Reliving Fond Memories
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Singin' in the Rain
Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards
By David Mink
The reasons why a certain actor is chosen to voice a cartoon character may be lost to foggy time. Sometimes there was no great mystery; it is the result of chance making for a lucky accident. Whatever the reason, the actor imbues the drawings with their personality, "completing" the character.
Cliff Edwards is one such story. He was the voice behind Jiminy Cricket, who became the conscience of the Disney Company.
Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards was born in Hannibal Missouri, the same town that raised Mark Twain. When his father, a worker on the railroad, became to too ill to work, Cliff quit school and got a job. After working through various blue-collar jobs, he ended up with a circus, where he bought his first ukulele.
By 1918 he was touring around the Midwest in vaudeville. He called himself "Ukulele Ike". His funny looks and scat singing made him a hit through the theatre circuits. At this time he married for the first time. Out of that union came his only child, a son named Cliff Jr.
Cliff was now a star on Broadway. His nonsense ditty, "JaDa" and "Singin' In The Rain"(remember America Sings?) were smash hits. He performed solo or with various groups all around the country.
Many recordings sold in the millions. Songs like "It Had to Be You", "Paddlin' Madeline" were huge sellers. The image of the 1920’s carefree lad with pushed back fedora strumming a ukulele was taken from Cliff.
From Broadway to Hollywood. He began with musical shorts for MGM, then moved into bigger roles, character parts mostly. He made dozens of movies, had a comfortable life.
Unfortunately, his private life was not so carefree. He was divorced now, and most of his paychecks were going for alimony and child support. Cliff Jr. was crippled in a train wreck; so more money was taken. A lover of good times, Cliff was succumbing to substance abuse and gambling debts. It was a problem that would plague him the rest of his life.
By the late 30's, Cliff was making westerns when Walt Disney entered his life. He tested for Pinocchio’s sidekick and got the part.
The rest, as they say, is history. Immortality was bestowed on the Missourian when he sang "When You Wish Upon A Star", which became the theme song for the Disney Company.
From then on, Cliff was the official voice of Jiminy Cricket. He also did the voice of one of the crows in Dumbo.
He survived throughout the war years doing benefit shows for the GIs. Unfortunately, he was becoming an aging curiosity from the past, and his habits were making him unreliable. He was plagued by bad marriages and bankruptcies. His music was trendy, so it didn't translate well for modern audiences. His gigs dried up.
Walt Disney helped Cliff out with more voice work as Jiminy Cricket for The Mickey Mouse Club. (He remained the voice until 1971.Eddie Carroll is currently the official voice.)
Cliff’s star was fading fast, and his finances were deteriorating. His last movie gig was voice over work for "The Man from Button Willow" in 1964. By 1969 he was too ill. His life style had caught up with him, and he was admitted to a nursing home as a welfare patient.
Cliff Edwards died in 1971. No one claimed the body, so he was put in a charity grave at Pierce Brothers Valhalla cemetery in North Hollywood, Ca.
Years later, the Disney Studios bought a headstone for Cliff.
Recently a collection of Ukulele Ike’s classic songs was re-released to modest acclaim. If only he were around to see the happiness his singing and songs caused.
Whenever I walk through Sleeping Beauty’s castle I think of Cliff, not troubled and helpless, but strumming his ukulele, doing a soft shoe and singing "Give a Little Whistle" to his wooden protégé. I have new insight when I watch my tape of America Sings, with the geese quartet singing "JaDa" and "Singing" in the Rain", or the fox rolling out on the back of a jalopy with the hat, raccoon coat and…yes…ukulele. These are silent tributes to the man and his talent.
Cliff was ever the optimist, and I’d rather remember him for his unique contribution to American pop culture. He will always be remembered as the aw-shucks Cricket who came into Gepetto’s one night to warm his…. himself.
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-- David Mink
Reliving Fond Memories is posted the third Wednesday of each month.
The opinions expressed by our David Mink, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted August 21, 2002