This post started out as a simple list I was compiling of 1960s animated cartoon TV series that had fallen off the radar. At first I struggled to think of five titles, but pretty soon I couldn’t stop thinking of shows I grew up on that are nowhere to be seen today. Well, nowhere except YouTube or Archive.org.
At first I thought I’d do a post highlighting five favorites that were no longer around – then it occurred me that almost all existing studios of the 1960s (including Hanna Barbera) had at least one (or more) “lost” show. By “lost” we don’t mean truly non-existent (though in some cases that might be a possibility – I’m looking at you, BEAGLES).
So here’s a small list, by studio, to get the conversation going – I’ll leave it to you to remind me what I’ve left out – in the COMMENTS SECTION below.
HANNA BARBERA
Well, the big enchilada of “missing” series is Quick Draw McGraw (1959 – but primarily a mainstay of the 1960s Saturday morning and syndication). The good news is that (thanks to MeTV Toons) this series is indeed being restored and music rights are in the process of being cleared. I can’t say when you’ll see this show again, but it’s on the agenda. So what about Sinbad Jr. And His Magic Belt (MGM/Amazon owns it), The Laurel & Hardy cartoons (Larry Harmon’s estate owns it), or a movie like Rock Odyssey (a music rights nightmare)? Hanna Barbera’s first series, Ruff & Reddy, were produced as serialized episodes (think Rocky & Bullwinkle) which made it hard to syndicate the past 50 years – but perhaps the time for a comeback is here…
DePATIE-FRELENG
Best known for the Pink Panther (and associated friends, The Inspector, Ant and Aardvark, etc), DePatie Freleng became a leading force in TV animation in the late 60s – and as such, left a legacy of overlooked shows. Chief among them (IMHO) Super Six (which is thankfully restored and available on standard def DVD). Many other DePatie Freleng shows were ‘works for hire’ – The Further Adventures of Doctor Dolittle, Return To The Planet Of the Apes (both owned now by Fox/Disney) and The Oddball Couple (Paramount has it – and it’s on DVD). But among their originals, what of Super President (MGM/Amazon has it), and Here Comes The Grump? (The Mirisch Company privately owns this one). DPF did numerous shows that have fallen off the radar in the 1970s before morphing into Marvel Animation and flying off into the sunset….
TOTAL TELEVISION
Total Television Productions – an un-related, distant cousin to Jay Ward’s factory of fun…scored with The Underdog Show and King Leonardo and his Short Subjects – but failed miserably with two projects that are essentially un-seeable: The Beagles (thankfully a few bootleg prints have surfaced on Your Tube) – and the fabled pilot for The Colossal Show which somehow made it to the public as a Gold Key comic book.
FILMATION
Love them or hate them – Filmation was certainly a Saturday morning powerhouse, and the number one competitor to Hanna Barbera. Superman and The Archie Show put them on the map – and like DePatie Freleng, they did numerous works-for-hire for the larger IP owners (Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, Mattel, etc). Journey To The Center Of The Earth (1967) and Fantastic Voyage (1968) are properties of Paramount Pictures Disney/20th Century. Where is The Hardy Boys? (After years of legal woes, Simon & Schuster today owns the characters and publish the books – but what of the cartoon series?). On that note, today it’s easier to see The Day The Clown Cried than it is to find the episodes of Will The Real Jerry Lewis Please Sit Down? (I assume the Lewis estate owns the show).
THE ONE (or TWO) HIT WONDERS
HOT WHEELS – Pantomime Pictures
Along with Sky Hawks, Pantomime Pictures (Roger Ramjet, The Funny Company, etc) produced these two Alex Toth designed series (for Mattel), which made their debut on ABC Saturday mornings in 1969. Where are they today? The Hot Wheels cars are still a hot toy property today – and comedy genius Albert Brooks is in the cast as a regular! C’mon Mattel – let’s get this out of your vault.
LINUS THE LIONHEARTED – Ed Graham
I have some good news: This one is coming back later this year…
TALES OF THE WIZARD OF OZ – Rankin-Bass
Rankin-Bass had several TV cartoons I really enjoyed as a kid… none of them are around – The New Adventures of Pinocchio (in stop motion!); King Kong, Smokey The Bear, Tomfoolery, and others. But my favorite was this: Tales of The Wizard of Oz. The theme song, the stylized backgrounds, the modern character designs, the oddball storylines… overall a fun show and cool.
CALVIN AND THE COLONEL – Creston
We’ve discussed Calvin and the Colonel many times here on this blog. But for those who came in late: This was an ABC prime time show, produced by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher (Leave It To Beaver, The Munsters, etc) and featuring the voices of Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll from the radio series (Amos & Andy). While there is nothing racist about this series, just the mere fact that Gosden and Correll were doing their famous character voices – though visualized as a Bear and a Fox – is enough to keep it from ever being seen again. Universal has the rights to the show (it has been in syndication to foreign markets for decades – dubbed locally in different languages, avoiding any controversy. Perhaps the show could be salvaged if it were given a complete English soundtrack revision… but it’s just not worth the time and expense).
