The Almost Jetsons

 We are all more than familiar with the cast of The Jetsons. Whether it's George O'Hanlon, Penny Singleton, Daws Butler, or someone else, just seeing their names will make us imagine their character and voice. But The Jetsons cast came very close to looking a lot different.

Below is a clip from the May 15th, 1962 edition of The San Francisco Examiner. The piece focuses on the cast of the series, but of the five names mentioned, only two would be heard in the finished series.

I'm sure most of you know Amsterdam and Carroll were the original choices for George and Jane Jetson, respectively. The pair recorded a single episode before being replaced. The reason for their departure has never been clear. Some have theorized it was due to a conflict with sponsors on another Amsterdam show, The Dick Van Dyke Show. Others feel the folks at Hanna-Barbera just weren't pleased with their performances. Whatever the reason was, the two were gone, and because they were contracted for twenty-four episodes, they soon fought back with a lawsuit. Hanna-Barbera would win the suit by 1965. Years later, Carroll would discuss the saga in an interview (which you should check out here). She described it bluntly as a "waste of everybody's time."

But what about Lucille Bliss? Like Carroll and Amsterdam, she was announced for the show, but was gone by the time the series premiered. Her involvement is much stranger. Bliss mentioned that she was cast as Elroy, but was to be billed as "Little Lou Bliss," as a young boy was wanted for the part. Her agent wasn't a fan of this idea, wanting her to be properly credited, and soon after that, she was fired. She had been involved in six weeks of recording sessions before leaving the show.

As you've probably noticed, the San Francisco Examiner piece does not mention a "Little Lou Bliss." Perhaps that idea was conceived at a later point? But even in that case, with the real story already being out, what would be the point in this story? Yowp covered this story on his blog years ago, and also noted a few discrepancies with her story. It could be she was thinking of another show, and had thought it was Jetsons instead, but that might create even more questions. 

On another note, it's interesting to see Howie Morris mentioned as being a regular cast member. While he was heard more often than not in the original series, I wouldn't describe any of his roles as a "regular." Maybe he was cast as another character early in production? Or, more likely, they were under the impression one of his characters would be a recurring role. 

And there's the "almost" Jetsons. While the cast we have is more than perfect, I do wonder what the show would have been like had it been with the originally announced cast. Would we still be discussing it today? Would it have been brought back two decades later? Your guess is as good as mine. 

A Spring Break Announcement

 After a particularly lengthy first two months, spring break is finally here. My workplace tends to get pretty busy around this time, so I'll be taking a week-long break from posting. I've also got some exciting posts planned to come out within the next two months, and I intend to finish those up. Posts will resume on the 31st, and then after that, "Boomer-April" begins. Yes, an entire month dedicated to everything Boomerang!

But that's enough about my life. I hope you all have a fantastic spring break. Until next week, I leave you with this amazing Flintstones thermos from 1962. You've gotta love Fred's reaction to those steaks! See you guys soon, and take care!

Video of the Week: Bigger Than The Average Soup!

 Yogi Bear's the star of this week's video once again, but this time, he's not selling loans or insurance. Instead, he's advertising Heinz Big Soup. This commercial was originally broadcast in 1978 and shows Yogi running off with the soup after scaring two campers away. Daws Butler and Don Messick return to voice their classic characters, and they also portray the campers. A charming commercial, and if we're being honest, probably one of the best things featuring Yogi to come out around this time. 

Catching Up with Arnold Stang

He did radio. His voice was heard in commercials. He appeared in numerous movies and TV shows. But we all know him best as the boss, the pip, and the championship, Top Cat. I'm discussing none other than the wonderfully talented Arnold Stang.

Today, I'm sharing a piece focusing on Stang that appeared in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on September 12th, 1983. At this point in Stang's career, he was beginning to step away from acting, though he would continue to appear in various roles until the 2000s. This piece allowed the reader to catch up with Stang, detailing several recent events in his life. We also get a great look at his early life and a look at his most famous roles, Top Cat included. Stang is a pure delight in this interview, so I definitely recommend you give it a read. 

As a minor note, Arnold is said to be fifty-five here. He was born in 1918 though, so he would have actually been ten years older. I'm assuming this was just one of those little errors that nobody caught. 

Where's Arnold Stang? Just listen to Top Cat

    By Dolores Barclay

    NEW YORK (AP) —Three decades ago, he was that skinny little guy with horn-rimmed glasses, bow tie and coveralls who endeared himself to millions of TV fans as Francis, the badgering stagehand on Milton Berle's "The Texaco Star Theater."
    Today, Arnold Stang is 55, still diminutive, and still fond of bowties. But the eyeglasses are more up-to-date and the high-pitched, nasal voice that made him famous is really softer and lower.
    "I know, you're looking for relics," says Stang, somewhat mystified that he's being interviewed. "It must be some sort of an archaeological dig, right?"
    Not quite.
    He's alive and well and living in Connecticut with his wife, JoAnne, and their two children, and going quietly about the business he started in 46 years ago. He may be a funny guy, but above all else, he's an actor.

