JENS NYGAARD KNUDSEN DEAD AT 78

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He developed the figurines that have been featured in LEGO sets since 1978. Those figurines have since appeared in adapted media such as video games, movies and television, like LEGO City Adventures.

THE RUFF & REDDY SHOW

THE RUFF & REDDY SHOW

(NBC, December 14, 1957-April 2, 1960,

September 29, 1962-September 26, 1964)

H-B Enterprises, Screen Gems

MAIN CAST:

Daws Butler – Reddy, Pinky, Scary Harry Safari, Captain Greedy, Killer, various

Don Messick – Ruff, Narrator, Professor Gizmo, Salt Water Daffy, Diller, Wooly, Ubble-ubble, various

Jimmy Blaine – Host (1957-60)

Rufus Rose – Rhubarb the Parrot (1957-60)

Bobby “Nick” Nicholson – Jose the Toucan (1957-60)

“Captain Bob” Cottle – Host (1962-64)

            By the 1950s, theatrical shorts were falling out of favor and were no longer profitable. The various movie studios began closing their animation divisions in favor of packaging their back catalogue for airing on the growing medium of television. Casualties of these cuts were William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, who found themselves out of a job after 18 years at MGM Studios. They decided to keep their partnership going by creating their own studio, H-B Enterprises (later known as Hanna-Barbera Productions), and work on breaking into the growing TV market.

Ruff, Reddy and a couple of their supporting characters.

Taking a cue from their tenure on Tom and Jerry cartoons, Hanna and Barbera created another contrasting pair of characters: Ruff, a resourceful cat, and Reddy, a good-natured but dimwitted dog who often became enraged at bullies. However, unlike Tom and Jerry, these stereotypical rivals were instead portrayed as friends and could speak. Knowing one of the factors for the decline of theatrical cartoon shorts was their hefty production price tag—upwards of $30,000 or more per short—Hanna and Barbera looked into more economical ways to produce a cartoon. They devised a method of limited animation that would convey key poses that created the illusion of movement, as well as a lot of medium and close shots to avoid having to render an entire figure. Some of these poses could also be reused and recycled into future entries, like how they stood or walked. Ruff was given a bowtie and Reddy a collar to separate their heads from their bodies so that animators would only have to animated their heads instead of the full body. These methods would reduce the number of drawings needed per cartoon, as well as the amount of ink and painting required.

Host Jimmy Blaine with Jose and Rhubarb.

            Around the same time, NBC was looking to compete with the success CBS had found by airing their acquired library of Terrytoons cartoons in Mighty Mouse Playhouse and The Heckle and Jeckle Cartoon Show. NBC had purchased a number of theatrical shorts from Columbia Pictures; unfortunately, Columbia’s library lacked a suitable leading feature to market such a venture around. Columbia’s television division, Screen Gems, was one of the groups Hanna and Barbera pitched their idea to and the only one receptive to it. Screen Gems proposed to NBC to use Ruff and Reddy as a wraparound segment for the old theatrical shorts. NBC agreed, but they weren’t sure they could market a program entirely composed of cartoons. They added a live-action host, Jimmy Blaine, and his two puppet sidekicks, Rhubarb the Parrot (Rufus Rose) and Jose the Toucan (Nick Nicholson), to perform skits between segments. The other animated features shown were Fox and Crow and Lil Abner.

Storyboard for misadventures with Pee-Wee the tiny horse.

            The Ruff and Reddy Show debuted on NBC on December 14, 1957, becoming not only Hanna-Barbera’s first production, but the first cartoon made explicitly for Saturday morning broadcast. Hanna and Barbera’s techniques managed to get their price per show down to around $2800 (the most NBC was willing to pay), further helped by using only Daws Butler and Don Messick in every role on the program (actors were paid by the session at the time). With limited movement, the writing and music had to compensate for any shortcomings in the animation in order to keep audiences entertained. Hanna wrote the theme song, with musical director Hoyt Curtin composing the music. Despite the fact that most programs were being produced and broadcast in black and white, Hanna and Barbera had an inkling that color was the future and made Ruff and Reddy in full color (in which was broadcast by 1959).

Fending off aliens.

The series was written by Barbera, Charles Shows, Frank Baron and Homer Brightman as an ongoing serial broken up into three (occasionally four) chapters per episode running under four minutes, each; similar to the first animated TV series, Crusader Rabbit (copying established shows would become another Hanna-Barbera trademark over the years). Ruff (Messick) and Reddy (Butler, using a southern drawl) could be abducted by aliens, fall into trouble with one of Professor Gizmo’s (Messick) inventions, end up chased by hunter Harry Safari (Butler), fall to the mercy of twin outlaws Killer (Butler) and Diller (Messick), encounter prehistoric creatures or be stranded at sea at the mercy of pirates Captain Greedy (Butler) and Saltwater Daffy (a play on saltwater taffy, voiced by Messick).

Ruff and Reddy serving as pitchmen for picture tubes.

Despite an intensive marketing campaign advertising the new show, Ruff and Reddy didn’t perform so well in its opening weeks; due in large part to the show being preempted by various NBC affiliates in many markets in favor of local programming. However, once the show was aired unobstructed, it became a massive success for the network and H-B Enterprises. So much so, that NBC quickly signed Hanna and Barbera to a five-year contract to produce and develop additional programs, launching the almost five-decade career of the studio. Ruff and Reddy itself ran for 3 seasons before it was cancelled in 1960.

Ad for Ruff and Reddy starring "Captain Bob".

