Search Results for: flintstones

Dave Marron wrote to ask…

What do you think Mr. Hanna and Mr. Barbera would've thought about the updating (sexual and otherwise) of the Scoobies?

Ordinarily, I'm leery of questions that involve mind-reading, especially mind-reading of the deceased. But in this case, I talked to Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera enough about this topic when I was working at their studio that I'm fairly confident of my response. Both men knew I was a huge fan of their early work and I was frequently involved in talks about reviving and revamping those old properties.

With one category of exception, I think they'd have disliked what some have since done to classic Hanna-Barbera properties. It wouldn't be just a matter of deciding that this character was going to suddenly be gay or that one was going to be somehow deformed. It would mainly be a matter of thinking there was nothing wrong with the old version — or at least nothing wrong that couldn't be fixed with some fresh minds and fresh ideas applied to tried, tested and true formats. I know Mr. B. privately hated almost every new variation on Yogi Bear, The Flintstones and other characters of that era.

But there was that single exception: In their eyes, you could do just about anything to any past H-B property if the alternative was not selling new product.

Some who witnessed this attitude thought it was a matter of putting the making of money ahead of anything else but I really don't think it was that…or at least not just that. Bill and Joe took enormous — and by "enormous," I mean something like the scale of The Great Grape Ape — pride in building a company of that size, keeping it up and running and providing jobs and financial security for so many creative people, including people in their own age bracket.

When I worked there, I was often in my office after hours, after most folks had gone home for the day. Working for H-B was usually my "moonlighting" job, meaning that I'd work all day for the Kroffts or Dick Clark or someone else and then go to the H-B studios and do work there while the janitors were starting to tidy-up. Several times, Bill Hanna — who came to work early and left late — would wander the halls, sometimes with a drink in hand, and stop in for a chat.

We'd get to talking about the latest show-in-trouble in the building — there was always at least one — and Bill would say something like, "I know you think we shouldn't sell so many shows but you're not the one who has to go tell [NAME OF VETERAN ARTIST] that we have to lay him off. He's got a family to support." I did understand that but I also thought there were ways around that.

By the time I worked for them, Hanna and Barbera no longer owned Hanna-Barbera. They'd taken what I guess felt to them at the time like All The Money In The World and sold the company, staying on to run it but now required to somewhat appease new owners with no particular pride or affection for what had gone before. And to hear either Joe or Bill tell it, the new owners really only cared about being the biggest studio in town, occupying as many hours per week of network real estate as possible. When I was in charge of the H-B comic book division, I dealt directly with some of those folks and I don't think that characterization was wrong.

I'm not saying the money didn't matter to Bill and Joe; just that the studio had reached a certain size and so many people were dependent on it for their incomes that maintaining that size seemed vital. I sometimes heard both men speak fondly of the days when the place was smaller…but even then, selling that next show or getting that next deal was often a matter of livelihood-or-death for their people. So if some buyer was insisting on turning Yogi Bear into a cross-dressing moose, Yogi was going to wind up with antlers and dressed like Mrs. Doubtfire.

Anyway, that's my answer. They probably wouldn't have liked it but they probably wouldn't have stopped it…which is kind of the deal you accept when you sell your business.

WonderCon Anaheim starts tomorrow and the last I heard, they still have badges available. If they don't, it will probably say so here and if they do, that page will tell you how to get one or more. Here for the last time is the schedule of panels on which you'll find me. I've had to make one panelist substitution…

WRITING FOR ANIMATION
Friday, March 28 from 3:30PM to 4:30PM in Room 213AB
Did you ever want to write cartoons? Or just want to know how it's done? Well, here's a panel for you! Some folks who've written some of your favorite shows will fill you in on what they do, how they do it, and how they got to do it -— plus they'll answer your questions about the art of creating scripts for animation. Brynne Chandler (Disney's Gargoyles), Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series), and John Semper (Spider-Man: The Animated Series) are hosted by moderator Mark Evanier (The Garfield Show).

HANNA-BARBERA HISTORY
Friday, March 28 from 4:30PM to 5:30PM in Room 213AB
Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera were the kings of TV animation for decades, especially on Saturday mornings. Their studio produced countless childhood favorites, including The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, Yogi Bear, Space Ghost, Top Cat, Quick Draw McGraw, Jonny Quest, The Smurfs, Superfriends, and dozens of others. Come hear all about what went on in the hallowed halls of Hanna-Barbera from writers Mark Evanier and John Semper (who worked at that studio) and animation historians Jerry Beck and Greg Ehrbar.

TALES FROM MY SPINNER RACK (LIVE!)
Saturday, March 29 from 3:00PM to 4:00PM in Room 209
With the new Fantastic Four: First Steps movie coming out in just a few short months, Gary Sassaman (former director of programming and publications, Comic-Con and WonderCon) takes a nostalgic look back at “The World's Greatest Comic Magazine!” in this graphics-filled presentation featuring the “first steps” of the Fantastic Four comic book series by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Joining Sassaman to discuss growing up with the F.F. and Kirby's boundless creativity is WonderCon special guest Mark Evanier (Kirby: King of Comics, Groo the Wanderer), friend and former assistant of the artist.

CARTOON VOICES
Saturday, March 29 from 4:00PM to 5:00PM in Room 207
It wouldn t be WonderCon without one of Mark Evanier's famous panels of folks who supply the voices for your favorite cartoon characters and TV shows. This time, Mark has assembled Kimberly Woods (Archer, X-Men '97), Wally Wingert (Invader Zim, The Garfield Show), Candi Milo (Looney Tunes, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends), Daniel Ross (Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures) and a surprise or two!

STAN AND JACK
Saturday, March 29 from 5:00PM to 6:00PM in Room 210
Daniel Fingeroth is the author of A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee. Mark Evanier is the author of Kirby, King of Comics. So the authors of the most-read books about Stan Lee and Jack Kirby will discuss both men and what they meant to the comic book industry, the Marvel Age of Comics, and the childhoods of an awful lot of people.

TWO MARKS ANSWER QUESTIONS
Sunday, March 30 from 11:00am to 12:00PM in Room 207
If there's anything (a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g) you 've ever wanted to know about comic books, the characters, the people who created them, the business…anything, this is the panel for you! If writers Mark Waid and Mark Evanier don't know it, no one does. Come armed with questions!

