JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (1967)

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH

(ABC, September 9-December 30, 1967)

Filmation Associates, 20^th Century Fox Television

MAIN CAST:

Ted Knight – Professor Oliver Lindenbrook, Count Saccunson, various

Pat Harrington Jr. – Alec McEwin, Torg, Lars, Gertrude, various

Jane Webb – Cindy Lindenbrook

            Journey to the Center of the Earth (Voyage au centre de la Terre in the original French title) is an 1864 science-fiction novel written by Jules Verne. It was greatly influenced by geologists abandoning the biblical account of Earth’s development and new published findings on the origins of mankind. The novel focused on German scientist Professor Otto Lindenbrock who purchased an original runic manuscript of an Icelandic saga and discovered a coded message on it from 16^th-century alchemist Arne Saknussemm. After deciphering the message that revealed a way to the center of the Earth, Lindenbrock, his nephew Axel, and their guide Hans Bjelke, entered a series of tunnels that led them to an entire subterranean world populated with long-thought extinct prehistoric creatures.

The book cover circa 1874.

            Since its initial publication, Journey has been translated into various languages and published around the world. It had influenced other authors to explore similar themes, as well as led to adaptations of the novel into various media. One of those adaptations was the 1959 film released by 20^th Century Fox. Written by Charles Brackett and Walter Reisch and directed by Brackett, the film took some liberties with Verne’s original story. Lindenbrock became Sir Oliver Lindenbrook (James Mason, replacing Clifton Webb), a Scottish scientist as 19^th-century Scots were regarded as the best field geologists. Similarly, Axel became Alec McEwan (Pat Boone) and was more adventurous than his cowardly portrayal in the text. Feeling the story needed an antagonist, Brackett created Count Saknussemm (Thayer David, replacing Alexander Scourby); the evil brother of Arne who wanted to conquer and rule the inner world. Other new characters included female explorer Carla Goteborg (Arlene Dahl) and Hans Bejelke’s (Peter Ronson) pet duck Gertrude serving as comic relief.

            The only reason Fox greenlit the film was because two other Verne-based films—20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in 80 Days—became box office successes. Journey proved no different when it opened in theaters on December 16, 1959. It took in more than double its production budget and was nominated for several awards.

Oliver, Gertrude, Lars, Cindy and Alec in their animated forms.

            Nearly a decade later, Filmation and Fox came together about turning the film into an animated series. It would be their second following The New Adventures of Superman. Filmation made a few alterations of their own to the material. While still featuring Oliver (Ted Knight), Alec and Gertrude (both Pat Harrington Jr.), Carla would be replaced by Oliver’s niece, Cindy (named Jenny in the film, voiced by Jane Webb), and Hans would be renamed Lars (Harrington). The evil Count Saccunson (Knight) would not only get the spelling of his last name changed, but his henchman would finally gain the name Torg (Harrington).

The Count and Torg.

            Journey to the Center of the Earth debuted on ABC on September 9, 1967. The show’s intro, narrated in character by Knight, introduced the audience to the fact that the characters were all trapped underground after the Count and Torg destroyed the entrance and were in a race to find the center of the Earth and the way back out. Along the way, they all encountered various types of human offshoots and prehistoric creatures on top of threats posed by the Count and Torg. The series was written by Bill Keenan, Ralph Goodman, Ken Sobol, Don Christensen, Barry Gaines, Lawrence L. Goldman, Fred Halliday, Ken Rotcop and Marshall Williams with music by Gordon Zahler.

Druids vs. Wolfmen.

            The series only ran for a single season of 17 episodes. It would be rerun on the Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy) as part of their Cartoon Quest (later named The Animation Station) programming block from 1993-96. A 10-page story based on the show appeared in the promotional comic America’s Best TV Comics, which was packaged by Marvel Comics and featured stories and ads related to ABC’s upcoming television season. It was drawn by Paul Reinman with letters by Jean Izzo. Whitman Publishing published a tie-in book as part of their Big Little Book series, as well as jigsaw puzzles and coloring books.