The show would return to the network in reruns in 1962, sans the theatrical shorts and hosted by “Captain Bob” Cottle: a local children’s show host out of Boston. Unlike the skits and songs of the original run, “Captain Bob” essentially turned the program into a duplicate of his other show, The Nature World of Captain Bob (which he hosted concurrently). He would go on adventures with his own group of puppets to protect the environment, or to teach kids how to draw. The new Ruff and Reddy would prove a hit for the network, often beating CBS’ Captain Kangaroo in the ratings and earning praise from critics and parents alike. Despite that, however, the show ended its run in 1964 while “Captain Bob” continued to host his own show. Ruff and Reddy would next appear with an assortment of characters in 1972’s Yogi’s Ark Lark, part of The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie. Ruff appeared by himself for the first time in an episode of Yogi’s Treasure Hunt as a newspaper vendor.

Cover to #8 of the Dell comic series.

Dell Comics published a Ruff and Reddy comic from 1958-62. The first three issues were printed as part of their Four Color series, with the actual series beginning from #4. The duo returned to comics in 2017 as part of DC Comics’ reimagining of Hanna-Barbera properties. They appeared in a back-up feature of Green Lantern/Space Ghost Special #1 where they were 1950s stand-up comedians-turned-TV Stars. It was followed-up by the six-issue The Ruff & Reddy Show by Howard Chaykin and Marc Rey, which followed the pair trying to reclaim their fame after their show was cancelled. There were also two books published: Go to A Party as part of Whitman’s Tell-A-Tale series in 1958, and a Little Golden Book was released in 1959. Watkins Strathmore published a coloring book in 1960.

Ruff and Reddy and Their Friends album cover, featuring some of their foes and friends.

1958 also saw the release of a spelling card game, and a record, Adventures in Space, containing the audio recording of the first story arc with narration taking the place of the animated action. It was released by Colpix Records. Little Golden Records also released two more LPs featuring the characters: And Professor Gizmo featuring Gilbert Mack and The Sandpipers and And Their Friends featuring Jimmy Carroll and his orchestra. Transogram released the board game Spills and Thrills of the Circus in 1962 that saw Ruff and Reddy and their friends in an adventure in a circus setting, as well as an erasable coloring set. In 1990, the computer game Ruff and Reddy in the Space Adventure was released, developed by PAL Developments and published by Hi-Tec Software Ltd. Also available at one point were a set of finger puppets and plush dolls.

Reddy and Ruff selling cereal.

Episodes of the series were released on the Animal Follies volume of the Hanna-Barbera Presents Personal Favorites series on VHS in 1988 and LaserDisc in 1989. “Planet Pirates” was announced to be one of the included episodes of The Best of Warner Bros.: Hanna-Barbera 25 Cartoon Collection DVD set in 2013, but was one of several not actually included in the set. A complete series collection has yet to see release.

EPISODE GUIDE:

Season 1:

“Planet Pirates / Night Flight Fright / The Whama Bama Gamma’ Gun” (12/14/57) – Ruff and Reddy are abducted by aliens. / Ruff and Reddy take over the UFO. / Reddy gets rid of the aliens but finds the ship is heading towards a planet.

“The Mastermind of Muni-Mula / The Mad Monster of Muni-Mula / Hocus Pocus Focus” (12/21/57) – The Mastermind of the alien planet wants to make robotic duplicates of Ruff and Reddy. / Reddy tries to stop the robots from being made and ends up brainwashed. / Ruff tries to rescue Reddy while avoiding being captured by him.

“Muni-Mula Mix-Up / Creepy Creature Feature / The Creepy Creature” (12/28/57) – Reddy’s mind returns just in time for them to be captured again. / Mastermind is revealed to be an enslaved Gizmo. / The Creepy Creature is set after Ruff, Reddy and Gizmo.

“Surprise in the Skies / Crowds in the Clouds / Reddy’s Rocket Rescue” (1/4/58) – Ruff and Gizmo are forced to flee the planet without Reddy. / Gizmo and Ruff go back for Reddy, who has acquired a flying helmet. / Gizmo manages to rescue Reddy and destroy the Muni-Mula force.

“Rocket Ranger Danger / Pinky the Pint Sized Pachyderm / Last Trip of a Ghost Ship” (1/11/58) – Gizmo’s ship is hit by a meteor and crashes on Earth. / Ruff and Reddy are tasked with helping a baby elephant get to Africa. / Ruff, Reddy and Pinky set sail on a ghost ship.

“The Irate Pirate / Dynamite Fright / Marooned in Typhoon Lagoon” (1/18/58) – A pirate forces Ruff, Reddy and Pinky to be his crew. / Ruff, Reddy and Pinky escape and end up stranded at sea. / Ruff, Reddy and Pinky end up on an island where Ruff finds himself captured.

“Scarey Harry Safari / Jungle Jitters / Bungle in the Jungle” (1/25/58) – Hunter Harry Scary uses Ruff as bait to lure out a lion. / Ruff rescues the lion. / The lion rescues Reddy from Harry and they all escape.

“Miles of Crocodiles / A Creep in the Deep / Hot Shot’s Plot” (2/1/58) – Ruff, Reddy and Pinky end up surrounded by crocodiles during their escape. / Reddy rescues the others but remains trapped himself. / Ruff and Reddy have to rescue Pinky from Harry who took him in order to trap his mother.

