Customer Reviews

The Moose That Roared: The Story of Jay Ward, Bill Scott, a Flying Squirrel, and a Talking Moose

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I once read a review that began: "This book told me more about penguins than I ever wanted to know about penguins." Similarly, I'm tempted to say that this book told me far more about Jay Ward, Bill Scott, and the ups and downs of their years in show business than I ever wanted to know--and far less about one of the favorite t.v. programs of my long-ago adolescence, Rocky and Bullwinkle. (The book spends a lot of time discussing Ward's and Scott's other ventures into cartoon series, including Crusader Rabbit, Hoppity Hooper, and George of the Jungle as well as ads for Captain Crunch and other Quaker cereals.) If you venture into this book expecting it to be as full of zany humor and excruciating puns as Rocky and Bullwinkle were--as I did--you are in for a disappointment. While parts of the book are quite absorbing, it is on the whole a chore to read. The book badly needs edited down, especially given its repititiousness. The author tends to be a bit too gushingly adulatory of the work of Ward and Scott, too; while they were comic and artistic geniuses, they did misfire a few times.

There are gems along the way--including the origin of the name Bullwinkle, the real identity of Ponsonby Britt, how the names Gidney and Cloyd were chosen for the moonmen, and the never-ceasing wars between Ward and Scott and their sponsors and networks--but you have to sift through a lot of gratuitous detail to find them. One of the most engaging parts of the book is the Reference Section. (Curiously, the reference section, the appendices, and the index account for 128 pages of the book's total 442 pages.) In the Reference Section, the reader finds synopses of all the episodes of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Fractured Fairy Tales, Bullwinkle's Corner (aka, Mr. Know-It-All), Mr. Peabody's History, Aesop and Son, and Dudley Doo-Right. Just glancing through the names of the Rocky and Bullwinkle episodes is a delight (e.g., "A Creep in the Deep, or Will Success Spoil Boris Badenov?" "Fast and Moose or Charlie's Antler"). It is a reminder, too, of how much funnier and more engaging this book might have been if better focused and better written.

There are probably only three truly great houses of animation: Disney (of course), Warner Brothers, and Jay Ward Productions. Of the three, the latter seems to get the least attention, something this book attempts to remedy.

This is a history of Bullwinkle and his creators, from when they first got into the business until their last creative efforts, i.e., pretty much up until the George of the Jungle movie, though there is mention of the Rocky and Bullwinkle movie as forthcoming.

Though Ward and his cronies were comparatively good at keeping to their artistic vision despite outside pressures, there were enormous complications of business and dollars-and-cents issues that dogged them throughout. Most notably, much of the detailed animation of their key show was done in Mexico City. The goal was to save money, though all it accomplished in the short term was to reduce the quality of the product.

This book covers those issues in detail, which are significant but not that interesting. More interesting is to hear about the madcap antics of Jay Ward, Bill Scott, and the others as they work together and play practical jokes on one another. Ward in particular has a gift for publicity, sending out bizarre weekly notices to the press to publicize the show via mock-pyramid schemes and other parodies of mail-order silliness.

It's harder than usual to make a judgment about this book. Casual readers like me would probably have been happier if it had skimped on the business issues, sticking just to the creative aspects. People wanting to know how showbiz really works, on the other hand, will probably be fascinated by the business details described here, as unbelievable as they frequently are.

If you are a fan of Jay Ward and Bill Scott's zany animated creations, you really owe it to yourself to read this book. "The Moose That Roared" is filled with entertaining and enlightening quotes, observations, tales and all kinds of enjoyable information about the voice artists, writers, musicians and other folks responsible for these unforgettable programs. I can't imagine any author doing a better job at presenting the vast amount of material Keith Scott has compiled. In short, this is a terrific book.

Some reviewers have found that Keith Scott's monumental tribute to Jay Ward Productions contains almost too much information to be easily enjoyed. The book deals with the "Rocky and Bullwinkle" TV cartoons only in part; to put the R & B phenomenon into context, Scott takes the reader back to Jay Ward's early days, then details the challenging and often harrowing path Ward took through life: a traumatic, near-fatal accident; unscrupulous business associates; impossible working conditions; constant interference from TV and advertising executives; many attempts to launch other TV and movie projects; and ultimately, disenchantment when the work wasn't very rewarding anymore. Through it all Jay Ward, his partner Bill Scott, and his like-minded staff persevered in their genially nutty way, and created some of the funniest shows ever committed to film.

It's interesting to read about these behind-the-scenes aspects, but the business content overshadows the comedy content on the first reading. The sheer volume of peaks and valleys over 40 years is enough to give any reader a workout. The book is commendably thorough when it comes to dates, places, and people, and the entire gallery of Jay Ward creations is on display, from Crusader Rabbit to Dudley Do-Right, from George of the Jungle to Quaker cereal commercials.

This writer suggests that you read the book a second time. Once you know the back story, the climactic events are easier to digest, and you can savor the narrative's basic, irreverent humor. One of the appendices lists all the pun-filled titles of the Bullwinkle adventures ("Cheerful Little Pierful" or "Bomb Voyage"), and some of these will make you laugh out loud.

If you're a big fan of the Jay Ward canon and/or vintage television, this book is highly recommended for both reading and reference. If you're a casual Rocky and Bullwinkle fan, you may get more than you bargained for.

