Remember FLIPPER?
In order to get to the point of my post, I have to add a little bit of background.
The television show is an adaptation of the 1963 film Flipper starring Chuck Connors and Luke Halpin as Porter and Sandy Ricks, and its 1964 sequel, Flipper's New Adventure, where Brian Kelly took over the role of Porter. In adapting the films to a television series, the producers made Porter a single parent and gave him a second son named Bud. The producers departed yet again from the films in endowing Flipper with an unnatural degree of intelligence and an extraordinary understanding of human motives, behavior, and vocabulary.
Flipper was played mainly by a female dolphin named Suzy, and occasionally by other females named Patty, Kathy, Scotty and Squirt. Female dolphins were chosen because they are less aggressive than males and their skins (unlike the skins of male dolphins) are usually free from scars and other disfigurations acquired in altercations with other dolphins. The five dolphins performed all of Flipper's thespian chores except the famous tail walk, a trick they were unable to master completely. A male dolphin named Clown was brought in for scenes involving the tail walk.[1] The dolphins playing Flipper on the show were trained by Richard O'Barry.
The reason for this post is this: I heard the most amazing trivia that made me laugh. Remember that weird "dolphin" noise Flipper always made? Yes, the one you have never heard a dophin make anywhere, anytime? Well, the famous "voice" of Flipper was actually the doctored song of a Kookaburra bird, played sped up a lot of times like the chipmunks. I don't know why I find that so funny, but I find it hilarious that they took a bird to create a fake dolfin
22 comments:
Interesting. I didn't know that about the sound. They do some strange things for films, like in the Exorcist they would play the sound of swarming bees backward to give you the creeps. Thanks for the clip, brought back memories. I think Lassie was a boy dog playing as a girl.
My family will NEVER let me forget! The reason is I bungled the song when I was little.
I used to sing, to the hysterical delight of family, "Flipper, Flipper, anden and lion"
Yeah well... it made sense when I was 7. :-\
Ah, Hollywood, not for the faint at heart. They do fiddle around with the magic, sometimes.
Only recently a grandma and already back educating us on little known facts. No wonder I like coming by here.
How funny is that news I'm laughing so hard... Our kids watched 2 shows faithfully the only ones they likes rather 3 shows...Flipper, followed by Gentle Ben and then Tarzan in the afternoon. You keep me on my toes and very entertained I'm not worthy...giggle
Michelle's post was hilarious.. she should come by my blog where I have the things we think we hear in songs....Rockin the Casba etc. don't know if it is on the previous page but she would laugh..
I loved that show, I'm glad I didn't know flipper was five dolphins , plus one. And extra glad I didn't know her voice was really a bird call. Sometimes knowledge just ruins the fun.
I loved that show too, but so many lies; D
hey Granny...!
what's cookin' over there?
you must have
ants in your pants
waitin' to see
that adorable child!!
he's very cute...
newborns don't usually
look that good!
ps i cant believe
Flipper was really
a bird...sheesh.
i so remember
his little Flipper voice too...
still a childhood favorite memory...Peace
...And I always thought that was how dolphins sounded...another illusion blown to the wayside. *sigh*
that is pretty funny. whoda thunk it?
Was the dolphin more photogenic perhpaps...?
That is so Hollywood. I never had the privilege of actually seeing that show...I don't know whether it was because I lived in Iceland at the time or because I did not have a TV for the first 10 years I lived here.
thanks for all the trivia...Flipper is fondly remembered from my childhood.
That IS really funny about the kookaburra :-)
Its nice to see you again. Congratulations on the new grandbaby!
just shows to go ya, can't trust anything on the idiot box ;) lol
That is funny.
Alas, no TV in my childhood, so I don't think I ever saw an episode of FLIPPER all the way through.
Too funny. I watched those shows faithfully too. A bird for the dolphin sound!!!
this is too funny. last night we had what we call a standing up dinner. people eating on their knees, at the counter etc. we were watching planet earth and no one wanted to leave the show to eat. it was the ocean episode. when the dolphins came on A. and i broke into the flipper song!! the original 1964 version. i will have to tell everyone this story tonight.
terry, i really do enjoy visiting your blog. it's just.. different from most blogs :) hope you're doing well.
T, hope all is well,
just checkin' in...xo
I love this post!! Flipper was a huge part of my childhood - especially living here in Florida, and being at the beach all summer.
I was a very precocious and active tomboy, and longed to be Sandy (I was way too mature to be Bud) and well, thanks for the memories!
I had no idea about the Kookburra! What a cool bird that is too!
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