I used him to voice a commercial back in the sixties. He worked for union scale (therefore, he worked often).
After he finished his gig, we got to chatting about his career. He then asked if I had kids. Yes, boy 7 and girl 4 at the time. Would I like him to record a tape for them? Well, yes, I'd deeply appreciate it.
Then, he proceeded to do roughly 2 minutes of voices, telling a story and specifically involving my son and daughter.
A family treasure. And I don't doubt that there are hundreds of similar examples out there somewhere.
That is a wonderful personal story!!! Confirms what I felt from him watching that interview and what I have sensed all along. :)
Blanc was also terrific on the Jack Benny radio show. He provided the “sound” for Jack’s Maxwell automobile and just about anything else required. Blanc also appeared as “Professor LeBlanc,” Benny’s violin instructor. Jack’s playing usually infuriated LeBlanc’s character so much that he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown by the end of the skit.
I still listen to repeats of the Benny program on Sirius/XM Channel 82. Greatest cast in radio: Benny, Mary Livingston, Dennis Day, Don Wilson, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Phil Harris and of course, Mr. Blanc. Not only did Benny keep most of his cast for his entire run on radio and TV, he used the same writing team for years. Benny didn’t care who got the laugh, as long as the material was funny. And he surrounded himself with exceptional talent, including the man of 1,000 voices, Mel Blanc.