THE MILTON THE MONSTER SHOW
(ABC, October 9, 1965-April 2, 1966)
Hal Seeger Productions, ABC Television Network
MAIN CAST:
Bob McFadden –
Milton, Heebie, Jeebie, Goo Fee, Gung Ho, Lady Deflyah, Horsey the Horsefly
Dayton Allen –
Professor Weirdo, Fearless Fly, Chester Penguin, Stuffy Durma, Bradley
Brinkley, Flukey Luke
Larry Best – Count
Kook, Muggy-Doo, Two Feathers
Bev
Arnold – Flory Fly, Penny Penguin
Hetty Galen – Beulah
Penguin
Move over, Frankenstein—there’s
a new mad scientist in town.
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Muggy-Doo (top) in trouble as usual, and Stuffy Durma resisting Brinkley's influence. |
However, Milton was only in one of three segments in
the program, and usually the last one each episode. For most of the run, the
first segment featured the adventures of Fearless Fly (Allen); an ordinary
housefly named Hirem who ducked into a matchbox to don a red sweater and
high-powered glasses that “provided millions of mega-tons of energy through the
sensitive muscles in his head.” His primary foes were the Fu Manchu-like
Dr. Goo Fee and his sidekick, Gung Ho (both McFadden, and before racial
stereotypes became taboo in cartoons). Professor Weirdo also went up against
Fearless Fly a few times. In “Fearless Fly Meets the Monsters,” their first
encounter also served as a pilot to the overall series as it featured Milton’s
creation. Except in that instance, his name was George, he had a deeper voice,
Frankenstein monster-styled hair, and a forehead scar. Heebie and Jeebie also
exchanged voices. When not battling evil, Hirem hung out at the Sugar Bowl
bistro with his girlfriend, Flory (Bev Arnold), while dealing with bully Horsey
the Horsefly (McFadden again).
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Flukey Luke and Two Feathers (top) and Penny Pengin up to no good. |
The second segment had a rotating line-up of
characters and their own adventures. One featured Flukey Luke (Allen), an inept
cowboy detective who had a Native American sidekick, Two Feathers (Best, using
an Irish accent), that brought their skills to the big city. Luke’s name came
from the fact that it was only dumb luck that allowed him to apprehend any
criminals. Another feature starred Stuffy Durma, hobo who inherited ten million
dollars and resisted attempts to be made civilized by his valet, Bradley
Brinkley (both Allen). The next feature starred Muggy-Doo (Best), a sly box fox
who often tried to strike it rich with a variety of schemes that often failed.
The final feature starred Penny Penguin (Arnold), a bratty teenager who often
caused problems for her parents Chester (Allen) and Beulah (Hetty Galen) ala Dennis the Menace.
Both Muggy-Doo and Stuffy Durma appeared prior to Milton. Seeger originally created them
for the comic Muggy-Doo, Boy Cat from Stanhall Publishing
in 1953. Muggy was a blue cat whose yellow t-shirt always had a message that
changed to match his situation ala The Yellow Kid,
and worked as a junkman (er, cat). Stuffy Durma also appeared in his own
feature in the comic, but was depicted as an actual pig named Stuffy DERMA. The
comic only ran for four issues, two of which
were reprinted in 1963 by I.W. Enterprises.
Muggy was later adapted for the screen in the theatrical short, Boy Pest with Osh, which featured the
fez-wearing hound from the comic. Both characters were redesigned for the show,
with Muggy becoming a fox and Stuffy a human.
![]() |
Milton, Heebie and Jeebie hitting the road. |
Milton the
Monster was co-produced by ABC, where it also aired for its sole
season beginning October 9, 1965. Even after its run ended, ABC kept it on its
schedule until 1968 where it then entered into syndication. Despite the series’
name, the breakout character of the show was Fearless Fly, who became
incredibly popular with viewers. While the format remained the same for most of
the run, for a few episodes Milton segments were doubled up and Fearless Fly
was moved to the rotating second segment roster. The series’ music was handled
by Winston Sharples.
![]() |
The sole issue of Milton's comic. |
Despite its long stay on ABC, there was very little
in the way of Milton merchandise. In
1966, Gold Key released a
single issue of Milton the Monster and Fearless Fly, but without any of the other featured
segments represented. That same year, Milton Bradley
produced a board
game inspired by the show. In 2007, Shout!
Factory released the complete
series to DVD.
EPISODE GUIDE:
“Trick or Treatment / Loot Pursuit / Zelda the Zombie” (10/9/65) – Goo
Fee uses super-adhesive flypaper against Fearless Fly / Spider Webb attempts to
steal the Hopeless Diamond. / Milton, Heebie and Jeebie fight for Zelda the
Zombie’s affections.
“Horse Shoo Fly / Gogh Van Gogh / Boy Meets Ghoul” (10/16/65) – Goo
Fee challenges Fearless Fly to a game of horseshoes. / Muggy-Do steals an organ
grinder’s monkey to make art. / Professor Weirdo tries to marry Milton off with
a wealthy spinster.
“Fatty Karate / You Auto Be In Pictures / Monsters for Hire” (10/23/65)
– Fearless Fly battles a karate champion. / Muggy-Do gets a job in publicity at
Paranoid Pictures. / Professor Weirdo hires out his monsters for rent money.
“Captain Fligh / Doo or Die / Who Do Voodoo?” (10/30/65) – Fealress
Fly battles Captain Fligh. / Muggy-Do goes from vacuum salesman to spy. /
Professor Fruitcake makes a voodoo doll of Professor Weirdo.
“The Goofy Dr. Goo Fee / From Riches to Rags / The Pot Thickens”
(11/6/65) – Gung Ho captures Horsey instead of Fearless Fly. / Muggy-Do fleeces
a movie star staying at the hotel where he works. / Professor Weirdo tries to
hide Milton from his Aunt Hagatha.
