Volume 7 Article 18 Issue 4 Summer

7-15-1988 Just Ducky Rachelle Stevvins

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Recommended Citation Stevvins, Rachelle (1988) "Just Ducky," Westview: Vol. 7 : Iss. 4 , Article 18. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/westview/vol7/iss4/18

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Watonga quackers Just Ducky By Rachelle Stevvins Every day, every hour, every minute someone is being entertained. Everybody enjoys entertainment, especially if it makes them laugh. Anyone who has been entertained in the last fifty years has seen or at least heard of . Clarence Nash, the original voice of Donald, was a star from Clarence Nash with his friend, the duck. Western Oklahoma who had many likable qualities. of birdcalls for the Rotary and Kiwanis Duck has been in 125 films and has First of all there was the man, luncheons in return for a free meal. He comic strips in over one hundred Clarence Nash. Born in Watonga on and his wife, Margaret, moved to Los foreign newspapers running today. December 7, 1904, he attended grade Angeles, and he got a job with the There are comic books from back when school in Watonga and then moved to Adohr Milk Company. He was to be the Donald first appeared up to the present. Independence, Missouri. In spite of the Adohr Whistling Birdman. His job was Many countries including the Republic move, he still called Watonga his to go from school to school telling kids of San Marino and Bhutan have issued hometown. Many of Watonga’s older to drink milk for healthy bodies and commemorative stamps in his honor. townspeople remember how Clarence sound minds. His salary was thirty-five Besides winning an Academy Award in could pick up bird calls easily, or any dollars a week, plus, all the milk, eggs, 1942, he has been nominated eight other animal call for that matter. One and cheese he and Mrs. Birdman couldother times. Today the library of films man, Les T ompson, remembers C larence consume. on Donald is still presented to the making sparrow calls in class, and how On his way to the Adohr Milk estimated eight hundred thousand the teacher soon had the whole class Company each day, he had to pass Walt subscribers to the Disney Channel. looking for the sparrow that must have Disney’s studio there in . Clarence Nash made his last film in been trapped in the room after flying in One day he walked into the studio and 1983, as Scrooge McDuck, Donald’s the window. He was brought up Catholic presented his card to the receptionist. ill-mannered old uncle in A CHRIST­ and attended the Catholic Church in His card proclaimed him as a “one man MAS CAROL. He came back to Watonga Watonga on his last visit home. He has aviary who did bird concerts for the on December 7, 1984, when the cele­ one relative still living in Watonga, his greater glories of milk.” A director brated Donald’s fifty year birthday cousin, Mrs. Agnes Jacoby Tompson. from Disney interviewed him, and was observed. He visited old friends Another aspect of him is the Duck. after he performed “Mary had a Little and family and then went toa dedication Clarence played Donald for fifty years, Lamb” in Duckspeak, the man asked where they pronounced Hook Street and sometimes he said Donald just him to “ please do that again; I’m with a new name, “Clarence Nash seemed to take over. For instance, putting Walt on intercom.” Well, Boulevard.” Clarence Nash died in the Clarence and Donald (a hand puppet) Clarence did it again and Walt saidspring of 1985 from pneumonia, although would travel to many children’s hos­ that “That’s just the duck we’re he was suffering with cancer. All who pitals all over the country. One time looking for.” So on June 9, 1934, the knew him or had met him at the r when Clarence got to the part of the quacking character, Donald, premiered celebration were saddened, but they 1 show where he imitated bird calls, one in . smile when they see Donald. child asked him to do an eagle; well, During World War II, Disney turned Yes, there were many wonderful Clarence wasn’t sure what an eagle to making films for the armed services. characteristics about Clarence Nash. sounded like. Suddenly the puppet let But Clarence and Donald were not Probably everyone for years to come out an enormous shriek — an authentic washed up. There was still a place for will enjoy the ill-mannered duck. Many eagle’s cry — blowing the sound system them, making comedy shorts to help will never know the man behind the and short circuiting the lights. Clarence keep up the spirit and the country’s voice of Donald Duck, but they will once said it scared the heck out of him. sense of humor. It was during this time enjoy what he left behind, entertain­ Clarence started as the “Whistling that DER FUEHRER’S FACE was ment. For entertainment lives foreverB Bird Man”; however, doing bird calls made. This was nominated and won an as a means of steady work did not seem Academy Award for Best Comedy too realistic, so he moved to San Short in 1942. There were many RACHELLE STEBBINS, Watonga, Francisco and went to work for Postal characters added to Donald’s family, is a SOSU Speech-Theater Junior. “Just Telegraph. To supplement his income, but none so special as Donald himself. Ducky ” is her first work published in he took to performing fifteen minutes A third aspect is the legend. Donald WESTV1EW.

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