JACK KIRBY TRIBUTE
Sunday, March 30 from 12:00PM to 1:00PM in Room 207
At every WonderCon, we make time to remember the man they call The King of Comics, Jack Kirby. Former Kirby assistant Mark Evanier heads up a dais of folks who knew the man or at least his amazing career. This time out, Mark is joined by two members of Jack's family — Tracy Kirby and Jeremy Kirby — as well as John Morrow (publisher of The Jack Kirby Collector), Rand Hoppe (founding trustee/director of the Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center), Kirby family friend Dave Schwartz, and attorney Paul S. Levine, who has handled legal matters for Jack and his family.

Everything above is subject to change. Usually, they don't but you never know…

WonderCon Anaheim convenes one week from today at the Animation Convention Center, located just a few blocks from Disneyland — which is the same distance as the line to get into the Indiana Jones ride. Badges are still available and you can find out how to get one or more here. But the best reason to go is to attend one or more of these breathtaking presentations…

WRITING FOR ANIMATION
Friday, March 28 from 3:30PM to 4:30PM in Room 213AB
Did you ever want to write cartoons? Or just want to know how it's done? Well, here's a panel for you! Some folks who've written some of your favorite shows will fill you in on what they do, how they do it, and how they got to do it -— plus they'll answer your questions about the art of creating scripts for animation. Brynne Chandler (Disney's Gargoyles), Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series), and John Semper (Spider-Man: The Animated Series) are hosted by moderator Mark Evanier (The Garfield Show).

HANNA-BARBERA HISTORY
Friday, March 28 from 4:30PM to 5:30PM in Room 213AB
Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera were the kings of TV animation for decades, especially on Saturday mornings. Their studio produced countless childhood favorites, including The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, Yogi Bear, Space Ghost, Top Cat, Quick Draw McGraw, Jonny Quest, The Smurfs, Superfriends, and dozens of others. Come hear all about what went on in the hallowed halls of Hanna-Barbera from writers Mark Evanier and John Semper (who worked at that studio) and animation historians Jerry Beck and Greg Ehrbar.

TALES FROM MY SPINNER RACK (LIVE!)
Saturday, March 29 from 3:00PM to 4:00PM in Room 209
With the new Fantastic Four: First Steps movie coming out in just a few short months, Gary Sassaman (former director of programming and publications, Comic-Con and WonderCon) takes a nostalgic look back at “The World's Greatest Comic Magazine!” in this graphics-filled presentation featuring the “first steps” of the Fantastic Four comic book series by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Joining Sassaman to discuss growing up with the F.F. and Kirby's boundless creativity is WonderCon special guest Mark Evanier (Kirby: King of Comics, Groo the Wanderer), friend and former assistant of the artist.

CARTOON VOICES
Saturday, March 29 from 4:00PM to 5:00PM in Room 207
It wouldn t be WonderCon without one of Mark Evanier's famous panels of folks who supply the voices for your favorite cartoon characters and TV shows. This time, Mark has assembled Kimberly Woods (Archer, X-Men '97), Wally Wingert (Invader Zim, The Garfield Show), Candi Milo (Looney Tunes, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends), Daniel Ross (Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures) and a surprise or two!

STAN AND JACK
Saturday, March 29 from 5:00PM to 6:00PM in Room 210
Daniel Fingeroth is the author of A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee. Mark Evanier is the author of Kirby, King of Comics. So the authors of the most-read books about Stan Lee and Jack Kirby will discuss both men and what they meant to the comic book industry, the Marvel Age of Comics, and the childhoods of an awful lot of people.

TWO MARKS ANSWER QUESTIONS
Sunday, March 30 from 11:00am to 12:00PM in Room 207
If there's anything (a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g) you 've ever wanted to know about comic books, the characters, the people who created them, the business…anything, this is the panel for you! If writers Mark Waid and Mark Evanier don't know it, no one does. Come armed with questions!

JACK KIRBY TRIBUTE
Sunday, March 30 from 12:00PM to 1:00PM in Room 207
At every WonderCon, we make time to remember the man they call The King of Comics, Jack Kirby. Former Kirby assistant Mark Evanier heads up a dais of folks who knew the man or at least his amazing career. This time out, Mark is joined by two members of Jack's family — Tracy Kirby and Jeremy Kirby — as well as John Morrow (publisher of The Jack Kirby Collector), Rand Hoppe (founding trustee/director of the Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center), Kirby family friend Dave Schwartz, and attorney Henry W. Holmes (better known as the Kirby-drawn character Destroyer Lawyer).

As always, everything — panels, the rooms they're in, the times they occur, the people who are on them — is subject to change. Usually, they don't but sometimes, they do so don't be shocked. The entire programming schedule can be found here just in case you're one of those odd people who might go to panels that don't have me on them.

WonderCon Anaheim is happening March 28 through March 30 at the Animation Convention Center, located just a few blocks (as the elephant flies) from Disneyland! Details on how to attend can be found here. The list of panels on which I'm appearing can be found below…

WRITING FOR ANIMATION
Friday, March 28 from 3:30PM to 4:30PM in Room 213AB
Did you ever want to write cartoons? Or just want to know how it's done? Well, here's a panel for you! Some folks who've written some of your favorite shows will fill you in on what they do, how they do it, and how they got to do it -— plus they'll answer your questions about the art of creating scripts for animation. Brynne Chandler (Disney's Gargoyles), Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series), and John Semper (Spider-Man: The Animated Series) are hosted by moderator Mark Evanier (The Garfield Show).

HANNA-BARBERA HISTORY
Friday, March 28 from 4:30PM to 5:30PM in Room 213AB
Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera were the kings of TV animation for decades, especially on Saturday mornings. Their studio produced countless childhood favorites, including The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, Yogi Bear, Space Ghost, Top Cat, Quick Draw McGraw, Jonny Quest, The Smurfs, Superfriends, and dozens of others. Come hear all about what went on in the hallowed halls of Hanna-Barbera from writers Mark Evanier and John Semper (who worked at that studio) and animation historians Jerry Beck and Greg Ehrbar.

