day, he had more than a good day, he had a great day.

In spite of my own criticisms and reservations towards him, I still think he's somewhat underrated as well. Leonard Maltin in OM&M was far too harsh in dismissing his work in the Lantz chapter. Wheeler's scores could, at times, actually be quite powerful, aggressive, versatile, and even atmospheric when the occasion arose. My favorites scores of his are for "Puny Express" (his first for Lantz), "The Dog That Cried Wolf", "Maw and Paw", "Under the Counter Spy", "Convict Concerto", "Crazy Mixed-Up Pup", "The Bongo Punch", "Three Ring Fling", "Truant Student", "Space Mouse", "Witty Kitty", "Hunger Strife", "Tragic Magic", "Tepee for Two" (his best 1960's score, IMO), and "Rough Riding Hood" the best.

I think Wheeler would probably be better remembered as a composer today if he hadn't had so many lackluster cartoons to have scored during the 1950's and 60's (but that wasn't his fault! :D ... and besides, his scores could sometimes, for me, at least, make lackluster cartoons more watchable. "Tragic Magic" [1962] is most definitely NOT a favorite of mine but I do like Wheeler's music score for it.). Wheeler is probably my second-favorite composer for Lantz after Darrell Calker (that's a huge step down, mind you, but he's still second in rank). I much prefer Wheeler to the vastly overrated Walter Greene whose very bland and ineffective later 1960's scores for Lantz simply could NOT save those lackluster cartoons and, at times, actually made them even worse for me!

[Fibber Fox]

What do you think of Clarence Wheeler's Lantz scores?
I think that, while they're nowhere near as great as Calker's music, his scores are still pleasing to listen to.

Interesting question, Kasey. It's awkward comparing them to Calker because they're completely different styles of music, just as Jack Teagarten is different from Percy Faith.

It's too bad Wheeler didn't have a full orchestra, but there are some clever moments in his scores. The 'Lumbago' gag in 'Real Gone Woody' was handled really well; so well, I thought Don Patterson must have been the director.

F. Fox.