2 of our child icons have gone

[Tim Kelly]

Don't know if anyone heard this on the news, but we have just lost two of the icons of our childhoods.
Casey Kasem, the voice of Shaggy in "Scooby-doo", has died. He didn't run fast enough, and the mos=nsters have finally got him. Yoinks!
Also, the voice of "Captain Scarlet" on British TV 1967-68, Francis Matthews, has died. The end titles of each episode used to show the eponymous Captain getting killed in various ways, the first depicted him being sucked down in quicksand... Matthews got the role after producer Gerry Anderson heard him in a radio play playing Cary Grant.
We are all the poorer.

[bbjohn]

I don't know that much about Captain Scarlett, except that it was produced by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, the same folks that gave us Supercar, Thunderbirds, Stingray, UFO and Space 1999. The Andersons were part of the incredible collection of creative people at Lew Grade's ITC in the 1960s and '70s.

The most famous ITC show from this period was The Saint with Roger Moore. They also produced Danger Man (AKA Secret Agent), The Prisoner, The Baron, Man in a Suitcase, The Champions, the original Randall and Hopkirk Deceased (AKA My Partner, the Ghost) and The Persuaders. It's hard to fathom how so many creative minds could come together in one place at the same time, and how they could have worked so well together to create such outstanding and memorable entertainment.

I remember Casey Kasem more as a disc jockey. He hosted America's Top 40 on radio and America's Top 10 on television for many years. I used to listen to him every Sunday afternoon on America's Top 40. He was also a native of the Detroit area, where I spent some time growing up.

Kasem was gifted with one of the most pleasant voices imaginable. He never sounded harsh, and unlike some DJs and announcers, you didn''t feel he was giving you the hard sell. I remember how he closed out every AT 40 and AT 10 broadcast: he said "Keep you feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.""

It's looks like you've reached he stars, Casey.

-Big Bad John

[nachtjaeger]

Sorry I don't remember "Captain Scarlet." But Scooby Doo was a big part of my life growing up. "And I'd have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids and that stupid dog!" I also remember Casey Kasem's radio work, although I was more of a Doctor Demento fan. He will be missed.

[PM2K]

I remember Capt. Scarlett quite well... one of our local youth channels used to rerun reruns of it on late night Saturday... Capt. Scarlett and the Mysterons. One of the staples from Gerry and Sylvie Anderson and the magic of Supermarionation. The work on these is still quite impressive, even in this age of CGI run amok.

Here's the opening, just so you get what it looked like...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV8YbLvGrb0

And the end credits, with the quicksand card in it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2_ApL9OZKs

Also did shows like Stingray, Supercar, Fireball XL, and the somewhat better known Thunderbirds, which was ruthlessly (and brilliantly) parodied in Team America: World Police. The Andersons were also behind Space:1999.

[jagfiles]

I remember Casey Kasem had two cameo roles on the Saturday morning show Saved By The Bell.
In the late 1970's he also did one of the voices on a show called Battle of the Planets.
Captain Scarlett was also a great show.

[PM2K]

Mr. Kasem also did the voice of Robin on many of his animated appearances in the 60s and 70s. He was a very flexible vocal performer.

[rickyj]

It's amazing how many people never knew he was the voice of Shaggy. I didn't even know that until about 10 years ago, and I grew up on Scooby Doo. YOu never would have guessed it from hearing him every Sunday doing the top 40. The guy was a complete cultural icon. I grew up on the Countdown. Remember in Ghostbusters when Dana is chopping up lettuce or something and she;'s listening to Kasem on the radio and he talks about how the ghostbusters "busted some ghost and then spent the rest of the night charming the ladies" or something like that. Back in those days EVERYONE listened to that show. Well...err maybe not everyone..but anyone under the age of 25 I would think. I dont think I'd wanna see him in quicksand though.

[Tim Kelly]

Another of those who kept us entertained thru the 80s died over the weekend- Rik Mayall, also known as Kevin Turvey (A Kick Up The 80s) and Alan Bastard ("B'stard! B'stard! It's pronounced B'stard!") from "The New Statesman". I'll never forget his opening line from "The Young Ones":-
"I think that 'Special Patrol Group' is a stupid name for a hamster".
To which the reply from Vivian, the punk, was:-
"All right, I'll change it; what do you think of...Cliff Richard? Aaaaaaaarrrrrrgggghhhh!!!" (Hamster has bite on finger up to second knuckle joint)

[voidexistensia]

My sister who has autism,loved Casey Kassem

[kham]

For a 60s kids show, Captain Scarlett had some pretty deep stuff. The Mysterions, not your bog-standard evil bad guys; you never saw them, beyond a deep booming voice. Powerful. Intelligent. And Arrogant. How many villains tell you not just what they going to do, but WHEN? WE THE MYSTERIONS, WILL DESTROY THE CASPIAN SEA IN SEVEN DAYS....Screw you guys, stop us if you can

And their Agent, Captain Black: not just some schlub; Captain Scarlett's best friend. Think Anakin and Obi-Wan. Corrupted by them. Like Scarlett, indestructible. And as good or better than Scarlett in some things. You'd think these guys actually knew how to write drama