Thurl Ravenscroft: Feb 6, 1914 - May 22, 2005
One of the most recognizable voices of the 20th century.
6/18/2005
Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sharbie Higuchi (949) 464-4282
Marketing/Public Relations Director
Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters
Pageant and Festival Mourns the Loss of Thurl RavenscroftLaguna Beach, California – On Sunday, May 22nd, Thurl Ravenscroft passed away. For 20 years, from 1974 until his retirement in 1993, he served as the narrator of the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, the annual celebration of the arts in tableaux vivants, "living pictures." His remarkable basso vocal readings were enormously popular with his audiences, and his co-workers dubbed him the "voice of the Pageant" during his tenure there. Perhaps best known to the world as the unmistakable voice of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes mascot Tony the Tiger, Ravenscroft remained a devoted friend and supporter of the Pageant. Living in Fullerton since his retirement, Ravenscroft was 91 years old at the time of his death from prostate cancer.
Thurl Arthur Ravenscroft was born February 6, 1914 in Norfolk, Nebraska. He moved to California in 1933. By the mid-1930s, Thurl was appearing regularly on radio as a backup singer for Bing Crosby and other artists. During World War II, he enlisted in the Air Transport Command, serving for five years as a navigator for special missions over the North Atlantic. It was during this time that he met his wife June. They were married in Virginia on July 21, 1946.
Back in Hollywood, Ravenscroft became a founding member of the singing group, the Mellomen, performing in radio, film, television, commercials, and backup vocals during the 1950s and early 1960s. The Mellomen worked with such luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney as well as working for Walt Disney in films, on television, and on records. In 1952, Kellogg’s hired Ravenscroft to provide the voice for Tony the Tiger. His rendering of his signature tag, "They’re Grrrrreeat!" has endured for over a half-century.
In 1966, Thurl sang "You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" for the television special, How the Grinch Stole Christmas for CBS, and the success of that special led to other projects with Dr. Seuss. His singing career continued well into the 1970s. As a member of the Johnny Mann Singers, he sang on 28 albums, appeared on television for three seasons, and performed at the White House.
Ravenscroft became the narrator for the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach in 1974, beginning what he described as a "labor of love" that lasted 20 years. The Festival of Arts board of directors, Pageant director Diane Challis Davy, staff and volunteers acknowledged that they have lost a great friend and colleague beloved by everyone.
In 1981, Ravenscroft also began serving as narrator for the annual presentations of "The Glory of Christmas" at the Crystal Cathedral, located in Garden Grove.
June, his wife for 53 years, passed away December 5, 1999 at the age of 80. Thurl is survived by his two children, Ron and Nancy, and four grandchildren. Plans for a memorial service are pending.
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This spring, the Pageant’s extended family lost one of its greatest friends and supporters with the passing of Thurl Ravenscroft. To Pageant audiences during his 20 years as our narrator (1974-1993), Thurl was revered as "the voice of the Pageant," but to everyone who worked with him behind the scenes, he was a magnificent spirit, generous, gentle and kind to a fault. He was also a total pro. Skip Conover, our narrator since 1994, said of Thurl, "He was my hero, a terrific talent and a nice guy. He was the genuine article." Pageant director Diane Challis Davy and everyone backstage echo that sentiment. Scriptwriter Dan Duling, who worked with Thurl for 13 of his 20 seasons, thoroughly enjoyed their collaboration, adding, "It was a privilege to work with Thurl, and it was a labor of love for both of us."
Of course, Thurl’s career included much, much more than just his work at the Pageant. He was born in Norfolk, Nebraska, in 1914, and originally moved to California in 1933. Though he’ll probably always be best remembered for his more than 50 years as the voice of Tony the Tiger for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, Thurl worked as a singer and performer in Hollywood from the 1930s through the 1990s, on radio, television and in films. During the 1950s and early 1960s, he performed with such luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney as well as working for Walt Disney in films, on television, and on records. That’s him singing "You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch," in the original television version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." His remarkable basso was one of a kind.
Even after his retirement from the Pageant, Thurl never lost his enthusiasm for the show. His frequent backstage visits remained causes for celebration, always enlivened by Thurl’s irrepressible sense of humor. For his professionalism, his boundless enthusiasm and his graciousness, Thurl will live on in our memories as a Pageant legend and a dearly missed good friend.
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Note: Photo of Thurl Ravenscroft available upon request.
Please visit Thurl's Memorial page.