VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Michael Schoen · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:33 am Post subject: Inspirations

Hearing Peter Thomas doing a Geico Commercial (people who don't care about saving money) reminded me that as a youngster, he and Alexander Scourby were my biggest inspirations to become a VO guy.
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Bruce · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:24 am Post subject:

He is amazing. I'm sure that was him doing a series of Burger King commercials earlier this year. He's well into his 80's and still going strong. Now there's a guy I want to take a class from, but I'm guessing he's not teaching anymore. He's allegedly "retired" and I hear is living the good life in Florida these days.

Since my lucrative investments in real estate, such as my home, have basically evaporated over the past couple of years, I look to him as inspiration for my later life. Got voice? Got work.

When do the Wall Street lynchings begin?

B
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:37 am Post subject:

There's a Burger King spot running currently and in it, for the first time, Peter Thomas is beginning to sound his age.

Michael, for several years before my brother got married , his roommate was Alexander Scourby's nephew and namesake, Lex.
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Mike Harrison · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:04 am Post subject:

Peter Thomas turned 86 last month (June) and still works - via ISDN and Source-Connect - from his home in Naples, Florida. He is the narrator of TruTV's 'Forensic Files,' and he was indeed on those Burger King spots a few years back.

After returning from service in World War II and attending college, he was an anchor for CBS News, but gave it up in 1960 due to increasing demand for his voice-over services.

I'd heard Peter on some documentary films in school, but never thought anything of it until I recognized his voice as narrator of the Travelers Insurance Company exhibit at the 1964-65 World's Fair in New York. Peter's performance is what planted the voice-over seed in my head. I was further influenced by legendary Top 40 disc jockey Dan Ingram (from WABC, NY, and who also had an impressive voice-over career) and, to a lesser degree, Don Pardo and Gary Owens. I several years ago mailed Peter a CD of the soundtrack from that exhibit. I'm not sure who was more thrilled: Peter, over receiving the CD - or me, over receiving a call from him, thanking me for it.

Medstar Television, producer of 'Forensic Files,' features Peter on the show's website. If you're a fan, I highly recommend visiting. Not to be missed is a stunning performance of 'Omaha Beach;' Peter's recollections of the landing at Normandy during WWII.

Finally, for a real treat, a TV spot for Pillsbury Dinner Rolls from 1964, before the Pillsbury Dough Boy was born. Go here, then add the following to the URL:

/media/Peter_Thomas-Pillsbury.mov

(My apologies to those who tried the link I had initially posted. My server is configured so that media can only be accessed while visiting the site.)

ENJOY!!!
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:19 am Post subject:

Inspiration to become a Voiceoverist? Bill Mitchell and Alexis Korner.

ricevoice · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:53 am Post subject:

ballenberg · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:52 am Post subject:

Dan Ingram--Big Dan! Me too, Mike. The Pillsbury link didn't seem to work--Forbidden! Forbidden dinner rolls

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

anybody remember Art Roberts at WLS? Used to pick him up on the airwaves in Lexington when I was a kid. Think it must have been really early in the mornings, memory is fuzzy....

Mike Harrison · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:44 pm Post subject:

jasbart · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 2:49 pm Post subject:

I was a big fan of Peter Thomas as well (still am). I believe he narrated some of the holy grail of documentaries, National Geographic Specials? Anyway back in the 80's I was going through one of the Smithsonian space exhibits in DC, and there he was, hosting a video On Camera! Great to connect the voice with a face (and a handsome face it is).

Jim
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Barton Voice & Sound
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Mike Harrison · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:12 pm Post subject:

Hey Rob...

Never listened to WLS, but as it was the Chicago ABC O&O, we heard network newsman Lyle Dean plenty of times (and Joe Templeton in Washington, too).
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

Gregory Best · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:42 pm Post subject: Art Roberts

Rob, when I was in my early teens I used to go to the WLS studios and watch Art Roberts work. Art would come out and talk to me on breaks and encourage me. Art was an inspiration for me to get into radio. While Larry Lujack would close the curtains and turn off the speakers so he was no fun.

Art passed away in 2002 but did publish a book "Thinkin' out Loud" you would enjoy. The book is sold through his website
Art Roberts
Art took acting lessons, particularly Shakespeare to improve his commercial reads. He did a lot of live spots and made it seem like it was part of the show and not a spot. He did his research and spent time visiting the client's business to learn more about the product and client.
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