BEANY & CECIL – Bob Clampett
No one under 65 knows who these characters are… and that’s just sad. Luckily these are on DVD. But they need a HD restoration.
QT HUSH – Animation Associates
A very clever series with an excellent take on limited animation. A serialized “film noir” cartoon series by Rudy Cataldi. It ended up in the Republic Pictures library – and today Paramount/Viacon has it.
THE ALVIN SHOW (1962) – Format Films
Herb Klynn’s Format Films – like Playhouse Pictures – seemed to be a life raft for the best talents formerly of UPA, during its golden age in the 1950s. The Alvin Show is probably the best thing Format produced. (Their unique 1966 Lone Ranger cartoon series needs to be reevaluated as well).
I think I’ve made my point. I could go further – with Krantz Animation (Rocket Robin Hood, Max The 5000 Year Old Mouse), Joe Oriolo (Felix, Hercules, etc.), Hal Seeger (Milton The Monster, Batfink, Out Of The Inkwell, etc) or the early anime (Prince Planet, The Amazing Threee, 8th Man, Gigantor…etc)… But for now – I rest my case.
Jerry Beck is a writer, animation producer, college professor and author of more than 15 books on animation history. He is a former studio exec with Nickelodeon Movies and Disney, and has written for The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. He has curated cartoons for DVD and Blu-ray compilations and has lent his expertise to dozens of bonus documentaries and audio commentaries on such. Beck is currently on the faculty of CalArts in Valencia, UCLA in Westwood and Woodbury University in Burbank – teaching animation history. More about Jerry Beck [
Oh, you have opened that Pandora’s box of my childhood! I bring up Sam singer productions only for one reason and that is “courageous cat and minute mouse“. This was one of my favorite cartoons growing up, and it’s somehow linked to the classic MGM theatrical cartoons only because Those were sandwiched in between episodes of “courageous cat“. And what more can I say about “QT hush“ that I haven’t said already? I need this series! I need to see it inherit restored! It would be so fantastic. Of course I saw this just as I saw “courageous cat“, on local television Before the morning newscast, along with those very same MGM theatrical cartoons! Oh, if I only had good quality can scopes of those mornings to enjoy now!
what about The Impossibles? How many remember this classic.
This really takes me back. I haven’t seen most of these shows in decades, but I remember them very well.
Sometimes childhood memories can play tricks on you. I can’t tell you how excited I was to see the complete series of King Features’ “Cool McCool” for sale in a video store some years ago, and I grabbed it without a moment’s hesitation. But it turned out to be not nearly as cool as I thought it was back in 1966. On the other hand, I own the complete “Here Comes the Grump” on DVD and enjoy watching it again and again. I’d love to see “Tomfoolery” and DePatie-Freleng’s “Doctor Doolittle” again, just to see whether they live up to my fond memories of them.
One very obscure cartoon from the 1960s that you left out is Halas and Batchelor’s “DoDo, the Kid from Outer Space”. I doubt that it was ever anyone’s favourite, but I have to admit I’m partial to any cartoon where all the dialogue is in rhyming verse. If anyone remembers it, feel free to sing along:
“DoDo, the Kid from Outer Space!
DoDo can GoGo anyplace!
With propellers on his heels, antennas on his ears,
He’s the science-fiction pixie from a strange atomic race:
DoDo, the Kid from Outer Space!
DODO!”
I do remember DoDo, with Professor Fingers and Compy the computer bird! Wish it were on DVD! (maybe Halas & Batchelor still have the series in their vaults?)
I *do* remember it and I *did* sing along! I hadn’t thought about that song in 50+ years and it came right back.
Nipziffic, guys! Blibble to you both!
I remember Dodo! I believe the Dodo cartoons were shown on one of the local Detroit kid’s shows (or even possibly one of Windsor kid’s shows on CBC, channel 9.)
Here Comes The Grump was released in its entirety on DVD by Image Entertainment (including bonus interview with David DePatie) (2009 or prior)
(Rocket Robin Hood complete series, Batfink complete series. most of Hercules were also released on DVD. (Maybe we have different definitions of unavailable media)
Youtube has come to my rescue so often in capturing so much of the past. eg Good prints of at least 117 Tales Of The Wizard Of Oz cartoons. Also the complete series of Dr. Dolittle.
I agree with your Hanna Barbera picks, Hardy Boys (rewatched some the other night), Max The 2000 Year Old Mouse, also not enough King Leonardo on the Tennessee Tuxedo DVD box set.
I would add Rod Rocket, Filmation’s U.S. Of Archie, Archie’s TV Funnies, My Favorite Martian Cartoon Show.
HB’s Cattanooga Cats (WB Archive: if music rights is the problem, don’t care if the song in the middle of the show is cut out),
For the purpose of this blog post – I define “unavailable” as in scarcity on broadcast, streaming and cable television, and in certain cases, its absence on physical media.
Shows that have fallen far from the public consciousness – not to the readers here, mind you, but from the general public’s collective memory.
