Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummies Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd with Luana Patten and Disney characters Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Willie the Giant in a publicity still for the 1947 feature Fun and Fancy Free. ©Disney

Following World War II the Disney Studios released a series of "package" cartoon features (groups of shorts tied together into one movie) as financial difficulties prevented the company from producing a full-length animated feature. Perhaps the best known of these films was 1947’s Fun and Fancy Free, starring ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummies Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. Two cartoon shorts were showcased: "Bongo" about a circus bear as narrated by Dinah Shore; and "Mickey and the Beanstalk," a variation of the Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale with our favorite Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. At the time Bergen and his dummies were the stars of their highly successful comedy-variety show on the NBC Radio Network.

Edgar Bergen was born on February 16, 1903. When he was in the eighth grade, he bought a book on ventriloquism and within a few years began to perform regularly on stage. His most famous character was based on a newsboy named Charlie that Bergen saw regularly working near his high school. Bergen drew a sketch of the newsboy and had a local woodcarver named Theodore Mack create a dummy based on the sketch. The smart-mouthed, eighth grade boy dressed in top hat and monocle that resulted was named for the newsboy and the woodcarver: Charlie McCarthy. Moving to the New York stage, the pair became very popular. On December 17, 1936, Bergen was invited to appear on Rudy Vallee's variety hour and listeners across America first heard a straight man and his sidekick who was literally a dummy. Ventriloquism on the radio, you ask? Well, the radio audience certainly could not see anything and the illusion was convincing enough that listeners could easily forget Charlie McCarthy's words were really Bergen's. This was even apparent with the live studio audience. Often people would comment that Charlie needed to move closer to the microphone!

Following several more appearances with Vallee, Bergen was approached by representatives for Chase and Sanborn Coffee to star in a variety hour of his own-- or rather, with Charlie McCarthy. The Chase and Sanborn Hour (later known as The Charlie McCarthy Show when it became a half-hour program and then The Edgar Bergen-Charlie McCarthy Show) premiered on NBC in May 1937, and moving over to CBS in 1949. Along with Charlie other additions to Bergen's repoitre were the dimwitted Mortimer Snerd, lusty older woman Effie Klinker and a human size dummy named Podine Puffington.

The live broadcast of Sunday, September 21, 1947, was built around the premiere of Fun and Fancy Free. Announcer Ken Carpenter opens the show by welcoming listeners to the Pasadena (California) Playhouse where everyone has "just seen a preview of Edgar and Charlie's new picture, which will have its world premiere in New York City on September 27th." Edgar and Charlie start off by discussing their thoughts on the movie:

Charlie of course is thrilled with his performance in the movie, yet bemoans: "Why must I be cursed with all this talent?" Such modesty! They are then joined by bandleader Ray Noble who wonders where Walt is. Edgar Bergen thinks they should show some gratitude with a speech of appreciation from Charlie. He is about to begin when Walt and Donald Duck (voiced by Clarence Nash) walk in.

Donald of course is none too pleased with Charlie's assessment but Walt comforts him by saying that "deep down inside, Charlie likes you very much." This doesn't do much for the Duck as when asked if he has any kind words for Charlie, Donald tells him to "Drop dead!" Charlie calls him a "Barnyard delinquent. I'll snatch you bald-tailed!" A real battle of egos has shaped up, but then Walt steps into calm the two down:

The orchestra then plays a medley of songs from the film which leads into a commercial for Chase and Sanborn Coffee. It is worth noting that during this era of radio broadcasting (as it would be the case for television later on), the sponsor generally had more influence over a program's content than the network. Following the commercial, Bergen's other famous dummy Mortimer Snerd is brought in to offer his take on the movie:

As the show reaches the halfway point, it is decided that a retelling of "Jack and the Beanstalk" is in order. The story opens in Happy Valley, where of course everyone is happy because of a beautiful golden harp that sang and played. This leads into the song "My Favorite Dream" from the movie, beautifully sung by Anita Gordon. "But then one day," continues Bergen, "tragedy struck. From out of nowhere, a fearsome giant swooped down and carried the singing harp away." Calling out for help, Charlie summons Ken Carpenter who tells everyone to "be on the lookout for a giant wanted for kidnapping a harp girl with hair" which leads into a commercial for the show's alternate sponsor, Royal Pudding. This is another example of a sponsor's control over content. In many comedy-variety shows it was not uncommon to incorporate one or more of the commercials into the plot.

The story continues: As the harp had been taken, Happy Valley was no longer happy, but a place of poverty and desolation ("They had just paid their taxes" adds Charlie). In particular, there were three farmers on the brink of running out of food. With only one cow in their possession, the farmers hope to trade it for something to eat. They take it to a "used cow lot". All that could be offered were three magic beans. The beans were planted and started to grow high into the sky. One by one the farmers (voiced by Charlie, Ray Noble and Donald Duck) climbed up the beanstalk and at the top discover a huge castle which of course they have to check out. Upon entering they hear a familiar lilting sound-- it's the golden harp! But there isn't much chance to celebrate. The giant has become aware of the farmers' presence. "Fe Fi Fo Fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman!" The giant's voice is provided by Alan Reed. He is best remembered today as the original voice of Fred Flintstone.

Asked why the three farmers are up there, Charlie replies they are there to borrow a saw and ax to chop down the beanstalk. Not being too bright himself, the giant finds that all right and even offers to help! It takes a few seconds to realize the true purpose of their presence. Fortunately, the three farmers are able to get the golden harp, make it safely back down and cut the beanstalk that results in a thunderous crash.

End of story and cue to the final commercial. Edgar and Charlie then return for their good nights:

The orchestra plays as Ken Carpenter puts in a final plug for the sponsors, thanks everyone for listening to the night's broadcast from the Pasadena Playhouse and signs off with, "This is NBC: The National Broadcasting Company" followed by the famous three-note chimes.

Bergen and his dummies would again work with Walt on NBC three years later on December 25, 1950, when the first Disney television special aired: One Hour in Wonderland. A promotion for the upcoming feature Alice in Wonderland, the filmed hour was set primarily at the Disney Studios. Also appearing with Bergen was the voice of Alice herself Kathryn Beaumont, along with Bobby Driscoll, Hans Conried as the Magic Mirror (a role he would play on several other occasions in Walt's anthology series), Disney's in-house jazz group The Firehouse Five Plus Two, and a cameo by Walt's daughters Diane and Sharon. Sponsored by Coca-Cola and costing around $100,000 to produce, the show was watched by some 90 percent of the available viewing audience. This success insured another Christmas special the following year. The Walt Disney Christmas Show aired December 25, 1951, on CBS and again achieved high ratings. This would set in motion plans for a weekly Disney hour, which began in 1954. Bergen would continue his radio show well into the late 1950s and would make frequent television, film and stage appearances after that, some which featured his daughter Candice. He did have his own TV show for a while--a daytime game show called Do You Trust Your Wife. After he left as host, he was replaced by a young comedian named Johnny Carson. Later still, Bergen originated the role of Grandpa Walton in the 1971 pilot movie for The Waltons called The Homecoming: A Christmas Story. His final film came in a cameo for The Muppet Movie. He died on September 30, 1978, in Las Vegas, just hours after making what was billed as his and Charlie McCarthy's final stage appearance.

- Essay by Bill Griffiths
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