I am probably one of the top 25 Jay Ward officiannados in the world -- And it's a fact I'm really proud of-- The man was an absoloute genius storyteller and cartoonist, who created the first made for TV cartoon series--(now they all are!) Crusader Rabbit was emersed in red tape though right from the beginning--- But Jay prevailed--his next endeavors became even bigger and even more embedded in the nation's psyche---Rocky and Bullwinkle, George of the Jungle, Cap'n Crunch, Quisp, Quake--- the list goes on--- Keith Scott's book is truly a BIBLE for Ward-ites like myself-- He knew Bill Scott and Jay Ward , as a teen he flew himself to America--from his native Australia - because of his love for their incredible cartooning style and productions! This book has it all! Keith is also the official voice of Bullwinkle now-- portraying him in cartoon form in the new movie---even!Who better to write this gem?--- probably no one. The pages are filled with pictures and material that will appeal to EVERYONE.Remember the Kerwood Derby? and "you knew the job was dangerous when you took it Fred" and "A cereal so good they named it after me"-- it all came from the moose --er house (of ideas)that Jay built.---I cannot tell you enough---BUY THIS BOOK!--It is the best book on the subject--EVER!--Thanks Keith Scott!But most of all--- THANKS JAY WARD AND BILL SCOTT!--GO AHEAD< PULL A RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT!--- review by Bill Field

Having seen and enjoyed the movie SHREK, I can't help but think it's the kind of "Fractured Fairy Tale" that Jay Ward (famed creator of "Rocky and Bullwinkle") would have made if he'd only had the budget. This observation comes after having read THE MOOSE THAT ROARED, a delightfully irreverent biography of Ward, his partner Bill Scott, and their unique animated creations.

It's hard to believe that about thirty years ago, animation was a dying art with little or no recorded history. Happily, it is now receiving the accord it deserves, and this encyclopaedic bio of Ward is the latest evidence.

Author Keith Scott (no relation to Bill) began as a star-struck fan, moved on to meeting his idols, and eventually became the narrator of the live-action movie versions of "Bullwinkle" and Ward's other wacko masterpiece, "George of the Jungle." Scott's love of all things Wardian shines through on every page and gives these wonderful cartoons their due.

At the same time, Scott has no qualms about showing Jay Ward's darker side, inspired perhaps by a late-'40s car accident that nearly killed him and assuredly caused his mental breakdown. It was after that accident that Ward started pursuing TV animation as a viable outlet for his nuttier side. Ward created "Crusader Rabbit" as the first made-for-TV cartoon creation, had it taken away from creditors who resemble Snidely Whiplash, and vowed never to answer to anyone else but himself from now on. This eventually resulted in Rocky and Bullwinkle, who were never a ratings hit but inspired a feverish cult that continues to this day.

Ward was not one to share the wealth explicitly--he indulged in sports cars and high-priced art while his workers toiled away--yet his peers have mostly fond memories of working for Ward, who kept TV sponsors and censors at bay while they indulged their wildest ideas. Scott seems to have tapped into that spirit in eulogizing Ward, and it makes for a breezy, satisfying read.

If you love Rocky, Bullwinkle, Dudley-Do Right, Peabody and Sherman and all their zany, wonderful contemporaries, you must have this book. It's as simple as that! Author Keith Scott combines the passion of a true animation lover with the rigorous attention to detail of a genuine scholar. This is the most comprehensive history we will likely ever have of Jay Ward Productions, and their wonderful offspring. The story of the Bullwinkle show is the heart of the book, to be sure, but there's also everything you'd want to know about Crusader Rabbit, George of the Jungle, Cap'n Crunch and the talented men and women who created them. Scott had dozens of exclusive interviews and full access to the Ward Productions files. There are mini-biographies of all the key players, plus an episode guide with voice credits.

Keith Scott has reached into his hat...and pulled out a piece of magic, almost as great a treasure as those timeless, wonderful cartoons themselves.

In many ways, this is the perfect summation of Jay Ward Productions; like the early shows, it's marred by technical flaws (typos, repetition, lapses in research), but the strength of the story overcomes those problems and provides a great view of what must have been a wonderful working environment. While it can't quite measure up to a true insider's journal like Chuck Amuck, Scott still had remarkable access to everyone involved, and makes good use of it.

This book is one of the only things I have left of my grandfather, Howard Brandy. He was Jay Ward's longtime publicist and friend who inspired Dudley Do-Right. I love that it mentions their publicity stunt to get Moosylvania into statehood. Jay and my grandfather went across the country with my grandpa dressed as a Canadian Mountie and Jay in a sailor uniform of some kind. They were attempting to gather signitures to bring to the White House to get Moosylvania (an area Jay bought) to be a state. Well they showed up to the White House on the day of the Cuban Missle Crisis lol.

I'm glad to see all these good reviews of this book. It makes me feel good that there are still Rocky & Bullwinkle fans that keep the memory alive. It really is a great book and good insight into Jay's life and creation. I hope many more will buy it.

Great insider info about the team responsible for creating not only Bullwinkle and friends, but also George of the Jungle and even Cap'n Crunch. The author knows his stuff -- he's the voice behind the Bullwinkle movie that's being released later this summer.

Fun, fun book with lots of pictures and drawings and other goodies!