40TH ANNIVERSARIES

 What? Say it ain't so! It's our anniversary, but these shows can't be going on

THE FLINTSTONE COMEDY HOUR

 

THE FLINTSTONE COMEDY HOUR / THE FLINTSTONE COMEDY SHOW

(CBS, September 9, 1972-January 26, 1974)

 

 

Hanna-Barbera Productions

 
 
MAIN CAST:
Alan Reed – Fred Flintstone
Mel Blanc – Barney Rubble, Dino, Zonk, Stub
Jean Vander Pyl – Wilma Flintstone
Gay Hartwig – Betty Rubble, Wiggy Rockstone, Cindy Curbstone
Mickey Stevens – Pebbles Flintstone (new material)
Sally Struthers – Pebbles Flintstone (old material)
Jay North – Bamm-Bamm Rubble
John Stephenson – Noodles, Mr. Slate
Lennie Weinrib – Moonrock Crater, Bronto
Mitzi McCall – Penny Pillar
Don Messick – Schleprock

For a history of The Flintstones franchise, check out the post here.
 

           

  With The Flintstones reruns and their first spin-off, The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show, doing well in the ratings, CBS decided to expand their Flintstones franchise with a second spin-off. The Flintstone Comedy Hour was a continuation of both the original series and The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show with a touch of the popular variety show format.

Promo artwork featuring the adults getting down with the Bedrock Rockers.

The first half hour was comprised of shorts starring Fred (Alan Reed) and Barney (Mel Blanc) in their usual misadventures around Bedrock and others focusing on Pebbles (Mickey Stevens), Bamm-Bamm (Jay North) and their friends: genius inventor Moonrock Crater (Lenny Weinrib), weight-obsessed Penny Pillar (Mitzi McCall), and horoscope-obsessed Wiggy Rockstone (Gay Hartwig). Three shorts aired every episode for most of the series’ run; alternating between two with the adults and two with the teens. The second half hour was comprised of reruns of Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm. Stevens replaced original Pebbles voice Sally Struthers for all the new material made for the show due to Struthers’ commitment starring on the popular sitcom All in the Family.

Barney gets roped into another of Fred's schemes.

Between the story segments, the characters would rattle off jokes and horoscopes, and musical numbers would be performed by Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm’s new band, the Bedrock Rockers. With Pebbles on keyboard, Bamm-Bamm on bass, Moonrock on drums, Penny on tambourine and Wiggy on flute, the teens belted out two song numbers per episode. The songs were written by various Screen Gems (distributor of Hanna-Barbera’s shows) staff members including David Gates, Tony Dancy, Craig Fairchild, Jackie Mills, Leonard Petit and Tom Jenkins. The actual performers were The Ron Hicklin Singers; a Los Angeles-based group of studio singers organized by Ron Hicklin that performed music for television, film and commercials often uncredited or credited under specialized names. This line-up featured Tom Bahler, John Bahler, Jackie Ward and Stan Farber.

The Flintstone Comedy Hour debuted on CBS on September 9, 1972. The series was written by Tom Dagenais, Jack Hanrahan, Len Janson, Sheldon Mann, Jack Mendelsohn, Chuck Menville, Howard Morganstern, Bob Ogle and Dick Robbins. Hoyt Curtin served as the musical director and Paul DeKorte was the music supervisor, while the music was composed and conducted by Dean Elliott. After a full year on the air, the Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm reruns were dropped to shorten the series to a half-hour. Renamed The Flintstone Comedy Show, it continued airing in reruns until that January.

Bamm-Bamm, Wiggy, Pebbles, Penny and Moonrock making beautiful music.

It would be 5 years until the next all-new Flintstones series hit television, following Fred Silverman from CBS over to NBC (which included a second show to use the name The Flintstone Comedy Show). In the interim was the syndicated package show Fred Flintstone and Friends, which combined the segments from this show and episodes of Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm alternating weekly with daily serialized versions of Goober and the Ghost Chasers, Jeannie, Partridge Family 2200 A.D. and Yogi’s Gang. It also introduced Henry Corden as the new speaking voice of Fred following Reed’s death (Corden previously provided Fred’s singing voice in a couple films), introducing the various segments over bumpers comprised of show clips.

EPISODE GUIDE:
“Birdbrained / Squawkie Talkies / Bedrock 500” (9/9/72) – Birdsitting Mr. Slate’s parrot causes nothing but trouble for Fred and family. / When a hipposaurus eats one of Moonrock’s squawkie talkies, Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm believe it actually ate Barney instead. / The teens compete against the Bronto Bunch in a big car race.
 
