# The Grinch
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grinch/25148
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 10, 2000, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grinch/25148 "2000-07-10T21:46:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@RussellB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RussellB)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2000, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grinch/25148/1 "2000-07-10T21:46:47Z")
Who sang the recurring song in the Chuck Jones TV special of
“How The Grinch Stole Christmas?” It sounds kind of like
James Earl Jones but I strongly doubt that it is. Boris
Karloff is credited with “the sounds of the Grinch” but I
don’t think the song qualifies for that category.
A few years later, Chuck Jones produced the animated version
of “The Cat in the Hat” and it sounds like the same voice
is used for one of the Things (not sure if it’s Thing 1 or
Thing 2).
Any clues out there?
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### Author:  [@RussellB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RussellB)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2000, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grinch/25148/2 "2000-07-10T22:11:03Z")
I found a website that suggests that Thurl Ravenscroft did
the vocals. I’m not sure how much credence to give the site,
but I think I remember that name from the credits of the
Cat In The Hat.
Confirm or deny, anyone?
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### Author:  [@Gatsby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatsby)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2000, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grinch/25148/3 "2000-07-10T22:24:34Z")
It’s Burl Ives. I’ve got an MP3 of it.
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### Author:  [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2000, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grinch/25148/4 "2000-07-10T22:27:34Z")
The songs from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” TV special were most definitely peformed by Thurl Ravenscroft. His name was originally left out of the credits, although later additions have restored his name. Thurl is better known as the voice of Tony the Tiger.
The song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” was written by Albert Hague.
TNT used to air a special about the making of “Grinch” after they showed it, but since it was hosted by Phil Hartman, they have held off the last two years with it.
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### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2000, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grinch/25148/5 "2000-07-10T22:27:54Z")
Thurl Ravenscroft did the singing in _How the Grinch Stole Christmas_. You may recognize him as the voice of Tony the Tiger in the Frosted Flakes commercials.
Also uncredited in _Grinch_ is June Foray, as the voice of little Cindy Lou Who (who was no more than two).
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### Author:  [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2000, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grinch/25148/6 "2000-07-10T22:32:27Z")
Thurl Ravenscroft sung the songs, but he was overlooked in the credits.
The woman who was the voice of Cindy Lou Who is also uncredited.
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### Author:  [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2000, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grinch/25148/7 "2000-07-10T22:36:48Z")
To add to my above post, according TNT special about the making of HtGSC, the original plan was for Boris Karloff to sing the songs himself, but it turned out that he couldn’t carry a tune, so Thurl Ravenscroft was brought in.
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### Author:  [@Gatsby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatsby)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2000, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grinch/25148/8 "2000-07-10T22:43:46Z")
I guess you can’t trust people to properly label their mp3s. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@RussellB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RussellB)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2000, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grinch/25148/9 "2000-07-11T16:31:10Z")
We would seem to have a reasonable amount of corroboration here. Our videotape version of HTGSC must have the very early version of the closing credits, because it doesn’t list either June Foray or Thurl Ravenscroft.
I didn’t know that Thurl R. was Tony the Tiger, but it certainly makes sense. June Foray has done a gazillion great cartoon bits, not the least of which is one Rocket J. Squirrel. She’s a true gem.
Thanks again for the answer and the additional tidbits. I
wasn’t exactly losing sleep over this question, but it DID keep nagging at me while I was awake…
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### Author:  [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2000, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grinch/25148/10 "2000-07-11T17:37:26Z")
And, in further trivia news, Albert Hague, the songwriter, went on to play Mr. Shorofsky, the music teacher in the film and TV series, “Fame.”