For the record: there is no “TV cartoon” from 1949 on up that is entirely “lost” or missing. Except perhaps for Otto Messmer’s Botany Lamb weather reports of 1941, I can’t think of a cartoon made-for-television that is entirely non-existent.
This is great.im excited to read that Quick Draw McGraw show is being worked on. Although not in the 1960s era, other shows unavailable and I think should be are available for streaming or official Dvd purchase The Harlem Globetrotters (1970)
Fantastic Four (1967)
Dynomutt Dog Wonder (1976)
Mumbley (1967)
Bionic Six (1987)
I agree with you on Cattanooga Cats. The actual cartoons they starred in were rather mindless chase fare, (though I did find Groove speaking in rhyme absurd enough to be funny) but the first 17 music videos were some of the most visually striking work H-B ever did. At least, until they started repeating footage for the remaining 15 or so. Wavy chitlin gravy!
One series I remember fondly is “Cool McCool” (“Danger is my business”). Another, which was funny in its time but probably will never see the light of day again, was “Go Go Gophers.” (I believe the latter was produced by Total Television.) “King Leonardo and His Short Subjects” mentioned above was a favorite of mine since I could remember. My mother told me that since I couldn’t pronounce King Leonardo he was “Kingly” in my vocabulary. I’m glad to know that a restoration of “Quick Draw McGraw” is on its way, and I also have high hopes for revisiting “Linus the Lionhearted” in all its glory.
On a more educational note, our local station ran “Mel-o-Toons” frequently, and these, though extremely limited in their animation style, provided me with a solid background in folk and fairy tales, literary classics, folk music, and classical music. I don’t know when this series was produced–may have been in the late 50’s and thus slightly out of this time frame. I know it was based on children’s records which were adapted to animation.
Another series which has not quite fallen off the radar but is not as well-remembered as I remember it is “The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo” which aired on Saturday nights. My parents put me to bed early in those days and I sometimes had to beg to be allowed to stay up to watch it. It’s another series that contributed to inspiring my life-long love of literary classics.
I remember “The Funny Company” (referenced above). That was another of my early favorites. The character I remember best is Shrinking Violet, who would literally shrink in size when perplexed or embarrassed. That series also had an educational component to it, adding live action scenes to the animation.
In the Northwest, we had a roster of children’s TV hosts who often included classic and/or contemporary animation on their programs. KING-TV had Stan Boreson in the late afternoon/early evening and Wunda Wunda (my kindergarten teacher!) at noon. KOMO-TV had Captain Puget. The station in Tacoma had Brakeman Bill and his companion Crazy Donkey. Best of all was KIRO-TV which had J. P. Patches who lasted all the way into the late 70s or early 80s and incorporated cartoons from practically every major studio. (MGM, King Features, Warner Bros, Hanna-Barbera, Terrytoons, etc.)
I’ve said it before, but a kid growing up in the 1960s had every opportunity to become very cartoon-literate! And well-educated into the bargain!
all of the Go Go Gophers are on DVD on the 2012 underdog set. some title cards are missing though, and all cartoons are in PAL. too bad every single TTV show’s masters have been destroyed/lost except the beagles
Hey, is it true about that, because from what i used to heard, the beagles masters were supposed to be the only ones destroyed until Joe confirmed that he had the masters, don’t tell me that the NTSC masters of those other shows were also lost/destroyed, Jerry can you also confirm it, please?
I cannot confirm nor deny what you have heard, Javier. Sorry.
The Beany and Cecil DVDs are not that easy to find either. The only way my daughter knew about the character was from a little golden book adaptation I picked up at an antique store.
From these I’d most like to see the Planet of the Apes (vaguely remember watching re-runs of them years and years ago – wasn’t sure if they were even real or something I imagined) and the Rankin-Bass Oz stuff. Besides being a Rankin-Bass fan, I’m curious if they followed the books. Not that they should’ve needed to… but I’ve always wondered why they’ve got all these re-imaginings of Wizard of Oz, but very few adapted from the real sequels. They’ve got 13 of them right there, ready to go.
As to any other lost cartoons, I’m sure it’s been mentioned here a lot before, but Crusader Rabbit – I believe only the first 2 crusades ever made it to home video.
I recently ordered the first Volume of the Beany & Cecil DVDs from the Van Eaton Galleries along with the catalog for their Bob Clampett Auction. Quite pricey to have sent to the UK, but I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t get the Catalog so I thought I might as well get the DVD.
“Here Comes the Grump” was released on DVD by Image Entertainment some years ago; it is now out of print but shouldn’t be hard to track down on eBay. Other of these “lost” TV cartoons have had DVD releases internationally: Filmation’s “Fantastic Voyage” in the U.K. and DFE’s “The Further Adventures of Doctor Doolitle” in Germany (with English and German audio). We should add to that “missing toons” list the Beatles’ animated series, which never saw a DVD release (save for bootleg editions). C’mon, Apple Films, bring us back the Beatles cartoons… yes, they were cheesy and silly, but they also were fun and wacky, like most cartoons of the period, and they had the Fab Four songs to boot! (those sing-a-longs were the ancestor of karaoke!)