“The Flying Fools / Bedlam in Bedrock / The Stone Ranger Rides Again” (9/16/72) – Flying in Moonrock’s new airplane is anything but a joy for Fred and Barney. / The teens concoct a crazy idea to get a DJ his job back. / Pebbles and her friends shoot a western movie with Bamm-Bamm as the star.
 
“Cat Burglars / The Circus Show / Pizza-Puss” (9/23/72) – Fred and Barney get busted as cat burglars while the real thieves rob Fred’s house. / The teens organize a circus to raise money for prom. / Fred becomes a pizza chef just when Pebbles orders 37 pizzas for her party.
 
“Fred Skirts the Issue / Hair Scare / The Not so Desperate Hours” (9/30/72) – Babysitting is a nightmare until Fred dresses up as a woman. / Moonrock’s new miracle hair formula causes his friends a lot of problems. / A dangerous escaped con decides to hide out at the Flintstone house.
 
“Don’t Fence Me In / The Spot Remover / Cake Walk” (10/7/72) – An argument about their property boundaries reveals Fred’s property actually runs through Barney’s living room. / Moonrock’s spot remover ends up removing a lot more around Bedrock. / Fred and Barney accidentally help their wives win a cake baking contest.
 
“The Loving Cup / Bedrock Surfers / Handicapped” (10/14/72) – Fred gets the trophy he’s supposed to give to Mr. Slate stuck on his head. / Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm compete in a couples-only surfing contest against the Bronto Bunch. / Fred tries to help Mr. Slate win a golf tournament to get out of working on a Saturday.
 
“Something Fishy / Amusement Park / A Pound in Time” (10/21/72) – Unfortunately, Wilma and Betty decide to accompany their husbands on a fishing trip. / The teens encounter a blowhard at the amusement park. / Fred and Barney join a health club to be able to fit their lodge uniforms again.
 
“Dummy Up / Bedrock Radio Rock Festival / Barney the Swami” (10/28/72) – A blow to the head causes Fred to become brutally honest. / The Bedrock Rockers record their songs for entry into a music contest. / Fred decides to take advantage of Barney’s sudden psychic powers.
 
“High Noon at Bedrock Pass / Cinderella / Training Pains” (11/4/72) – Fred dreams he and Barney are facing off against a western outlaw. / Bamm-Bamm plays the gender-reversed lead in the school’s production of Cinderella. / Fred trains Dino to compete in the pet show.
 
“Fred’s Big Brag / Schleprock’s Cousin / Fred’s Promise” (11/11/72) – Fred’s boast that he can tame a wild brontosaurus lands him in a ring at the rodeo show. / Schleprock’s cousin Shamrock comes to visit and brings good luck wherever he goes. / Fred promises not to talk about work while on the family vacation.
 
“The Big Breakup / Bedrock 300 / Candid Camerarock” (11/18/72) – When Barney breaks a bone painting Fred’s living room the doctor prescribes him bedrest at the Flintstones’. / Nobody seems to be respecting the rules of the race Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm enter. / Fred and Barney end up the victims of a prank TV show.
 
“Feet First / The Hobby Show / The Reluctant Candidates” (11/25/72) – Fred showing Barney how to win a sports car rally goes poorly when they’re quickly overtaken. / The teens organize an exhibit to show off their respective hobbies. / Fred and Barney end up running against each other for club president.
 
“Runaway Steaks / Moonrock’s Super Jumper Shoes / Citizen Flintstone” (12/2/72) – Fred and Barney chase their steaks on a runaway grill. / Moonrock’s jumping shoes turn things around for Bamm-Bamm’s school basketball team. / Fred makes a fool of himself on a talk show.
 
“The Big Splash / Moonrock’s Beauty Farm / Stage Flight” (12/9/72) – The planning authority kiboshes Fred’s plans for a pool. / Moonrock’s gal pals aren’t too thrilled with his beauty salon. / Pebbles and her friends shoot a film with Fred starring as the titular Peter Panstone.
 
“Oil Fooled / Cave Buggy Race / Sherlock Flintstone” (12/16/72) – An oil tycoon wants to buy Fred’s house, but Fred wants in on his company. / Pebbles and the girls soup up Bamm-Bamm’s cave buggy to enter into a race. / A misunderstanding leads Fred to believe his car was stolen and prompts him to investigate with Barney.
 
