Remember that one day when you could wake up without an alarm? When you would get your favorite bowl of cereal and sit between the hours of 8 and 12? This is a blog dedicated to the greatest time of our childhood: Saturday mornings. The television programs you watched, the memories attached to them, and maybe introducing you to something you didn't realize existed. Updated every weekend.
For the history of Scooby-Doo, check out the post here.
Developed
by Tom
Ruegger, The 13 Ghosts of
Scooby-Doo is the seventh incarnation of the Scooby-Doo franchise and
became the first incarnation of the series where the Mystery, Inc. gang
encountered supernatural entities exclusively. This was likely influenced
by the tremendous success of the 1984 film Ghostbusters, which
was due for
a re-release in 1985.
Scooby and Shaggy, unwitting pawns.
The story goes, as established in the show’s
intro, that Scooby (Don Messick) and Shaggy (Casey Kasem) accidentally freed 13
of the most powerful ghosts on Earth from the Chest of Demons when they were
tricked by ghosts Weerd (Artie Johnson) and Bogel (Howard Morris, patterned
after Ed Wynn).
As only they could return the ghosts to the chest, Scooby and Shaggy were sent
by warlock Vincent Van Ghoul (Vincent Price) after them with Scrappy (Messick),
Daphne (Heather North Kenney) and a young con artist named Flim Flam (Susan
Blu).
Weerd, Vincent Van Ghoul, Scooby, Shaggy, Scrappy, Flim Flam, Daphne and Bogel.
Van Ghoul’s character was largely inspired by Marvel Comics’
sorcerer supreme, Dr. Strange, while also resembling Price himself, and his name was a
play on painter Vincent Van
Gogh. Van Ghoul rarely left his castle sanctuary
and guided the team via contact through crystal balls. Original characters Velma
Dinkley and Fred Jones were once again absent from the team in order to
continue to put greater focus on the antics of Shaggy and Scooby. Daphne was
retained from The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show, however her clothing, while keeping her classic purple
and pink color scheme, was updated to 80s-style fashions that would change
between episodes; unusual for cartoon characters who typically wore the same
outfit forever. Likewise, Shaggy’s look was updated by being given a red
t-shirt and blue jeans instead of his usual green shirt and brown bell bottoms.
This color scheme would continue on in Shaggy’s appearances in the made-for-TV
movies Scooby-Doo
Meets the Boo Brothers(1987), Scooby-Doo and the
Reluctant Werewolf(1988) and Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul
School(1988). The Mystery Machine was also replaced by a larger
red RV as their main mode of transportation. Flim Flam was the product of focus
group testing, being forced into the series in order to give children something
they could relate to in the show. Ruegger and story director Mitch Schauer fought against his
inclusion, hating the
notion and character.
It's cheaper than using a phone.
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo debuted on ABC
on September 7, 1985. Along with Ruegger, the series was written by Gordon Bressack, Chuck Couch, Rich Fogel, Cynthia Friedlob, Evelyn Gabai, Jeff Holder, Charles M. Howell IV, Gelnn Leopold, John Ludin, Mark Seidenberg, John Semper, Jr. and Misty Stewart-Taggart with music
by Hoyt Curtin. Under Ruegger’s
stewardship, the comedy veered more into self-parody, pop culture references,
and fourth-wall breaks that would become trademarks of productions he worked
on. Unfortunately, budgetary issues resulted in the series being cancelled by
ABC after airing its 13 episodes; the shortest run of any Scooby series.
ABC would pull it from its schedule and replaced it with reruns of earlier Scooby series Laff-A-Lympics, while it also
focused on a
new (failed) initiative to target a younger audience with their Saturday
morning offerings. This meant that the series was only allowed to show the
capture of 12 of the 13 ghosts, with one still at large by its conclusion.
A warlock watches at the gang approaches in "Scoobra Kadoobra."
13 Ghosts signaled three endings. It was the final series in the original 1969 Scooby franchise to air on Saturday
morning. After being de-aged for A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, the next time the original Scooby gang
would be seen again as teenagers wouldn’t be until
1997’s Johnny Bravo episode
“Bravo Dooby Doo”, which teamed up the titular character with the Scooby
gang to solve a mystery. This was also Scrappy-Doo’s final series appearance, although
he was still featured in the movies immediately following the show’s
production. He eventually resurfaced in CGI-form as the villain of the
first live-action
Scooby movie in 2002, voiced by Scott Innes. Further, this would be the final time North would voice
Daphne in a series, returning only for the Johnny Bravo appearance and
two of the direct-to-video films.
Vincent Van Ghoul on Mystery Incorporated.
Vincent
Van Ghoul (Maurice LaMarche, replacing the late Price) would resurface as a recurring
character in Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated. However, he was Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) and Scooby’s (Welker) favorite B-movie actor rather than
a warlock, bringing his character more in line with Price. The production secured
permission from the Price estate to use his
likeness and mannerisms. Van Ghoul also returned as one of the many featured
characters in the final
issue of DC
Comics’ Scooby-Doo
Team-Up.
“To All the Ghouls I’ve Loved Before” (9/7/85) – Scooby and Shaggy are
tricked into releasing the 13 ghosts from the chest by Bogel and Weerd.
“Scoobra Kadoobra” (9/14/85) – The gang chases after a ghost warlock
in a haunted castle where a powerful artifact to stop him can be found.
“Me and My Shadow Demon” (9/21/85) – The gang encounter a convention
of ghosts and the Shadow Demon after being lured to Befuddled Manor.
“Reflections in a Ghoulish Eye” (9/28/85) – While attending a Ghost
Chaser convention in Morocco, the gang encounters the Reflector Spector, who
can trap mortals in a mirror dimension.
“That’s Monstertainment” (10/5/85) – Zomba traps the gang in an old
horror film in an attempt to steal the chest.
“Ship of Ghouls” (10/12/85) – Needing a vacation, the gang head out on
a cruise where Bogel and Weerd plot to further shatter Scooby’s nerves.
“A Spooky Little Ghoul Like You” (10/19/85) – Vincent is placed under
an enchantment by Nicara at a warlock convention.
“When You Witch Upon a Star” (10/26/85) – Powerful witch Marcella
tasks the bumbling Ernestine, Wanda and Hilda to perform a spell that will free
her.
“It’s A Wonderful Scoob” (11/2/85) – Scooby quits the gang and Vincent
takes him into the future to show him what will happen if he doesn’t help them
stop Time Slime.
“Scooby in Kwackyland” (11/9/85) – The gang and Demondo end up trapped
in the newspaper comics and have to rely on the strips’ characters to help them
escape.
“Coast-to-Ghost” (11/16/85) – Rankor tricks Vincent into turning
himself into stone, forcing the gang to team-up with Bogel and Weerd to find
the Mask of Moomma to save him.
“The Ghouliest Show on Earth” (11/23/85) – A demon circus comes to
town and enchants the residents, including Scooby’s parents and Flim-Flam.
“Horror-Scope Scoob” (12/7/85) – The gang appears on a TV show where
the demon Sibulu steals the chest.
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