10 Hanna-Barbera Myths, Rumors, and Fan-Theories Debunked

 As crazy as it may sound to some, the characters and shows of Hanna-Barbera Productions have been around for over sixty-five years. When you've been around for that long, rumors and urban legends are bound to pop up, and plenty have been centered around the studio that Bill and Joe built. As a matter of fact, some of the myths regarding their shows were partially created by them! So, without further introduction, here are ten that I will bust wide open! I'd also like to give a huge thank you to the members of the Cartoon Research on Facebook, who were nothing but helpful in putting this post together. If researching cartoons is your jam and you're active on FB, join the group. You'll be glad you did!

1. Hanna-Barbera was the first television animation studio

False! The very first cartoon series made for TV (pictured above) was Crusader Rabbit, co-created by Jay Ward, who you likely know for shows like Rocky and Bullwinkle. The series premiered in 1950, seventeen years before Hanna-Barbera's first series launched. Beyond that, there was also Colonel Bleep, which was the first color animated series. It premiered in September of 1957, three months before Hanna-Barbera began their TV empire with Ruff and Reddy. There were other cartoons that aired on TV before HB opened their doors, but it is easy to see why many believe them to be the first. Their early shows were far more popular than any of the aforementioned shows, so history has cemented them as being the first to do it. It's not unlike how many label Disney's Snow White as the first animated feature, even though most animation researchers know that is not the case.

2. Scooby-Doo was created by Joe Barbera and Bill Hanna

Most people who are well versed in the world of Hanna-Barbera already know this one to not be true, but for a lot of casual watchers, if you ask them who created Scooby-Doo, they will say Joe Barbera and Bill Hanna, or "the guys who created Tom & Jerry and The Flintstones." This, however, is not the case. The series was created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, who later founded the animation studio Ruby-Spears. The characters themselves were designed by longtime Hanna-Barbera artist Iwao Takamoto. This is another one where I understand where it comes from. Scooby-Doo was a Hanna-Barbera property, so why would they not be created by the men the studio was named after? It doesn't help that lots of press and marketing materials referenced them as the creators of the franchise when in reality, they only came up with a very rough idea before passing it down to Ruby and Spears.

3. George Jetson was born on July 31st, 2022

The first fan theory I'm debunking here, this is one I've actually discussed before (check that post out here), so I won't waste too much time on it today. To make a long story short, there is no evidence in any Jetsons media that points to Mr. J being born on any date in 2022, much less July 31st. I'd also like to mention that this meme went viral because it's mentioned on his Wikipedia page. Surely you remember your teachers telling you that anyone can edit anything there?

4. Huckleberry Hound's voice was inspired by Andy Griffith

This is one I've seen from time to time, and it's one that always bugs me. While comedy actor Andy Griffith and Huckleberry Hound definitely sound similar, it would be incorrect to say that Huck was inspired by him. Huckleberry's voice actor, Daws Butler, says the voice came from a veterinarian who lived next door to his wife. Daws was also doing the voice several years before Andy Griffith rose to stardom, adding another hole to this story.

5. Bill and Joe had no plans after MGM's animation unit closed

This is one that Bill and Joe would often mention in interviews, but reality tells a different story. Their first series, Ruff and Reddy, was already being worked on while the two were still employed at MGM. William Hanna had also taken a trip to Jay Ward's studio to get an understanding of how to develop animation for television, which again, happened while he was still with MGM. While I'm sure the two were distraught when the unit finally did shut down, it seems safe to say that they saw the writing on the wall for quite some time. I also wouldn't say they were necessarily lying about having no plans. Rather, I'd say this was more them embellishing their careers than anything else.

6. Hanna-Barbera originated the repeating background trope

One of the most famous (or, infamous, depending on who you're talking to) tropes found in Hanna-Barbera cartoons is that of the repeating background. If you've seen even only a few of their shows, you know what I'm talking about here. While they were the studio that became most known for using the technique, they certainly were not the first. It wasn't uncommon to see the technique in classic theatrical cartoons, like those done by Fleischer. The reason why this one is more pinned on HB than any of those studios is, I feel, rather obvious. It's a lot easier to notice a repeating background in a half-hour cartoon that repeats on TV than it is in a theatrical short that you'd only see once.