“Watch the Birdie / Schleprock / Mod Clod” (12/23/72) – Fred takes up photography and tries to win a magazine contest by snapping a rare pterodactyl. / Schleprock shows up the restaurant the gang works at and brings his usual chaos with him. / A gray hair leads Fred to a midlife crisis.
 
“The Suitor Computer / Army Dazed” (12/30/72) – Moonrock’s new matchmaking computer pairs Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm up with different people. / When Fred and Barney dress up in military clothing for a parade they end up in the real military.
 
“Beauty and the Beast / The Galloping Gourmets” (1/6/73) – Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm enter the annual masquerade ball contest. / Barney disguises himself as a cook to make dinner for Mr. Slate and an important client at the Flintstones’.

SATURDAY MORNING MASTERS: JANET WALDO

JANET WALDO

(February 4, 1919-June 12, 2016)

Notable Roles: Pearl Slaghoople, Libby Freeman, Lana Lang, Granny Sweet, Nancy, Penelope Pitstop, Judy Jetson, Josie McCoy, Morticia Addams, Mrs. Anders, Scooby Dee, Princess, Susan, Shanna the She-Devil, Zerona, Mayda Munny, Hogatha

Waldo got her start with bit parts and small roles in films beginning in 1938; although in 1941 she was the leading lady in three Westerns: Silver Stallion, The Bandit Trail and Land of the Open Range. Her big break came when she joined Cecil B. DeMille’s Lux Radio Theatre, leading to a radio career topped by the starring role in Meet Corliss Archer. Her likeness was used for the Meet Corliss Archer comic book published by Fox Feature Syndicate in 1948; the first time fans got any visual indication of what the character looked like. Waldo made the transition to television in 1952 with guest-starring roles on I Love Lucy, The Phil Silvers Show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (reprising the role she played on the radio version) and others. She would make an appearance in another Lucille Ball series, The Lucy Show, playing Lucy’s sister in 1963. That year, she began her career as a voice actor in animation as supporting characters in Hanna-Barbera’s Loopy de Loop and Jonny Quest. She assumed the recurring role of Pearl Slaghoople, Wilma Flintstone’s (Jean Vander Pyl) mother, in The Flintstones franchise from Verna Felton in 1964. She also had a starring role in the short-lived sitcom Valentine’s Day as Libby Freeman. By 1966, Waldo had edged out of appearing on camera in favor of a voice career, primarily working for Hanna-Barbera; although she did do voices for Ruby-Spears Productions’ The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show and The Puppy’s Further Adventures, Marvel Productions’ Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, and anime dubs such as the Princess in Battle of the Planets. Her most recognizable characters included Judy Jetson from The Jetsons franchise, Penelope Pitstop from Wacky Races and its spin-off, and Josie McCoy from Josie and the Pussycats and its spin-off. Waldo continued acting until the new millennium, making a few documentary appearances afterward. Waldo died in 2016 from an inoperable brain tumor. At the time of her death, Waldo was the last surviving member of the original Jetsons cast.

Saturday Credits:

The Secret Squirrel Show

The Atom Ant Show

The New Adventures of Superman

The Space Kidettes

Shazzan

Fantastic Four (1967)

Wacky Races

The Perils of Penelope Pitstop

Josie and the Pussycats

Help!...It’s the Hair Bear Bunch!

The Roman Holidays

The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie

The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan

Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space

Around the World in 80 Days

The New Scooby-Doo Movies

The Addams Family (1973)

Inch High, Private Eye

Jeannie

Hong Kong Phooey
These Are the Days

The New Tom & Jerry Show

Clue Club

Jabberjaw

CB Bears

Yogi’s Space Race

The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour

The New Fred and Barney Show

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo

Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels

The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show

Heathcliff (1980)

The All-New Popeye Hour

ABC Weekend Specials (episodes)

Richie Rich

Thundarr the Barbarian

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends

The Smurfs

The Gary Coleman Show

The Puppy’s Further Adventures

Rubik, the Amazing Cube

The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show

Pac-Man

Mister T

The Dukes

Saturday Supercade

Alvin & the Chipmunks

The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries

Dink, the Little Dinosaur

Tom & Jerry Kids Show

Droopy, Master Detective

SATURDAY MORNING MASTERS: HOYT CURTIN

HOYT CURTIN

(September 9, 1922-December 3, 2000)