TALES FROM MY SPINNER RACK (LIVE!)
Saturday, March 29 from 3:00PM to 4:00PM in Room 209
With the new Fantastic Four: First Steps movie coming out in just a few short months, Gary Sassaman (former director of programming and publications, Comic-Con and WonderCon) takes a nostalgic look back at “The World's Greatest Comic Magazine!” in this graphics-filled presentation featuring the “first steps” of the Fantastic Four comic book series by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Joining Sassaman to discuss growing up with the F.F. and Kirby's boundless creativity is WonderCon special guest Mark Evanier (Kirby: King of Comics, Groo the Wanderer), friend and former assistant of the artist.

CARTOON VOICES
Saturday, March 29 from 4:00PM to 5:00PM in Room 207
It wouldn t be WonderCon without one of Mark Evanier's famous panels of folks who supply the voices for your favorite cartoon characters and TV shows. This time, Mark has assembled Kimberly Woods (Archer, X-Men '97), Wally Wingert (Invader Zim, The Garfield Show), Candi Milo (Looney Tunes, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends), Daniel Ross (Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures) and a surprise or two!

STAN AND JACK
Saturday, March 29 from 5:00PM to 6:00PM in Room 210
Daniel Fingeroth is the author of A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee. Mark Evanier is the author of Kirby, King of Comics. So the authors of the most-read books about Stan Lee and Jack Kirby will discuss both men and what they meant to the comic book industry, the Marvel Age of Comics, and the childhoods of an awful lot of people.

TWO MARKS ANSWER QUESTIONS
Sunday, March 30 from 11:00am to 12:00PM in Room 207
If there's anything (a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g) you 've ever wanted to know about comic books, the characters, the people who created them, the business…anything, this is the panel for you! If writers Mark Waid and Mark Evanier don't know it, no one does. Come armed with questions!

JACK KIRBY TRIBUTE
Sunday, March 30 from 12:00PM to 1:00PM in Room 207
At every WonderCon, we make time to remember the man they call The King of Comics, Jack Kirby. Former Kirby assistant Mark Evanier heads up a dais of folks who knew the man or at least his amazing career. This time out, Mark is joined by two members of Jack's family — Tracy Kirby and Jeremy Kirby — as well as John Morrow (publisher of The Jack Kirby Collector), Rand Hoppe (founding trustee/director of the Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center), Kirby family friend Dave Schwartz, and attorney Henry W. Holmes (better known as the Kirby-drawn character Destroyer Lawyer).

As always, everything — panels, the rooms they're in, the times they occur, the people who are on them — is subject to change. Usually, they don't but sometimes, they do so don't be shocked. The entire programming schedule can be found here just in case you're one of those odd people who might go to panels that don't have me on them.

This is a message from my pal Jerry Beck, following up on this post about how the TV networks used to decide what shows to cancel on their Saturday morning schedules, which ones to renew and which ones to revamp. Here's Jerry…

Great answer, Mark — informed as always by your inside knowledge of the industry and your personal role as a producer and writer for that daypart.

My answer about there being "new" programming each year on Saturday morning (the "one season thing") was always based on my observation as a viewer – and being 3000 miles away from the Hollywood cartoon factories. I actually think we are saying the same thing — though you added more insight from your end.

This all first occurred to me the year CBS put on Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space (in 1972). I didn't think about it that much at the time, other than "why would they change the series format so drastically?" The following years brought forth the likes of a re-titled The Think-Pink Panther Show (1975), and the expanded Tarzan and the Super 7 (1978), as well as various Saturday renewals (though each year under a new name) of The Flintstones, Scooby Doo, Superfriends and The Archies.

Bottom line: Putting a new title on a popular series made sense for Saturday morning marketing — especially in those annual centerspread advertisements in Marvel, DC, Archie and Harvey comic books. There were a few exceptions to the rule — a popular show was occasionally renewed for a second season under its original name, but usually with a smaller order of new episodes (six?) for that second year. Star Trek: The Animated Series is one of those that comes to mind.

Of course, Garfield and Friends was a major exception to everything I said here.

I probably need to explain why Garfield and Friends was a major exception before I get a ton of e-mails asking me why and how it was. That show went into production with a two-season guarantee, which was very rare for Saturday morning. They ordered two seasons of thirteen episodes each and they also gave us more lead time than a new series usually got. Our producers could make this deal for a number of reasons, the main one being the extraordinary popularity of the character in his prime-time specials, the sale of his books and other merchandise…and the fact that Jim Davis and Lee Mendelson (two of our exec producers) said in effect, "Either we get this deal or we don't do the show."

Most cartoon studios couldn't say that — or if they did, they were bluffing. I don't think Hanna-Barbera ever said to an offer, "No, that's not enough money to do the show properly" or "No, that idea you want us to animate is a terrible idea for show."

When you had a studio that was set up to produce one or more weekly shows, you had this massive overhead of a building and a business and all the people you have on staff, many of whom have contracts and can't be laid-off if you don't sell a show or two one year. More than once, a studio was in the position that if they didn't sell X number of shows — sometimes even just one — they'd have to close down. It would be like trying to maintain a big restaurant when you don't have a single customer for a year.

But Jim and Lee had no studio. They had a relationship with Film Roman which was then a small operation doing mostly prime-time specials including the Garfield specials. Film Roman could have easily survived if the show didn't sell or didn't sell that year. When it did, they expanded their operation, hiring on new people and eventually moving to a larger building in order to produce it. It also mattered that Lee Mendelson had that long, mutually-prosperous relationship with CBS over the Peanuts specials and other prime-time productions.

So they got the deal and they gave me a two-year contract to do the twenty-six half-hours. When we went on the air, the ratings were so strong and the show reran so well that CBS came back and said, "Can we make it an hour?" So the second season, instead of being thirteen half-hours was thirteen hours…and as we were finishing those, they gave us an order for Season #3 and shortly after that, for #4. No one ever came to us and asked, "Can we freshen this by putting it into outer space or adding in Baby Garfield or anything?" We wound up producing 121 half-hours of what was basically the same, unfreshened series…and it could have gone on for longer but with the annual raises built into the contracts, it got too expensive for the network. And there were a few other reasons.