    He recently did regional theater productions in Massachusetts of "Harvey" and "The Diary of Anne Frank."
    Stang also does voiceovers for television commercials, and has recorded the voice for the cartoon character Top Cat, the sassy, hipster of the feline set. "I prefer doing voiceovers because first of all, you don't get makeup on your collar and you don't get overexposed," Stang says.
    "I prefer radio to television," he says. "Radio depends on your intelligence. TV dinners really describe what television is."
    Still, he once enjoyed live television, appearing on such critically acclaimed dramatic series as "Playhouse 90," "Alcoa Presents," "Hallmark Television Playhouse" and "The U.S. Steel Hour."
    In film, he gave a first-rate performance as Sparrow, the street hustler in "Man With the Golden Arm."
    As a child growing up in Chelsea, Mass., Stang wanted to become a dramatic actor. When he was 9, he sent a penny postcard to "Horn and Hardart's Children's Hour," asking to be on the popular radio show. The response invited him to stop by for an audition the next time he was in New York.
    "The weekend later, I took money I had saved up to buy my mother and father an anniversary present and got on the bus and went to New York," he says. "I got lost a few times, but finally made it to the station. I recited Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' with gestures because I was going to be a SERIOUS actor. They cracked up and hired me."

Great Gazoo Day

 Today is St. Patrick's Day, and let us celebrate it the best way possible: By talking about the Great Gazoo. The original Scrappy Doo, Gazoo is a pretty infamous character among Flintstones fans, but in 2004, Cartoon Network gave him his own day.

That St. Patrick's Day, Cartoon Network hosted "Great Gazoo Day." It was a marathon that ran for five hours, consisting of Flintstones episodes with Gazoo and The Man Called Flintstone film. This was probably the last time that movie aired on the channel, and I imagine it was one of the last times they gave much attention to The Flintstones period. Only a few months later, Cartoon Network would rebrand and kick most of their older shows to Boomerang, Flintstones included.

Video of the Week: Portrait of a Cartoon Star

 Cartoon Network has hosted a lot of sweepstakes and giveaways, and in 1995, they allowed Quick Draw McGraw and Baba Looey to help out. Below is a commercial promoting their "Big Fridge" event, which urged viewers to draw artwork of their favorite cartoon characters and send it in. Several lucky artists would then get their art featured on the channel, and a prize pack of Crayola art supplies. It's not too bad of a deal if you ask me. I'll now let Quick Draw and Baba Looey take it from here.

Quick Draw McGraw Shakes Some Salt

Ever wanted Quick Draw McGraw and other Hanna-Barbera classics represented in the form of salt and pepper shakers? I doubt you've ever thought about that, but luckily enough, the people at Westland Giftware did. They gave us several sets focused on a variety of Hanna-Barbera shows, and today, I'll showcase some of my favorites. I don't know for sure when these were released, but given they were packaged with the generic Hanna-Barbera branding, I'd say sometime within the last twenty years.

The first ones I'll showcase are of Quick Draw McGraw. Somehow, he got two different releases. The first has one shaker depicting McGraw on his banjo, and another of Baba Looey looking annoyed. The second set contains both McGraw and a bandit in a classic showdown. Both sets are great, but I think I prefer the second one by a small margin.

Here are two more of the more interesting ones. The first was based on Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy. It's nothing too exciting, but you rarely see these two in more recent merch, so I can't complain that much. The second has both Snagglepuss and Huckleberry Hound. Both of these characters were featured in other sets, but you get both of them here. That I also can't complain about.

    

As I said, there were many of these sets produced. Far more than I was ever expecting. Perhaps in the future I'll show them all off. But for now, revel in Snagglepuss, Quick Draw, and the rest in all their salty glory. 

10 More Oddball Hanna-Barbera Home Video Releases

 Back in November, I put together a post cataloguing ten of the strangest releases of the Hanna-Barbera cartoons on home video. What I wasn't expecting when I did that was the reaction. Currently, it is one of the most viewed posts on this blog. It sounds like you guys are as interested in these oddities as I am, and so today, I'm back with ten more of 'em. 

This time around, I'm pulling back my rules. Unlike last time, I will be considering stuff like foreign and promotional releases. There's some interesting stuff there, and I can't wait to share some of it. From strange compilations to screener copies, here are ten more oddball Hanna-Barbera home video releases.