EPISODE GUIDE:

“Arena of Fear” (9/9/67) – A giant captures Oliver and puts him into an arena surrounded by cages full of savage creatures for his amusement.

“Caveman Captives” (9/16/67) – While attempting to escape a pit trap, Alec and Oliver are captured by a group of cavemen leaving Lars and Cindy stranded.

“The Creative World” (9/23/67) – After being separated, Lars and Cindy befriend descendants of the ancient druids and help train them to battle sinister wolfmen.

“Creatures of the Swamp” (9/30/67) – The explorers find themselves at the mercy of a tribe that lives in a dangerous swamp.

“The Doomed Island” (10/7/67) – Spider creatures cause the explorers to crash onto an unstable island that can sink at any moment.

“The Frozen Furies” (10/14/67) – The explorers come upon the furies drilling into a glacier that threatens the people living on the surface.

“The Labyrinth Builders” (10/21/67) – Bee people capture the explorers and take them into their hive.

“Land of the Dead” (10/28/67) – A river leads the explorers to a lost civilization that takes the Count, Torg and Alec captive.

“The Living City” (11/4/67) – Having to find an alternate path leads the explorers to a city full of strange creatures.

“The Living Totems” (11/11/67) – Cindy and Alec are charged with retrieving a brilliant diamond from some snow beasts to return it to a group of living totem poles.

“Moths of Doom” (11/18/67) – While Alec and Cindy deal with giant moths, Oliver, the Count, Torg and Lars end up prisoners of beings that call themselves The Controllers.

“Ocean of Destruction” (11/25/67) – The explorers find themselves at the mercy of a group of humanoid creatures that fancy themselves old fashioned pirates.

“Perils of Volcano Island” (12/2/67) – Arne’s trail leads the explorers to a volcanic cavern full of a gas that puts Alec, Cindy and Gertrude into suspended animation.

“Return of Gulliver” (12/9/67) – The explorers find themselves trapped between a giant and a group of tiny people.

“Revenge of the Fossils” (12/16/67) – While investigating some fossils the explorers inadvertently bring them back to life.

“Sleeping Slaves of Zeerah” (12/23/67) – The explorers come across a queen that seems to possess magical powers.

“Trail of Gold” (12/30/67) – The explorers find the gold-filled lost city of Atlantis, but they realize that things aren’t quite what they seem.

ERNIE COLON DEAD AT 88

You can read the full story here.

He co-created the DC Comics character and world of Amethyst, Princess of Gem World who was adapted into in a series of short episodes as part of the DC Nation programming block on Cartoon Network. He also provided artwork for the Saturday morning-based comics Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice in the Neitherworld, Bullwinkle and Rocky (Marvel) #1-9, Mighty Mouse (1990) #1-5, 7 & 9, Scooby-Doo (1997) #2, 4, 6 & 8, Scooby-Doo Spooky Spectacular and Star Wars: Droids (1986) #6-8.

STU ROSEN DEAD AT 80

You can read the full story here.

Best known as the creator and star of the children's show Dusty's Treehouse, he served as the voice director of Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling, Fraggle Rock (1987), RoboCop (1988), Captain N: the Game Master, Pryde of the X-Men, Piggsburg Pigs!, Little Shop and Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1990). He was also the casting director for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987), Captain N and Eek!stravaganza, and served as the recording director for “The Legend of Lochangar” episode of ABC Weekend Specials.

He provided the voices of Floyd and Stuckey in an episode of Kissyfur; Storyteller Fraggle in an episode of Fraggle Rock (1987); henchmen in episodes of Superman (1988); Dr. Russell in Zazoo U; Pit Boss and the Governor in Biker Mice from Mars (1993); and additional voices in Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa.