Notable Roles: Composer, music producer, musical director

Curtin was always musically inclined. He began playing piano at age 5, and in high school had his own orchestra while playing in a jazz band. After serving in the Navy during WWII, Curtin studied music at the University of Southern California on the G.I. Bill. Initially he wanted to be a composer and arranger for movies, but found himself instead being highly-demanded in the field of radio and television commercials due to his ability to write quick and memorable jingles. He did manage to do some theater work, scoring music for a variety of animated theatrical shorts such as Mr. Magoo and Tom and Jerry and some minor movies like Mesa of Lost Women and Jailbait. He met William Hanna and Joseph Barbera in 1957 while they were working on a commercial for Schlitz beer. At the same time, Hanna and Barbera were working on their first independent television series for their new studio, Hanna-Barbera Productions, after having lost their jobs when MGM shut down their animation division. Needing a theme song for The Ruff & Reddy Show, they provided Curtin with their lyrics and 5 minutes later he provided them with the song. They signed him right then and there. Curtin would serve as their primary composer, producer, and musical director for most of his tenure. Hanna-Barbera would contact Curtin with the description of the shows in production, and he would proceed to write the songs, hire the musicians, book and conduct the orchestra. There would be times when Curtin was single-handedly writing and recording the scores for up to 9 series at a time. Curtin retired in 1992, turning to his love of gadgets to invent and license a design for an underground lawn sprinkler. In 1995, Rhino Records attempted to put together a tribute album in his honor featuring the various songs he had composed over the years. Unfortunately, due to the methodology Curtin employed in making his music, there were hardly any masters of the songs he composed; existing only on the actual film stock. Curtin died in 2000 after a brief hospitalization.

Saturday Credits:

The Ruff & Reddy Show

Linus! The Lion Hearted

The Atom Ant Show

Wacky Races

Josie and the Pussycats

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show

The Roman Holidays

The New Scooby-Doo Movies

The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan

Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space

The Addams Family (1973)

The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie (episodes)

Speed Buggy

Jeannie

Super Friends

Inch High, Private Eye

Goober and the Ghost Chasers

Yogi’s Gang

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids

Partridge Family 2200 AD

Valley of the Dinosaurs

Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch

Korg: 70,000 B.C.

Hong Kong Phooey
These Are the Days

Devlin

The Great Grape Ape Show

The New Tom & Jerry Show

Clue Club

Jabberjaw

The Skatebirds

Dynomutt, Dog Wonder

The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour

The Mumbly Cartoon Show

CB Bears

The All-New Super Friends Hour

Scooby’s Laff-A-Lympics

Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels

Yogi’s Space Race

Galaxy Goof-Ups

Buford and the Galloping Ghost

Jana of the Jungle

Challenge of the Superfriends

Dinky Dog

Godzilla (1978)

The World’s Greatest Superfriends

The Super Globetrotters

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979)

Casper and the Angels

The All-New Popeye Hour

Drak Pack

The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show

The Flintstone’s Comedy Show

The Kwicky Koala Show

Space Stars

Laverne & Shirley in the Army

The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang

Trollkins

The Smurfs

Superfriends (1981)

The Little Rascals (1982)

The Gary Coleman Show

Shirt Tales

The Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Puppy Hour

Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour

Pac-Man

The Dukes

The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show

The Biskitts

Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince

Challenge of the GoBots

Snorks

SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show

The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries

The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians

Galtar and the Golden Lance

The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo

Wildfire (1986)

Yogi’s Treasure Hunt

Popeye and Son

Foofur

Pound Puppies (1986)

The Flintstone Kids

SATURDAY MORNING MASTERS: DON MESSICK

DON MESSICK

(September 7, 1926-October 24, 1997)

Notable Roles: Ruff, Professor Gizmo, Ricochet Rabbit, Scooby-Doo, Scrappy-Doo, Muttley, Spike, Boo Boo Bear, Ranger Smith, Dr. Benton Quest, Mumbly, Godzooky, Bamm-Bamm Rubble, Papa Smurf, Azrael, Dreamy Smurf, Astro, R.U.D.I., U.N.I.B.L.A.B., Hamton J. Pig, Droopy Dog

Messick originally wanted to be a ventriloquist and made a living at it early on. After performing in front of the program manager and chief announcer of radio station WBOC in Salisbury, Maryland, he was given his own weekly show at age 15 where he performed all of the voices and sound effects. After serving in the U.S. Army’s Special Services unit, Messick was hired by the Mutual Broadcasting radio station in Los Angeles to play Raggedy Andy and Farmer Seedling on The Raggedy Ann Show. At the suggestion of Daws Butler, director Tex Avery hired Messick to perform the voice of Droopy Dog when his regular actor, Bill Thompson, was unavailable, giving Messick his start in animation. He and Butler joined Hanna-Barbera as regular players in 1957 and were often paired together. Messick typically played sidekicks like Boo Boo Bear, provided the narration for various shows, or sound effects for various creatures. He became a major headliner when he was cast as the voice of Scooby-Doo, which would turn out to be the studio’s most enduring character. However, after A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, he retired from the role, claiming quitting smoking robbed him of the rasp he needed to perform it (although he did perform one more time in a 1996 Burger King commercial). After suffering a stroke while recording in 1996, Messick retired from voice acting altogether. He died from a second stroke the following year.

