Coming Fall 1964: Jonny Quest File 037

 It is 1964, and Hanna-Barbera's foray into primetime television hasn't gone as strong as planned. Though The Flintstones was a smash hit, its follow-ups, The Jetsons and Top Cat, failed to gather an audience and were canceled after one season. Perhaps, the company thought, it was time to do something a bit different. A bit more adventurous, if you will. Enter Jonny Quest, or, as it was initially titled, Jonny Quest File 037.

In Quest, there were no wacky gags or talking animal sidekicks. It was an action-adventure story that saw its title character go up against robots, lizards, and all other kinds of strange beings. Instead of the quirky and warm designs of Dick Bickenbach, Doug Wildey gave the show a distinct, comic-book-esque art style. It was choices like these and more that made Jonny Quest instantly stand out from not only other Hanna-Barbera shows, but also early TV animation in general. As it was so different from anything else at the time, there was plenty of coverage on the show in the months leading to its release. Just take a look at this piece from the July 5th, 1964 edition of The El Dorado Times previewing the series. For me, the highlight of this piece has to be what Joe Barbera says won't be in the show. No offense to him, but I'm not sure he was watching the same show as the rest of us.

Television

By Cythia Lowry
AP Television-Radio Writer

    HOLLYWOOD (AP) - It's taken quite awhile, but the comic strip is finally coming to network television.
    The creators of "Yogi Bear" and "Huckleberry Hound," have now fathered a cartoon feature called Jonny Quest," which as a new ABC entry will be a combination of humor and adventure. It will depart radically from the usual cartoon approach in that the characters will be humans and drawn with an attention to style and detail reminiscent of the wartime "Terry and the Pirates," but with overtones of "Flash Gordon," "Prince Valiant" and "Tom Swift."
    A comic strip actually was tried several seasons back when an animated "Dick Tracy" was seen on some stations, but the new venture is much more sophisticated and elaborate.

    ABC will launch the series in a 7:30-8 p.m. Friday spot, now reserved on all networks for programs attractive to small fry.
    Joe Barbera who with partner Bill Hanna dreamed up the show, says that because it is expected the children will watch it avidly, there will be no mad scientists or two-headed monsters. Nor will there be shooting and other gory disposition of villains.