“The Gloom of Doom / The Trapped Trap the Trapper / Westward Ho Ho Ho” (2/8/58) – Harry comes out on top and traps everyone. / Harry turns out to be out of ammo and Ruff and Reddy begin their trek back home. / Ruff and Reddy win a free vacation that takes them to a ghost town.

“A Slight Fright on a Moonlight Night / Asleep While a Creep Steals Sheep / Copped by a Copter” (2/15/58) – Mobsters chase Ruff and Reddy from the ghost town. / Reddy helps a sheepdog save his sheep from some rustlers. / Reddy is taken with the sheep to the rustlers’ hideout in the ghost town via helicopter.

“The Two Terrible Twins from Texas / Killer and Diller in a Chiller of a Thriller / A Friend to the End” (2/22/58) – Reddy is discovered and captured. / Reddy is dumped into a speeding mine cart. / Ruff and the sheepdog rescue Reddy and then the sheep.

“Heels on Wheels / The Whirly-Bird Catches the Worms / The Boss of Double-Cross” (3/1/58) – Ruff, Reddy and the sheepdog chase the rustlers. / Ruff, Reddy and the sheepdog commandeer the rustlers’ helicopter and give chase. / The rustlers manage to escape.

“Ship-Shape Sheep / Rootin’ Tootin’ Shootin’ / Hot Lead for a Hot-Head” (3/8/58) – The rustlers return and capture Reddy and the sheepdog. / Ruff ends up captured and is forced to duel Reddy. / Ruff and Reddy trick and defeat the rustlers.

“The Treasure of Dubloon / Blunder Down Under / The Metal Monster Mystery” (3/15/58) – A seal follows Ruff and Reddy home. / Ruff and Reddy try to capture the seal for a reward. / Gizmo recruits Ruff and Reddy for his treasure hunt in the Blue Lagoon.

“The Late, Late Pieces of Eight / The Goon of Doubloon Lagoon / Two Dubs in a Sub” (3/22/58) – An enemy submarine closes in as Ruff, Reddy and Gizmo dive for treasure. / The trio are captured by the submarine and taken to a secret grotto. / The seal arrives to free the trio.

“Big Deal with a Small Seal / A Real Keen Submarine / No Hope for a Dope on a Periscope” (3/29/58) – The seal defeats Captain Greedy and Saltwater Daffy. / Greedy and Daffy get the upper hand, but the seal creates a distraction. / The seal saves Reddy from drowning only to end up captured by Daffy.

“Rescue in the Deep Blue / A Whale of a Tale of a Tail of a Whale / Welcome Guest in a Treasure Chest / Pot Shot Puts Hot Shot on a Hot Spot” (4/5/58) – The seal and Reddy escape but end up chased by a shark. / Reddy and the seal hitch a ride on a whale. / The seal joins Ruff on Gizmo’s sub to prepare a surprise for Greedy. / Greedy and Daffy get the treasure ship, but the weight of the gold causes them to sink.

Season 2:

“Egg Yeggs / The Dummy Mummy” (12/13/58) – Ruff and Reddy help Gizmo protect his Chickasaurus egg from thieves. / Killer and Diller disguise themselves as mummies to steal the egg.

“The Chickenhearted Chickosaurus Chase / The Chickasaurus Crack-Up / The Slick Chickasaurus Chick Trick” (12/20/58) – Ruff, Reddy and Gizmo chase after the egg after it falls out of the theives’ truck. / The egg falls down a cliff and begins to hatch. / The egg only partially hatches when Killer and Diller return for it.

“The Chicken-Hearted Chickasaurus / Chickasaurus Choo Choo! / Rumble in the Jungle” (12/27/58) – Ruff, Reddy and Gizmo end up entangled with the fleeing Chickasaurus. / Killer and Diller chase the Chickasaurus in their helicopter. / Ruff and Reddy end up in the jungle with a T-Rex.

“The Sorehead Tyrranosaurus / Two Eyes Spy on the Guys / Double-Trouble with Ubble-Ubble / A Chick in Need is a Chick Indeed” (1/3/59) – Ruff, Reddy and Gizmo hide in a cave where something else dwells. / Caveboy Ubble-Ubble rescues the trio from the T-Rex before Killer and Diller kidnap him. / Ruff, Reddy and Gizmo end up confronted by a saber-toothed tiger. / Ubble-Ubble ends up in a Chickasaurus nest.

“Quick Trick Saves a Slick Chick / Scary Tale on the Canyon Trail / Borrowed Burro in a Burrow” (1/10/59) – The thieves are defeated and Gizmo adopts Ubble-Ubble. / Harry overhears about a pint-sized pony at the Grand Canyon. / Harry sends Reddy away on an out-of-control donkey.

“Pint Size Surprise for the Guys / Reddy and Me and Pee-Wee Makes Three / Hoss Thief Grief” (1/17/59) – Ruff and Reddy track down the donkey to discover he has found the small pony. / Pee-Wee the pony leads Harry on a merry chase. / Harry manages to lasso Pee-Wee, but the horse isn’t going quietly.

“Tricked and Trapped by a Tricky Trapper / Harry Safari and the Phoney Pony / Frantic Antics of Poco Loco” (1/24/59) – Pee-Wee escapes Harry and hides in Reddy’s hat. / The donkey rescues the others from gunpoint. / Pee-Wee’s mother alerts his friends that he’s been captured.

“Nag in a Bag / Bungled Bundle of Boodle / Chump’s Jumps Bring Bumps Lumps” (1/31/59) – Ruff and Reddy chase after Harry and Pee-Wee. / Harry plans to make Pee-Wee an attraction in his carnival. / Pee-Wee is forced to perform while waiting for his rescue.