7. Bea Benaderet left the cast of The Flintstones to focus on Petticoat Junction

In the first four seasons of The Flintstones, the character of Betty Rubble was portrayed by Bea Benaderet. In the last two seasons, she was voiced by Gerry Johnson. Why the switch-up? Most say it was due to scheduling conflicts Benaderet had with a show titled Petticoat Junction, a live-action sitcom that was her first starring role. On the surface, this does sound believable. Petticoat premiered the same fall as the last season of The Flintstones where Benaderet voiced Betty, and it has been reported that she had some trouble arriving to voice-over sessions due to scheduling conflicts. She'd often have to record late at night, separately from the other actors. However, the decision to leave the series wasn't hers. According to the late Earl Kress on an episode of Stu's Show, Hanna-Barbera just stopped calling her to the sessions one day, and replaced her with newcomer Gerry Johson. Bea only learned of this later on, and to put it mildly, wasn't exactly pleased. Had she had things her way, she would have had no issue continuing to play Betty, but the top brass at Hanna-Barbera didn't seem to be as patient as her, unfortunately.

8. The Flintstones take place at the same time as The Jetsons

Another fan theory, this is one that really grinds my gears. And before I get into it, I won't be looking at The Jetsons Meet The Flintstones film for reference, as I don't consider it canon to either show for reasons I'll be getting into (and yes, I do realize canon isn't really much of a thing to Hanna-Barbera cartoons). This theory states that the stone-age and space-age families co-exist, with the inhabitants of Bedrock actually being the people we see on the ground, as we never see below the sky in The Jetsons. The thing is, though, we do! The above image is taken from the season one episode "The Flying Suit", which showcases a person walking on the ground. Beyond that, there are also a few references to The Flintstones in The Jetsons, and all of them depict The Flintstones as a show that exists within their universe (the main reason I don't consider the crossover canon). Thus, we can chalk this up as another one of those grimdark cartoon theories that I could gladly live without. Besides, this theory doesn't even address the other HB characters featured in either series, like Yogi Bear. Come on, answer the real questions!

9. Scooby-Doo's name is a reference to a Frank Sinatra song

Fred Silverman, a legendary TV producer who helped bring many series to life, including Scooby-Doo, stated in the past that he came up with the character's name from the Sinatra song "Strangers in the Night." However, I have reason to believe this isn't the case, and not just because the lyric Silverman is talking about is actually "Dooby dooby doo". For one, another series that Silverman was involved with, The Archie Show, featured the name Scooby Doo in a song (or, to be more accurate, "Skooby Doo"). The phrase was also commonly found in Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Barney often said it in The Flintstones, and the Moby Dick series featured a character named Scooby. So, while it isn't out of the question that Silverman got the name from the aforementioned Sinatra song, I think it's far more likely it came from one of the other discussed sources.

10. Ted Turner was personally responsible for SWAT Kats' cancellation

This is one I hear often online, and was actually reminded of after I interviewed Fred Seibert. Whenever SWAT Kats is brought up online, you'll often hear something along the lines of "What a great show! Too bad Ted Turner had to go and cancel it". The story goes that Mr. Turner wasn't a fan of the violence presented in the show, and worried that kids would imitate it. Because of this, he canceled the show, and also prevented merchandise from being developed for the series, which would've definitely helped the show grow in popularity. It's a well-known fact that Ted doesn't like excessive violence in media, and not helping matters was an interview he gave shortly after the show was canceled, where he critiqued violence in cartoons. However, according to the show's creators, Turner was talking more about shows like Beavis and Butthead, and not the fantastical violence seen in SWAT Kats. They've even stated that Ted was nothing but supportive of the show, and realistically, why wouldn't he have been? It was one of the very first shows Hanna-Barbera produced after the Turner acquisition, so why would he try to sabotage a studio he had just purchased? Ted might not have liked violence, but he was a businessman at the end of the day. The show was canceled because it wasn't successful, the same reason most cartoons are canceled. That's the truth of the matter, nothing more, and nothing less.

I hope you've all enjoyed this piece. I originally wanted to get this out earlier in the month, but work has been murder, so I haven't gotten the time I need to put this one together until this week. And before anyone comments about other myths or rumors, believe me when I say I know there are others that I didn't touch on here. Maybe I'll look at another ten some other day, but for now, I think I've done enough myth-busting!