65TH ANNIVERSARIES

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SHERLOCK HOLMES IN THE 22ND CENTURY

SHERLOCK HOLMES IN THE 22^ND CENTURY

(FOX, Syndication, September 18, 1999-July 21, 2001)

DiC Productions LP, Scottish Television Enterprises, Les Studios Tex

MAIN CAST:

Jason Gray-Stanford – Sherlock Holmes

John Payne – Watson, Dr. John Watson

Akiko Morison – Inspector Beth Lestrade

Richard Newman – Professor James Moriarty

Ian James Corlett – Martin Fenwick

William Samples – Chief Inspector Charles Grayson

Viv Leacock – Wiggins

Jennifer Copping – Deidre

Jo Bates - Newscaster

            Sherlock Holmes is a prolific fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes worked as a private detective in London taking on a wide variety of clientele from all classes of life, so long as they could pay his rate and provide a stimulating case. He utilized deductive reasoning, keen observation, and forensic science in order to find clues that would lead to a solution. On top of that, he was highly skilled in a variety of fields including combat, disguise, and acting. Holmes was also a drug addict; frequently using cocaine, morphine and opium in order to find stimulation when not on a case.

Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes by Sidney Paget.

            The inspiration for Holmes came from many sources. Edgar Allan Poe’s C. Auguste Dupin is considered the first fictional detective and became the prototype. However, Conan Doyle had stated that Holmes was primarily inspired by surgeon Dr. Joseph Bell, for whom Conan Doyle worked as a clerk and had the propensity to draw broad conclusions from small observations. Sir Henry Littlejohn, Chair of Medical Jurisprudence at the University of Edinburgh Medical School that also served as a Police Surgeon and Medical Officer of Health, gave Conan Doyle a link between medical and criminal investigations. Another fictional detective, Émile Gaboriau’s Monsieur Lecoq, was also popular at the time Conan Doyle began writing Holmes and Holmes’ speech and behavior tended to match Lecoq’s.

The first appearance of Sherlock Holmes.

            Holmes made his debut in 1887’s A Study in Scarlet. While not the first fictional detective, he is certainly the most well-known and a British cultural icon. His popularity grew when a series of short stories began appearing in The Strand Magazine in 1891, which had accompanying illustrations by Sidney Paget who used his brother Walter as a model for Holmes. All but four stories were narrated by Holmes’ friend, partner and biographer, Dr. John Watson. Watson often accompanied Holmes on his investigations and resided with him at their shared home at 221B Baker Street (which did not exist at the time, but later became a reality when Baker Street was extended). He was the more grounded of the pair in comparison to Holmes’ eccentric nature, and had his own share of intelligence and observational skill.

The 22nd Century Irregulars.

Other associates of Holmes included Inspector G. Lestrade, a Scotland Yard detective whose tenacity and determination allowed him to become a highly respected policeman despite his lack of skill at solving actual crimes. Holmes held simultaneous disdain and affection for Lestrade, often letting him take credit for solving the crimes Holmes had and bolstering his reputation as a result. There were also the Baker Street Irregulars; a group of street urchins led by a boy named Wiggins whom Holmes would pay for vital clues or information in regards to his investigations.

Moriarty.

            In 1893, Conan Doyle desired to spend more time on historical novels and decided to kill Holmes off in The Adventure of the Final Problem. Holmes fell do this death while in battle with criminal mastermind Professor James Moriarty on top of Reichenbach Falls. However, Conan Doyle eventual ceded to public pressure to bring the character back and wrote a prequel story, The Hound of the Baskervilles, in 1901 before reviving Holmes with the explanation of faking his death in 1903’s The Adventure of the Empty House. Holmes fans have come to know that 8-year period as “The Great Hiatus”. Conan Doyle finally retired the character in 1927 after four novels and 56 short stories.

Sherlock Holmes.

            Since Conan Doyle’s retirement and death, Holmes has been adapted and utilized in various forms of media and on various products. There have been radio plays, movies, television shows, comic books, stage plays, video games and more. Holmes currently holds the Guinness World Record for most portrayed human character in film and television. Other writers have also continued Holmes’ adventures in print. Sometimes these adventures pick up from where Conan Doyle left off, other times they see Holmes placed in a contemporary setting, interacting with other fictional characters, descendants of Holmes, or a deeper exploration of aspects of Holmes touched on by Conan Doyle himself. It’s through these later works that characters like Moriarty, created solely as a device to kill Holmes, gained more prominence and became elevated to being his arch rival.