“Show-Biz-Wiz / These Three Set Pee-Wee Free / Fantastic Phantom” (2/7/59) – Ruff, Reddy and the donkey infiltrate the carnival. / Ruff and Reddy rescue Pee-Wee disguised as clowns. / Ruff and Reddy subdue a burglar that turns out to be a leprechaun.

“Long Gone Leprechaun / The Goon of Glocca Morra / Bungle in Banshee Castle” (2/14/59) – The leprechaun makes off with Reddy’s gold watch. / The leprechaun tells them that an evil being has kidnapped their princess and taken their gold. / Ruff and Reddy head to Ireland to help.

“Afloat in a Moat with no Boat / Too Soon the Goon / Smitten by a Kitten / Mr. Small Meets Mr. Tall in the Hall—That is All” (2/21/59) – Ruff and Reddy have to find a way inside the castle. / Ruff disappears and Reddy is shrunken by the leprechaun to get inside. / Reddy ends up chased by the Goon’s cat. / Reddy has to get past the cat to rescue Ruff from a cell.

“Going-Going Goon / A Scarey Chase Thu a Spooky Place with a Goony-Face / Big Bang Boom in a Real Small Room” (2/28/59) – Reddy is intercepted by the Goon. / Reddy manages to free Ruff and they run away. / The Goon plans to blast Ruff out of a turret with a cannon.

“Gold Room Doom / Three See the Wee Princess Free / Missile Fizzle” (3/7/59) – Ruff and Reddy search for the princess. / Ruff and Reddy free the princess and shrink the Goon to become a toy for his cat. / Reddy accidentally launches Gizmo’s moon rocket early.

“Missing Missile Mystery / Never Land in Never-Neverland / Polar Bear Scare” (3/14/59) – The rocket returns to Earth way off course. / Greedy and Daffy track down the rocket’s capsule. / Reddy tries to save a Viking boy from a polar bear.

“A Liking for a Striking Viking / Bear Hunting is for the Birds / Beep-Beep from the Deep-Deep” (3/21/59) – Ruff, Reddy, Gizmo and Olaf the Viking find the capsule, but Olaf wants to fight the bear. / Olaf uses his pet falcon to chase the bear away. / Ruff, Gizmo and Olaf search for food as Greedy and Daffy arrive.

“Two Friends in a Submarine / Muscle Man Meets Missile Man / Bull Fight Fright” (3/28/59) – Greedy and Daffy take Ruff and Gizmo hostage. / Greedy forces Gizmo to lead them to the capsule. / Olaf attacks Greedy and Daffy while his falcon alerts Reddy.

“Reddy Clobbers Robbers / Machine Gun Fun / Bad Guys Meet the Good Guys” (4/4/59) – Reddy clobbers Daffy and accidentally clobbers Gizmo as well. / Olaf tries to take Greedy’s gun but it goes haywire. / Olaf calls on a horde of Vikings to deal with Greedy.

Season 3:

“Dizzy Deputies / Later Later, Alligator / Gator Caper” (12/19/59) – Swamp pirate Jean La Fitt spoils Ruff and Reddy’s fishing trip. / Ruff and Reddy are deputized by Sheriff Cotton E. Pickens and end up chased by an alligator. / The alligator becomes friends with Ruff.

“Chip off the Old Chopper / La Fitt to Be Tied / Hide and Go Seek on Okeechonokee Creek” (12/26/59) – Ruff names the alligator Chopper and lets him join their crew. / The crew almost nabs La Fitt but he manages to escape. / Ruff, Reddy and the Sheriff search for La Fitt’s hideout.

“Boom Boom Doom / Spellbound Fool in a Round Whirlpool / Fast Chase Through a Spooky Place” (1/2/60) – La Fitt attacks the crew with his cannons. / La Fitt creates a whirlpool to stop his pursuers. / The crew resumes the search for La Fitt’s hideout.

“Looks Like the End for a Cotton Picking Friend / No Laff on Half of a Raft / Gator Thrills and Whooshmobiles / Trapped and Snapped Sap” (1/9/60) – The Sheriff nearly meets his demise. / Chopper destroys the raft the crew is riding on. / Ruff turns Chopper into a new transport. / Chopper helps trap La Fitt.

“Spooky Meeting at Spooky Rock / Dig the Bigger Digger / The Secret Bizz of Professor Gizz” (1/16/60) – Ruff and Reddy head to Spooky Rock to meet Gizmo. / Gizmo shows off his mobile borer that he plans to use to gather data. / Killer and Diller spot Gizmo using his device.

“Test Hop Flip Flop / Sticks and Stones and Aching Bones / Gun, Gun Who’s Got the Gun?” (1/23/60) – Killer and Diller plan to steal the borer to find a lost mine. / Killer and Diller steal the borer and kidnap Gizmo. / Ruff and Reddy get the drop on Killer and Diller.

“Big Papoose on the Loose / Mine, Mine All Mine Gold Mine / Gold Data in the Substrata” (1/30/60) – A bump in the road frees Killer and Diller. / Killer and Diller escape by jumping off a bridge into a river. / All the players discover different entrances to a mine.

“The Ghost with the Most / In the Soup with a Supernatural Snoop / Sneaky Knaves in the Caves / Tailspin Twins” (2/6/60) – Ruff, Reddy and Gizmo encounter a ghost in the mine named Schultz. / Killer and Diller force their gold to be transported in the borer. / Schultz rescues his friends while having fun with Killer and Diller. / Schultz lets the thieves take what gold they can carry, knowing it will disappear once they leave the mine.

