TC and Officer Dibble Get Stuffed

 Top Cat's anniversary was this weekend, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to post a little something in honor of one of my favorite HB shows. That "little something" is these two stuffed dolls created for the show by Ideal Toys. They represent Top Cat and Officer Dibble; as far as I'm aware, none of the other cats were made into dolls. Pretty odd that they decided to make Dibble, as he's by far the least represented Top Cat character in merchandise (the only other time I've seen a Dibble toy was in Marx's TV Tinykins line). Though these seem a lot rarer than other items Ideal Toys put out for the Hanna-Barbera shows, they still retain the same charm and cool factor of those earlier toys. Check 'em out below!

Video of the Week: The Women of Hanna-Barbera Use Dove

 For this week's video, I've decided to go with one that I think many of you will remember seeing back in the day. From the long-forgotten world of 2005 comes this commercial for Dove products featuring Wilma Flintstone, Jane Jetson, and Velma Dinkley. A pretty charming commercial, and one I still see people mention from time to time.

While I'm here, I thought I'd also go ahead and discuss the print campaign that was running simultaneously with this commercial. These aren't anything too special, just a side-by-side of the before and afters from the video, but I'm sure someone would've mentioned them if I did not. Interestingly, Marge from The Simpsons was also shown in this campaign, but not in the TV ad. I imagine that came down to licensing issues, but I can't say for certain.

Jetsons Questions and Answers with Joe Barbera

 I'm not through discussing the 1980s Jetsons revival just yet. I figured it was only right to cap off this "trilogy" of posts by going back to the beginning of the 1985 Jetsons episodes—or, the first time audiences were made aware of the episodes being made, at least.

Below is a Q&A session featuring Joe Barbera that appeared in newspapers throughout December 1984. Inside, readers got their first idea of what the new episodes would feature, and what would be retained from the original series.

'Jetsons' Creator Joseph Barbera

     "Meet George Jetson...Jane, his wife...daughter Judy...their boy, Elroy." So began the theme song of "The Jetsons," one of the most beloved TV cartoons. The show, which ran from 1962-63, portrayed the Jetson family, an average 21st-century clan, who lived in the Sky Pad Apartments and were waited on hand and foot by Rosie, their robot maid.

    "The Jetsons" were created by Joseph Barbera, 73, who, with his partner William Hanna, also developed such animated characters as Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound and the Flintstones gang. Although "The Jetsons" aired for only one year, the original 24 episodes are still running in syndication. Forty-one new episodes are now being produced for broadcast in the fall of 1985. Here, Barbera discusses cartoons—both then and now.

    Q: Why were "The Jetsons" created?
    A. After the success of "The Flintstones," which portrayed families living in the Stone Age, the next logical step was to develop a family of the future. "The Flintstones" aired for six years, but "The Jetsons" only lasted a year. The problem was that it was positioned at 7:30 on Sunday nights against "Dennis the Menace" and "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color," two other family-oriented programs, and the three shows split the time period evenly. But even though "The Jetsons" was on only one season, it has been airing in reruns ever since.

    Q. Why are "The Jetsons" coming back now?
    A. One reason is a new element in the industry: Syndicated packages of animation that air five days a week. "The Jetsons" were seen as a good candidate for this kind of package by both our own company and by the syndicator. The other reason is that "The Jetsons," after all these years, really have developed a cult following—even though we only made 24 half-hour shows. The product holds up well.

    Q. What will the new shows be like?
    A. We're moving forward another 20 years...projecting new inventions, new gadgets, and new ways of living in the future. We have to think up new gadgets because if you look back at the originals, many things we projected in 1962 have now become commonplace, things like computers, robots, and automated food dispensers.

    Q. Will there be any new characters?
    A. We're introducing one new character. He's called Orbitty, and he's charming and lovable. But the rest is a secret. By the way, we're not going to change the theme song-that's too much a part of the show.

    Q. Will George still be working for Spacely Sprockets?
    A. Of course. In one new episode, because of a goof-up, he's sent to another branch of the company, which is located in the equivalent of outer space's Outer Mongolia. Cosmo Spacely (his boss) tells him you can be friends with the people who live there. George says the only trouble is that the people there are invisible.

    Q. Will Jane be working? The idea of a woman who's just a housewife may not be as acceptable today as it was in 1962.
    A. I think we should try that—at least for one story.

    Q. "The Jetsons" originally aired as a prime-time cartoon. Would that concept work today?
    A. Probably not. There's a built-in resistance from the networks to cartoons in prime time, but I'm patient that they will come back—especially when you look at what's on prime time now.