Thanks for the message, Jerry, and I'll tell everyone reading this that, first of all, you'll be appearing on March 8 here in Los Angeles on a program called "The Genius of Jay Ward: Rocky, Bullwinkle, Rarities and More." It's free and it's in connection with U.C.L.A. and ASIFA and details about it can be found here.

And I'll also tell them that you'll be at WonderCon Anaheim and that one of the many things you'll be doing there is appearing on a panel on the history of Hanna-Barbera with our friend Greg Ehrbar and me. That'll be on Friday right after a panel I'm hosting on "How to Write for Animation." I'll be posting a schedule of all the panels I'm doing there when we get closer to the convention.

And lastly, I'll also tell everyone that Jerry and I are part of the committee that is arranging for a memorial/celebration of life for our dear friend Mike Schlesinger who left us on January 9. We think we have a time and place for it and will be announcing it soon. It should be a great event all about a great guy.

What do we have for you today? Why, it's The Flintstones from 1994. Back when I worked for Hanna-Barbera, someone was always talking about taking the cartoon show and doing a live-action version of it. I always thought and often said "It would never work" and eventually, they spent a lot of money to make this and prove me right…

Amazingly, it did well enough to warrant a sequel so here we have The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas from 2000. What some people won't do to prove me right…

I have oodles of things I have to do today so to make you feel you didn't waste your time clicking your way to my blog, here are the ten openings — and I think there's a closing or two in here as well — to cartoon shows I enjoyed watching when I was a kid. We're not talking about enjoying the show itself, although I usually did. But here are my ten fave openings, starting with Number Ten: Mighty Mouse Playhouse (1955)…

The next show was originally sponsored by Ideal Toys and they had sponsor plugs in it and worked the word "ideal" into the lyrics. That word remained but they cut out the other sponsorship points in this version of Number Nine: The Magilla Gorilla Show (1964)…

And then we swing — on a vine, no less — to the vocal stylings of musician Stan Worth (with yells by Bill Scott, voice of the title character) for Number Eight: George of the Jungle (1967)…

Our countdown continues — and yes, I'm starting to feel here like Casey Kasem — with Number Seven: The Huckleberry Hound Show (1958)…

You may remember a version of the above with Huckleberry Hound doing all the acrobatics done above by the rooster on the Kellogg's Corn Flakes box. That was the second version which they made up when Kellogg's stopped sponsoring the show. Sponsor plugs were also later edited out of the opening titles on our next two entries. Here's Number Six: The Quick Draw McGraw Show (1959)…

And yes, it always bothered me a little that Quick Draw was a horse commanding a stagecoach pulled by his own species. Next, we have Number Five: The Yogi Bear Show (1961)…

Sometimes, the best thing about a cartoon show was its theme song. Case in point, Number Four: The Underdog Show (1967)…

And this is the original — and to me, vastly superior — opening for one of my favorite shows…Number Three: The Flintstones (1960)…

This strong second-place finisher on our list shows you what you get when the creator of the property and one of the main characters is a recording artist who's had a bunch of number one hit records and then he brings in the Johnny Mann Singers. You get our Number Two: The Alvin Show (1961)…

And I always thought they oughta start the Emmy Awards year with two male hosts coming out and performing this number, ending with a march-through by a lot of big TV stars. This is, of course, Number One: The Bugs Bunny Show (1960)…

Following up on my previous video link: Even as an eight-year-old kid watching (and loving) The Flintstones when it debuted on Friday, 9/30/60, I was intrigued by ABC's decision to program it at 8:30 PM.

That evening, ABC prime time kicked off with a show called Matty's Funday Funnies which was sometimes called just Matty's Funnies. Either way, it was sponsored by Mattel Toys and initially ran old Paramount cartoons of Casper the Friendly Ghost, Herman & Katnip and others. That series debuted and aired on late Sunday ("Funday") afternoons commencing in October of 1959. The night The Flintstones debuted at 8:30, ABC added a Friday night edition of Matty's at 7:30.

Here's the closing of one episode. I'm not sure if this is from the Sunday or Friday version but it includes a promo for The Flintstones…

Now, given the way networks think on those rare occasions when they do, you'd figure that show would be a natural lead-in to Fred and Barney and their stone-age escapades but no. As I said, they were on at 8:30. So what filled the 8 PM time slot? What show did ABC decide would create a natural flow from Casper cartoons to Flintstones cartoons? Answer: Harrigan and Sons.

It was not a cartoon. It was a half-hour filmed situation comedy starring the old character actor Pat O'Brien as a well-seasoned lawyer and Roger Perry as his son and lightly-seasoned junior partner. To give you an idea how unlike its lead-in and lead-out it was, here's the opening of one episode…

And here are the end credits to the show. I vividly recall watching them each week as I waited for Fred and Barney to start…

Harrigan and Son didn't debut on 9/30, the same night Matty's Funnies and The Flintstones debuted. It didn't come on until 10/14. And once it did, it came between those two shows. Then The Flintstones was followed by 77 Sunset Strip, The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor and then to close out the evening at 10:30, The Law and Mr. Jones, which starred James Whitmore and which was a lot like Harrigan and Son only more serious. So what you had there was, in order…

• Cartoon show about friendly ghosts and talking cats
• Situation comedy about a law firm
• Cartoon show about cavemen in the Stone Age
• Drama about detectives
• Drama about detectives
• Drama about a law firm

But now I hear you wondering what ran on ABC at 8 PM the night The Flintstones debuted? And what was there on the following Friday, October 7? My research was unable to answer this riddle which, I'll admit, intrigued me more than it should have. So I consulted with TV expert Stu Shostak and he consulted with TV expert Steve Beverly and they came up with the answer…

On September 30, the night The Flintstones premiered, its lead-in at 8 PM was an ABC News Special on the then-current presidential election. So the first 90 minutes of ABC's prime-time lineup that night had this natural flow…

• Cartoon show about friendly ghosts and talking cats
• News Special about Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy
• Cartoon show about cavemen in the Stone Age

And then on October 7, they pre-empted Matty's Funnies and that 90 minute block went like this…

• One hour live televised presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy
• Cartoon show about cavemen in the Stone Age

The odd placement of The Flintstones may have been because, as was then sometimes the case, a given sponsor had a long-term contract for a certain time slot.  So the company that chose to sponsor The Flintstones or its ad agency controlled 8:30 PM on Friday nights on ABC and the show they wanted to sponsor had to go there.  Or maybe ABC felt that the success of The Flintstones might have hinged on it attracting an adult audience and that was less likely with Buzzy the Crow cartoons as its lead-in. Or there might have been some other reason. We may never know.

