Voice talent John McLeish is my 490th pick to be named a Disney Legend.
Narrator of the Goofy “how to” cartoons, as well as Dumbo;
also known as John Ployardt. According to the story, McLeish was a very serious
and dignified person. When the staff realized that his educated voice would be
perfect for narrating the Goofy cartoons, they asked him to do it, but did not
bother to explain that the erudite narration was really tongue in cheek, and
that Goofy would be doing almost exactly the opposite of what was being
described. He also provided the voice for the prosecuting attorney in The
Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad and a barker in Pinocchio. McLeish worked at
Disney in animation and story from 1939 to 1941.
His Disney roles included the "How-To" narrator in Goofy cartoons such as
Goofy's Glider, the How to Ride a Horse segment of The Reluctant
Dragon, The Art of Skiing, The Art of Self Defense, The Olympic Champ,
How to Swim, How to Fish, How to Be a Sailor, Motor Mania and Home Made
Home, the narrator in Dumbo, the radio announcer in Symphony Hour, the
officer behind desk and various examiners in Donald Gets Drafted, Pete
in Bellboy Donald, Jupiter and Vulcan in Trombone Trouble.
