No, Jimmy Stewart did not make a phone answering machine outgoing message! But, Rich Little did and he could sound as much like Stewart as anyone. Little’s cassette tape with ten different messages was issued by Radio Shack (43-419).
Actually, Stewart’s impersonation was heard twice on the tape. The first time was at the beginning of the tape when Rich was explaining how to use the tape. Little speaks in his own voice, as well as impersonating Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, Richard Nixon, George Burns and Johnny Carson.
Following this are the ten phone messages. Stewart is first and then come Humphrey Bogart, W.C. Fields, Jackie Gleason and Art Carney, Jack Benny, Richard Nixon, John Wayne, George Burns, John Houseman and Clark Gable.
So, imagine that you have just dialed a friend and when the phone is answered, you hear…
We should also note here that Rich Little is a great friend of the Jimmy Stewart Museum. He has often appeared at the museum and has often entertained at their Harvey Award banquet. He also donated the entrance canopy through under which you pass on your way into the museum.
. Little also has presented his one-man show, Jimmy Stewart & Friends, in Las Vegas and around the country.