1. Cartoon Network: Classic Capers (VHS, 1992)

The first release I'm covering today, this is also the first tape to bear the Cartoon Network name. Classic Capers was released shortly before the Cartoon Network launched, and acts as a preview for everything the channel would feature. The content is nothing new, but it's an intriguing release for both Cartoon Network and Hanna-Barbera. It's also quite rare. I've never seen a copy for sale online, so I can only imagine how much one would go for.

2. Spice Toons (VHS, 1997)

Here's a release from the United Kingdom. Not exactly surprising, considering the name is an obvious shout-out to the Spice Girls. The content is again nothing you haven't seen before, but it is an odd ensemble. There are some obvious picks like Scooby-Doo and Penelope Pitstop, but then you have The Addams Family and the Flintstones I Yabba Dabba Doo! special.  It's a strange hodgepodge of cartoons released across three decades named after a nineties pop group. It doesn't get much weirder than that. 

3. Bedrockin' and Rappin' (VHS, 1991)

The last time I looked at odd HB releases, included among them was HB-TV, a series of tapes featuring cartoons set to popular music of the eighties. When the nineties began and rap music skyrocketed in popularity, they decided again to cash in with this thirty-minute release. However, rather than using existing rap songs, we were instead treated to (and I use that word very loosely) new songs about the Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, and more. What more do I need to say? It's "how do you do, fellow kids?" at its finest.

4. Flintstones Ceiling Fan with VHS (VHS, 1994)

Yes, you read that right. What goes better with an all-new ceiling fan than a VHS tape? This was released in 1994, right around the time the live-action film was released, and was one of the many items that launched with it. The tape included is a simple repackage of the Flintstones tapes available then, though the selection varied between sets. The fan itself looks nice, but I'm not sure how many people were asking for one with Fred, Wilma, and Pebbles adorning it. But if you are one of those people, this is the set for you!

5. Jonny Quest Screener Set (VHS, 1996)

Out of all the releases I'm covering today, this one might have the coolest presentation. To promote their 1996 Jonny Quest VHS releases, Cartoon Network sent out this kit to retailers. Included in this nice briefcase are a screener VHS, a wrist watch, a cassette, and a flyer detailing the campaign. There's also a communications device and binoculars, though those are merely pieces of artwork. Even though this wasn't made available for general audiences, this has still got to be one of the coolest VHS sets I've ever seen. Just goes to show you how much Cartoon Network and Hanna-Barbera were pushing Quest in the late nineties. 

6. Boomerang Promotional Tapes (VHS, 2000)

We just looked at a VHS tape contained in a case, but how about one in a lunch box? These promotional sets launched in 2000 to advertise the Boomerang channel. The box is adorned with photos of the vintage toys seen on the network's bumpers, and contains three tapes: "A Taste of Boomerang," "Boomeraction," and "Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!" What's really odd is that, as far as I know, this was the only time the Yogi Bear feature film was released on VHS in the states. So if you for some reason really want a VHS copy of that movie, it's gonna cost you a bit. Like the previous entry, this is a very well done promotional item, and if you do have one of these, I most certainly envy you.

7. The Hour Warner Volume 2 (DVD, 2007)

WB has done many cartoon compilation releases over the years, but over in Spain, they got perhaps the strangest of them all. The second volume of "The Hour Warner" features obvious picks like Tom and Jerry and The Flintstones, but then there's Baby Looney Tunes and Loonatics Unleashed, of all things. And, just for good measure, The Flintstones Kids is here as well. A very peculiar selection, but if you ever wanted a DVD that had both Tom and Jerry and Loonatics, well, here you go! 

8. The Flintstones: On The Rocks Emmy Screener (VHS, 2001)

Perhaps one of the most infamous Flintstones specials, On The Rocks is notable for many reasons. One of them is that it's never been released on home video. There were plans for a DVD release, but that fell through after the special's mixed reception. That being said, we did at least get this Emmy screener tape. Almost 25 years later, this is still the only time the special has been available outside of Cartoon Network recordings. This is another I haven't ever seen an auction for, but I'm sure it fetches a pretty penny considering its cult status. So, unless the Warner Archive folks decide to put this on Blu-Ray, this is your next best option.

9. Scooby-Doo: Your Cartoon Friends! (DVD, 2011)

Here is an odd release of four What's New Scooby-Doo? episodes from Italy. The packaging might make you think this includes other WB toons, but alas, that is not the case, though these characters did get installments in this series. All you get are the aforementioned four episodes. Definitely an unusual choice, as a DVD could have easily held more. The presentation is also pretty unique, leaning heavily into the "friends" motif by having it look like a Facebook profile. With its refreshing design and weird selection, this one I felt had to be featured here.

