Semi-OT: Gale Gordon vs. Mel Blanc?

[Stanislav]

Recently re-reading The Lucy Book, a great reference work chronicling every one of Lucille Ball's TV appearances, filled with a lot of fun interviews and behind the scenes dirt. Great read.

In the biography section, though, there is this passage about Lucy nemesis Gale Gordon:

"He was loved by almost everyone he encountered, except for a strange antipathy he had towards Mel Blanc (the latter famous as the voice of Bugs Bunny and other cartoon characters). Perhaps it was because they were often competitors for the same types of acting jobs, but the two men just did not get along."

Now, the proposed reason for this alleged "feud" makes absolutely no sense. Gale Gordon spent a career playing the same basic stuffy, pompous character, and never (to my knowledge) did any animation voice work. Mel Blanc had few non-animation roles (with the notable exception of the various characters he portrayed for Jack Benny), and I can't think of any role or voice he did that was Gale Gordon-ish. I can't imagine their ever being in competition for any jobs.

So, the reasoning is specious, but was this "feud" real? (It's the first I've heard of it.) Was there some bad blood between the two men? And if so, why?

[Gasmask Ted]

Blanc was a radio voice over actor for 9 years before he did any animation work, as well as most of the time he was doing animation work (including his own show). This was on a wide variety of shows, not just the Jack Benny show. Plenty of opportunity to develop a rivalry.

[Debbie]

The voice of Mr. Spacely in the Jetsons (at least in the 1960's episodes) sounded remnicent of a character Gale Gordon would have played. (In the 80's, Mr. Spacely's voice sounded more like Yosemite Sam minus the southern accent).

[Ray Pointer]

The voice of Mr. Spacely in the Jetsons (at least in the 1960's episodes) sounded remnicent of a character Gale Gordon would have played. (In the 80's, Mr. Spacely's voice sounded more like Yosemite Sam minus the southern accent).

The SPACELY voice is an imitation of Harold Peary, who performed THE GREAT GILDERSLEVE on radio. This is a much deeper, richer tone than Gordon's. In all, it was more of "professional jealousy" rather than a personal dislike it would seem.

[Stanislav]

An interesting connection is that while Gale Gordon co-starred in both The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy, Mel Blanc was occasionally called upon to provide assorted animal sounds, sfx, and off-screen voices for those same shows. (I believe I had read that he and Lucille Ball were good friends). So, perhaps Mel's presence on the set now and then irked Gale, and they may have reopened some old wounds that dated back to their radio years. (I'm trying to imagine a verbal altercation between the two...I can just hear Mel's smart-alecky wisecracks being countered with Gordon's stentorian and droll putdowns...I'd have paid good money to be within earshot...) ;)

[Fibber Fox]

Was there some bad blood between the two men? And if so, why?

Blanc writes in his autobiography that he and Gordon didn't hit it off. He doesn't know why but indicates Gordon was a sour man who ranted about children when Mel told him he'd become a father.

As a side note, Mel admits Alan Reed didn't really like him at the start, either.

Gale Gordon had far more versatility than he's given credit for these days, mainly because after playing Osgood Conklin on Our Miss Brooks, he played the same type of role for the rest of his life. He's pretty funny in Fibber McGee and Molly as the put-upon Mayor LaTrivia. His career goes back to local radio in L.A. in the early 30s where he did dramas and comedies.

F. Fox

[Stanislav]

Blanc writes in his autobiography that he and Gordon didn't hit it off. He doesn't know why but indicates Gordon was a sour man who ranted about children when Mel told him he'd become a father.

In the book I cited above, the gal who played Lucy's daughter on The Lucy Show said that Gordon, while always polite, pointedly kept his distance from the kids off-camera, never joking or bantering or even talking to them except if they were in a scene together. Sounds like he just flat-out didn't care for children.

[Ken Layton]

Didn't Gale Gordon play Flash Gordon on the radio series of the late 1930's?

[Fibber Fox]

Didn't Gale Gordon play Flash Gordon on the radio series of the late 1930's?

Mid 30s, Ken. It was syndicated starting in April 1935. He was in the cast of a syndicated Tarzan show before that, but I don't believe he played the title character.

F. Fox

[Mike]

Gale Gordon had far more versatility than he's given credit for these days, mainly because after playing Osgood Conklin on Our Miss Brooks, he played the same type of role for the rest of his life.