I have read that the Beatles hated the cartoon series. When the producer, Al Brodax, began making the feature “Yellow Submarine,” they assumed that it would be as cheesy as the TV series and had as little to do with it as possible. They were required by contact to provide four new songs and gave them ones that they considered throwaways: “That song’s not good enough for the album; they can use it in the cartoon.” When they saw scenes from the completed film, they changed their attitude, but their dislike of the TV series makes its release unlikely.
I agree with you, Alfons, let’s see the Beatles cartoons on DVD! Like you said, they were cheesy and silly (and in hindsight, the animation wasn’t that good) but they were fun. Plus, they’re what turned 5-year-old me (who was only vaguely aware of the Beatles up until that point) into a lifelong Beatles fan.
Great post. These were my childhood years yet I confess I don’t remember many of these. ” Hot Wheels” came out when I was in fourth grade, a scant year after the toys hit the market and were HUGE with elementary school boys (although I still think the Matchbox cars and trucks were far superior in every way). Anyone remember the failed Hot Wings toys? I confess the series, especially the teen characters, was kind of lame and I was much more into “The Sky Hawks” solely for the planes.
The new fall television seasons were a very big deal at the time and by the later sixties the networks were similarly promoting their Saturday morning lineup quite aggressively with multiple page ads in comic books and prime time specials previewing the new shows. Most of the fare was admittedly junk yet I still find it sad Saturday morning cartoons are but a memory.
It could be that there are some kinds of trademark issues with Mattel that may be encumbering release of the cartoons. As I recall, that show in particular was singled out during the debate over banning license-based cartoons on the grounds that they were little more than “thirty-minute commercials.”
David L. Lander (Squiggy from Laverne & Shirley) was the voice of Jerry in Will The Real Jerry Lewis Please Sit Down?
I’m under 65 and I remember Beany & Cecil.
I saw Calvin & The Colonel on tv back in the early 80s. I knew little about Amos ‘n’ Andy at the time.
I also remember Hot Wheels. I always thought Filmation made it.
How about the Hardy Boys cartoon series?
I’m 22 and I certainly know it!
The shortened intro on the Linus clip instead of the longer one that repeated “Linus is the one who lights up the fun”, had Sugar Bear doing a short banjo solo and started with Linus roaring and the animals stampeding him like in the commercials (whenever he said Crispy Critters)? Was the longer version nowhere to be found in color?
Please don’t pre-judge the Linus restoration by the clip provided here. All will be explained when the shows are ready for release. I think all will be pleased with the effort in the end..
Sam Basset, Hound for Hire is a good example of a “Lost” 60’s cartoon, even Steve Stanchfield couldn’t locate every episode for his recent Blu-ray set.
Regarding “Calvin and the Coronel”, if for foreign you mean the Italian copies that are on YouTube, it’s actually more legally dubious that what you think, Italian syndication (outside the networks of rai and mediaset) it’s pretty much a free for all, meaning that if something enters in that, it’s going to be airing from one to other local network/channel for decades, probably other people that read this might know or understand more than me
“Tales of the Wizard of Oz”. My dad used to watch this. And so did I. I’m always being on the lookout for some rare episodes. Never a dull moment with Dorothy, Toto, Socrates, Rusty, Dandy, the Wizard and the Witch!
I’d say most of the Jay Ward and TTV cartoons in general need new remasters! Bullwinkle’s still using the DVNR-ridden 90’s syndie versions, though George of the Jungle looks alright. I know they still have the original “Rocky and His Friends” masters, so why not use them? And let’s not forget Hoppity Hooper – the eternally forgotten stepchild who’s never seen any official release. There’s also Fractured Flickers, which got a okay three-disc set a good while ago.
For TTV, their shows are also still using the 90s Golden Books masters – where they were sped up to PAL standards! Not to mention several episodes of each series being completely missing from the package (notably the early King and Odies and Tooters.) Shout!’s release of Underdog and Tennessee tried to amend some of these issues, but they’re still prevalent. And of course, the aforementioned Beagles show, which has been a mess of legal ballyhoo for decades. I don’t even know if masters still exist, or if they’re just in an inconvenient place.
Most of H-B’s good stuff has gotten remastered in recent years, and I’m glad for it. I mean, is anyone really clamoring for “The Buford Files”? Still, I’d like to see The Banana Splits Show get released anywhere – it had its moments.
Here Comes the Grump *did* get a three-disc set a while back, but I still say it could use some touch-ups. For unreleased DFE stuff, there’s Baliey’s Comets (basically Wacky Races on skates), Baggy Pants and the Nitwits (which is funny, if you liked SNL’s Tyrone and Gladys sketches) and The Houndcats (a very competent ‘crime-buster’ show)
I don’t believe there’s ever been official releases for UPA’s “Boing Boing Show,” which is a shame, since a bunch of interesting shorts are exclusive to it. Neither have the TV Magoos gotten a greenlight (although I doubt they would, due to a certain sidekick.)
