From Evanier, I’ve learned of another notable death: the character and voice-over actor Lennie Weinrib.
What’s that, you say? The name “Lennie Weinrib” doesn’t ring a bell? Don’t feel bad, I didn’t recognize it, either. But I certainly recognized his best-known role: the title character from the old Sid and Marty Krofft kid’s show H.R. Pufnstuf. I wrote about Pufnstuf in this entry, and I won’t repeat myself except to note that ol’ Puffy was a pretty special part of my childhood, and I’m sorry to hear that his voice has gone silent.

As it turns out, Weinrib was involved in another fondly remembered bit of pop-cultural detritus from my childhood: he also voiced Timer in the old “Time for Timer” animated PSAs that ran between programs on Saturday mornings. These segments ran concurrently with the “Schoolhouse Rock” shorts that any self-respecting Gen-X’er can still recite (or, more accurately, sing) by heart. While “Schoolhouse” focused on history, math, and science, Timer’s mission was to teach the children of the ’70s about health and hygiene. I best remember the one where Timer showed us how to make our own popsicles with Kool-Aid, toothpicks, Saran Wrap and an ice-cube tray, but judging from what I’ve seen around the ‘net, the most popular one is “Hanker for a Hunka Cheese”:

As usual, Evanier has some personal remembrances of the guy. You might want to click over and give them a read after you watch the video.