The Odd Odyssey of Orbitty

 It's a tale as old as time. A show's getting long in the tooth, so what do they do to breathe new life into it? Add a new character, obviously! While it's been done time and time again, Hanna-Barbera may have been the masters of this tactic. When Scooby-Doo needed new blood, along came Scrappy. The Flintstones cast grew more and more with each new season. And when The Jetsons came back in 1985, a new member was added to the family. That was the alien Orbitty. 

Orbitty's story starts with none other than Joe Barbera. When the decision was made to bring the show back, Barbera felt a new character was needed to pique kids' interest. It's a strange idea, considering the entire reason the show returned was that the original episodes remained popular. However, this is Joe Barbera we're talking about. Barbera saw the success of Steven Spielberg's E.T., and urged the crew to create a similar character. You can tell E.T.'s design definitely had an impact on Orbitty's, as both characters have a pretty similar head shape. Like many of the HB characters, Orbitty was designed by Iwao Takamoto. Frank Welker, a Hanna-Barbera regular and a master vocal artist, portrayed the character.

As you can imagine, adding a new character to such an iconic cast wasn't the most well-received idea. Many on the show disliked Orbitty and pushed back against Barbera's request. Their pleas ultimately fell on deaf ears, but they still found ways to make their displeasure known. The writers on the show often wrote in scenes where Orbitty was roughed up. The artists, including a young John K., were more than happy to bring these moments to life. Check out this drawing for an episode John did, featuring Astro using the little alien as a handkerchief. 

Orbitty made his debut to audiences in the first episode of the 1980s Jetsons series, "Elroy Meets Orbitty". Part E.T., part mood ring, and part spring, he became a major part of the 1985 episodes. Alongside the show, Orbitty had a major presence in Jetsons merchandise released around this time. He was turned into a plush doll, a night light, and even appeared with the rest of the family in a Jetsons board game (seen below). Clearly, the Hanna-Barbera bigwigs had high hopes for Orbitty. Did the gamble pay off?

Your mileage may vary, but if you ask me, I'd say "no". While I'm sure Orbitty had his fans both then and now, it's clear that most feel about the character the same way the crew did. Many saw him as an unnecessary addition, a character who existed only to sell toys. Others were turned away by his personality, design, and voice. He never truly felt like he "fit" the Jetsons family and world. It didn't help that he was characterized as little more than another Astro. For as much flak as Scrappy-Doo gets, you can't deny he was different from the other characters. Practically everything Orbitty offered was done better with Astro in the original episodes. 

If the fan reaction to Orbitty wasn't enough of a sign that people didn't latch on to the character, take a quick look at the 1987 episodes. Of the ten episodes produced, Orbitty only appeared in one. Orbitty was also MIA in the two Jetsons TV movies, as well as the 1990 feature film. If the character landed with audiences, surely he'd have stuck around for those, wouldn't you think? 

In the end, Orbitty left The Jetsons as quickly as he entered. He's had a couple of cameos in shows like Harvey Birdman and Jellystone!, but little else. Really, Orbitty was just too generic to have much of either a fanbase or an angry mob. Referring to Scrappy once again, as disliked as he is, he had a genuine personality. The same goes for someone like the Great Gazoo. Can anyone genuinely tell me what Orbitty's personality was supposed to be? He was arguably the most transparent attempt Hanna-Barbera ever made at a new character in an old property, and his legacy (or lack thereof) is proof of that.

But now, I open the floor to you. Do I have any secret Orbitty stans among my readers? Or if you did dislike him, was it for the reasons I mentioned, or something entirely different? 

Video of the Week: 1980's Jetsons TV Promos

 This month will mark the fortieth anniversary of the Jetsons revival from the 1980s. I've discussed these episodes and my indifference towards them before (check out this post if you're interested), but I wanted to share something here in honor of one of the first genuine cartoon revivals. 

Below are two promos that aired on TV stations in 1985, hyping up the return of The Jetsons. Both make sure to mention the show's new character, Orbitty, who I'll be talking about in a post next week. I also love that, while they mention George getting powers and Elroy finding a new friend, the most exciting thing they could discuss for Jane was her grabbing lunch. How exciting!

Shaking Hands with Tony the Tiger

 Here's a neat find I came across recently. Everyone here knows the history between Kellogg's Cereal and Hanna-Barbera. But how many of you are aware of this great illustration commissioned by Kellogg's in honor of Hanna-Barbera's 20th anniversary?