Rankin Bass’ Reluctant Dragon show was a riot, so too was Tomfoolery. Again, I just wonder what weird red tape prevents all of these from getting any showing. Is it just disinterest? No, there has to be more.
The whole thing with The Alvin Show, I know was legal shenanigans. I think today, it’s a mix of the record label (music rights are a drag!) and Bagdasarian Jr.’s unwillingness to put them out. Again, a shame, since the cartoon’s incredibly entertaining – and, to me personally, presents the ‘munks at their peak.
Does anyone know *who* owns Seeger’s Inkwell cartoons? He produced an awful lot of them, yet it’s seen no release. At least Milton the Monster got a complete set from Shout! Factory a while back (though it’s long out of print.)
As for some others to mention… the King Features TV output, Trans-Lux Felixes, and the Beatles cartoon all deserve some touch-ups. Arthur and the Square Knights & that Around the World in 80 Days series are some great Aussie cartoons that should get another look. Even Filmation (ecch!) has some stuff I’d like to see be given another shot – that is, if Hallmark didn’t toss the masters.
There’s also TerryToon’s TV output – Tom Terrific, Mighty Heroes, Deputy Dawg, etc… but we’re all familiar with how eager Paramount is to get anything Terry released! 😉
I think you’ve mentioned that the Bugs Bunny Show has started restoration, and that’s great! Doubly so for Huck, Quick-Draw and Linus. Seeing that Linus clip in particular makes me think of the show in a whole new light, after only seeing it in faded browns for years!
Sorry if I rambled a bit. I just hope that the recent efforts from WB and others show that there’s still a market for these cartoons, and that these shows ought to be reevaluated. There’s still plenty of laughs to be found that remain “lost!”
Aaah, some mentioned the Banana Splits! There’s a show I’d love to see again. I’m surprised MeTVToons isn’t running it. It’s only available on PAL format on DVD. Maybe it’s a rights nightmare, because of all the other mini-shows that were in it (Danger Island, etc.)?
The Banana Splits had a cancelled DVD release back in 2007
according to earl kress’ blog here are some of the sources they had (at the time; only god knows where they are now)
2″ Quad Tapes (Bad): these tapes have color banding issues and are no longer available, the only copies that exist are 1″ tapes with these flaws recorded in
NBC Masters (50/50): these are re-edited versions of the original hours with season 2 elements mixed in, they are the only hour tapes that exist, WB has this in their internal archives, episode 1 is on the 2009 saturday morning dvd
Turner prints (50/50): these are the original hour shows chopped into half hours, their quality is better than the NBC copies, but they would require a lot of research and editing to put them back into the original hours, this is from that PAL DVD
Because of their age, ALL of the silent Out of the Inkwell cartoons are in the public domain. No idea who’s holding the film masters.
It would be good to get the R&B shows in their original order of progression, so you can see how they developed; Aesop & Son replacing Fractured Fairy Tales rather than alternating with them etc.
Good news on Linus, finally!
If I’m not mistaken, the two Beany & Cecil DVD collections gather some but not all of the cartoons. A prior VHS release comprised the full series.
Will the Linus the Lionheareted res]torations include the full opening and Closing theme song?
(*sigh*)….here’s looking at you jerry…..for twenty years now our running gag has been I have a complete…and probably the only….35mm network print of the beagles in existence ….in color….with commercials no less….if…..and if only you want to….I am now and will forever be more than willing to give it up to you for transfer ti if/when you get a wild hair and decided you can do it….
still waiting
scottj
Let’s arrange for me to pick it up this week. Are you in LA? My hesitancy was I had no access to transfer – or better yet, high def scanning…. I do now. We’ll continue this via private email. Oh – and after I scan it I’ll share it with a post here on Cartoon Research. Thanks Scott!
I remember reading some time back that supposedly what exists of The Beagles could be complete and sitting in someone’s attic (so to speak) but that there wasn’t proper incentive to drag it out and restore it, not cost effective. could that be correct?
The Beagles released an album of songs from their cartoon in 1967 on the Columbia label. Their theme’s second half contained these lyrics not heard on the show:
“Looking for the Beagles,
Not where rich men go.
Rich is for the regal,
Woe is all the Beagles know.
Ridin’ on a busted bubble
To wherever there’s some trouble,
That’s where the Beagles go.”
I’d sure like to have a decent quality dvd of Hoppity Hooper. Jay Ward’s other shows are all on physical media in legit releases.
Hey, I love “Tales of the Wizard of Oz” as well! “QT Hush” was also fun (starring Dallas McKennon), and “The Alvin Show” was definitely the best thing Format Films produced (I’m not surprised at all that Rudy Larriva was a director on that show).
Unless I missed it while scrolling, I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the tangle of red tape that is “The Beatles.”
Apple Corps Ltd owns the show – and The Beatles (Paul, Ringo, Yoko and the Harrison estate) don’t want it out there – at least for now. Strangely enough they are okay with licensing the show’s character designs for various products.
Who owns the Nutty Squirrels show from 1960?
From the YouTube clips, looks like they just hosted other cartoons, maybe foreign ones at that. I do remember their hit song Uh Oh though.