“Sly Fly / From Wrecks to Riches / Medium Undone” (11/13/65) – Goo Fee
tries to get Gung Ho to take out Fearless Fly for him. / Stuffy Durma gets a
visit from a friend. / Professor Weirdo holds a séance.
“Throne For a Loss / Missin’ Masters / Monster Mutiny” (11/20/65) – Goo
Fee tries to get Hiram to betray Fearless Fly. / Spider Webb steals valuable
paintings. / Count Kook rebels against Professor Weirdo.
“The Bomb’s Rush / There Auto Be a Law / Ghoul School” (11/27/65) –
Goo Fee pretends to be dying in order to trap Fearless Fly. / Penny Penguin
pits her father against a mechanic. / Aunt Hagatha teaches the monsters
manners.
“Fly Hijack / Tired Gun / Hector the Protector” (12/4/65) – Goo Fee
attempts to kidnap Fearless Fly by stealing his matchbox. / Spider Webb sends a
Mexican bandit after Flukey Luke. / Professor Weirdo sells Milton to a
gangster.
“Si Si Fly / Palace Malice / Horrorbaloo” (12/11/65) – Goo Fee sends a
Mexican bandit after Fearless Fly. / Flukey Luke saves a royal prince’s money.
/ Two monster clubs want Fangenstein to join them.
“The House-Fly Guest / Fortune Kooky / Goon Platoon” (12/18/65) – Goo
Fee offers his servant a throne for Fearless Fly. / An astrologer honors
Muggy-Do. / Milton, Heebie and Jeebie are drafted.
“Invincible vs. Invisible / Suit Yourself / The Dummy Talks”
(12/25/65) – Goo Fee has his newly-invisible servant steal art. / Stuffy joins
a boys’ baseball team. / A shrunken head wants revenge on Professor Weirdo.
“Fly by Might / Hobo Hootenanny / A Pie in the Sky” (1/1/66) –
Fearless Fly has to stop Professor Weirdo’s experiments on animals. / Stuffy
tries to sneak Ash Can Annie into the mansion. / Professor Weirdo and Professor
Fruitcake engage in a deadly game.
“The Sphinx Jinx / Penny Ante / Monsterous Escape” (1/8/66) – Goo Fee
tricks Fearless Fly into building a Sphinx. / Penny Penguin wants an allowance
increase. / Professor Weirdo tries to sell Professor Fruitcake Heebie and
Jeebie.
“The Spider Spiter / Sickened Honeymoon / Abercrombie the Zombie”
(1/15/66) – Fearless Fly battles Professor Weirdo’s giant spider. / Penny
Penguin ruins her parents’ second honeymoon. / Professor Weirdo sells Milton to
Professor Fruitcake.
“Fearless Fly Meets the Monsters / Crumb-Bumming / V for Vampire”
(1/22/66) – Professor Weirdo’s newest monster is too nice to fight Fearless
Fly. / Muggy-Do bothers Osh at his bakery. / Professor Weirdo tries to capture
a vampire.
“Monster vs. Mobster / Martians Meet Their Match / Witch Crafty”
(1/29/66) – Mobsters kidnap Milton. / Fearless Fly fights Martians. / Witches
catch Heebie and Jeebie spying on their convention.
“Camp Gitchy Gloomy / Let’s Phase It / The Hearse Thief” (2/5/66) – Professor
Weirdo sends his monsters to camp. / Fearless Fly fights a glitch computer
system at an auto plant. / Professor Weirdo accuses Milton of sealing his
hearse.
“Boo to You / Under Waterloo / Kid Stuff” (2/12/66) – Heebie and
Jeebie pretend to be ghosts. / Fearless Fly fights Barry Cuda. / Professor
Weirdo takes in an underprivileged kid.
“Horror Scope / Lady Deflyah / The Flying Cup & Saucer” (2/19/66) –
Professor Weirdo is buried alive in order to fend off a curse. / A seductress
learns Fearless Fly’s secret. / Moon-men devour Professor Weirdo’s furniture.
“Monster-Sitter / Robinson Shoesole / The Moon Goons” (2/26/66) – Mechanical
Mike babysits Milton. / Goo Fee and Gung Ho end up stranded on an island. /
Milton attempts to rocket himself to the moon.
“Think Shrink / Private Fly / Skullgaria Forever!” (3/5/66) – Fangenstein
kidnaps the shrunken head to find buried treasure. / Goo Fee hires a private
detective. / Milton is brainwashed by spies in order to aid their mission.
“Crumby Mummy / Stage Plight / Fort Fangenstein” (3/12/66) – Lightning
brings Professor Weirdo’s mummy to life. / Goo Fee directs a movie starring
Fearless Fly. / Fangenstein and Abercrombie build a corral for the mummy.
“Safari Harry / Nuggets to You / Batnap” (3/19/66) – Goo Fee takes
Fearless Fly on an African safari. / Stuffy meets prospector Grubstake Greeley.
/ Professor Fruitcake kidnaps Blackie.
“Dunkin’ Treasure / Ferocious Fly / Monsterous Monster” (3/26/66) – Milton’s
crocodile finds a treasure. / Fearless Fly battles sultan Ferocious Fly. /
Professor Weirdo’s formula turns Milton into a real monster.
“Napoleon Bonafly / Violin Violence / The Mummy’s Thumb” (4/2/66) – Goo
Fee investigates a war between Fearless Fly and a French general. / Flukey Luke
guards a violin. / Milton discovers the Mummy’s Thumb turns anything into gold.
Originally posted in 2015. Updated in 2018.
Originally posted in 2015. Updated in 2018.
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