This ad, showcasing Yogi and Tony the Tiger shaking hands, appeared in Variety and other Hollywood trades during the Summer of 1977. It unfortunately doesn't look like there's any info on who did this artwork, but considering it came out of Kellogg's, I imagine it wasn't anyone from HB.

As a bonus, here's another great piece I came across, also related to the Kellogg's partnership. This is a postcard from the company released during the 1960s. It's got a fun blend of Kellogg's characters and HB ones, including once again both Tony the Tiger and Yogi Bear.

 If you're wondering who the mouse fellow is, that's Sugar Pops Pete. The elephant is Coco, who represented Cocoa Krispies for a time. Funnily enough, his successor was none other than Snagglepuss. You know, Snagglepuss doesn't strike me as the type who likes chocolate cereal, but I'm no Kellogg's or Hanna-Barbera executive. 

Bill and Joe Enter the TV Hall of Fame

 If there was one thing Joe Barbera and Bill Hanna earned a lot of, it was awards. Throughout their career, the pair achieved awards from the Academy, the Emmys, the Annies, and many more. Unfortunately, there isn't exactly a wealth of footage of many of these ceremonies, but I came across one over the summer that I think you will enjoy. 

This video is of Bill and Joe's induction into the Television Hall of Fame. This was back in 1994, the tenth year since the ceremony's inception. Others inducted were Alan Alda, Oprah Winfrey, and Barry Diller. It's a short segment, but it does a great job running through the careers of both men, complete with some great photos that I don't think have been seen anywhere but here. You've also got appearances from actress Shari Belafonte, Ted Turner, and all the way from Bedrock, Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble. Give the video a watch over at the Television Academy website. 

It's Really Don

 Tomorrow marks 99 years since voice-acting titan Don Messick was born. My favorite voice actor of the Hanna-Barbera family, I had to have something here to mark the occasion, and I think I came across quite a find.

Below is a piece on Messick that ran in the February 1st, 1972 edition of the Santa Barbara News Press. The focus is primarily on Messick's animation work, but there are also some great details about his early forays into acting here, too. It's a short but sweet piece, and even comes with a nice illustration of Messick, shown alongside those he brought to life. And for what it's worth, this is probably the only time you'll see him discuss the character of Schleprock from The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show.

Pixie or Boo Boo...It's Really Don

By Mary Every

    Firing off his vast repertoire of voices, Don Messick catapults a listener back to bed on that Saturday morning when...
    The TV last heard in the depths of the night was in the middle of a late, late show.
    Then, suddenly in bright morn, it is emitting the yips and yaps of animated little creatures.
    And the first impulse of the awakened adult is to turn the damned thing off.
   

 Forget it, though, if there are little ones wrapped up in that television make-believe world. And don't spoil their fun by telling them that Flippopotamus and Schleprock are really a man named Don Messick who lives right here in Santa Barbara.
    The two cartoon characters are among the latest roles for Messick, a voice-over artist who commutes to auditions and work in Los Angeles from his home at 63 Humphrey Rd. They are viewed simultaneously on different networks at 10 A.M. Saturday in the "Curiosity Shop" and "Pebbles and Bamm Bamm" shows.
    Flippopotamus, as described by Messick with appropriate inflection, is a "swingin, real cool hippo" and Schleprock, again with appropriate inflection, "is a teenager, but kind of a bad luck omen, walks around with a black cloud over his head."
    The "Pebbles and Bamm Bamm" series, noted Messick, is an outgrowth of the "Flintstones" series, the first and longest-running cartoon show on TV prime time.
    

Among Messick's favorite characters have been Boo Boo on "Yogi Bear," Muttley, the snickering hound on "Dick Dastardly," and Dr. Benton Quest on "Jonny Quest."
    Other versions of his voice have been attached to Ranger Smith, Scooby-Doo, Ruff and Professor Gismo in "Ruff 'N' Reddy," Pixie Mouse on "Huckleberry Hound," a little monkey called So So, and a dog with a bit of an Irish accent on "Dr. Doolittle."
    Recently, Messick did some voice work on a feature-length animated film, "Charlotte's Web," to be released in April. The film features the voices of well-known film stars, such as Debbie Reynolds, who does Charlotte. Messick does Jeffrey, a little gosling.
    Something many people don't realize, said Messick, is that in film cartoons, "the voice track is done first, and then the cartoons are animated. The animators draw characters according to the voice. We are shown a storyboard of the episode, a sort of roughed-out comic strip of the main action and attitudes of the characters."
   

