Hanna-Barbera Stars and Their Voice Actors, Side by Side

 August is coming to an end, and unfortunately, I don't have anything particularly earth-shattering to share with you to round out the month. Don't worry, I have some exciting stuff planned for this blog in September, and today, I thought I would share a couple of photos based around a time-honored tradition in animated press: actors standing next to their animated counterparts! You see images like these a lot nowadays for animated movies and their celebrity voices, but they've been around for way longer than that. Scroll down below to see Fred, Yogi, Jonny Quest, and many more, right next to the people who gave them life!

First off is the modern stone-age family, the Flintstones, as well as their next-door neighbors, the Rubbles. This came from the April 1961 edition of a magazine called "TV Mirror."

Just a few months later, in September of 1961, we got this great image of the entire cast of Top Cat. I couldn't find where this image was sourced from, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was the same magazine the Flintstones photo came from.

Jumping forward two decades, we have a photo of not one, but two Jonny Quests! This was a press photo for the 1980s revival episodes, and features the original Jonny, Tim Matheson, meeting his successor, Scott Menville. Menville also supplied the voice of Fred Flintstone in the later episodes of The Flintstones Kids, but you probably know him best for voicing Robin in Teen Titans and its spin-offs. Also featured in this picture is the man himself, Joe Barbera.

Last but most certainly not least, we have the always lovable Daws Butler, standing between probably his two most famous characters, Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound. This is one I imagine a lot of you have seen before, but I couldn't do a post like this and not feature Daws, so here it is again!

That's all I've got for you today, but I know for sure that there are more photos like these out there, so maybe I'll do a follow-up sometime in the future. Until we meet again, have a funtastic day!

Cartoon Network's All-Star Slam Interviews

 Back in the 2000s, Cartoon Network held a marathon known as the "Cartoon Network NBA All-Star Slam." The marathon ran over several years, but the most famous marathon was the first one, which aired in 2003. A big reason as to why this is the one people remember the most is because of a series of interviews that aired during the marathon. Each of these promos sees an NBA player come face-to-face with their favorite cartoon character, and interview them. For the longest time, these ads were apparently considered lost media, but just recently, the entire 2003 series has been uncovered. I'm sharing them here today because, despite airing at the time when CN began phasing out older programs like the Hanna-Barbera library, almost all of the characters featured here come from there, probably since those are the cartoons the NBA players would be most familiar with. We see the likes of Fred Flintstone, George Jetson, Scooby-Doo, and even Godzilla! Other classic characters featured include Bugs Bunny and Droopy. It's also interesting to see Hong Kong Phooey in one of his few speaking appearances since the original series. He's played by Greg Eagles here, who you probably know best as The Grim Reaper on The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. With that rather lengthy introduction out of the way, check out all thirteen of the interviews below!

The Lost Top Cat Interviews

 

If there are two things I love to learn more about, it's Hanna-Barbera Productions and Lost Media. Luckily for me, those two have crossed paths more than a few times. Why, just recently Rock Odyssey, a 1987 TV movie the animation studio created was found after having been lost since its first (and last) airing. But that's not what I'm talking about today. Instead, I'll be discussing an animated series that only seems to be referred to as The Top Cat Interviews.

The above image comes from a Reddit thread on r/LostMedia, highlighting the interview. According to the creator of the thread, LaxJackson, they were able to find an IMDB page for the animation. All it says is that it was created in 1995. Beyond that, the page is completely devoid of additional info. Another user found a Variety obituary for TV producer Douglas Rask, which tells a little bit more about where this came from. Here is the original text pertaining to the Top Cat Interviews.

"In 1995, (Rask) formed Craftsman Prods. with Malcolm Bird. The company produced "The Top Cat Interviews" for Hanna-Barbera Intl., which made the first use of a technique known as performance animation to juxtapose animated and live actors in real-time."

Also mentioned in this Variety article is that the company's next production was a teen talk show titled It's My Life. This project is featured on Malcolm Bird's IMDB page, but I can find no clips or episodes of this show anywhere online either. Info regarding Craftsman Productions seems to be nonexistent as well. I also find the fact that it was produced by the international branch of Hanna-Barbera to be particularly fascinating. Maybe this was intended to play on an international version of Cartoon Network or something? Top Cat is especially popular in territories like Mexico, so that's not totally out of the realm of possibility. However, it doesn't seem like anyone has any archived recordings of CN during that period featuring these interviews. Perhaps these were made simply to test out the technique of performance animation, and were never intended to be seen publicly? I have no idea, but maybe one of you do! Have any of my readers ever heard of or seen these before? If so, I would love to hear more about them!

