Short Stuff: The Voice of God

In short

This podcast episode delves into the remarkable life and career of Don LaFontaine, the iconic voice-over artist known as 'The Voice of God.' It covers his humble beginnings as an Army engineer, his accidental entry into voice-over work, and his pivotal role in shaping the modern movie trailer with his distinctive baritone and signature phrase, 'in a world...' The hosts highlight his prolific output, his ability to dominate a unique niche, and his lasting legacy in entertainment.

Key takeaways

• Don LaFontaine voiced over 5,000 film trailers and 750,000 television spots throughout his career.
• His entry into voice-over was accidental, stepping in for a no-show actor in 1965.
• LaFontaine, along with Floyd Peterson, revolutionized movie trailers by creating a distinct style and iconic catchphrases like 'in a world...'
• He became the voice for all major networks in America, demonstrating his dominance in the voice-over industry.
• LaFontaine's final performance was in a 'Phineas and Ferb' episode, where his last line was fittingly, 'in a world...'

Chapters

1. 01:25

   Introduction to Don LaFontaine

   Hosts Josh and Chuck introduce the topic of Don LaFontaine, the legendary voice-over artist known as 'The Voice of God'.

2. 01:40

   A Prolific Voice-Over Career

   The hosts detail LaFontaine's incredible volume of work, including over 5,000 film trailers and 750,000 TV spots, highlighting the demanding nature of voice-over work.

3. 02:40

   Early Life and Engineering Roots

   The episode explores LaFontaine's background, from serving in the Army band as a recording engineer to his early partnership with radio producer Floyd Peterson in 1962.

4. 03:45

   The Accidental Voice-Over Debut

   LaFontaine's voice-over career began unexpectedly in 1965 when he stepped in for a no-show actor to record radio spots for 'The Gunfighters of Casa Grande'.

5. 04:30

   Revolutionizing Movie Trailers

   LaFontaine and Peterson are credited with disrupting the in-house film promotion model and pioneering the modern movie trailer, developing iconic catchphrases.

6. 05:40

   The Power of 'In a World...'

   The discussion focuses on the impact and ubiquity of LaFontaine's signature phrase 'in a world...' and its effectiveness in quickly setting the scene for a film.

7. 07:30

   Dominating the Voice-Over Niche

   LaFontaine's continued success is highlighted, including forming his own production company, becoming the voice for all major networks, and his unique ability to master his craft.

8. 08:30

   Final Performance and Passing

   The hosts discuss LaFontaine's health struggles, his passing in 2008 from a pulmonary embolism, and his poignant final voice-over performance in a 'Phineas and Ferb' episode.

9. 09:30

   'In a World...' The Movie and Recognition

   The episode mentions the 2013 film 'In a World...' inspired by his work and the ongoing discussion about whether LaFontaine has a deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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