Monday, December 30, 2013

Help!...It's the Hair Bear Bunch!

Help!...It's the Hair Bear Bunch! is a Saturday morning cartoon, produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1971 for CBS. The show was developed under the name The Yo Yo Bears, a title which many sources inaccurately list as its name in syndication. The cartoon series depicted three fun-loving bears - the Alfroed, fast-talking Hair Bear, confusing-talking Bubi Bear, and laid-back Square Bear, who are always trying to find a way to escape the Wonderland Zoo on some sort of get-rich-quick scheme, or a wild night of fun. Trying to stop them are the constantly aggravated head zoo director, Mr. Eustace P. Peevly, and his hopelessly inadequate Lionel J. Botch. Mr. Peevly and Botch work for the Zoo Superintendent, and both of them try to stay on his good side. Many episodes end Hair Bear covering for Peevly, couching the shenanigans and disarray as a project initiated by Peevly for the zoo's welfare, which the Superintendent always accepts and spares Peevly's job.

The cartoon show features the voices of Daws Butler as Hair Bear. William Callaway as Square Bear. Paul Winchell as Bubi Bear. John Stephenson as Zookeeper Eustace P. Peevly. And Joe E. Ross as Lionel J. Botch.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Josie and the Pussycats

Josie and the Pussycats is an American animated television series, based upon the Archie Comics comic book series of the same name created by Dan DeCarlo. Produced for Saturday morning television by Hanna-Barbera Productions, sixteen episodes of Josie and the Pussycats aired on CBS during the 1970-71 television season, and were rerun during the 1971-72 season. In 1972, the show was re-conceptualized as Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space, sixteen episodes of which aired on CBS during the 1972-73 season and were rerun the following season. Josie and the Pussycats featured an all-girl pop music band that toured the world with their entourage, getting mixed up in a strange adventures, spy capers, and mysteries. The group consisted of level-headed lead singer and guitarist Josie, intelligent tambourinist Valerie, and air-headed blonde drummer Melody. Very similar to Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, each episode featured a song during a chase scene, they run after from a selection of haplessly villainous characters.

The cartoon show features the voices of Janet Waldo as Josie. Barbara Pariot as Valerie. Jackie Joseph as Melody. Jerry Dexter as Alan. Casey Kasem as Alexander Cabot 3. Sherry Alberoni as Alexandra Cabot. And Don Messick as Sebastian the Cat.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

The Harlem Globetrotters

The Harlem Globetrotters is a Saturday morning cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera and CBS Productions, featuring animated versions of players from the famous basketball team, Harlem Globetrotters. Broadcast from September 12, 1970 to September 2, 1972 on CBS, and later re-run as The Go-Go Globetrotters, the show featured cartoon versions of George "Meadowlark" Lemon, Freddie "Curly" Neal, Hubert "Geese" Ausbie, J.C. "Gip" Gipson, Bobby Joe Mason, and Pablo Robertson, alongside their fictional bus driver and manager, Granny, and their dog mascot, Dribbles.

The series worked to a formula where the team travels somewhere and typically get involved in a local conflict that leads to one of the Globetrotters proposing a basketball game to settle the issue. To ensure the Globetrotters' defeat, the villains rig the contest; however, before the second half of the contest, the team always find a way to even the odds, become all but invincible, and win the game.

The cartoon show features the voices of Scatman Crothers as George "Meadowlark" Lemon. Stu Gilliam as Freddie "Curly" Neal. Johnny Williams as Hubert "Geese" Ausbie. Richard Elkins as J.C. "Gip" Gipson. Eddie "Rochester" Anderson as Bobby Joe Mason. Robert DoQui as Pablo Robertson. And Nancy Wible as Granny.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Scooby Doo