Saturday Credits:

The Ruff & Reddy Show

The Secret Squirrel Show

The Atom Ant Show

Frankenstein, Jr. and the Impossibles

Space Ghost & Dino Boy

Super President

Moby Dick and the Mighty Mightor

The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show

Space Kidettes

Fantastic Four (1967)

Herculoids

Shazzan

Birdman and the Galaxy Trio

Wacky Races (1968)

The Adventures of Gulliver

Cattanooga Cats

The Archie Comedy Hour

Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines

The Perils of Penelope Pitstop

H.R. Pufnstuf

Sabrina, The Teenage Witch (1969)

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

Doctor Dolittle (1970)

The Banana Splits Adventure Hour

Josie and the Pussycats (1970)

Help!... It’s the Hair Bear Bunch!

Harlem Globe Trotters

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show

The Funky Phantom

The Flintstone Comedy Hour

The Barkleys

The Houndcats

The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan

Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space

The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie

Jeannie

The Addams Family (1973)

Bailey’s Comets

The New Scooby-Doo Movies

Inch High, Private Eye

Yogi’s Gang

Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch

Hong Kong Phooey
These Are the Days

The New Tom & Jerry Show

The Oddball Couple

Jabberjaw

The Mumbly Cartoon Show

Dynomutt Dog Wonder

The Skatebirds

Scooby’s Laff-A-Lympics

CB Bears

Fred Flintstone and Friends

Baggy Pants & the Nitwits

Yogi’s Space Race

Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels

The New Fantastic Four

The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour

Challenge of the Superfriends

Dinky Dog

The New Fred and Barney Show

ABC Weekend Specials

Fred and Barney Meet the Thing

The Super Globetrotters

Godzilla (1978)

Fred and Barney Meet the Shmoo

The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979)

The Flintstones Comedy Show

Drak Pack

The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show

The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang

Space Stars

Heathcliff (1980)

Trollkins

The Kwicky Koala Show

Spider-Man (1981)

The Smurfs

The Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Puppy Hour

The New Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Show

Saturday Supercade

The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries

The Mighty Orbots

Get Along Gang

Yogi’s Treasure Hunt

Pink Panther and Sons

The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo

Galtar and the Golden Lance

Scooby’s Mystery Funhouse

Popeye and Son

The Real Ghostbusters

Foofur

Pound Puppies (1986)

DuckTales (1987)

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo

Garfield and Friends

Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue

The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera

Tom & Jerry Kids Show

Tiny Toon Adventures

Bobby’s World

Yo Yogi!

The Plucky Duck Show

Droopy, Master Detective

Freakazoid!

SATURDAY MORNING MASTERS: MEL BLANC

MEL BLANC

(May 30, 1908-July 10, 1989)

Notable Roles: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepe LePew, Speedy Gonzales, Porky Pig, Sylvester Cat, Tweety Bird, Yosemite Sam, Tasmanian Devil, Elmer Fudd, Barney Rubble, Dino, Cosmo Spacely, Captain Caveman, Secret Squirrel, Heathcliff

Known as the man of 1,000 voices, Blanc became an orchestra conductor at age 19 and performed schtick in vaudeville shows. He made his acting debut in 1927 on the Portland, Oregon radio show The Hoot Owls where he gained attention for his ability to do multiple characters’ voices. He bounced between radio in Portland and Los Angeles before landing a recurring spot on The Jack Benny Program, playing multiple characters and providing sound effects for Jack Benny’s jalopy. That led to his own radio show, The Mel Blanc Show. In 1936, Blanc joined Warner Bros. where he would come to voice almost every male character in the Looney Tunes stable for his entire career. He also originated the voice and laugh of Woody Woodpecker for Universal Pictures before becoming a WB-exclusive player. In 1944, he became the first voice actor to receive on-screen credit for his work in an era when only the director and producers were credited. After his contract expired, Blanc became a regular performer for Hanna-Barbera while still working for WB; notably in their flagship franchise, The Flintstones. He continued to provide the voices for most of the characters he originated throughout his entire career (certain ones becoming more difficult to do with age, and ceded to replacement actors). After a car accident left him comatose in 1961, his neurologist successfully managed to work him out of it by addressing him as his characters instead of Blanc himself. His son Noel and colleague Daws Butler voiced several of his characters while he recovered. In 1962, he and Noel formed Blanc Communications Corporation, which produced thousands of PSAs and commercials. Blanc had been a smoker since age nine, quitting at age 77 after being diagnosed with emphysema. In 1989, he was hospitalized with advanced coronary artery disease and died shortly after.