Inspector Beth Lestrade and the original form of Watson.

            Adding to the pantheon was Scottish Television Enterprises executive Sandy Ross. An idea came to him as he was skiing in Aspen, Colorado with DiC Entertainment senior vice president of creative affairs Robby London in 1996. He proposed the concept of an animated Holmes series set in the future, which London felt would appeal to both the American and United Kingdom markets and provide an entirely new genre for animation with the combination of mystery and science fiction. Initially, they had determined to set the show in the 21^st Century, but as it was likely to make it to air with the millennium just around the corner it was decided to push the setting to the 22^nd. Their vision of the future contained many of the familiar science fiction trappings including holographic projections, artificial intelligence, flying cars, space colonies, cloning and more.

Holmes with Watson after his conversion.

Developed by Phil Harnage, Sherlock Holmes in the 22^nd Century was exactly as the title described. Picking up from the fateful fall of Holmes (Jason Gray-Stanford) and Moriarty (Richard Newman) into Reichenbach Falls, the series introduced viewers to the future world of New London where Moriarty was resurrected through cloning by twisted and deformed French mad scientist Martin Fenwick (Ian James Corlett). Needing help to stop him, Holmes, who was preserved in honey after his eventual death from old age (in keeping with Conan Doyle’s resurrection of the character), was resurrected and rejuvenated at the request of New Scotland Yard Inspector Beth Lestrade (Akiko Morrison, sans any attempt at a British accent). Lestrade was the descendant of the Inspector Holmes had worked with during his time. Lestrade’s “partner”, of sorts, was a robotic “compudroid” she affectionately called “Watson” (John Payne). That name became even more apt as he took on the real Watson’s personality upon scanning his journals and his outward appearance was altered to resemble the man. Other characters included Lestrade’s boss, Chief Inespector Charles Grayson (William Samples) and a new incarnation of the Baker Street Irregulars led by Wiggins (Viv Leacock).

Martin Fenwick.

            Sherlock Holmes in the 22^nd Century debuted on FOX as part of its Fox Kids programming block on September 18, 1999. The show was a co-production between Scottish Television and DiC Entertainment through French studio Les Studios Tex. Each episode was based on pre-existing Holmes stories with liberal changes made as needed to incorporate futuristic elements. The series was written by Harnage with Martha Moran, Marv Wolfman, Terence Taylor, Eleanor Burian-Mohr, Henry Gilroy, Ken Pontac, Robert Askin, Seth Kearsley, Greg Johnson, Reed Shelly, Bruce Shelly, Woody Creek and Gildart Jackson. Len Janson served as the story editor. Donald F. Roberts, Ph.D. was retained as an educational consultant to make sure the series met the educational requirements set by the FCC.  22^nd Century was the first DiC production to utilize any form of 3D computer animation. Rendered by Hyper Image Llc, it was used primarily for backgrounds and vehicles. The rest of the series featured traditional animation by Daiwon Animation Co., Ltd., Milimetros Studios, Slightly Offbeat Productions, Ltd., Hong Ying Animation and Wonjin Production Corporation. Steven Choi served as the main character designers. The theme was composed by Ron Wasserman (credited as RAW) while Eric Allaman handled the rest of the show’s music.

Flying cars in New London.

            FOX cancelled the show by the end of its first season in the United States, though it continued to air internationally on CITV and Scottish Television. The WB had intended to pick it up for its weekday morning programming, but budget cuts at the network ended that deal. It wouldn’t be until 2001 that Tribune Entertainment would put the show into syndication, allowing the shorter second season to air for the first time. Reruns would continue to air on various networks around the world well after the last new episode aired. 2001 also saw the show nominated for a Daytime Emmy award for “Outstanding Special Class Animated Program”.