“Sky High Fly Guys / A Tisket, a Tasket, Who Lost Their Basket? / Three’s a Crowd in a Cloud” (2/13/60) – Ruff and Reddy hide from a carnival cop in a hot-air balloon, which then takes off. / Ruff and Reddy try to deal with being airborne. / Ruff and Reddy have to protect their balloon from a giant vulture.

“Fine Feathered Birds of a Feather / A Bird in Hand is a Handy Bird / No Laffy Daffy” (2/20/60) – Ruff and Reddy land on an island where they hear a mysterious call for help. / They find Swedish sailor Skipper Kipper and his parrot Squawky held by Greedy and Daffy for a treasure map. / Daffy discovers Ruff and Reddy.

“Tiff on a Skiff / Sub a Dub Dub / Squawky no Talky” (2/27/60) – Ruff and Reddy help Kipper and Squawky escape. / They steal Greedy’s sub to make their getaway. / Greedy reclaims his sub and threatens Squawky’s life for the map.

“Big Break Tweaks Big Sneak / Off on a Toot with the Loot to Boot / Thanks a Lot for X Marks the Spot / Tail of a Sail in a Whale” (3/5/60) – Squawky manages to get the upper hand on Daffy. / Greedy and Daffy pretend to leave the island as Kipper reveals the map to Ruff and Reddy. / Greedy and Daffy return to claim the treasure. / Greedy and Daffy make off with the treasure, which ends up getting swallowed by a whale.

“Misguided Missile / Triple Trouble Trip / Around the Moon in Eighty Ways” (3/12/60) – Ruff and Reddy answer an ad promising adventure and they end up tricked into a rocket ship. / Ruff and Reddy are instructed to gather information about the moon as they orbit it. / A mistake sends the rocket off course.

“Button, Button, Who Pushed the Button? / No Traces of Aces of Spaces / Lilipunies Meet Mooney Goonies” (3/19/60) – The rocket crashes on a mysterious planet. / Ruff and Reddy are captured by the tiny Lilipunies. / Ruff and Reddy try to talk their way out of captivity.

“Little Guys are a Big Surprise / Two is Company—A Million is a Little Crowded / Big Bop for a Big Flop” (3/26/60) – The Lilipunies are menaced by a giant creature called the Blop. / Reddy decides to defend the Lilipunies. / Reddy fights off the Blop, who ends up capturing Ruff.

“Things Get Rough For Ruff—Sure ‘Nuff / Whap—Caught in a Trap by a Sap / Spin, Spin a Web to Catch a Blop In / Have Blop, Will Travel” (4/2/60) – Reddy searches for Ruff. / The Lilipunies construct a spider web to help Reddy capture the Blop. / Ruff and Reddy retreat to their rocket. / The Blop steals their rocket, but the Lilipunies offer Ruff and Reddy another transport to Earth.

NICOLA "NICK" CUTI DEAD AT 75

You can read the full story here.

Along with a history of writing, editing and drawing comic books and novels, he also worked as an assistant art director on Conan the Adventurer and as a layout designer on Gargoyles, Mighty Ducks, Jungle Cubs and 101 Dalmatians: The Series.

JASON DAVIS DEAD AT 35

You can read the full story here.

He voiced Mikey Blumberg in Disney's Recess franchise.

HOWDY DOODY

HOWDY DOODY

(NBC, December 27, 1947-September 24, 1960)

National Broadcasting Company

MAIN CAST:

Buffalo Bob Smith – Himself, Howdy Doody (1947-54), Phineas T. Bluster, Dilly Dally, Inspector John J. Fadoozle, Flubadub

Allen Swift – Howdy Doody, Phineas T. Bluster, Dilly Dally, Inspector John J. Fadoozle, Flubadub (all 1954-60)

Bob Keeshan – Clarabell the Clown (until 1952), various

Lew Anderson – Clarabell the Clown (1955-60)

Bill LeCornec (until 1952) – Chief Thunderthud, Dilly Dally, various

Dayton Allen (until 1952) – Sir Archibald, Clarabell (Keeshan’s stand-in), various

Bobby “Nick” Nicholson – J. Cornelius Cobb (1952, 1955-60), Clarabell the Clown (1953-54)

Rufus Rose – J. Cornelius Cobb (1953-54), Sandra the Witch

            Bob Smith got his start working in radio in his hometown of Buffalo, New York at WGR before moving to WBEN; where he managed to help the network beat WGR’s #1 morning program in the ratings. After gaining the attention of NBC, he was brought to New York City to serve as the early morning host on WNBC where he became known as Buffalo Bob (a double reference to his home and the frontier hero Buffalo Bill). While there, Smith performed a voice for a character whose trademark was opening show by saying “Howwwwwdy Doody.”

The original Howdy Doody.

            NBC’s television division was looking to expand their roster of children’s programs at about the time Smith was contemplating a move to television. Executive E. Roger Muir noticed the popularity of Smith’s show and decided to bring Smith’s voices to life via puppetry. Christened “Howdy Doody”, the initial marionet was designed by Frank Paris featuring a large chin and a crop of wild hair. Smith continued to provide the voice for Howdy, but he wasn’t a ventriloquist. A system was set up where typically after a verbal cue, the director would cut to a shot of Howdy that Smith could see on a screen past the puppet which would signal him to deliver Howdy’s lines. As Smith also voiced several other puppet characters, cue cards used on the set we rendered in different colors to tell Smith which character he was supposed to be providing the dialogue for at a given time. By 1949, the puppets’ dialogue was pre-recorded and played during the live broadcasts.