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! is the first incarnation of the long-running Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon series, Scooby-Doo. Created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, it premiered on CBS September 13, 1969 at 10:30 a.m. and ran for two seasons for a total of 25 episodes. Its final first-run aired in January 1971. In the cartoon show, the four teenagers Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and their cowardly, clumsy Great Dane named Scooby-Doo must solve supernatural mysteries by finding clues, and removing an angry mask to see who is in disguise. The gang are also part of the Mystery Inc. when they drive in the van called the Mystery Machine. To investigate the clues wherever they are, the kids search in different places like Fred, Daphne, and Velma and Scooby and Shaggy who are pals. In the following 2 Scooby Doo show, they meet the guest stars in The New Scooby-Doo Movies and Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo where the kids meets Scrappy-Doo who is Scooby's nephew puppy and says with his famous catchphrase, "Let me at 'em!" and "Puppy Power!"

The cartoon shows featured the voices of Don Messick as Scooby-Doo and Scrappy Doo. Casey Kasem as Shaggy Rogers. Frank Welker as Fred Jones. Heather North as Daphne Blake. And Nicole Jaffe as Velma Dinkley.


Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines

Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines is a cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for CBS. Originally the series was broadcast as a Saturday morning cartoon, airing from September 13, 1969 to January 3, 1970. The show focuses on the efforts of Dick Dastardly and his canine sidekick Muttley to catch Yankee Doodle Pigeon, a carrier pigeon who carries messages. The cartoon was a combination of Red Baron Snoopy, Wacky Races, which featured Dastardly and Muttley in a series of car races, and the film Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. Dick Dastardly and Muttley the main villains also return in the cartoon show after the Wacky Races. The show is widely known as Stop the Pigeon based on the show's original working title and the show's theme song, written by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera.

The cartoon show had only two voice actors: Paul Winchell as Dick Dastardly and the indistinctly heard General, and Don Messick as Muttley, Yankee Doodle Pigeon, and two of the Vulture Squadron pilots Zilly and Klunk.

The Perils of Penelope Pitstop

The Perils of Penelope Pitstop is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions that premiered on CBS on September 13, 1969. The show lasted two full seasons with a total of 17 half-hour episodes and released the last first-run episode airing on January 17, 1970. It is a spin-off of the Wacky Races cartoon, reprising the characters of Penelope Pitstop and the Anthill Mob. Created by veteran Hanna-Barbera voice actress Janet Waldo, Penelope returns in her own series. Her catchphrase is "Help! Help!" spoken in an affected upper-class U.S. Southern accent, and she must get away from the evil Hooded Claw.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Wacky Races

Wacky Races is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera. The series, inspired by the 1965 slapstick comedy film The Great Race, features 11 different cars racing against each other in various road allies throughout North America, with each driver hoping to win the title of the "World's Wackiest Racer." The cartoon had a large number of regular characters, with 23 people and animals spread among the 11 cars. Wacky Races ran from September 14, 1968 to January 4, 1969. 17 episodes were produced, with each episode featuring two different races.

The Slag Brothers drive in Bouldermobile #1. The Gruesome Twosome drive in Creepy Coupe#2. Professor Pat Pending drives in Covert-a-Car#3. Red Max drives in Crimson Haybailer$4. Penelope Pitstop drives in Compact Pussycat#5. Sergeant Blast and Private Meekly drive in Army Surplus Special#6. The Ant Hill Mob drive in Bulletproof Bomb#7. Luke and Blubber Bear drive in Arkansas Chuggabug#8. Peter Perfect drives in Turbo Terrific#9. Rufus Ruffcat and Sawtooth drive in Buzzwagon#10. And Dick Dastardly and Muttley in Mean Machine who always cause troubles and wanted to be the first winners.

The cartoon show features the voices of Daws Butler as Rock Slag, Big Gruesome, Red Max, Sergeant Blast, Peter Perfect, and Rufus Ruffcut, Don Messick as Muttley, Gravel Slag, Little Twosome, Professor Pat Pending, Ring-a-Ding, and Sawtooth. John Stephenson as Luke and Blubber Bear. Janet Waldo as Penelope Pitstop. Dave Willock as the narrator. And Paul Winchell as Dick Dastardly, Private Meekly, and Clyde.

