Escapay versus The Lace Collar

[Escapay]

An imaginary interview with The Lace Collar, as we discuss his early career, working with Bobby Driscoll, and the roar that shook the world...

Hi, and welcome back to "Escapay versus..."! With me today is our favorite cloth of controversy, the Lace Collar!

Thanks! I'm glad to be here.

Let's just get right down to it...can you do your Godzilla roar?

Haha, I knew you'd ask that.

Come on, it's an audience favorite!

Here goes...

(takes a deep breath)

RRRROOOOOAAAAARRRR!!!!!

Thanks, that was awesome.

It's always great to be appreciated. Especially when you're a Lace Collar.

DId you always plan on being a Lace Collar?

Actually, no. My parents kept pressing for me to be a doily. It was the more practical profession, you know? Lace patterns come and go, but doilies are forever.

So what drew you to Hollywood and stardom?

Well, I was a bit of a rebel in the family. Everyone was a doily back then. It got to be tiresome, just sitting on furniture. There's no challenge to that. So I packed my threads and headed for Hollywood.

Was Song of the South your first role?

My first major role, yes. I had bit parts earlier, in short films. I was a contract player in Pete Smith Specialties, but the roles didn't really fulfill me. I tried getting work in "Crime Does Not Pay," but they rarely had a use for a lace collar. Getting Song of the South turned out to be the best thing I did. It opened a lot of doors for me, and lace collars everywhere.

So how did you end up with Disney?

I was at Paramount as a stand-in collar. It wasn't good work, but it paid my bills. When I was there, I ran into Robert Benchley at a luncheon, and we became friends. He was working at Disney on The Reluctant Dragon, and I visited him on the lot one day. It was a lot of fun, I got to meet Walt. Walt remembered me when we were at Robert's funeral a few years later, and he told me about his newest film in development, which was Song of the South.

Well, I was very excited to hear about how it was set in the Reconstruction era. My family can trace themselves right to that time period! I mentioned this to Walt, and he thought it would be a keen idea to feature me in the film, as I was somewhat of a "period piece" that they could use.

What was it like working with Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten?

They were just about the nicest kids a lace collar could ask for. I got along very well with them. In the movie, Bobby really had to work at throwing me on the ground. He was afraid he'd hurt me, and I could tell he hated that scene. After every take, he would apologize profusely to me, always making sure I was okay and that he didn't throw me too hard. He was a real class act.

Luana was great, as well. She didn't know at first that I was one of the actors, and thought that I was just a prop collar, something they sent over from wardrobe. It was rather hilarious when she put me on the first time. Her hands were shaking, I think because she finally realized I was a real lace collar. She nearly forgot her lines, but I kept whispering them to her. It was great, really, working with all of them.

Did you expect your role to be so well-remembered so many years later?

Honestly? No. I mean, I was just the guy that helped Johnny and Ginny become friends, and I'm glad for the opportunities it gave me afterwards. But I never expected to be remembered for this role, as a signature role. I did a lot of work after Song of the South, but I guess none of it really stuck out as well as that movie did.

What was some of your favorite work after Song of the South?

I went back to the short films again. But this time, I was more of a star player, being featured on more and more necks. Then, when television started gaining prominence, I found a lot of good steady work there. Mostly guest spots because the world wasn't really ready for "The Lace Collar Show," haha!

Let's talk about your work as a voice collar.

Sure! It wasn't really until Godzilla came along that I branched out into vocal parts. After my roars captured the world, I was getting offers left and right just for my voice. Sometimes I'd do an imitation Wilhelm scream, but mostly I worked the sound effects of many television shows. Still, just like my Song of the South role, I became known more and more for my Godzilla roar.

Well, your roars are timeless.

Thanks! I was surprised at how often they kept using me over the years. Sometimes they'd bring in another lace collar to roar for the films, but then a lot of the fans complained. So I kept coming back, re-recording new roars for them. I even had a chance to roar for the US remake in the late 90s.

What was that like?

At that point, I was already retired, and decided to do the roars for the fans. They deserved a true Godzilla roar in the film, and so I went in, recorded some roars, helped out with some of the sound mixing. It was always just for the fans. Plus, it allowed me to be part of a big-budget blockbuster film, something I never really did before.

Do you think you'll ever go back to working at Disney again?