But I do know that even when I was eight, I thought, "They have those shows in the wrong order." I also thought everyone on The Flintstones was more realistic than Richard Nixon.

This is the minute-and-a-half pilot/sales film that Hanna-Barbera produced in either late 1959 or early 1960 to try and sell a show called The Flagstones. This, of course, soon morphed into The Flintstones, a weekly series on ABC that was originally marketed more for adults — complete with a cigarette sponsor some of the time — than for kids.

Had it been for younger audiences, ABC would have programmed it for 7:30 PM, which is when "prime time" then began. Instead, it debuted at 8:30 on Friday evening, September 30, 1960 where it was a surprising hit. By this point, the recently-opened Hanna-Barbera studio had sold The Ruff and Reddy Show (NBC Saturday morning) and then Huckleberry Hound and Quick Draw McGraw (both syndicated) but this was the series that really put them on the map.

Before anyone asks: It is said that the name was changed because in the Hi & Lois newspaper strip — by Mort Walker and Dik Browne, which debuted in 1954 — the family was named The Flagstones. And that may be true, though some question that reason.

The voice of Wilma was supplied by actress Jean Vander Pyl, who continued through the series and almost every other time Wilma Flintstone spoke until Ms. Vander Pyl left us. Betty Rubble was voiced in this pilot by June Foray, while Fred and Barney were both by Daws Butler, doing much the same voices he did as the mice in the Warner Brothers "Honeymousers" cartoons which aped the Honeymooners TV show starring Jackie Gleason and Art Carney.

June and Daws did not go on to do the series — Daws reportedly because that might have made the show close enough to Mr. Gleason's series to prompt a lawsuit…a move which Gleason once said in an interview had been contemplated. Again, there might be more to the story than that. Daws did play Barney for a few episodes later on when Mel Blanc had his infamous, near-deadly auto accident. And Daws was certainly capable of inventing a voice for Fred which did not sound as much like Ralph Kramden.

Two decades later when I was working for H-B, I made a comment to Joe Barbera about how Barney Rubble had obviously been named as a sly way of saying "Carney Double." Mr. B, as most of us younger folks called him, did a "take" that would not have been out of place in a Tex Avery cartoon. He then swore to me that that had never occurred to anyone at the time and I was the first person he'd ever heard point that out. I still find that hard to believe.

But enough background. Here's the pilot/sales film in question…

With a few updates/changes…

Thursday, July 25 — 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in Room 9
MEET MICHAEL HIRSH
Business Chief magazine called Michael Hirsh "The Father of Canadian Animation." He co-founded Nelvana, the firm responsible for animating such famous cartoon franchises as, among so many others, The Care Bears, Babar, Barbie, Max and Ruby, The Magic School Bus, Beetlejuice, The Adventures of Tintin, Franklin, Cyberchase, and The Berenstain Bears, along with such larger-than-life personalities as Roseanne Barr, Mr. T., Deborah Harry, and Tim Burton. How did he do it? That's the question your moderator Mark Evanier will be asking in this rare one-on-one interview.

Thursday, July 25 — 11:00 AM to NOON in Room 4
SPOTLIGHT ON JACK C. HARRIS
Jack C. Harris began writing and editing DC Comics in 1977; among the many comics he wrote and/or edited were Kamandi, Wonder Woman, House of Mystery, Sgt. Rock, Isis, Green Lantern, The Superman Family, The Unexpected, Weird War Tales, and Detective Comics. His work appeared later in Marvel Comics and Heavy Metal, among other publications. In short, he's been active in comics for decades, has worked with a wide range of editors, writers, and artists, and is a Comic-Con special guest. Here's your chance to hear him tell his experiences as he's interviewed by Mark Evanier.

Thursday, July 25 — 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM in Room 4
SPOTLIGHT ON KEN STEACY
Ken Steacy's visual storytelling career spans a half-century, as a writer, artist, art director, editor, and publisher. He has chronicled the exploits of Astro Boy, Iron Man, Harry Potter, and the Star Wars gang; and, in addition to producing his own IP, he has collaborated with Margaret Atwood, Harlan Ellison, and Trina Robbins. The recipient of an Eisner Award and an Inkpot Award, in 2009 Ken was inducted into the Joe Shuster Canadian Comic Book Hall of Fame, a lifetime achievement award for contributions to the industry. He'll be talking about all this and more in this spotlight when he is ruthlessly interrogated by Mark Evanier.

Thursday, July 25 — 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM in Room 4
SPOTLIGHT ON JO DUFFY
Jo Duffy has written comics including Power Man and Iron Fist, Catwoman, Batman, Wolverine, Fallen Angels, Nestrobber, Glory, Crystar, Elvira, Defenders, Punisher, and Star Wars, as well as the English-language edition of Akira. She has written short stories, essays, the comic book biography of Saint Francis, and an adaptation of Kipling's Jungle Book, and is the co-writer of two Puppet Master movies. She was the managing editor of Epic magazine and an editor at Marvel Comics, handling such titles as Elektra, Daredevil, Dreadstar, Groo, Doctor Strange, Hulk, and ROM. Hear about all this and more when she is interviewed in this spotlight by Mark Evanier.

Friday, July 26 — 10:30 AM to 10:30 AM in Room 4
THAT 70'S PANEL
It was a time of major change in the comic book business; of new talent coming in and the industry being rebuilt to come with a changing world and marketplace. Hear all about it from people who were in the middle of it: Gerry Conway (Amazing Spider-Man, The Punisher), Jo Duffy (Power Man and Iron Fist, Catwoman), Marv Wolfman (Tomb of Dracula, The New Teen Titans), Al Milgrom (Captain Marvel, West Coast Avengers), and your moderator, Mark Evanier (Scooby Doo, Blackhawk).