Monday, December 23, 2013

The Banana Splits

The Banana Splits Adventure Hour is an hour-long, packaged television variety program featuring The Banana Splits, a fictional rock band composed of four funny animal characters. The costumed hosts of the show were Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky. The series was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, and ran for 31 episodes on NBC Saturdays mornings, from September 7, 1968 to September 5, 1970. The series costumes and sets were designed by Sid and Marty Kroff. The series also featured both live action and animated segments and is Hanna-Barbera's first foray into mixing live action with animation. The main characters were Fleegle the beagle who plays the guitar. Bingo the gorilla who plays the drums. Drooper the lion who plays the bass. And Snorky the elephant who plays the keyboard.

The live action and animated segment features the voices of Paul Winchell as Fleegle. Daws Butler as Bingo. And Allan Melvin as Drooper.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Birdman and the Galaxy Trio

Birdman and the Galaxy Trio is an animated science fiction television series created by Alex Toth and produced by Hanna-Barbera. It debuted on NBC on September 9, 1967, and ran on Saturday mornings until September 6, 1969. The program consists of two segments: Birdman, depicting the adventures of a winged superhero powered by the sun, and The galaxy Trio, centering around the exploits of three extraterrestrial superheroes.

The cartoon show features the voices of Keith Andes as Birdman. Dick Beals as Birdman's sidekick Birdboy. Don Messick as both Falcon 7 and Vapor Man. Robert Duvall as General Stone. Vic Perrin as Number One the leader of the sinister organization F.E.A.R. Ted Cassidy as Meteor Man. And Virginia Eiler as Gravity Girl.



Space Ghost

Space Ghost is a fictional character created by Hanna-Barbera Productions and designed by Alex Toth for CBS in the 1960s. In his original incarnation, he was a superhero, who with his sidekick teen helpers Jan, Jace, and Blip the monkey, fought supervillains in outer space. In the 1990s, the character was brought back as a host for his own fictional late-night talk show called Space Ghost Coast to Coast on Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. Space Ghost also appeared in other cartoon shows like: Space Ghost and Dino Boy, Space Stars, and Space Ghost Coast to Coast.

The carton show features the voices of Gary Owens as Space Ghost. Don Messick as both Moltar the lava creature in the metal suit and Zorak the big praying mantis. And Keye Luke as Brak the cat-like alien space pirate.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Jonny Quest

The Adventures of Jonny Quest is an American animated science fiction adventure television series about a boy who accompanies his scientist father on extraordinary adventures. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for Screen Gems, and created and designed by comic book artist Doug Wildley. The show ran on ABC in prime time on early Friday nights for onw season in 1964-1965.

The cartoon show features the voices of Tim Matheson as Jonny Quest. John Stephenson as Jonny's father, Dr. Benton C. Quest. Mike Road as Roger T. Bannon the special agent, bodyguard and pilot from Intelligence One. And Danny Bravo as Jonny's best friend, Hadji Singh the streetwise Calcutta orphan who becomes the adopted son of Dr. Benton Quest. Together, they go on mission with Jonny's white dog named Bandit who is cute.


Monday, December 9, 2013

The Jetsons

The Jetsons is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera, originally airing in primetime from 1962-1963, then later as part of the weekday-weekend morning programming block called The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera, until 1987. New episodes were produced from 1984-1987 as well. It was Hanna-Barbera's Space Age, very similar counterpart to The Flintstones. Very much like in The Flintstones, The Jetsons live in the year 2062 in a futuristic utopia of elaborate robotic contraptions, aliens, holograms, and whimsical inventions.

The cartoon show features the voices of George O'Hanlon as George Jetson who works at Spacely's Sprockets. Penny Singleton as Jane Jetson who is George's wife. Janet Waldo as the Jetsons' daughter Judy Jetson. Daws Butler as their son Elroy Jetson. Jean Vander Pyl as Rosie the Robot Maid. Don Messick as the Jetsons' family dog Astro. And Mel Blanc as George's boss, Cosmo Spacely.