Buffalo Bob in front of the Peanut Gallery.

            Howdy Doody debuted on NBC on December 27, 1947 under the name Puppet Playhouse Presents before it was changed within a week. It became the first nationally-televised children’s program, as well as one of the first to air in color (one episode in 1953, and a full week in 1954, mostly as a way to help push the sales of color televisions). Initially, the show was given a circus setting but was quickly changed to the western town of “Doodyville”. A group of kids were on hand in the studio audience called The Peanut Gallery. Each show was opened with Smith asking “Say, kids, what time is it?” to which the kids replied in unison “It’s Howdy Doody Time!” The kids would then proceed to sing the show’s theme song set to the tune of “Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay”. The kids would also sing the jingles of the various sponsors for the commercial breaks under the leadership of Smith or Howdy. Howdy Doody was one of the first television programs with audience participation as a major feature. The Peanut Gallery inspired the executives at United Features Syndicate to name Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip Peanuts, much to his chagrin.

Clarabell the Clown.

To help keep the kids on their best behavior and to quiet the anxious ones, the character of Clarabell the Clown was introduced. Clarabell was mute and communicated in mime, by honking a horn on his belt, and squirting seltzer (usually on Smith). Clarabell was portrayed by Bob Keeshan or several stand-ins when Keeshan was needed for another function on the show. In 1952, Keeshan left and became the host of his own successful children’s show, Captain Kangaroo. Clarabell was then played by Bobby “Nick” Nicholson and finally Lew Anderson for the remainder of the show’s run. Other puppet characters included Heidi Doody, a stranger who saved Smith’s life and was adopted as Howdy’s sister; Phineas T. Bluster (Smith), skinflint and mayor of Doodyville; Phineas’ brothers Hector Hamhock and Don Jose and nephew Petey; Princess SummerFallWinterSpring (began as a puppet until she was taken over by Judy Tyler, then returned to puppet form upon Tyler’s death in 1953 voiced by Linda Marsh); Dilly Dally (Smith), Howdy’s boyhood friend; Inspector John J. Fadoozle (Smith), a private eye; Flub-a-Dub (Smith), a mixture of 8 different animals; and shopkeeper J. Cornelius Cobb (Nicholson), who had a strong dislike for clowns. Other human characters included Native Americans Chief Thunderthud (Bill LeCornec) and Chief Featherman, used to emphasize the show’s western theme.

Princess SummerWinterFallSpring in live and puppet forms.

Howdy Doody began on Saturday nights as an hour live program and quickly rose in popularity. NBC expanded the show with two additional airings during the week, and soon to a daily half-hour program. Each new market NBC began broadcasting to became enamored with the show, increasing its viewership tremendously. Pregnant women would often write in for an attempt to get a seat in The Peanut Gallery for their children by the time they were four (only 40 kids were allowed by fire department regulations, and no one got in without a ticket). NBC was sure to suitably market the show with lunch boxes, shirts, cereal premiums, and home versions of Howdy. Head writer Edward Kean wrote many of the comics published by Dell from 1950-56, as well as the Sunday-only comic strip from United Features Syndicate (with additional writing by Stan Lee). UPA was even commissioned to produce an animated special, Howdy Doody and his Magic Hat, marking the directorial debut of Gene Deitch, and international versions of the program aired in Mexico and Canada.

Buffalo Bob with the revised Howdy Doody.

This success came with a cost. Paris felt that since he created the puppet, he was due a larger portion of the profits, and often got into heated arguments with Smith and the producers about it. In 1948, he walked off the show with the puppet. While a new one was being fabricated, the show used the storyline it established about Howdy running for President to explain his absence by saying he was out campaigning. Further, it was said that in order for Howdy to beat his rival, Mr. X (revealed to be the Inspector), he had to become more handsome and got plastic surgery. Howdy’s new head was designed by Disney artist Thelma Thomas and built by Velma Dawson. He now had big ears, a goofy smile, a solid head of red wooden hair and 48 freckles (representing the number of American states at the time). Rhoda Mann took over controlling Howdy. Paris attempted to put an injunction on NBC to stop them from using the name “Howdy Doody”, but the courts sided with NBC and Smith. Paris was also unable to use the original puppet in another production. Further, Keeshan, Allen, LeCornec and Mann all left the show in 1952 over a salary dispute.

Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney stop by Howdy Doody while Gabby Hayes hosts.

Smith kept himself busy. In 1948, NBC gave him another show, The Bob Smith Show, to try and work his charms on the parents as he had their kids. Smith continued hosting his radio show on WNBC, and in 1952 added a radio version of Howdy Doody that allowed him to be more innovative with the concept. Guitarist Tony Mottola and organist Doc Whipple played on the show with Howdy’s washboard band. In 1954, Smith took on another show from 10-11 AM to compete with Arthur Godfrey and a midday local TV program. It turned out to be a little too much as Smith suffered a heart attack that year and was ordered to remain home for recovery. Smith’s absence from the show was explained that he was vacationing at Pioneer Village while actor Gabby Hayes and disc jockey Ted Brown filled in for him. NBC was willing to give Smith the time to recover, but sponsors were getting anxious; they wanted him to sell their wares. A temporary studio was set up in Smith’s home so that he could make appearances on the program. Allen Swift took over voicing Howdy and Smith’s other puppet roles, and kept on doing them for the remainder of the program even after Smith’s eventual return.

