In a World Without a Voice

(Props to Monty)

Hal Douglas, who spent more time begging for attention in the dark than a prom queen runner-up with daddy issues, has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 89. In his gravelly baritone, Douglas invited “audiences everywhere” to “a world where” “the laws of the universe no longer apply,” ensuring moviegoers would be “thrilled by images never before seen ... until now!,” as the narrator of thousands of cinematic trailers. For decades Douglas, the late Don LaFontaine, and Don Morrow were the go-to voices in trailerology – so far ahead of the pack they didn’t even bother adding the 4^th face on their Mount Rushes-more. His unique status scored him an on-camera role as a voice-over artist in the trailer for Jerry Seinfeld’s 2002 documentary, “Comedian,” where he spoke only in clichés to the growing frustration of his director. He was also the subject of a short documentary about his career in 2013 titled “A Great Voice.”