The return of Linus is GREAT news, after watching poor quality videos on YouTube.
I wouldn’t mind having Sinbad the Sailor (Hanna-Barbera version) on dvd. Watched it all the time as a kid.
The Filmation story goes back to at least 1963 with “Rod Rocket” which only has pieces up on YouTube and also may be nearly entirely lost. I’ve been “haunted” by one of my earliest memories of a cartoon with two guys in space suits, one tall and one short… and I think that could be it. But I can’t be sure!
For the record, I’m under 65, and I’ve heard of Beany and Cecil. I’d really like to have Quick Draw, and the Alvin show on physical media.
I will not rest until the complete Alvin Show is on home video. You should’ve mentioned how Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show have awkward, new titles, edited credits, and removed sponsors.
Lots of great memories. I’d like to see a collection of Hanna Barbera’s “Adventures of Gulliver “…
Also, HB’s 1967 “Fantastic Four “. Wonder how Marvel has not released that…
i will be bee-YOND elated to see Linus…and, espesh, B&C!! I never understood the (VERY) short life of its 80s revision.
Fabulous post. So many memories, and terrific clips. Wonderful news about Linus! Thanks, Jerry!
I would respectfully point out, though, that the Filmation-produced ‘Journey To The Center Of The Earth’ and ‘Fantastic Voyage’ are owned by Twentieth/Disney, not Paramount.
Wasn’t Beany and Cecil remade in the 1980s?
My dad liked the Jay Ward, Hanna-Barbera, and The Alvin Show cartoons.
RobGems68 wrote:
Yes, “Beany& Cecil” was remade in 1989, but it was a colossal failure. It was made by Bob Clampett’s son, Bob Clampett Jr. with his mother, Sody Clampett and was animated by the now infamous John Kricfalusi. Because no one seems to want anything to do with John K. after his 2018 scandal for grooming two teenaged girls, it is very unlikely that the remake (released by DIC studios) will ever see the light of day again. As for the 1961 original animated version associated formerly with Mattel Toys as “Matty’s Funnies” on ABC TV, that is up to Bob Clampett Jr. if he wants to reissue his dad’s old cartoons. Clampett will be forever known for his work for Warner Brothers Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, but the “Beany & Cecil” series remains a cult favorite that is obscure with today’s audiences until the Clampett family and estate reissues the show. If you think the cartoon version of “Beany & Cecil” is hard to get, try finding the original live puppet show version of Clampett’s characters with assistance from Stan Freberg with puppets. That one is non-existent today as it was recorded live without any videotapes, so no episodes exists of that 1950’s version today.
How about…
Powwow the Indian boy
Bucky and Pepito
The Space Explorers
Roger Ramjet
Tom Terrific
? ? ?
Oops
I meant to include…
Capitol Critters
One little detail: “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and “Fantastic Voyage” were made by 20th Century Fox, so unless the movies were sold to Paramount at some point they now belong to Disney.
It’s possible not all of the adaptations of outside works are “works for hire”. When the Fleischers animated the Hearst-owned Popeye, they (and then Paramount, Turner, and finally Warner) they owned the cartoons and Hearst (and, I would hope, Segar) got some sort of royalty. The various later owners of the cartoons syndicated them endlessly, but home video release had to wait until time and money was spent to sort out how the 1930s contract would apply.
A similar tangle kept the live action Batman show off home video for years, even though the show was prospering in syndication. It wasn’t just the deal with DC but various financial stakeholders in the original series who had to agree on terms.
When Hearst decided to commission its own animation for television, those were true works for hire, with Hearst owning and distributing the works produced by various outside studios. That’s why you can find legit DVDs mixing television-era Popeye, Snuffy Smith, Beetle Bailey, Defenders of the Universe, and random animated specials. Whoever made them, they’re all in the same corporate vault.
Back in the day, contracts were written with the assumption cartoons (and films in general) had zero long-term value. Rights to source material and music could have expiration dates, or in some cases require the destruction of all elements after a film was presumed commercially dead.
Do the Beatles actually own the animated series? They don’t have to — by owning the songs they can effectively prevent any release that requires them to sign a new contract. But that wouldn’t prevent the show’s owners from selling merchandise based on it.
Yes – the Beatles OWN that series.
Thanks for the correction on Journey to the Center of the Earth and Fantastic Voyage. I’ve now noted it above.
Television rights to Filmation’s JERRY LEWIS wound up with ABC Films (as ABC had done with all the shows broadcast on their network that season), who in turn became Worldvision, and whose library is now under CBS (now Paramount). I have no idea if these rights ever expired, though I feel like I had seen it listed on a CBS licensing page. I’m not sure who owns non-television rights; I have not seen it listed in Filmation’s sales material or any of their library’s future proprietors.
THE HARDY BOYS was offered for syndication via 20th Century Fox Television, who also owns the FANTASTIC VOYAGE (released on DVD in the United Kingdom) and JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH series.