10. Flintstones Cartoon Network Gift Set (VHS, 1999)

This last choice isn't the strangest here, but it is definitely the most obscure. It pops up on eBay from time to time, almost always around $800. This set celebrates The Flintstones, featuring five specials across their forty-year history. The presentation is slick and clean, with each tape representing one of the show's core characters. These specials have been sold on tape before, but it's cool that they gave this set some extra effort instead of simply repackaging those older copies. What really makes this bizarre is nobody seems to know where it came from. It seems likely it was part of some kind of sweepstakes Cartoon Network did, but I haven't found anything referencing it. Wherever it came from, it's a great collection, and as one of the last times anything Flintstones was released on VHS, it serves as a terrific farewell to the format.

And that's ten more weird Hanna-Barbera releases! But before I go, I have a tiny bonus to share. Say you bought everything I've shown here. The first thing I'd wonder is how much money you have to burn. Secondly, where are you going to put all of this? Well, this Flintstones VHS shelf has got you covered. Until you run out of space, of course.

The Wacky Racers Arrive on Blu-Ray

 Another month, and another Hanna-Barbera title makes its way to Blu-Ray. Yesterday, WB announced that the original Wacky Races will be coming to Blu-Ray April 29th. Like the other Hanna-Barbera Blu-Ray releases, it will be based off 4K scans of the original negatives. The show will be spread across two discs as well. At the moment, we don't know what extras will be included, but I'm willing to bet they will simply carry over the special features from prior DVD releases.

Out of all the Hanna-Barbera shows announced for Blu-Ray recently, this one was definitely not a shock. Wacky Races has been airing in all its restored glory since MeTV Toons launched last June, so it was only a matter of time before it would come to Blu-Ray. It's a little disappointing that they didn't go ahead and package this series with its spin-offs, but it's no dealbreaker, at least for me. Wacky Races is probably my favorite Hanna-Barbera series from the late sixties, so I'm excited for this one. Hopefully after this release, they'll start to fill in some of the gaps from their early catalog. 

Video of the Week: Space Ghost on C-SPAN

 He's fought all manner of outer space villainy, but today, Space Ghost faces a new enemy: C-SPAN! 

Today's video comes from 1995, and features Space Ghost being interviewed on C-SPAN. This was at that year's National Cable Television Association Show, and was just one of the many times George Lowe donned the Space Ghost costume to promote Coast to Coast. In this two-minute clip, Space Ghost discusses his work, life before getting a talk show, and his relationships with other superheroes. A pretty entertaining clip, and proof that Lowe was just as funny in person as he was behind a mic. 

George Lowe Remembered

 Few can say they've ever portrayed a late-night talk show host or a superhero. George Lowe, however, managed to do both at the same time. His portrayal of Space Ghost in Space Ghost: Coast to Coast practically usurped the 1960s version of the character's place in pop culture. To many, especially those who watched Cartoon Network and Adult Swim throughout the 90s and 2000s, he is Space Ghost. That's not something you see everyday.

It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that the great George Lowe has passed away. He was 67 years old, and had been ill for some time. He passed on Sunday, but the news was broken by several friends yesterday morning. 

Lowe knew that he had a great voice even at a young age. During high school, he worked at a Florida radio station. In the late 80s, he got a gig doing voiceover work for Turner, with his voice being heard in promos for TBS and other Turner networks. In 1994, he was cast as Space Ghost in Space Ghost: Coast to Coast. The role was originally portrayed by Gary Owens, but Lowe gave the character a sense of weirdness and cynicism that was needed for this version. While Coast to Coast was full of talented people behind the scenes, Lowe really was the star of the whole show.

After Space Ghost, Lowe would appear in many Adult Swim series. He was heard in Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Robot Chicken, and Squidbillies, to name a few. If Adult Swim were to have ever had a "voice," it would have to be Lowe's. His most enduring character, though, was undoubtedly Tad Ghostal. He voiced the character beyond Coast to Coast, including appearances in The Brak Show and Perfect Hair Forever. Fittingly enough, his last performance was as Space Ghost in a 2024 episode of Jellystone!. Though I have mixed feelings on that show, it was undeniably great to hear him as the character one more time.

To say George Lowe will be missed is an understatement. As I said before, his voice is practically synonymous with the early years of both Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. If you watched those channels during that period, you've heard his voice. He was a talented actor with a memorable voice, and from all accounts I've heard, was a true class-act. May he rest in peace, and I send the best of wishes to his family and friends.