 About his rather unique profession, he noted that "compared to other types of performers, it is a rather restricted field." He has also done commercials for television and some radio spots.
    "I may be called at any time for an interview regarding commercials or a new cartoon series, and am required to be in Los Angeles at a moment's notice," said Messick. "In fact, I have driven to LA for interviews twice in one day."
    He explained his work as applying human characteristics and voices to animals, noting that "I don't do impersonations—period. I like to think of myself as a vocal quick-change artist."
    Most of his cartoon series work has been for Hanna-Barbera productions, and it started with three different voices in "Ruff 'N' Reddy" in 1958. 
    Messick fell into his field in both a natural and flukish sort of way.

   

 "I was always interested in acting," he said. "When my voice changed when I was about 12 1/2, I discovered I had two voices. So I became a ventriloquist.
    "My parents got me an inexpensive ventriloquist dummy when I was about 13. I practiced in front of a mirror, learning to talk without moving my lips."
    At the age of 13, Messick began making local appearances as a ventriloquist in the rural area of Maryland's Eastern shore, where he lived, and at 14, he had his own weekly radio program.
    When he was 16, he went to Baltimore to study dramatics and became involved with legitimate theater.
    After several years of doing Off-Broadway parts in New York and Hollywood, Messick became the voice behind a lot of puppets on television shows.
    

The live puppet shows, which were presented to the television networks in a production package, became "impractical" for the stations when the major motion picture studios started releasing their backlogs of theatrical cartoons for television, Messick said.
    After a few years, he continued, "the public was satiated with old cartoons." And the major movie studios, for economic reasons, had discontinued cartoon production.
    Hanna-Barbera Productions was formed to supply cartoons for TV use, and Messick had been working for them from the beginning.
  

  "In the past 15 years," he noted, "I have done over 50 cartoon series. Many are still running.
    Messick has his own production room at his home here. It's a hobby room, where Messick's 16-year-old son, Tim, a photography buff, has a corner for his darkroom equipment. Messick uses his recording equipment in the room to develop new voices, produce demonstration tapes of past voices, and dub music.
    "I'm especially interested in Japanese music," he commented. The modern especially fascinates me—the combination of the traditional oriental sound blended with the new Western influence."

Video of the Week: The Jabberjaw Dinnerware Collection

It goes without saying that the Hanna-Barbera characters and merchandise are like a match made in heaven. If it exists, you can get it with the mugs of Fred Flintstone, Scooby-Doo, or Yogi Bear slapped onto it. But one character who wasn't as lucky was Jabberjaw. He'll get a t-shirt and a Funko Pop, but if you're craving something more, I'm afraid you're out of luck.

But if you specifically want a set of Jabberjaw plates, well, you're still out of luck. That didn't stop Cartoon Network UK from making a parody ad for such a set, which you can check out below. This aired around 1998, and interestingly features the voice of Tom Baker, best known to audiences in the U.K. and elsewhere as the Fourth Doctor in Doctor Who. The "commercial" is very well put together, and if you look at the comments, you'll find plenty were disappointed to find out this was merely a joke. I won't lie, I'd buy a set if they made these. Are you listening, Warner Bros. Consumer Products?

Yogi Gets Down to Business

 Yogi Bear's always said he's smarter than the average bear. If the fact that he can talk isn't proof of that, surely his business card will do the trick.

What you're looking at is a business card holder Hanna-Barbera gave out at business conferences circa 1991. Themed after the infamous Yo Yogi!, this set features a couple of generic Hanna-Barbera business cards, but what I found really intriguing were the "joke" cards,  all themed around Hanna-Barbera productions of the era. Scroll below to find cards focused on The Jetsons, Young Robin Hood, and Fish Police.

Hanna-Barbera Gets Syndicated

 The summer is finally over. And with the peak of my job over with for this year, it's well past time I return to this blog. Today, I thought I'd start with a small but nevertheless interesting find. Below is an advertisement found in magazines from 1962 promoting the launch of The Hanna-Barbera New Cartoon Series. As the page itself mentions, these were the very first cartoons the studio made for syndication, and the ad urges stations to add them to their schedules. 

The advertisement also proclaims that these new characters—Lippy Lion, Wally Gator, and Touche Turtle—will become just as beloved and popular as the likes of The Flintstones and Yogi Bear. I don't know about that, but I'll give them credit for being confident. And check out Wally's blue color scheme, as was seen on a lot of promotional material back then.

That's all I've got for you today, but I've got a surprise or two in store later this week. If you know whose birthday is coming up within the next few days, you'll already know what one post will be about. I'll just leave it at that. See you then, and I hope you've all had a most splendid summer!