Friday, July 26 — 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM in Room 10
THE GROO PANEL
Since 1982, fans have followed the bumbling, almost tragi-comic exploits of easily the stupidest, most destructive character in all of comics, Sergio Aragonés' Groo the Wanderer. So here's your opportunity to hear all about this unique, long-running comic book character from Carrie Strachan (colorist of Groo), Jo Duffy (one-time editor of Groo), and Mark Evanier (who has something to do with this comic and maybe he'll even tell everyone just what it is).

Friday, July 26 — 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM in Room 10
WALT KELLY AND POGO
Walt Kelly's Pogo was one of the greatest newspaper comic strips of all time and is now being reprinted in an award-winning series of volumes from Fantagraphics Books. What made the world fall in love with Pogo Possum, Albert Alligator, Howland Owl, Churchy LaFemme, Ma'm'selle Hepzibah, and the other denizens of Mr. Kelly's corner of the Okefenokee Swamp? That's the topic under discussion by cartoonists Patrick McDonnell (Mutts) and Rick Parker (Beavis and Butthead), historian Maggie Thompson, Walt Kelly archivist Jane Plunkett, Cartoon Voice Actor Jim Meskimen and your moderator (and co-editor of the Complete Pogo), Mark Evanier.

Saturday, July 27 — 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM in Room 6BCF
QUICK DRAW!
It just might be the fastest, funniest panel at the entire Comic-Con! Three cartoonists (and a few guest cartoonists) whip up hilarious cartoons right before your eyes based on suggestions from the audience and your host, Mark Evanier. Competing this year, armed with nothing but their own wits and some Sharpies, are Scott Shaw! (The Flintstones, The Simpsons comic books), Lalo Alcaraz (award-winning political cartoonist and the man behind La Cucaracha), and Disney Legend Floyd Norman.

Saturday, July 27 — 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM in Room 6BCF
CARTOON VOICES I
Once again, moderator Mark Evanier convenes his popular panel of folks who speak for some of your favorite animated superstars and videogames. Demonstrating their craft this year on the Saturday panel are Neil Ross (Captain Planet, G.I. Joe), Piotr Michael (Young Jedi Adventures, Wizards: Tales of Arcadia), Secunda Wood (Gabby's Dollhouse, Fast & Furious Spy Racers), Julie Nathanson (Final Fantasy, Skylanders), Bob Bergen (Porky Pig, Tweety), and Isaac Robinson-Smith (X-Men '97, Voltron: Legendary Defender).

Saturday, July 27 — 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM in Room 7AB
THE HISTORY OF HANNA-BARBERA RECORDS
The legacy, voices, and music of Bill Hanna, Joe Barbera, and their collaborators are celebrated by host Mark Evanier and actor Tim Matheson (Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, Sinbad, Jr., Animal House, Virgin River), cartoon voice performer Katie Leigh, animator and animation historian and Comic-Con special guest Tom Sito, and author Greg Ehrbar (host of The Funtastic World of Hanna & Barbera podcast).

Sunday, July 28 — 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM in Room 5AB
THE ANNUAL JACK KIRBY TRIBUTE PANEL
Each year, we gather together folks who knew and/or were inspired by the man they call "The King of the Comics," Jack Kirby. If you're attending this convention, you have to know who he was and what he did. Talking Kirby this year will be cartoonists Patrick McDonnell (Mutts) and Rick Parker (Beavis and Butt-Head), Kirby family friend Dave Schwartz, Jack's granddaughter Tracy Kirby, a Surprise Guest Panelist and your moderator, former Kirby assistant Mark Evanier.

Sunday, July 28 — 11:45 AM to 1:15 PM in Room 6A
CARTOON VOICES II
If you think the Saturday Cartoon Voices Panel was wonderful, wait'll you hear the Sunday one! Your moderator Mark Evanier has rounded up six more of the best folks who put the words into the mouths of your animated favorites. Come hear Debi Derryberry (Jimmy Neutron, Draculaura on Monster High), Daniel Ross (Donald Duck, The Tom and Jerry Show), Jim Meskimen (Thundercats, Avengers Assemble!), David Errigo, Jr. (Phineas and Ferb, Tiny Toons Looniversity), Debra Wilson (Baby Shark's Big Show!, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League), and Fred Tatasciore (Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Tiny Toons Looniversity).

Sunday, July 23 — 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM in Room 7AB
COVER STORY
Industry people will tell you that the single most important page in any comic book is the cover, and often more effort goes into the cover than into the rest of the comic. What does it take to conceive, design, and execute a great cover? That's the question your moderator Mark Evanier will put to four artists who've done them over and over: J. Scott Campbell and Comic-Con special guests Joe Jusko, Ken Steacy, and Klaus Janson.

Sunday, July 28 — 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM in Room 7AB
THE BUSINESS OF CARTOON VOICES
What does it take to establish and maintain a career doing voicework for animated cartoons and video games? There are plenty of coaches out there who will charge you a fortune for the kind of advice you'll get absolutely free at this panel. Your moderator Mark Evanier has assembled a panel of one of the top voiceover agents, Sam Frishman (C.E.S.D.) and three voice actors who work all the time:  Gregg Berger, Debi Derryberry, and Debra Wilson. If you're interested in this profession, it's a must-attend!

Everything above — times, rooms, panelists, even how the moderator spells his name is subject to change. The entire programming schedule can be found and committed to memory on this page. During the con, I will not be one of those people sitting behind a table for any length of time signing stuff but come to one or more of the above panels and if there's time, I'll gladly autograph a few things for you if only to prove I know how to write my own name.

Thursday, July 25 — 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in Room 9
MEET MICHAEL HIRSH
Business Chief magazine called Michael Hirsh "The Father of Canadian Animation." He co-founded Nelvana, the firm responsible for animating such famous cartoon franchises as, among so many others, The Care Bears, Babar, Barbie, Max and Ruby, The Magic School Bus, Beetlejuice, The Adventures of Tintin, Franklin, Cyberchase, and The Berenstain Bears, along with such larger-than-life personalities as Roseanne Barr, Mr. T., Deborah Harry, and Tim Burton. How did he do it? That's the question your moderator Mark Evanier will be asking in this rare one-on-one interview.