Saturday, December 7, 2013

The Flintstones

The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that was broadcast from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966 on ABC. The show was produced by Hanna-Barbera. The Flintstones was about a working-class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. The show is set in the Stone Age town of Bedrock. In this fantasy version of the past, dinosaurs, saber-toothed tigers, wooly mammoths, and other long-extinst animals co-exist with caveman. In addition, the cars are made out of stone, wood,and animal skins, and powered by the passengers' feet as in the theme son. "Through the courtesy of Fred's two feet."

The cartoon show features the voices of Alan Reed as Fred Flintstone. Jean Vander Pyl as both Wilma and their daughter Pebbles Flintstone. Mel Blanc from the Looney Tunes plays Barney Rubble. Bea Benaderet as Barney's wife Betty Rubble. And Don Messick as Barney and Betty's son Bamm-Bamm. And together, they have a pet purple dinosaur named Dino.


Top Cat Characters

Top Cat is a Hanna-Barbera prime time animated series which ran from November 26, 1961 to April 18, 1962 for a run of 30 episodes on the ABC network. Reruns were formely played on Cartoon Network, but are now shown on its sister network Boomerang. The central character, Top Cat , known as T.C. by close friends, is the leader of a gang of Manhatten alley cats: Fancy-Fancy, Spook, Benny the Ball, Brain and Choo-Choo living in Hoagy's Alley.

The cartoon show features the voices of Arnold Stang as Top Cat the yellow cat. Maurice Gosfield as Benny the Ball, the blue-colored cat. Marvin Kaplan as Choo-Choo the pink cat with a white long-sleeve turtle-neck shirt. Leo De Lyon as both Spook the sweet talking cat and Brain the orange cat with a violet T-Shirt. John Stephenson as Fancy-Fancy the brown cat with a white scarf. And Allen Jenkins as Officer Charlie Dibble.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Punkin' Puss and Mushmouse

Punkin' Puss and Mushmouse is a cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera and originally aired as a segment on the The Magilla Gorilla Show. The show features a hillbilly cat called Punkin' Puss who lives in a house in the woods of the southern US. Punkin' is preoccupied with a hillbilly called Mushmouse who lives there too, and Punkin' frequently tries to shoot him with his rifle.

The show features the voices of Allan melvin as Punkin' Puss and Howard Morris as Mushmouse.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Pixie & Dixie and Mr. Jinks

Pixie & Dixie and Mr. Jinks is a Hanna-Barbera cartoon that featured as a regular segment of the television series The Huckleberry Houns Show from 1958 to 1961. The show featured two mice, Pixie and Dixie and a cat named Mr. Jinks. In many ways the shorts resemble Hanna-Barbera's earlier better-known creation, Tom and Jerry, which is also featured a warring cat and mouse in a domestic setting. However without Tom and jerry's more lavish budget for full animation, the Jinks team had to rely on funny dialogue and voices to carry cartoon's humor.

Pixie is voiced by Don Messick, Dixie and Mr. Jinks are voiced by Daws Butler in different ways. One is in a southern accent and the other is impersonating Marlon Brando.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Lippy the Lion & Hardy Har Har

Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har are a pair of Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters, a lion in a tattered top hat and vest and a hyena in a porkpie hat and bow tie respectively. Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har first appeared in The Hanna-Barbera New Cartoon Series in 1962, along with Wally Gator and Touche' Turtle and Dum Dum. Mel Blanc used the same voice, personality and expressions for Hardy Har-Har that he used playing the postman on the Burns and Allen radio show.

Lippy is voiced by Daws Butler who had done Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, Wally Gator, Loopy De Loop, Peter Potamus, Quick Draw McGraw, Baba Looey, and Hokey Wolf. And Hardy is voiced by Mel Blanc who did most of the Looney Tunes characters.