Howard Morris: An All-Round Entertainer

 To most, he was Ernest T. Bass, a recurring character on The Andy Griffith Show whose appearance was a sure sign that trouble was afoot. But to viewers of Hanna-Barbera cartoons, he was Atom Ant, Jet Screamer, Mr. Peebles, and many more. Morris actually did voices for several animation studios, from Filmation to Nickelodeon, but it was his relationship with Bill and Joe that cemented him into the halls of great cartoon voice actors. While he had many disagreements and falling-outs with the duo (this is why Don Messick succeeded him as the voice of Atom and Peebles), he remained with the company until its very end, even being among the few voice actors from HB's early years to work on their Cartoon Network original series. For the unaware, he voiced Flem, one of the bully characters, on Cow and Chicken.

Even after the studio shut its doors, Morris continued to be heard in various animated series. His last performance was as a doctor in a 2004 episode of the Nicktoon All Grown Up. The following year, on May 21st, 2005, Morris passed away due to heart failure. He was 85 years old at the time of his death. Whether he was in front of the camera, behind it, or simply one voice among many, Howie Morris was sure to leave audiences laughing, and remains an icon of classic television.

As I mentioned earlier, when most think of Howie Morris, the focus tends to be on his live-action credits, not so much his animated ones. That isn't to say he never discussed his voice work in interviews, however. Below is an interview with Morris that appeared in the September 15th, 1985 edition of The Tennessean Sun. In it, he reflects on his voice-acting career, his acting journey, and his many forrays into directing. An all-around great piece about an equally great performer!

Howard Morris Good For A Million Laughs

By KEN BECK

    Talented Howard Morris has made millions of people laugh during his 50-year career, and yet most would never recognize the funnyman's name or face.

    Why? For the simple reason that Morris is one of Hollywood's top voice actors. His vocals have been heard in the past on "The Jetsons." "Atom Ant," "Magilla Gorilla," "Peter Potamus," "The Archie Show," and "The Groovie Goolies" to name just a few of his credits. Now, hundreds of voices later, he returns to the Hanna-Barbera cartoon corral with a new character, Trembly Paw, on "The Paw Paws," which debuts this morning (9:30, Ch. 30), as part of "The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera."

    "He's a coward, a kind of a Don Knotts type, this Trembly Paw," Morris said of his latest vocal creation. "He can show bravado—suggesting some real great heroic action—and then his voice crumbles mid-sentence.

    "He's a blow-hard who blows really soft."

     Morris began doing voices in 1959 when he talked for more than 20 characters in a 10-minute cartoon, "Monroe." It won an Academy Award for Best Cartoon. Perhaps his most recognizable voice is the koala bear in the Qantas Airlines commercials. He's filled that role for 19 years.

    He's also done Grandpa and Jet Screamer on "The Jetsons," as well as filling multiple roles on "The Flintstones" and "Scooby-Doo."

    "It's mostly luck," the voice veteran says, about coming up with the right voice for the right character. "You get a look at the cartoon. The script tells you what's going on. You try voices out. You work fast.

    "It's a highly competitive field," he said of voice actors. "It's a small group of people who know what to do and do it fast. Maybe a group of 50 who do the bulk of it."

    But the career of Howard Morris spans much more than just a couple of hundred cartoon voices. He's an all-round entertainer who has acted and directed in everything from the Golden Era of television in the 1950s to feature films and award-winning commercials of the '70s and '80s.

    "When I was five my mother took me to this silent movie theater where she played organ," the New York native recalled. "I would sit in the front row and stare up at that huge silver screen. I think that's where it all began."

    Morris acted in the dramatic club in high school, and then he earned a scholarship to New York University in dramatic arts. That led to membership in the Washington Square Players, which spawned the careers of Jimmy Steward and Henry Fonda. Morris worked his way through classical repertory including "all kinds of Shakespeare."