            In 1999, Vision Video and Universal Studios Home Video UK released a VHS tape in the United Kingdom that combined the first three episodes into a single movie. It was re-released in 2002 by Lions Gate Home Entertainment and Trimark Home Video as The Fall and Rise of Sherlock Holmes on both VHS and DVD, with the DVD version also containing the episode “The Sign of Four”. In 2003, Sterling Entertainment released Out of this World onto VHS and DVD with the episodes “The Sign of Four”, “The Adventures of the Dancing Men” and the “Silver Blaze”, with the DVD version having the additional episode “The Gloria Scott”. In 2012, Mill Creek Entertainment simultaneously released the complete series as well as the first 10 episodes onto DVD. The complete collection contained five bonus episodes from other series owned by Cookie Jar, the then-owner of the DiC library, while the 10-episode set contained an episode of Stargate: Infinity. Mill Creek re-released the complete series set in 2018 with a digital download code. 

EPISODE GUIDE:

Season 1:

“The Fall and Rise of Sherlock Holmes” (9/18/99) – Holmes is reawakened in the 22^nd Century and recruited by Lestrade’s descendant to take down Moriarty’s clone.

Based on: “The Final Problem”

“The Crime Machine” (9/25/99) – Holmes and Watson meet the new Baker Street Irregulars while Martin Fenwick turns innocent civilians into criminals.

Based on: The Valley of Fear

“The Hounds of the Baskervilles” (10/2/99) – Holmes, Watson and Lestrade investigate sightings of a giant hound on the moon.

Based on: The Hound of the Baskervilles

“The Adventure of the Empty House” (10/9/99) – Holmes and Moriarty appear to be vaporized while Watson and Lestrade investigate foul play at the Holocade Tournament.

Based on: “The Adventure of the Empty House”

“The Crooked Man” (10/16/99) – Holmes investigates the disappearance of James Barkley and how a furry creature is involved.

Based on: “The Crooked Man”

“The Adventure of the Deranged Detective” (10/23/99) – Lestrade and later Holmes are infected by mind-altering nanobots.

Based on: “The Adventure of the Dying Detective”

“The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire Lot” (10/30/99) – Holmes and the Irregulars investigate a computer vampire that Moriarty wants to recruit.

Based on: “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire”

“The Scales of Justice” (11/6/99) – It appears that animal rights activists have stolen nanobot technology from GeneTech.

Based on: “The Adventure of the Speckled Band”

“The Resident Patient” (11/13/99) – Moriarty and Fenwick use a DNA washer to alter the appearance and DNA of criminals to make them undetectable.

Based on: “The Resident Patient”

“The Sign of Four” (11/20/99) – Holmes and Watson accompany Mary Morstan as she visits her father’s former business partner on themoon.

Based on: The Sign of the Four

“The Adventure of the Dancing Men” (11/27/99) – The Irregulars want to be more involved on cases and begin by searching for who put two scientists in the hospital.

Based on: “The Adventure of the Dancing Men”

“The Musgrave Ritual” (12/4/99) – Moriarty believes a sword will lead him to the powerful meteor from which it was forged.

Based on: “The Musgrave Ritual”

“The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle” (12/11/99) – One of the season’s hottest toys turns out to be far more sophisticated than its mass-produced brethren.

Based on: “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle”

“Silver Blaze” (1/31/00) – Holmes, Watson and Lestrade investigate the theft of the favored racing spacecraft in the Asteroid Belt Grand Prix.

Based on: “Silver Blaze”

“The Five Orange Pips” (2/7/00) – Holmes is summoned to investigate the poisoning of a man who has shunned all modern technology.

Based on: “The Five Orange Pips”

“The Red-Headed League” (2/14/00) – Holmes stumbles upon a planned art theft by the Red-Headed League.

Based on: “The Red-Headed League”

“The Man with the Twisted Lip” (2/21/00) – Holmes and Watson are hired to find a woman’s presumably deceased husband.

Based on: “The Man with the Twisted Lip”

Season 2:

“The Secret Safe” (3/31/01) – Burglars steal a doll to put police off their actual theft, but Holmes and Watson are on their trail.