Saturday Credits:

The Bugs Bunny Show

The Porky Pig Show

The Secret Squirrel Show

The Road Runner Show

The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show

The Pink Panther Show

The Perils of Penelope Pitstop

Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show

The Flintstone Comedy Hour

The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie

Speed Buggy

The New Scooby-Doo Movies

Yogi’s Gang

Scooby’s Laff-A-Lympics

Fred Flintstone and Friends

Galaxy Goof-Ups

The Daffy Duck Show

Yogi’s Space Race

Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels

Trollkins

Heathcliff (1980)

The Flintstones Comedy Show

The Sylvester & Tweety, Daffy & Speedy Show

Alvin & the Chipmunks (1983)

Heathcliff (1984)

The Flintstone Kids

THE FLINTSTONES

THE FLINTSTONES

(ABC, September 30, 1960-April 1, 1966)

Hanna-Barbera Productions

For the history of The Flintstones, check out the post here.

            Originally beginning life as The Flagstones, The Flintstones was meant to be Hanna-Barbera’s answer to shrugging off its reputation as a producer of strictly kiddie fare by airing as a primetime sitcom. Heavily influenced by The Honeymooners (to the point that series creator and star Jackie Gleason considered suing the company) and set in a modernized version of the Stone Age, the show focused on overweight and overbearing caveman Fred Flintstone (Alan Reed) who would often drag his dim-witted best friend and neighbor Barney Rubble (Mel Blanc, Daws Butler for several episodes and the pilot) into various get-rich-quick schemes. Along for the ride were their long-suffering wives, Wilma (Jean Vander Pyl) and Betty (Bea Benaderet through season 4, Gerry Johnson for the remainder). Running gags in the series included names of people and places that featured some kind of rock or mineral word, modern conveniences made out of stone such as newspapers, chairs and furniture, animals acting as appliances (and complaining about it to the audience), and cars driven via foot-power.

            The Flintstones debuted on ABC on September 30, 1960, and proved a hit; easily securing its desired adult demographic. As the series went on, however, changes were made. In the third season, the Flintstones and the Rubbles both gained children in the form of Pebbles (Pyl) and the super-strong Bamm-Bamm (Don Messick). The Rubbles also got their own pet, a Hoppasaurus named Hoppy (Mesccik), to compliment the Flintstones’ snorkasaurus, Dino (Blanc). The series also gained its memorable theme, “Meet the Flintstones”, performed by the Skip-Jacks and a 22-piece jazz band. For the final season, an alien named The Great Gazoo (Harvey Korman) came to the town of Bedrock and used his magic to help Fred and Barney learn valuable moral lessons. With these changes, the tone of the series softened and the writing skewed more juvenile; becoming the antithesis of the reason Hanna-Barbera created it. The show was quietly cancelled after 6 seasons and a theatrical film, becoming the longest-running primetime animated series until The Simpsons surpassed it in 1995. The series would go on to be more popular and profitable in syndicated reruns, leading to numerous spin-offs and revivals.

40TH ANNIVERSARIES

45TH ANNIVERSARIES

*Note: Intros for Everthing's Archie and Go! are unavailable.

CAPTAIN CAVEMAN AND THE TEEN ANGELS

CAPTAIN CAVEMAN AND THE TEEN ANGELS

(ABC, September 10, 1977-June 21, 1980)

Hanna-Barbera Productions

MAIN CAST:

Mel Blanc –Captain Caveman

Vernee Watson – Dee Dee Sykes

Laurel Page –Taffy Dare

Marilyn Schreffler – Brenda Chance

Gary Owens – Opening narration

            From 1977-1979, Hanna-Barbera dominated two hours of Saturday morning on ABC. This programming block was dubbed Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics, and featured 11 minute episodes of Laff-A-Lympics and Dynomutt, Dog Wonder, 22 minute episodes of The Scooby-Doo Show and reruns of Scooby-Doo, Where are You!, and, the focus of this particular entry, Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels.