THE ALVIN SHOW is 100% deserving of a new lease on live, as are many of these 60s cartoons that were otherwise here today, gone tomorrow. The Krantz cartoons are owned by a company whose name escapes me at the moment, but the masters they made in the 2000s and put on DVD and aired to TV are genuinely awful. Most of the ROCKET ROBIN HOOD episodes were made from 16mm prints on an amateur telecine projector.
Thanks for the correction on Journey to the Center of the Earth and Fantastic Voyage. I’ve now noted it above.
Quick Draw is my childhood favorite I’m 66. I hope Augie Doggie and Snooper & Blabber are also coming with the Quick Draw release. All time favorite is Pixie and Dixie with Mr Jinks
This is early 1970s rather than 1960s, but I would love for Rankin-Bass’s “Reluctant Dragon and Mr. Toad” show to be released again. That show was surprisingly fun, but it’s also one of their rarest works out there.
The Alvin Show being locked away is a shame. It’s one of the very few TV cartoons of the 1960s that I think really holds up well. It’s certainly the best Chipmunks cartoon, although A Chipmunk Christmas comes in a close second, mostly from Chuck Jones’ involvement in the production.
Well, amongst shows I recall from my toddlerhood that I haven’t seen around lately are a vintage Tin Tin show (this is early 1960s), Spunky and Tadpole, a not too good Koko the Clown reboot, and some of the others mentioned here. (My favorite cartoons as a kid were Astro Boy – have them – and King Leonardo.
Since we are talking 60’s toons, does Hanna-Barbera / Warner Brothers still hold rights to the original Fantastic Four animated series?
Disney does, but WB probably has the 35mm elements.
So, in other words, a similar situation like the 1966 “Batman” series (which ended up on DVD and Blu-Ray).
There are a ton that stick in my brain, especially because their theme songs stick in my brain (but that doesn’t mean I necessarily want to bring them back): Cambria’s infamous Clutch Cargo and The New 3 Stooges, the Sinbad Jr. cartoons from Sam Singer and Hanna-Barbera, Hal Seeger’s Batfink and Milton the Monster…
Well, I – for one – am gald to hear that LINUS THE LIONHEARTED is being restored and will be available in some form in the near future. I really enjoyed that show as a youngster, but didn’t understand all the humor. I suspect it’s a lot funnier as am adult, listening to Carl Reiner, Ruth Buzzi, Sheldon Leonard, etc. who sound like they were having fun doing the voice tracks!
THE ALVIN SHOW is another cartoon series from my youth that I hope gets fully restored and becomes available as well. Ditto for HOPPITY HOOPER. Seems to me that I heard it was sydicated as UNCLE WALDO?
WILL THE REAL JERRY LEWIS PLEASE SIT DOWN? I vaguely recall this and that there were characters called “Ralph Rotten” and “Hong Kong Flewis” (?) I suspect Jerry Lewis’ Estate owns the rights to these?
The Original ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS TV show was well done – as I recall it – even with that limited animation style.
GO-GO GOPHERS – for what it was – was an enjoyable cartoon that I recall mixed in with episodes of THE KING AND ODIE, UNDERDOG, THE HUNTER, TENNESSEE TUXEDO, THE WORLD OF COMMANDER McBRAGG, etc. It would be a shame if these cartoons weren’t restored as some “Karens” out there would think they were “P.C.” Actually, they were almost subversive, as we kids rooted for the Native American Indian gophers over the U.S. Calvary figures – a fox (modelled on Teddy Roosevelt) and a bear (modeled on a mixture of John Wayne and Ben Johnson’s characters from some of the John Ford Westerns) that were pretty funny! (At least as I remember them!)
Hi, Leonard. Agree, but the GO GO GOPHERS sergeant was a coyote as well..imagine that..2 coyotes versus 2 gophers!
I think almost any tv special by DFE and Rankin/Bass CERTAINLY needs to be… and I’m very happy for the TOTAL TV and LINUS series..
Steve C.
I’ll tell you what else I’d like to see – the serialized version of JOURNEY TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME (c. 1966)!
Criterion has a Karel Zeman set that includes the original Czech feature and the English release, which replaced talky scenes with new footage of look-alike American kids. That version, along with various dubbed animated features, was eventually recut into a serial and syndicated to television. I remember them on a local kid show in the early 60s.
Makes me wonder about those animated items — the fisherman and his wife, a gazelle who kicked up gold coins, something about a spoiled princess — that may exist in their original form somewhere, most likely in Eastern Europe.
One of the Thunderbean discs had a reel of bits from a serial cobbled together from various foreign animations. The title was something like “Mister E from Tal City”, and the framing story was a little man in a spaceship wanting to learn about Earthlings.
I believe the complete English dub of that film is a bonus feature as part of Criterion’s “Three Fantastic Journeys by Karel Zeman” set.
In an interview with a YouTube Channel called “Pillow Pete” Ross Bagdasarian Jr. suggested that the Alvin Show had recently been restored. Quite what they’re planning to do with them (the interview is over 2 years old) is another matter. They do not strike as the kind of people who would do such a thing if they did not think there would eventually be money in it however.
