Actor Paul Newman, who voiced Doc Hudson in the 2006 Disney-Pixar movie “Cars,” died over the weekend. I wanted to contact Route 66 author Michael Wallis, who played the Sheriff and served as a technical adviser in the film, about it but was out of town.
Wallis confirmed to me Tuesday that he indeed had a story to tell about Newman. It involved a scene in which Lightning McQueen (portrayed by Owen Wilson) barges into Hudson’s office as the doctor has the Sheriff on a grease rack, conducting a examination on his tailpipe. The Sheriff razzes McQueen: “Get a good look, city boy?”
Wallis said he later had dinner with Newman, and eventually they discussed that scene.
“It’s a great experience … Here’s this little, 80-year-old man … He’s not a big man, but it he is so big in terms of his life and career. Sitting there with his glasses down his nose and looking at me with those incredible blue eyes, and he’s telling me stories about the making of ‘Hud,’ ‘Cool Hand Luke,’ ‘The Hustler,’ ‘Butch Cassidy’ and all those great films. I’m just having a ball.
“Eventually we decide to talk about our scenes in ‘Cars,’ and we go back to that scene in Doc Hudson’s garage, where he’s looking at my tailpipe. He told me, ‘Here’s what I’ve been meaning to tell you, and you need to keep this in mind: You were the only man on Earth who can say that you had an intimate scene with Paul Newman.'”
Wallis said that he and Newman were seldom in the same room when recording their voice parts for “Cars.” But they got to know each other during publicity junkets for the film’s release.
Wallis said he had no direct knowledge that Newman was sick, but sensed that something was up.
“We knew things were changing by the world premiere. We didn’t know it was cancer, but we knew things had changed because he made the statement that ‘I’m going to burn my tuxedo; no more of these. I’m hanging it up.'”
Wallis says he’s been in regular contact with Disney-Pixar about “Cars 2,” but the studio has not indicated how it will handle the deaths of George Carlin (as Fillmore) and Newman.
— Speaking of Wallis, he spoke to a group of special-education students at Webster High School in Tulsa on Tuesday. He regaled them with stories about Route 66. He’d also bark good-naturedly in his Sheriff voice — “You’re gonna go into the impound yard with Mater” and “You’re in a heap of trouble” — from the movie “Cars.” The students are gaining lessons in math, science, geography, history and other areas while learning about the Mother Road. And the school is right next to Southwest Boulevard, aka Route 66.
— Bill Kinder of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., showed off the murals that were recently completed on the side and back walls of his historic establishment.
Kinder also added this little sign on the base of the motel’s famous neon sign.
Kinder also informed us that unlike last year, the motel will be open all winter. He has hired help to run the place while he and Terri Anderson take some time off. He’s asking, however, that guests arrive before 9 p.m. local time during the winter months unless prior arrangements are made.
— Jim Hinckley sent me a copy of the October issue of Cars & Parts magazine. In it is his two-page article about the Route 66 Fun Run in western Arizona. The article is not online, so you’ll have to seek it out at newsstands.
The article concludes:
The Route 66 Fun Run may not be the most prestigious automotive-centered event. However, if you love adventure on the open road, enjoy stunning scenery, or enjoy seeing vintage automobiles in their native habitat, then the Route 66 Fun Run is an event not to be missed.
If you missed this one, the 2009 event will be May 1-3, going from Seligman to Topock.