Cavey preparing to charge into battle.

            Created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, the show was a parody of the popular ABC television series Charlie’s Angels. The Teen Angels—comprised of their brilliant unofficial leader Dee Dee Skyes (Vernee Watson), the cowardly Brenda Chance (Marily Schreffler), and the clever Taffy Dare (Laurel Page)—stumbled across the frozen body of Captain Caveman (Mel Blanc) and thawed him out. “Cavey,” as the girls called him, found inspiration in his design from the Slag Brothers from the earlier Wacky Races series; having a body almost entirely obscured by thick fur except for his appendages and nose. He possessed super strength and flight, as well as the ability to hide and pull anything from out of his hairy body and eat almost anything. However, his abilities were often hampered by his limited intelligence. His club also contained a variety of tools he could use on a case, provided by a prehistoric bird that lived inside.

Model sheet of Cavey and the Teen Angels.

            Following Hanna-Barbera’s sleuth series formula, the group traveled the globe solving mysteries. Usually, the villain would be apprehended by a zany plan of Taffy’s who used Cavey’s crush on her to talk him into being the bait.      The series was written by Neal Barbera, Larz Bourne, Bill Butler, Tom Dagenais, Earle Doud, Fred Freiberger, Donald F. Glut, Dave Ketchum, Haskell Barkin, Joseph Bonaduce, Chuck Couch, Lee Davenport, Mark Jones and Orville H. Hampton. Hoyt Curtin served as the show’s composer and reused his theme from C.B. Bears for the show’s credits.

Flashlight power! Kinda.

Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels’ first season ran as part of Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics from September 10 to December 24, 1977, running one 11-minute segment per week. The characters also all appeared in the Laff-A-Lympics segment of the block as members of the Scooby Doobies team, filling in for the intended characters from Josie and the Pussycats, whose rights were held by Archie Comics. The 8-episode second season remained with the block when it was reduced to 90 minutes and renamed Scooby’s All-Stars in 1978. In 1980, the series graduated to its own half-hour for 16 more episodes. During the run, Cavey and the Angels appeared in Hanna-Barbera TV Stars and Scooby-Doo #9, both published by Marvel Comics. Milton Bradley also released a board game based on the show. In 2018, a more realistic take on Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels appeared as a back-up feature in Aquaman/Jabber Jaw Special #1, part of the second-wave of Hanna-Barbera/DC Comics crossovers.

            Following the show’s cancellation, Captain Caveman remained a Hanna-Barbera mainstay throughout the 80s, joining his prehistoric brethren on The Flintstone Comedy Show and then The Flintstone Kids, and appearing in numerous parodies and cameos in the years following. The Teen Angels, however, weren’t so lucky as it took them until 2011 to resurface in an episode of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. In 1988, Castilian released a collection of 13 episodes on VHS in the United Kingdom. In 2013, the entire series was released to DVD by Warner Archive as part of their Hanna-Barbera Classics Collection. 

EPISODE GUIDE:

Season 1:

“The Kooky Case of the Cryptic Keys” (9/10/77) – A key leads the gang to a will reading at Skeleton Mountain where the Great Mysto plots to keep the fortune for himself.

“The Mixed Up Mystery of Deadman’s Reef” (9/17/77) – The gang investigates the mystery of a disappearing ship.

“What A Flight for a Fright” (9/24/77) – A jewel thief disappears from a commercial flight, leading the gang to figure out how to catch him before he disappears again.

“The Creepy Case of the Creaky Charter Boat” (10/1/77) – The gang attends an actor party when a diamond necklace is stolen in a mystery that resembles the actors’ play.

“Big Scare in the Big Top” (10/8/77) – The gang investigates the disappearance of tigers from a circus.

“Dobule Dribble Riddle” (10/15/77) – A supposedly cursed basketball team keeps forfeiting games, leading to their owner deciding to sell it to a dubious buyer.

“The Crazy Case of the Tell-Tale Tape” (10/22/77) – The gang learns of a robbery at the Smithsonian after a masked figure interrupts a television broadcast.

“The Creepy Claw Caper” (10/29/77) – A rock band is ransomed for a case of rare coins lest an age ray makes them old men forever.

“Cavey and the Kabuta Clue” (11/5/77) – An African Chieftain’s skeleton comes back to life and kidnaps the owner of an art museum in order to retrieve the golden mask he sold.