Thursday, July 25 — 11:00 AM to NOON in Room 4
SPOTLIGHT ON JACK C. HARRIS
Jack C. Harris began writing and editing DC Comics in 1977; among the many comics he wrote and/or edited were Kamandi, Wonder Woman, House of Mystery, Sgt. Rock, Isis, Green Lantern, The Superman Family, The Unexpected, Weird War Tales, and Detective Comics. His work appeared later in Marvel Comics and Heavy Metal, among other publications. In short, he's been active in comics for decades, has worked with a wide range of editors, writers, and artists, and is a Comic-Con special guest. Here's your chance to hear him tell his experiences as he's interviewed by Mark Evanier.

Thursday, July 25 — 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM in Room 4
SPOTLIGHT ON KEN STEACY
Ken Steacy's visual storytelling career spans a half-century, as a writer, artist, art director, editor, and publisher. He has chronicled the exploits of Astro Boy, Iron Man, Harry Potter, and the Star Wars gang; and, in addition to producing his own IP, he has collaborated with Margaret Atwood, Harlan Ellison, and Trina Robbins. The recipient of an Eisner Award and an Inkpot Award, in 2009 Ken was inducted into the Joe Shuster Canadian Comic Book Hall of Fame, a lifetime achievement award for contributions to the industry. He'll be talking about all this and more in this spotlight when he is ruthlessly interrogated by Mark Evanier.

Thursday, July 25 — 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM in Room 4
SPOTLIGHT ON JO DUFFY
Jo Duffy has written comics including Power Man and Iron Fist, Catwoman, Batman, Wolverine, Fallen Angels, Nestrobber, Glory, Crystar, Elvira, Defenders, Punisher, and Star Wars, as well as the English-language edition of Akira. She has written short stories, essays, the comic book biography of Saint Francis, and an adaptation of Kipling's Jungle Book, and is the co-writer of two Puppet Master movies. She was the managing editor of Epic magazine and an editor at Marvel Comics, handling such titles as Elektra, Daredevil, Dreadstar, Groo, Doctor Strange, Hulk, and ROM. Hear about all this and more when she is interviewed in this spotlight by Mark Evanier.

Friday, July 26 — 10:30 AM to 10:30 AM in Room 10
THAT 70'S PANEL
It was a time of major change in the comic book business; of new talent coming in and the industry being rebuilt to come with a changing world and marketplace. Hear all about it from people who were in the middle of it: Gerry Conway (Amazing Spider-Man, The Punisher), Jo Duffy (Power Man and Iron Fist, Catwoman), Marv Wolfman (Tomb of Dracula, The New Teen Titans), Paul Levitz (The Legion of Super-Heroes, Stalker), and your moderator, Mark Evanier (Scooby Doo, Blackhawk).

Friday, July 26 — 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM in Room 10
THE GROO PANEL
Since 1982, fans have followed the bumbling, almost tragi-comic exploits of easily the stupidest, most destructive character in all of comics, Sergio Aragonés' Groo the Wanderer. So here's your opportunity to hear all about this unique, long-running comic book character from Carrie Strachan (colorist of Groo), Jo Duffy (one-time editor of Groo), and Mark Evanier (who has something to do with this comic and maybe he'll even tell everyone just what it is).

Friday, July 26 — 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM in Room 10
WALT KELLY AND POGO
Walt Kelly's Pogo was one of the greatest newspaper comic strips of all time and is now being reprinted in an award-winning series of volumes from Fantagraphics Books. What made the world fall in love with Pogo Possum, Albert Alligator, Howland Owl, Churchy LaFemme, Ma'm'selle Hepzibah, and the other denizens of Mr. Kelly's corner of the Okefenokee Swamp? That's the topic under discussion by cartoonists Patrick McDonnell (Mutts) and Rick Parker (Beavis and Butthead), historian Maggie Thompson, Walt Kelly archivist Jane Plunkett, and your moderator (and co-editor of the Complete Pogo), Mark Evanier.

Saturday, July 27 — 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM in Room 6BCF
QUICK DRAW!
It just might be the fastest, funniest panel at the entire Comic-Con! Three cartoonists (and a few guest cartoonists) whip up hilarious cartoons right before your eyes based on suggestions from the audience and your host, Mark Evanier. Competing this year, armed with nothing but their own wits and some Sharpies, are Scott Shaw! (The Flintstones, The Simpsons comic books), Lalo Alcaraz (award-winning political cartoonist and the man behind La Cucaracha), and Disney Legend Floyd Norman.

Saturday, July 27 — 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM in Room 6BCF
CARTOON VOICES I
Once again, moderator Mark Evanier convenes his popular panel of folks who speak for some of your favorite animated superstars and videogames. Demonstrating their craft this year on the Saturday panel are Neil Ross (Captain Planet, G.I. Joe), Piotr Michael (Young Jedi Adventures, Wizards: Tales of Arcadia), Secunda Wood (Gabby's Dollhouse, Fast & Furious Spy Racers), Julie Nathanson (Final Fantasy, Skylanders), Bob Bergen (Porky Pig, Tweety), and Isaac Robinson-Smith (X-Men '97, Voltron: Legendary Defender).

Saturday, July 27 — 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM in Room 7AB
THE HISTORY OF HANNA-BARBERA RECORDS
The legacy, voices, and music of Bill Hanna, Joe Barbera, and their collaborators are celebrated by host Mark Evanier and actor Tim Matheson (Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, Sinbad, Jr., Animal House, Virgin River), cartoon voice performer Katie Leigh, animator and animation historian and Comic-Con special guest Tom Sito, and author Greg Ehrbar (host of The Funtastic World of Hanna & Barbera podcast).

Sunday, July 28 — 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM in Room 5AB
THE ANNUAL JACK KIRBY TRIBUTE PANEL
Each year, we gather together folks who knew and/or were inspired by the man they call "The King of the Comics," Jack Kirby. If you're attending this convention, you have to know who he was and what he did. Talking Kirby this year will be cartoonists Patrick McDonnell (Mutts) and Rick Parker (Beavis and Butt-Head), Kirby family friend Dave Schwartz, former DC Comics president Paul Levitz, Jack's granddaughter Tracy Kirby, and your moderator, former Kirby assistant Mark Evanier.