Buffalo Bob with Howdy and Flubadub.

            By 1956, Howdy Doody was losing favor with the network. While his original audience was outgrowing him and a new audience moved in to take their places, the fact was the show was taking up a good chunk of NBC’s schedule that could be used for more profitable adult programming. The weekday versions were dropped in favor of a Saturday morning version, replacing The Pinky Lee Show. To further cut costs associated with Howdy Doody, the program was no longer broadcast live. Five weeks of shows were filmed at a time to be broadcast later; after which the sets would be struck and the studio space used for other programs.

As the decade was coming to a close, the landscape for children’s television began to change and NBC no longer had a place for Howdy. After 2,343 episodes, the show was cancelled on September 24, 1960. The final episode was an hour-long retrospective of the entire program. The stand-out moment was that Clarabell finally spoke, saying a somber “Goodbye, kids.” “Auld Lang Syne”, the song most would recognize from New Year’s celebrations, played as the credits rolled over the empty, darkened set, followed by the announcement that The Shari Lewis Show would replace it the following week. The main Howdy puppet currently resides in the Detroit Institute of Arts following a custody battle between the museum and the family of Rose, who wanted to sell it at auction.

Buffalo Bob on the set with the star of Happy Days, Ron Howard.

The 1970s brought a wave of nostalgia for the 1950s, capped off with the successful film American Graffiti and the show Happy Days. Smith and Howdy returned for an episode of Happy Days entitled “The Howdy Doody Show”. Shortly after, Nicholson-Muir Productions, owned by Nicholson and Muir, secured the rights from NBC to produce a new version of the program. The New Howdy Doody Show was filmed out of Miami and aired in syndication. LeCornec returned to play the fictional producer of the show, Nicholson Muir, and Nicholson and Anderson returned to their roles of J. Cornelius Cobb and Clarabell, respectively. Howdy was redesigned and given a mop of real hair. Unfortunately, it was hard to recapture the magic of the original program; especially as networks were pressed to schedule the show and rarely did so on a consistent basis. They tried to play things towards the returning fans instead of just focusing on the current children, and the audience (now numbering 400, a mix of children and adults) was only used for certain parts to make it easier to film. The show only lasted six months, from August 1976 until January 1977.

The 40-episode collection DVD.

In 2001, NBC Home Video licensed Image Entertainment to release four VHS tapes and four discs collecting four episodes each from between 1957 and 1960; with one episode from 1953 also included. In 2008, Mill Creek Entertainment was licensed to release Howdy Doody Show: 40 Episodes 1949-1954 comprised of fan-selected episodes and the finale, as well as a 20 episode collection. The earliest episodes of Howdy Doody have fallen into the pubic domain and have been made available online.

EPISODE GUIDE:

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SATURDAY MORNING MASTERS: DALLAS McKENNON

DALLAS McKENNON

(July 19, 1919-July 14, 2009)

Notable Roles: Buzz Buzzard, Inspector Willoughby, Tony the Tiger, Gumby, Pokey, Q.T. Hush, Dr. Blaney, Courageous Cat, Minute Mouse, Tintin, Professor Calculus, Sinbad Jr., Salty, Pokey, Archie Andrews, Mr. Weatherbee, Hot Dog, Frank Hardy, Chubby Morton, Pete Jones, Cincinnatus, Salem Saberhagen

Born Raymond Dallas “Dal” McKennon, he grew up on a farm where he would come to practice making animal voices. In high school, he became a DJ for a local radio station where he would perform various voices for the sponsors’ commercials. After serving in WWII, McKennon started a business recording and “cutting” records on acetate before Portland’s KGW hired him to be Mr. Buttons, the host of a children’s radio show. McKennon got into acting with his first role in the 1952 film Bend of the River, where he befriended Jimmy Stewart. Stewart invited McKennon out to Los Angeles to become part of his radio program, The Six Shooter. Once in California, McKennon landed the lead role in Captain Jet, a local kid’s space-themed program, which allowed him to segue into voice acting. He worked for Walter Lantz Productions voicing Buzz Buzzard in Woody Woodpecker shorts and the lead in Inspector Willoughby. He also became the first voice of Tony the Tiger for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes cereal commercials; however, his tenure was short-lived as he would be replaced the following year by Thurl Ravenscroft. McKennon would forge a long relationship with Disney, providing voices in many of their films beginning with Lady and the Tramp, as well as recording 16 LPs retelling movie stories. One of McKennon’s best-known roles would be that of the Claymation character Gumby, which he first assumed in 1957 and then several times after. He soon took over voicing Gumby’s best friend Pokey, as well as various other characters in the series. During this time, he was still acting on camera as well. McKennon’s most prominent live-action role was as innkeeper Cincinnatus on Daniel Boone from 1964-70. In 1968, he began another long studio relationship, this time with Filmation Associates as the voice of Archie Andrews and other characters in various shows based on Archie comics. After moving to Oregon, McKennon became involved with a local theater and took up writing music and scripts, many for plays and shows about Oregon history. His first song, Critters in the Woods, was performed on Daniel Boone. For the bi-centennial, he helped leaders in Portland organize a pageant called In God We Trust, for which he served as a narrator. He travelled to various schools as a character called Skinny Bones Jones engaging students with fanciful facts, and developed the show Vox Box to teach people how to make voices. One of McKennon’s lasting contributions was a crazy laugh first used for the hyena in Lady and the Tramp that would be recycled for use in the films Tourist Trap and Elf, the show Totally Spies! and several Crash Bandicoot games for the character of Ripper Roo. He died of natural causes in 2009 at the age of 89.