“Cavey and the Weirdo Woman” (11/12/77) – The gang helps their prince friend retrieve his stolen scepter from a snow wolf.

“The Disappearing Elephant Mystery” (11/19/77) – The gang witnesses as a rare white elephant disappears from the middle of a parade in India.

“The Fur Freight Fright” (11/26/77) – A fur delivery for Dee Dee’s uncle Frank disappears, leading the gang to investigate.

“Ride ‘Em Caveman” (12/3/77) – The gang head to Wyoming to get to the bottom of a haunted rodeo.

“The Strange Case of the Creature from Space” (12/10/77) – The gang encounters an alien robot that steals a rare mineral.

“The Mystery Mansion Mix-Up” (12/17/77) – At Taffy’s aunt Gladys’ party, an armored figure steals valuable jewels while the gang watches a magic show.

“Playing Footsie With Bigfoot” (12/24/77) – Athlete Juice Brenner is kidnapped by Bigfoot, but even after being rescued his diminished performance threatens America’s chance at winning the Spartan World games.

Season 2:

“Disco Cavey” (9/9/78) – Dancers at a disco on a cruise are robbed, leading the gang to try and find the crooks.

“Muscle-Bound Cavey” (9/16/78) – While at a wrestling match the gang witness as champion the Great Colosso is kidnapped.

“Cavey’s Crazy Car Caper” (9/23/78) – The new fuel and energy efficient Condor car is stolen, leading to the gang having to investigate.

“Cavey’s Mexicali 500” (9/30/78) – While on vacation in Mexico, the theft of an Aztec calendar leads the gang into entering a desert race.

“Wild West Cavey” (10/7/78) – A fake stagecoach robbery turns out to be real in Dodge City.

“Cavey’s Winter Carnival Caper” (10/14/78) – The gang seeks to rescue their friend, a professional ice skater, who is kidnapped.

“Cavey’s Fashion Fiasco” (10/21/78) – The gang must recover their friend’s stolen fashion designs.

“Cavey’s Missing Missile Miss-tery” (10/28/78) – A military test missile disappears in the clouds.

Season 3:

“The Scarifying Seaweed Secret” (3/8/80) – With an inheritance at stake, the gang tries to solve the mystery of a sea creature who kidnaps members of a wealthy family.

“The Dummy” (3/15/80) – What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless your jewels are stolen from an impenetrable vault.

“Cavey and the Volcanic Villain” (3/22/80) – While the gang is in Hawaii, a jewel is stolen and a goddess threatens to curse the island with continuous volcanic eruptions.

“Prehistoric Panic” (3/29/80) – Attempting to get the gang out of traffic, Cavey flies too fast and ends up taking them all back in time.

“Cavey and the Baffling Buffalo Man” (4/5/80) – A Buffalo Man uses coded messages to find gold coins in a mansion, and the gang has to stop him.

“Dragonhead” (4/12/80) – It’s Chinese New Year in Chinatown, and a fortune cookie factory van is stolen.

“Cavey and the Murky Mississippi Mystery” (4/19/80) – The gang must recover a secret case bound for a nuclear lab and stop the river creature that caused its loss.

“Old Cavey in New York” (4/26/80) – Thieves use a series of blackouts to steal gold bars, and the gang has to find and stop them.

“Cavey and the Albino Rhino” (5/3/80) – A witch doctor steals a rare white rhino on its way to a Wild Animal Land preserve, which also leads the gang to discover a diamond heist.

“Kentucky Cavey” (5/10/80) – Taffy’s uncle is losing his property and the gang needs to rescue his horse so he can win the money he needs in the Kentucky Derby.

“Cavey Goes to College” (5/17/80) – The gang must help Central University find a stolen advanced robot.

“The Haunting of Hog Hollow” (5/24/80) – The gang’s singer friend has his performance sabotaged before he ends up kidnapped.

“The Legend of Devil’s Run” (5/31/80) – The gang investigates the ghost of a Civil War general who made off with a munitions train car with a fortune in silver.

“The Mystery of the Meandering Mummy” (6/7/80) – A mummy steals a rare Egyptian ruby from Brenda’s uncle.

“The Old Caveman and the Sea” (6/14/80) – On vacation in Miami, the gang helps treasure hunter Jacques LaFarge locate his stolen recent finds.

“Lights, Camera…Cavey!” (5/21/80) – A phantom causes young actresses to get prematurely wrinkled, leaving the gang to help them restore their looks and keep their careers.