It’s good to hear that the Quick Draw McGraw music rights issues are being worked out. I have a new appreciation for “Return to the Planet of the Apes” after rewatching the series recently and I’m glad the DVD is available. Also, 20th Century Fox released the complete set of Filmation’s Fantastic Voyage series in the UK some years ago which I ordered through Amazon. However, unless you own a Region “free” DVD player, the Fantastic Voyage DVD will not play in the traditional US region 1 DVD player. The DVD release also has “disclaimer” warning that addresses the strobing effect in the Fantastic Voyage show open.
It’s a one-off, but I’d still like to see “C-A-T Spells CAT, C-A-T.”
I had a friend who was absolutely NUTS about Dodo, The Kid From Outer Space. He would go to Sci-fi conventions hoping one of the dealers would have a VHS copy of it. As a kid, I loved the theme songs from Cool McCool and The New 3 Stooges cartoons (especially the extended theme at the end with that cute flute solo).
I have something to say about some shows being lost:
Firstly there may be a handful of crusader rabbit episodes both in black and white and color ones that are still yet to find. Also previously the UPA’s Dusty of the Circus was previously lost then found. Moving to the 60s we have a french cartoon called piccolo et picolette which only a single episode has been found. The romanian cartoon Mihaela si Azorel only had some of the episodes found. The 1970s Little Lulu Anime is another one that is considered lost. The last ones and from the 90s I will mention the The Itsy Bitsy Spider animated series and a very weird CGI cartoon called TV 8 Kids’ Fun Festival which only a few episodes are found. I think there may be more lost stuff out there but it’s not in my head right now.
Speaking TV Spots animating the Captain And Colonel and The Funny Company episodes, I think a lot of their commercials they made seems to be lost. The Tralfaz blog only had still images of it.
RobGems68:
I heard that Jerry Lewis didn’t like his own animated series from Filmation Studios in 1970-71, even though he consulted scripts for the series. His next project after the animated show came to an end was “The Day The Clown Cried” in 1972, and he decided that he never wanted to have the animated show ever out in the public ever again. This is probably why it’s not available for rerun status today, except for a few bits and pieces of the show available on YouTube. Hallmark may have thrown the original masters out from the series like they did with many of the Filmation original cels and masters back in the 1990’s.
Jerry, thanks for all these great memories.
To me, the original Alivn & the Chipmunks is the *only* one. So glad to hear the news about Linus the Lionhearted-and it would be great to see Quick Draw again (and his alter-ego, El Kabong.)
And “Tales from the Wizard of Oz”, plus you mentioned “The New Adventures of Pinocchio”-I remember watching those on the Canadian station from Windsor.
I always thought I was the only person out there who was a fan of “The Beagles-if I recall its airing day/time/station was always being moved around, perhaps that was why it fared so poorly?
And in spite of only being sixty-four, I remember Beany and Cecil very well-another favorite! (Nya-ah-ah!)
That’s funny that you mentioned watching a cartoon from Canada because I grew up in western NY and I watched The wizard of Oz on chch channel 11 from Hamilton and I think there was another channel 9 that also showed cartoons and the Uncle Bobby show. That show was a little bit odd though LOL
In the late 1970s CFTO channel 9 (in Toronto Cable 8) had Uncle Bobby at noon weekdays followed by Roger Ramjet at 12:30. This was a treat because I hadn’t seen Roger since his original run in the mid 60s.
Was Calvin and the Colonel produced in color (even though ABC wasn’t broadcasting much in color in the early 60s)?
Yes – Calvin & The Colonel was produced in color.
Terry Toons was mentioned, but not two of their shows: Mighty Mouse and Heckle and Jeckle. Are either available?
I’m so sad that I’m late to this discussion. I had to mention “Clyde Crashcup” and his whispering lab assistant “Leonardo”.
I think they were on between the Alvin cartoons in the 60’s. My Dad thought he was hilarious.
hong Kong fuie
We need a Mighty Heroes release!
Back in the 60’s was also a series of marionette cartoons, Supercar, Thunderbirds and Fireball XL5
so many different cartoons during that era! Does anyone remember Touche Turtle? and the turtle cartoon with a professor that was a turtle, Tooter Turtle that would go back in time? Tennessee Tuxedo and Super Chicken were some of my favorites.
it’s interesting too that if you watch some of the old fractured fairy tales from the Bullwinkle and Rocky show how the adult jokes about being married etc that showed through them that now we can really appreciate similar to The Flintstones. The writing was so well done.
As a kid too, I remember when they would advertise in the beginning of fall the Saturday morning cartoon previews of what new cartoons were coming.
Does anyone remember the name was either Kimba or Simba the White Lion circa 1969/70.
Also there was a show where an older woman sat at a piano & there were a bunch of kids. They would sing religious songs & march around the piano. This was a show, not cartoon in the early 70s. Thank you 😊
Interesting that Bagdasarian Productions has uploaded the 3 Alvin Show episodes that were issued on DVD and the ISO file for the DVD to internet archive just this month (August 2025). Maybe there’s finally some movement towards getting The Alvin Show finally restored. https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Bagdasarian+Productions%22