Saturday Credits:

The Gumby Show

Sinbad Jr. and his Magic Belt

The Archie Show

Archie’s Funhouse

The Archie Comedy Hour

The Hardy Boys

Groovie Goolies

Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1969)

Archie’s TV Funnies

The Barkleys

U.S. of Archie

Sabrina, Super Witch

Space Academy

The New Archie/Sabrina Hour

Archie’s Bang-Shang Lalapalooza Show

Goof Troop

The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat

SMF PRESENTS: THE VOICES OF HARLEY QUINN

With Birds of Prey in theaters this weekend, we present to you the latest in our infographic series: The Saturday Morning voices of Harley Quinn.

Click to enlarge.

LUNCH WITH SOUPY SALES

LUNCH WITH SOUPY SALES

(ABC, Syndication, October 3, 1959-January, 1962)

ABC Television Network

MAIN CAST:

Soupy Sales – Host

Clyde Adler – Puppeteer, various

        Milton Soupman was a comedian, actor and media personality probably best known by his stage name: Soupy Sales. Initially interested in journalism, Soupy became a writer and disc jockey at radio station WHTN (now WVHU) in West Virginia, while also performing comedy in clubs. He then became a morning DJ in Cincinnati. Initially, he adopted the stage name Soupy Hines from his childhood nickname of Soup Bone. After he became established, it was decided that his name seemed too similar to the Heinz soup company, so he changed it to Sales after vaudeville comedian Chic Sale.

Soupy in his signature "costume".

            Soupy’s television career began in 1950 as the host of Soupy’s Soda Shop, TV’s first teenage dance television program, followed by Club Nothing, a talk show that incorporated Soupy’s zany brand of comedy. In 1953, Soupy joined Detroit’s WXYZ-TV, an ABC affiliate, where he began doing The Soupy Sales Show. Soupy opted not to don some kind of silly costume for the show, convinced by a colleague who dressed as a clown that in sacrificing his anonymity off the air, he also couldn’t be easily replaced by putting someone else in the suit. Soupy chose to wear a large polka-dot bowtie, a disheveled top hat, and a sweater that became his signature outfit (the tie would shrink over the years). 

Soupy enjoying his lunch with the audience.

ABC gained interest in the local program and slated it as the summer replacement for Kukla, Fran and Ollie in 1955. Although hopes were dashed at the network picking up the show on a permanent basis, Soupy found more work at WXYZ in the form of 12 O’Clock Comics (soon renamed Lunch with Soupy Sales since he always ate his lunch with his audience), a daily daytime kids’ show that consistently outperformed the network offerings, and the late-night show Soupy’s On which often featured jazz musicians whose venues would often sell out after an appearance. ABC took another look at Soupy and offered him a Saturday slot for Lunch.

Pookie drops by the window for a visit.

Lunch with Soupy Sales debuted on ABC on October 3, 1959. Airing at noon (traditionally considered lunchtime), Lunch was an unscripted variety show aimed at children. While they had a general idea of where an episode would go and what would happen, improvisation was their key to success. The setting of the show was Soupy’s kitchen (as opposed to his living room in other versions of the show) where he would interact with a host of puppet co-stars: White Fang, the country’s biggest and meanest dog (carried over from Soupy’s radio days, seen only as a white and black furred clawed arm that came in from off-camera); Black Tooth, a sweet dog with an incoherent growl (created to be White Fang’s opposite); Pookie, a happy-go-lucky lion that initially was mute, but eventually gained a voice and a hipster personality and often lip synched to novelty records and pre-recorded bits (the puppet was found in a prop box at the studio); and Willie the Worm, a latex accordion worm that lived in an apple, always had a sneezing cold, and read birthday greetings to local kids. All of the puppets were performed by Clyde Adler, who also filled in any other role as needed; especially the “man at the door”, whose arms were the only thing visible on camera when Soupy answered the door. 

Soupy being berated by the "man at the door".

Soupy’s comedic styling was slapstick in nature, which often meant his shows involved pratfalls or his being hit by some kind of object—most notably a cream pie, especially when he answered the door. In fact, the pie was his signature gag in all of his programs, and it was estimated that he had been hit with tens of thousands in his career. Celebrity guests who appeared on the show also never left without getting one slapped into their own faces. These routines would inspire Fred Rogers to get into television in order to provide more educational content to children. Other recurring bits were his signature dance, the Soupy Shuffle, and “Words of Wisdom”, whereby Soupy would impart smart-sounding nonsense. Soupy also incorporated his love of jazz into the program whenever possible.

Soupy and friend thoroughly creamed.

            After the first season, production of the show moved to Hollywood. It remained on ABC until March of 1961 when the network cancelled it; however, it continued on as a local show until January of 1962. ABC wasn’t done with Soupy, recognizing his immense popularity in the area. Immediately following the cancellation, they gave him a new Friday night version of The Soupy Sales Show to replace The Steve Allen Show. Eventually, The Soupy Sales Show moved production to New York City where it lasted until 1966. Soupy would go on to have a career appearing on and hosting game shows, as well as one final revival of The Soupy Sales Show in 1979. Because of the lack of archival practices of the time, and the fact that the earlier shows were done live, the majority of Lunch with Soupy Sales had either been destroyed or erased. 

EPISODE GUIDE:

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