Edit, 8/29/2020: The video has been deleted. In its place is a title card created for the 1985 revival.
Later this year, the Jetsons will meet some of the superstars of the WWE in a brand new DTV. What next?
Rating: B.
Rating: B.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Family Toons: The Jetsons in Miss Solar System (1963)
Jane Jetson (Penny Singleton) enters a beauty contest in which husband George (George O'Hanlon) is one of the judges. We've shown you the musical number used in "Miss Solar System", but now you get this complete episode of The Jetsons.
Edit, 8/29/2020: The video has been deleted. In its place is a title card created for the 1985 revival.
Edit, 8/29/2020: The video has been deleted. In its place is a title card created for the 1985 revival.
Looney TV: Hare Remover (1945-6)
Elmer Fudd (Arthur Q. Bryan) gives it a go as a scientist, attempting to develop a potion a la Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. Unfortunately, Elmer can't seem to make it work, until Bugs Bunny (Mel Blanc) happens along. Chaos ensues in "Hare Remover", directed by an uncredited Frank Tashlin.
The copyright date is 1945, but it was not released to theatres until March 1946.
Edit, 11/13/19: The video was deleted, and the only copies left have sped up intros. Here's a still from the picture:
The copyright date is 1945, but it was not released to theatres until March 1946.
Edit, 11/13/19: The video was deleted, and the only copies left have sped up intros. Here's a still from the picture:
Bugs would actually meet someone more akin to Dr. Jekyll a few years later in "Hyde & Hare".
Rating: A-.
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: Dino Riders (1988)
Some toys just weren't meant for television.
Tyco introduced the Dino Riders in 1988, and licensed the product to Marvel for not only a comic book miniseries, but a short-lived animated series that was a component of Marvel Action Universe, a weekly syndicated anthology series that Marvel had released. The comics came out after the series had ended.
As with Sectaurs, which we looked at yesterday, we never saw the show when it first came out, so there isn't a rating. Take note of the animation in the first couple of minutes of the opener, as this was inspired by A-Ha's 1985 video, "Take on Me".
Tyco introduced the Dino Riders in 1988, and licensed the product to Marvel for not only a comic book miniseries, but a short-lived animated series that was a component of Marvel Action Universe, a weekly syndicated anthology series that Marvel had released. The comics came out after the series had ended.
As with Sectaurs, which we looked at yesterday, we never saw the show when it first came out, so there isn't a rating. Take note of the animation in the first couple of minutes of the opener, as this was inspired by A-Ha's 1985 video, "Take on Me".
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Daytime Heroes: Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion (1986)
Here's a toyetic cartoon that didn't quite make the grade.
Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion (to use the full title) launched as a toy line from Coleco in 1984. Marvel Comics acquired a license to produce a comic book in 1985, which lasted 8 bi-monthly issues. In the spring of 1986, Ruby-Spears, instead of Marvel, produced a 5-part miniseries that was supposed to lead to an ongoing series the following fall, but there was not a continuation to be had.
Never saw it, so there's no rating. We'll leave you with the open:
Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion (to use the full title) launched as a toy line from Coleco in 1984. Marvel Comics acquired a license to produce a comic book in 1985, which lasted 8 bi-monthly issues. In the spring of 1986, Ruby-Spears, instead of Marvel, produced a 5-part miniseries that was supposed to lead to an ongoing series the following fall, but there was not a continuation to be had.
Never saw it, so there's no rating. We'll leave you with the open:
Friday, February 3, 2017
Saturtainment: Quacula (1979)
Quacula was a backup feature in Filmation's New Adventures of Mighty Mouse & Heckle & Jeckle, which ran for 1 season on CBS in 1979. Actually, by the time the season ended, the series had been reduced to a half-hour. Why? Well, there's an explanation for that.
Animator and comics artist Scott Shaw! had created a vampire duck called Duckula three years earlier for a independent publisher, Star*Reach. When he saw that Quacula had a few too many similarities to his creation, Shaw! filed suit against Filmation. The matter was settled out of court, resulting in Quacula getting cancelled after all 16 episodes had aired. Those shorts had to be edited off subsequent rebroadcasts.
Frank Welker performs all the voices, except for Theodore Bear (co-executive producer Norm Prescott), forever scheming to evict Quacula and his egg-shaped coffin from the aging mansion they call home.
Up until now, English language versions of the shorts were hard to come by. One enterprising soul on YouTube put all 16 together (I believe), so binge to your heart's content, as the shorts add up to nearly 2 hours of comedy.
There are, of course, some flaws. For example, vampires don't cast reflections in mirrors or windows, and yet Quacula has a hand-held mirror he can use.
The British, of course, introduced us to Count Duckula a few years later, which was far more popular. I wonder if Shaw! had any issues with him.....
Rating: C.
Animator and comics artist Scott Shaw! had created a vampire duck called Duckula three years earlier for a independent publisher, Star*Reach. When he saw that Quacula had a few too many similarities to his creation, Shaw! filed suit against Filmation. The matter was settled out of court, resulting in Quacula getting cancelled after all 16 episodes had aired. Those shorts had to be edited off subsequent rebroadcasts.
Frank Welker performs all the voices, except for Theodore Bear (co-executive producer Norm Prescott), forever scheming to evict Quacula and his egg-shaped coffin from the aging mansion they call home.
Up until now, English language versions of the shorts were hard to come by. One enterprising soul on YouTube put all 16 together (I believe), so binge to your heart's content, as the shorts add up to nearly 2 hours of comedy.
There are, of course, some flaws. For example, vampires don't cast reflections in mirrors or windows, and yet Quacula has a hand-held mirror he can use.
The British, of course, introduced us to Count Duckula a few years later, which was far more popular. I wonder if Shaw! had any issues with him.....
Rating: C.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Personal Favorites: House of Tomorrow (1949)
From the warped imagination of Tex Avery comes the House of Tomorrow, which was released in 1949. Narrated by Frank Graham.
I wish Boomerang would play this and the rest of the ".....of Tomorrow" series.
Rating: A.
Kids were getting schooled on healthy eating in the 50's, too (1959)
Personal note. I went back to my alma mater the other night for a basketball game. After the junior varsity game ended, I meandered down to the cafeteria, which doubles as a concession stand during basketball season. I couldn't help but notice that they don't have soft drinks in the vending machines anymore. It's part of a growing movement to reduce childhood obesity and promote healthier eating. Instead of soda and sugary fruit juices (no diet sodas were present), the vending machines had water and Gatorade.
My point? The movement is a throwback to a simpler, happier time, when it was cool to promote complete, healthy, nutritious breakfasts.
Let's take a trip back in time to 1959. Oklahoma football coach Bud Wilkinson, later a color analyst for ABC after his coaching career ended, is plugging Quaker oatmeal. Mother's Oats is another Quaker brand.
My point? The movement is a throwback to a simpler, happier time, when it was cool to promote complete, healthy, nutritious breakfasts.
Let's take a trip back in time to 1959. Oklahoma football coach Bud Wilkinson, later a color analyst for ABC after his coaching career ended, is plugging Quaker oatmeal. Mother's Oats is another Quaker brand.
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