Sunday, July 28 — 11:45 AM to 1:15 PM in Room 6A
CARTOON VOICES II
If you think the Saturday Cartoon Voices Panel was wonderful, wait'll you hear the Sunday one! Your moderator Mark Evanier has rounded up six more of the best folks who put the words into the mouths of your animated favorites. Come hear Debi Derryberry (Jimmy Neutron, Draculaura on Monster High), Daniel Ross (Donald Duck, The Tom and Jerry Show), Jim Meskimen (Thundercats, Avengers Assemble!), David Errigo, Jr. (Phineas and Ferb, Tiny Toons Looniversity), Debra Wilson (Baby Shark's Big Show!, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League), and Fred Tatasciore (Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Tiny Toons Looniversity).

Sunday, July 23 — 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM in Room 7AB
COVER STORY
Industry people will tell you that the single most important page in any comic book is the cover, and often more effort goes into the cover than into the rest of the comic. What does it take to conceive, design, and execute a great cover? That's the question your moderator Mark Evanier will put to four artists who've done them over and over: J. Scott Campbell and Comic-Con special guests Joe Jusko, Ken Steacy, and Klaus Janson.

Sunday, July 28 — 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM in Room 7AB
THE BUSINESS OF CARTOON VOICES
What does it take to establish and maintain a career doing voicework for animated cartoons and video games? There are plenty of coaches out there who will charge you a fortune for the kind of advice you'll get absolutely free at this panel. Your moderator Mark Evanier has assembled a panel of one of the top voiceover agents, Sam Frishman (C.E.S.D.) and three voice actors who work all the time:  Gregg Berger, Debi Derryberry, and Debra Wilson. If you're interested in this profession, it's a must-attend!

Everything above — times, rooms, panelists, even how the moderator spells his name is subject to change. The entire programming schedule can be found and committed to memory on this page. During the con, I will not be one of those people sitting behind a table for any length of time signing stuff but come to one or more of the above panels and if there's time, I'll gladly autograph a few things for you if only to prove I know how to write my own name.

Saturday, July 27 — 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM in Room 6BCF
QUICK DRAW!
It just might be the fastest, funniest panel at the entire Comic-Con! Three cartoonists (and a few guest cartoonists) whip up hilarious cartoons right before your eyes based on suggestions from the audience and your host, Mark Evanier. Competing this year, armed with nothing but their own wits and some Sharpies, are Scott Shaw! (The Flintstones, The Simpsons comic books), Lalo Alcaraz (award-winning political cartoonist and the man behind La Cucaracha), and Disney Legend Floyd Norman.

Saturday, July 27 — 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM in Room 6BCF
CARTOON VOICES I
Once again, moderator Mark Evanier convenes his popular panel of folks who speak for some of your favorite animated superstars and videogames. Demonstrating their craft this year on the Saturday panel are Neil Ross (Transformers, G.I. Joe), Piotr Michael (Young Jedi Adventures, Wizards: Tales of Arcadia), Secunda Wood (Gabby's Dollhouse, Fast & Furious Spy Racers), Julie Nathanson (Final Fantasy, Skylanders), Bob Bergen (Porky Pig, Tweety), and Isaac Robinson-Smith (X-Men '97, Voltron: Legendary Defender).

Saturday, July 27 — 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM in Room 7AB
THE HISTORY OF HANNA-BARBERA RECORDS
The legacy, voices, and music of Bill Hanna, Joe Barbera, and their collaborators are celebrated by host Mark Evanier and actor Tim Matheson (Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, Sinbad, Jr., Animal House, Virgin River), cartoon voice performer Katie Leigh, animator and animation historian and Comic-Con special guest Tom Sito, and author Greg Ehrbar (host of The Funtastic World of Hanna & Barbera podcast).

Everything above is subject to change including what I'll be wearing. The whole danged programming schedule will eventually be over on this page. You won't catch me anywhere signing things during the convention but if and when there's time, I will obligingly sign a few (a few!) things for anyone who attends any of my panels. Please try to at least pretend you like the contents and are just not looking to enhance the item's resale price.

Tanya McLeod write to ask…

I was so excited when I heard there was going to be a cartoon channel, MeTV Toons. But as my luck always has it, Shreveport doesn't get it. The only way it looks like can get it is to get Frndly or Philo streaming service. Who would I contact about my area getting the over-t-e air channel? I have no cable, satellite or internet. Antenna is it. I've done a rescan several times…smaller cities close by have an over-the-air channel but Shreveport doesn't. It makes me very sad to be on FB and see all the cartoons I could be watching but can't. I get MeTV but not the new Toons channel.

Well, you must have some Internet connection since you sent me an e-mail…but I gather it's not the kind that could get you a watchable TV signal. What I would do is call whatever over-the-air channel in your area is the host channel for MeTV. If my Googling is correct, that would be station KPXJ. It can't hurt to give 'em a call and say, "I'm sick of all the reruns of Land of the Giants! I wanna watch The Flintstones!"

Understand that MeTV Toons is a new channel and the folks behind it are out there now, selling it like crazy to cities that don't have it yet. A little demand from the viewer side might help those salespeople get it in your town. It may also pop up there soon without you but wouldn't you feel powerful if you felt you helped get it picked up locally?

In case you haven't seen the announcements, the folks who bring you MeTV, MeTV+ and a whole bunch of other channels will soon be bringing you MeTV Toons, a channel which will run 24/7 cartoons. Many will be from the Warner Bros. library…so a lot of Bugs Bunny, Scooby Doo, Flintstones, Jetsons, etc., but they will be also tapping other toon libraries. Mentioned so far are Rocky and Bullwinkle, Casper, Betty Boop, Speed Racer, Woody Woodpecker and others.

More exciting for some of us is that our friends Jerry Beck and Bob Bergen are involved — Jerry as a consultant and as a producer of new content to run before and in-between classic cartoons, Bob as the signature voice of the channel.

The announcements I've seen say the channel will commence on June 25, 2024.  There will soon be info available on how you can watch it on your TV.  This is all very good news.