What Radio Needs is More Alan Reeds

 Alan Reed wasn't a cartoon voiceover legend when he was cast in The Flintstones. However, he knew a thing or two about creating a character with your voice. Having thirty years of experience in radio will do that.

Though Alan had a long career across animation, TV, and the silver screen, it was radio where he made a name for himself. He played many characters across many programs, and no doubt it played a large part in his later casting as Fred Flintstone. Today, I'm sharing a look at Reed's career that was presented in the July 23rd, 1967 edition of the Los Angeles Times. Even though this was after The Flintstones ended production, there's almost no mention of the show. The focus is mostly on his radio work. A great piece overall, and it's complemented with some great shots of Reed as his radio characters.

Reed-Radio's One-Man Talent Gang

By Don Page

    His 45 years in show business are imbued in the face. It has become a composite caricature of all the characters Alan Reed has played—from Falstaff to Fred Flintstone.
    Reposing with his son, Al, in a corner booth at the Hollywood Brown Derby, with a hundred sketches of stars as a backdrop, Alan had come to lament the passing of radio as he knew and loved it.
    He shook his head. "Radio was more than a damn good living to a lot of people," he said. "It was a labor of love."
    Soulfully and wistfully, Alan has hopes of a return of radio drama. He would like to form a stock company, as he is convinced there are numerous old-guard radio performers who would eagerly work for scale on such a project.
    "We can't kid ourselves that we'd be a threat to TV," he reasoned, "but we could entertain. There are a lot of scripts available without any rights attached. But money is the big thing—you've got to have backing and sponsors."
    The thought aborted when the conversation somehow drifted to today's conversation radio, the molar-to-molar marathon.
    "Ohhh," he muttered, "this two-way stuff's not entertainment. So much depends on the one person calling. If he doesn't have quality it won't come off. So many of the callers flub it. I don't like it," he added with annoyance.
    Then, the wonderful face became animated and it glowed warmly as he was asked to trace his career and tell some anecdotes about the old radio days. 
    Perhaps his most famous radio role was the screwy poet Falstaff on the Fred Allen Show. He offered a Falstaffian sample: "Parachutists who must practice, must never do it over cactus."
    He was Pasquale in the Life With Luigi series, the original Daddy on Baby Snooks, Joe Palooka and literally thousands of other voices for which he could not claim credit, as he often performed in 35 shows a week and, with conflicting sponsorship, was not allowed identification on more than one program.
    Alan Reed's first radio role was in the late 20s. He was turned down for a tough gangster part on True Detective Mysteries because he was too young.
    "I knew I could get the part. I left the audition, went to a phone and got the producer on the line and threatened him: 'Look, you, I'm a real hoodlum, see, and you're going to use me in your show or I'm takin' you for a ride."
    Impressed, the producer hired him and Reed was on his way.
    Reed has been featured in many television cartoons as well as dramatic shows. He prepared for television as early as 1931, when he participated in an experimental telecast for all of New York's 15 eyeglass-size receivers.
    "We did a comedy bit in '31 at the old Columbia Broadcasting building. Three of us had to squeeze together, head to head, to be seen on the screen. It was a wonderful thing, though, because I met my wife that day. She did a singing bit on the telecast from another room and I asked to meet her afterward. She was wearing green make-up with brown lips, a lovely girl. We were married six months later."
    Alan's vocal ability saved more than one show over the years. In another throbbing edition of True Detective Mysteries, he was playing a tough Irish police captain, supported by an 80-year-old actor from the Abbey Players of Ireland. When the scene came where the gangsters opened fire on the pair, the old gentleman was frightened by the sound effects and fainted.
    "I finished the show playing both parts," Alan recalled
    Alan Reed Jr. joined his father in show business in the 40s, appearing on the Baby Snooks series, and they have alternated as co-stars on various dramatic vehicles ever since. (Currently, Alan Sr. is featured in the play "Barefoot in the Park" at the Las Palmas Theater co-starring and co-produced by Alan Jr.)
    The last regular radio show in which Alan Reed starred was My Friend Irma. After its cancellation, he moved to television with Life With Luigi.
    "But there are many ageless things we can do again on radio," he insisted. "As long as TV guides the programming to appeal to the 12-year-old mind, we can do something with radio.
    "In fact, I'm looking for a way to bring back the Falstaff character in 'Falstaff's Fables.' I own the character and most of the material, you know."

Before I sign off, here's a pretty cool photo of Alan Reed alongside Joe Barbera and Mel Blanc. This was taken around '71, right as recording sessions began on The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show. Reed was gifted a plaque congratulating him for fifty years in the entertainment industry. A great gift for a great talent!