I agree. For non-Old Time Radio fans, Gordon's likely most famous for playing Lucy Carmichael's (and then Lucy Carter's) boss on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy. Audiences are used to him just huffing around, with a short temper, bellowing "Mrs. Carmichael!!!" in frustration. That book Stanislav has (which I own too, and often find myself going back to; it's a great reference work) notes that, after his first season on The Lucy Show, Gordon's characters on the Lucy series were written kinda one-note. It's a shame; I own several episodes of Lucille Ball's radio series, My Favorite Husband, and Gordon does a great job on that show, and gives fun, perfectly-accented performances.

Mike

[jazzman78]

Gale Gordon also played the School Principal "Mr. Conklin" on "Our Miss Brooks" on radio and TV

[Don59]

Gale Gordon also made a few guest appearances with Lucy before he joined The Lucy Show in 1963. He appeared on I Love Lucy as Mr. Littlefield, Ricky's boss at the Tropicana, in two episodes in 1952. Then in 1958, he appeared as a judge on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour episode called "Lucy Makes Room for Danny".

[Fibber Fox]

Gale Gordon also played the School Principal "Mr. Conklin" on "Our Miss Brooks" on radio and TV

I mentioned that some time ago here.

Anyone who wants a shopping list of dates and programmes can find it on the web, and it's beside the point anyway. The point is that Gale Gordon and Mel Blanc likely wouldn't have been trying out for the same kinds of roles, so there wouldn't be professional friction. However, professional jealousies have and do exist for reasons that have nothing to do with logic or common sense; such is the nature of emotional relationships.

I've evident Gordon and Mel Blanc were not friends and we'll never really know the reason why.

F. Fox
http://yowpyowp.blogspot.com

[Mike]

The point is that Gale Gordon and Mel Blanc likely wouldn't have been trying out for the same kinds of roles, so there wouldn't be professional friction. However, professional jealousies have and do exist for reasons that have nothing to do with logic or common sense; such is the nature of emotional relationships.

I've evident Gordon and Mel Blanc were not friends and we'll never really know the reason why.

No, they likely wouldn't have been trying out for the same roles. Blanc, even on radio, seemed to be known more for his huge range of funny voices, and would be used in fairly minor roles (except for when he had his own series, of course), whereas Gordon had the more serious, leading-man (or at least 2nd-leading-man) types. I too have read the story about Gordon being less-than-enthused when Blanc told him he was gonna have a kid, but I think there has to be more than the story than that.

I agree, we'll likely never know, unless one of the few surviving old-time radio types knows something and opens up about it (or Noel spills the beans :D).

Mike

[zavkram]

In the book I cited above, the gal who played Lucy's daughter on The Lucy Show said that Gordon, while always polite, pointedly kept his distance from the kids off-camera, never joking or bantering or even talking to them except if they were in a scene together. Sounds like he just flat-out didn't care for children.

I believe that "gal" was Lucille Ball's real-life daughter from her previous marriage to Desi Arnaz.

With regard to the passage from Blanc's autobiography that was previously mentioned; Blanc adds that Gordon and his wife reportedly adopted a child later on.

As far as the "professional jealousy" angle goes; I also disagree with it... I, too, doubt that Blanc would have posed any kind of a serious threat to Gordon for radio gigs; but who knows for certain what was going through Gordon's mind? He might have been paranoid and imagined that others were trying to sabotage him somehow. I agree with the idea that Gordon simply didn't like Blanc.

In his autobiography Blanc also mentions how his "Flintstones" co-star, Alan Reed, confessed to him that he had once thought of him as a conceited jerk; but how that opinion of him had changed after seeing Blanc laid up in a body cast and continuing to work. Whether or not that story is true remains to be seen.

[Stanislav]

I believe that "gal" was Lucille Ball's real-life daughter from her previous marriage to Desi Arnaz.

No -- Lucie Arnaz (and Desi Arnaz, Jr.) were in Here's Lucy with their mother -- i was referring to her previous venture The Lucy Show. I don't have that book handy, but a quick search shows the young actress I was referring to is Candy Moore. (I could have, and should have, looked it up when I made my original post. Laziness...)

[SheckyGrey]

The SPACELY voice is an imitation of Harold Peary, who performed THE GREAT GILDERSLEVE on radio. This is a much deeper, richer tone than Gordon's. In all, it was more of "professional jealousy" rather than a personal dislike it would seem.

Is that your assessment or is that something Mel Blanc verified?