Based on: “His Last Bow: An Epilogue of Sherlock Holmes”

“The Adventure of the Second Stain” (4/21/01) – Holmes is called in to find stolen intelligence information.

Based on: “The Adventure of the Second Stain”

“The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb” (4/28/01) – Feuding scientists become the target of Fenwick and his minions for their blood regeneration devices.

Based on: “The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb”

“The Gloria Scott” (5/12/01) – Investigating cryptic messages a friend receives leads Holmes to uncover new details about a 25-year-old hijacking.

Based on: “The Gloria Scott”

“The Adventure of the Six Napoleons” (5/19/01) – A thief is after a valuable crystal and steals decorative ones off of the Napoleon Excelsior luxury craft while looking for it.

Based on: “The Adventure of the Six Napoleons”

“The Adventure of the Creeping Man” (5/26/01) – A friend of Lestrade’s is getting married, but her bliss is interrupted by apparently being stalked by a gorilla.

Based on: “The Adventure of the Creeping Man”

“The Adventure of the Beryl Board” (6/23/01) – Holmes investigates the theft of a new processor where the primary suspect may not be the only one.

Based on: “The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet”

“The Adventure of the Mazarin Chip” (6/30/01) – Moriarty and Fenwick steal a virtual reality microchip and kidnap the Prime Minister in order to crash the financial market.

Based on: “The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone”

“A Case of Identity” (7/21/01) – Lestrade gets an unwanted new partner while Holmes and Watson track down a jewel thief.

Based on: “A Case of Identity”

RUSSI TAYLOR DEAD AT 75

You can read the full story here.

Best known as the permanent voice of Minnie Mouse since 1986 as well as Donald Duck’s nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie since 1987. Along with their portrayal in various media, she played Minnie in Mickey Mouse Works, House of Mouse and Mickey Mouse (2103) and Huey, Dewey and Louie in DuckTales (1987), Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue and Mickey Mouse (2013).

She also had a long career on Saturday mornings. Her various roles included Pebbles Flintstone and Cavemouse in The Flintstone Comedy Show; Barbie Winslow in Heathcliff (1981); Pac-Baby in Pac-Man; Hasty and Leota in episodes of ABC Weekend Specials; Gonzo, Robin and Captain Blackwig the Blue Pirette in Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies; Rex’s owner in the “Chocolate Fever” episode of CBS Storybreak; Hilda Brewski in an episode of The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo; Amber the Fairie Dragon in an episode of Dungeons & Dragons; Grover’s Mommy in Five Sesame Street Stories; Beehonie and Donna in an episode of Kissyfur; Ralphie in Little Clowns of Happytown; Melissa, Candy and Chinook Puppy in episodes of Pound Puppies (1986); a girl in an episode of Yogi’s Treasure Hunt; Lana Lang in an episode of Superman (1988); Laura in an episode of The Smurfs; Webby Vanderquack in DuckTales and in an episode of Raw Toonage; a Louisiana Boy in an episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987); Ethalyn, Emmadryl and Madame Placebo in episodes of Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears; a woman in an episode of Disney’s Aladdin; a fairy and a puppet in an episode of The Lion King’s Timon & Pumbaa; kids and voices in The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat; a tour guide in an episode of The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries; Beck and an old lady in episodes of Buzz Lightyear of Star Command; Clara Cluck in Mickey Mouse Works and House of Mouse, where she also played Fairy Godmother and Fauna; Fauna and Winifred in episodes of Sofia the First; Lorbs, Florina and Lorb Guard in episodes of Tangled: The Series; and Young Donald in an episode of DuckTales (2017).

She also provided additional voices in The Little Rascals, Laverne & Shirley with Special Guest Star the Fonz, The Littles, Saturday Supercade, Jim Henson’s Little Muppet Monsters, The Smurfs, Dink the Little Dinosaur, Rick Moranis in Gravedale High, TaleSpin, Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa, What a Mess and Star vs. the Forces of Evil.

Taylor made a rare live cameo appearance in the 1984 CBS Saturday morning preview special Saturday’s The Place in a recording booth with some of her Muppet Babies co-stars.