The animation world lost its fairy godmother last week – let’s look back at a couple of gems that June recorded for the classic Capitol line of childrens records.
Walt Disneys PINOCCHIO
Capitol Records CAS-3203 (10 78 RPM / Mono)
Released in 1954. Producer: Alan W. Livingston. Adaptation: Robert Wilhelm, based on the book by Collodi. Music: Van Alexander. Running Time: 7 minutes. Voices: June Foray (Pinocchio, Blue Fairy); Art Gilmore (Narrator); Daws Butler (Gepetto, Stromboli).
This is an unusual adaptation of the Disney film in that it tells the story without any of the films songs or a note of its score. The overall sound it much like other records in the Capitol childrens series, which is nice. The production is leisurely for a record of this era (some of them seem rushed).
Side one sets up the Stromboli story, which is resolved on side two. Time does not allow mention of Honest John, the Coachman, Lampwick or Pleasure Island, but it does include Monstro, and thats quite a bit for just one 78 RPM disc.
Walt Disneys FERDINAND THE BULL
Capitol Records CAS-3095 (10 78 RPM / Mono)
Released in 1951. Producer / Adaptation: Alan W. Livingston, based on the book by Robert Lawson and Munro Leaf. Music: Billy May. Running Time: 7 minutes.
Voices: June Foray (Ferdinand, Ferdinands Mother, Bull Scouter, Bullfighter); Don Wilson (Narrator, Bull Scouter).
This is the only Capitol/Disney record in which Don Wilson is an original cast member as well as narrator, as he performed the same role in the Oscar-winning Disney animated short. The adaptation is quite faithful to the original, except for a few lines here and there, and the original score by Billy May. June Foray takes over the role of Ferdinand, his mother and several male characters (in the 1938 film, Milt Kahl spoke for Ferdinand and Don Wilson voiced Ferdinand’s mother and the matador).
In 1961, Capitol Records combined Pinocchio and Ferdinand the Bull with The Flying Mouse on its Sorcerers Apprentice LP (J-3253), reissued in 1978 by Wonderland Records (L-8110).
Animation Spin Remembers Lovely Lady June
The sadly late, but eternally great, June Foray did so much voice work for radio, records, movies and television, there is no way to calculate the millions of lives she has and will continue to brighten. Through her work in humanitarian causes and her everyday kindnesses, the list gets even longer.
Below are the links to previous Animation Spin’s about records featuring her performances. Of course, there are many, many more recordings to discover and enjoy. (The dates indicate the recording releases, not when the characters or films originated.)
LITTLE TOOT (1948)
BUGS BUNNY IN STORYLAND (1949)
SNOW WHITE AND SNEEZY (1952) / SNOW WHITE AND DOPEY (1952)
MICKEY MOUSES BIRTHDAY PARTY (1954)
PETER PAN (1960)
BUGS BUNNY AND HIS FRIENDS (1961)
ROCKY THE FLYING SQUIRREL AND HIS FRIENDS (1961)
THE ALVIN SHOW (1961) / THE CHIPMUNK SONGBOOK (1962)
MONSTER SHINDIG Starring SUPER SNOOPER and BLABBERMOUSE (1965)
PIXIE AND DIXIE WITH MR. JINKS Tell the Story of CINDERELLA (1965)
THE MOUSE ON THE MAYFLOWER / THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY(1968)
THE BEAR WHO SLEPT THROUGH CHRISTMAS (1983)
TOON TUNES: FUNNY BONE FAVORITES (2001)
DR. SEUSS HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
GREG EHRBAR is a freelance writer/producer for television, advertising, books, theme parks and stage. Greg has worked on content for such studios as Disney, Warner and Universal, with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. His numerous books include Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records (with Tim Hollis). Visit 
I’m curious when that picture of Rocket “Rocky) J. Squirrel came out and ifs one of the first version of Rocky that came out before he made his television debut?
June Foray also did the record Elmer Elephant (Capitol Records/CAS-3099) with Don Wilson and music provided by Billy May and in the Disney Storyteller series Storyette Mulan as Narrator and Grandmother Fa and in both Looney Toons Krazy Christmas and Tweety’s High-Flying Adventure (2000) as Granny.
Oh yes, she did those recordings and so much more. What a magnificent career and lovely lady. I don’t know the story behind the Rocky design, sorry.
As usual, these are interesting bits of audio history, and it is amazing, of course, to hear June Foray meeting any vocal challenge given to her. June will certainly be missed, along with all the terrific recordings she made that aren’t as yet readily available to us all to own or even hear. Greg, I hope you do discover those recordings in weeks to come.
Many of her obituaries left out her work in radio and records. Thanks!
June also did Pinocchio for one of those abstract Nash commercials. She was also in another one was Alice and the White Rabbit.