    Then World War II broke out and Morris was drafted into the Army for four years. After the service, he returned to the Big Apple and worked in plays until television beckoned. On the tube, he displayed his comedic genius on "Your Show of Shows" swapping wit with such greats as Sid Caesar, Imogene Coco, and Carl Reiner.

    Throughout the 1950s and into the '60s, the comedian continued to act on a multitude of television comedies but he also began to direct and produce. His directing credits include the pilot episode of "Get Smart," dozens of "Hogan's Heroes," a dozen "Love Boats," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," " Laredo," and many more TV sit-coms.

    Morris also directed four feature films: "Who's Minding the Mint," "With SIx You Get Egg Roll," "Don't Drink the Water," and "Going Coconuts."

    He began directing commercials in the 1970s and has done hundreds including award-winning ones for McDonald's and Kelloggs. His next directing assignment will be an episode of "Trapper John, M.D."

    In reminiscing over his years in show biz, Morris acknowledged that a crazy hillbilly character he played in "The Andy Griffith Show" might be his most recognizable. "That Ernest T. Bass," he remembered, laughing, "the guy was such a nut, you had to love him. He was a Southern cuckoo."

    Morris is presently working on a book he's titled It's a Living. It will be full of anecdotes from his career. "Some funny and some kind of sad," he said.

    One of the actor/director's most recent roles was a small part as a professor in the feature film "Splash," which was directed by Griffith Show alumnus Ron Howard.

    "Ron was so sweet to me," Morris said. "He called me for the part. We embraced and talked about the old days. I read the script. Then I left. I was walking across the parking lot when I heard, 'Howie, Howie, Wait up. Could you do the part?' It was Ron. It was a lovely sweet thing to do."

Daws Butler on You Bet Your Life

 For whatever reason, it seems like the voice actors of Hanna-Barbera were common guests on TV game shows. I showed you all one from the eighties last week, so here's another featuring Daws Butler way back in 1960. Here, we see Daws alongside host Groucho Marx and actress Marie Gomez. Although it's not a particularly long appearance from Butler, it's always a great treat to see the man behind so many of Hanna-Barbera's beloved characters. Give the episode in its almost entirety a watch right below!

Happy Belated Birthday, Alan Reed

 Yesterday August 20th marked the birthday of the late, great Alan Reed, the original (and in my opinion, definitive) voice of Fred Flintstone. So why don't we celebrate the occasion with an interview with Fred himself? Originally recorded in 1975, just two years before his passing, here is a lengthy interview with Alan Reed. Chuck Schaden is the man interviewing him. The interview focuses primarily on his voice-over work, both in the land of Bedrock and on the radio. I've also gotta say, it's pretty hard not picturing Fred when hearing him here!

If you are interested in knowing more about Reed's long career and life, I highly recommend you check out Yabba Dabba Doo! or, Never a Star: The Alan Reed Story. It's an autobiography he wrote that was only published years after he passed away, and it's a great read from start to finish. Any fan of either The Flintstones or classic cartoon voice actors should definitely give it a look!

Video of the Week: Two Hanna-Barbera Voice Actors on 3rd Degree

     It's time for this week's video, and today, I've got a pretty cool one to share with you guys. Coming from all the way back in 1989, here are two classic Hanna-Barbera voice actors on the gameshow 3rd Degree. For the uninitiated, which is probably most of you, 3rd Degree was a short-lived series that featured a panel of celebrities trying to guess the relationship between two contestants. The segment with the two actors starts at 14:30. I won't say who the actors are, but let's just say they're a page right out of history!

Interestingly enough, they weren't the only two Hanna-Barbera actors to appear on this show during its short run. According to the series' Wikipedia page, Don Messick and Lucille Bliss, best known for their work on The Smurfs at this time, also made an appearance. I couldn't find any footage of that segment, and since this is from Wikipedia, that could very well be fake, but I thought it was worth mentioning. Before I wrap this post up, I leave you with a press image from the show featuring Mr. and Mrs. Flintstones themselves, taken from an archived fansite for the series. And, if you happened to have seen the Messick/Bliss segment in this series, I would love to hear about it to confirm its legitimacy! TV appearances with Don Messick aren't too common (I actually know of another that also seems lost), so it would be fantastic if someone had ahold of it!