I would love to, provided it's the right part. I only ever did Song of the South for them, I'm not sure the current powers that be are even aware of that.

If you want, you can reference them to the Facebook Fan Page. There's a small but devoted following there that the suits might want to check out.

Really? That's cool.

Well, Lace Collar, it looks like our time is almost up.

It was great chatting with you!

Before we go, I've got several questions that I always like to ask my interviewees.

Go ahead!

What's your favorite type of pie?

Coconut Cream.

Have you ever seen a squirrel dance?

What a strange question. No, I don't think I have.

Would you ever float around on a cloud and drop water balloons on people?

Haha, that sounds like fun. Maybe. It's just water, anyway!

Boxers or Briefs?

I'm a Lace Collar. I don't need them.

Who's your favorite Mouseketeer?

Was Moochie a Mouseketeer? I always liked him.

Do you believe in Ghosts?

No.

Favorite song to sing in the shower?

"Blue Velvet"

Slipcovers: Yay or Nay?

I've got a few second cousins that are furniture slipcovers. So Yay, I guess.

Who invented post-its?

Michele made them yellow, right? That's all I know.

Finally, one more question. In ten words or less...what do you think of the company today?

Release Song of the South! I'll provide commentary!

Thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview, Lace Collar!

You're welcome! I'm glad to have done it!

And that's all the time we have today, folks. Tune in next time when I interview The Horned King!



The "Escapay versus..." Series:
Escapay versus Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Escapay versus Walt Disney in the Great Beyond
Escapay versus Mickey Mouse
Escapay versus The Lace Collar
Escapay versus The Horned King - coming soon
Escapay versus The Members' Choice! - coming soon, details to follow

Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. I don't know if Lace Collars really can do voice work, have ever appeared in the Pete Smith Specialties, or sing "Blue Velvet" in the shower (especially when "Leather and Lace" seems a more appropriate song). Everything that "Lace Collar" says is a fictional depiction of him.

albert

[Lazario]

Get help.

[Escapay]

Will they be able to give me better drugs?

albert

[Lazario]

No promises.

[avonleastories95]

OMG, Albert! You almost had me crying laughing so hard! Good going!

[Flanger-Hanger]

I like this better than the one with Mickey, Scaps. Looking forward to your interview with The Horned King.

[SpringHeelJack]

I always thought the lace collar would wear a lacy thong.

[disneyboy20022]

that was hilarious...though you should have asked him how he felt about some people calling him one of the reasons SotS hasn't been released?

Man....I'm looking forward to the Horned King interview.....I thought he died in the movie...or is he perhaps working on getting ressurected and finding a new type of evil cooking supplies?

[blackcauldron85]

Wow, he did the roar. What a talented lace collar.



So excited for the next interview!

[Escapay]

though you should have asked him how he felt about some people calling him one of the reasons SotS hasn't been released?

Nah. There's already enough pointless debate about that.

Plus, it would have hurt his feelings.

albert

[pinkrenata]

Pink elephants for Escapay!



It's amazing you were able to track down such a mysterious and controversial figure.

[REINIER]

scaps,



oh, let's not forget...

[Escapay]

It's amazing you were able to track down such a mysterious and controversial figure.

It wasn't easy. I had a few contacts that were able to help (including his snowflake-adorned second cousin - on his mother's side - who wrapped a Christmas gift given to me in 2006 ), but Lace Collar is a very private collar. But it was worth it, and I was glad to have been able to interview him.

albert

[Disney Duster]

How inventive and hilarious. "My second cousins are slipcovers, so yay I guess". Too funny.

[Elladorine]

Wow, nice to see him get a little recognition, he and I go way back. Heck, we even did a photo shoot together last year.



He looks great for his age, doesn't he?

[Escapay]

He certainly does. And here's a rarity...it's Lace Collar with his children, Lacy Collar and Lucy Collar, on Gromit & Johnny respectively:



albert

[pinkrenata]

That's just what SOTS needed to give it that non-offensive, family-friendly touch!

Do I smell Special (or should we say Lacy) Edition slipcover?

[Avaitor]

He certainly does. And here's a rarity...it's Lace Collar with his children, Lacy Collar and Lucy Collar, on Gromit & Johnny respectively:



albert

Not bad. Missing some Milk Buds, though.

[Elladorine]

[Elladorine]

Hmm . . . even the latest Disney princess is getting in on the act?