The classic comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were given the animated treatment from 1967 to 1968 by the Hanna Barbera studios, running 39 episodes.Each episode consisted of 4 5 minute shorts for a total of 156 individual cartoons.Although maybe not the wisest choice of subjects for a cartoon, the show was well written and often times sidesplitting, even the most quirky of segments involving monsters, robots, and other sci-fi elements.BUD ABBOTT supplied his own voice for the show, with Lou Costello's voice (Costello had died in 1959) by Stan Irwin.Mel Blanc provided many other voices, and Hanna Barbera mainstay Don Messick provided many others, particulary his specialty; talking dogs and creatures.
The toon was shown in re-runs and syndication on non network and independent channels for years afterwards despite it being taken off the general playlist offered by Hanna Barbera.
Oddly, the comic book based on the show (by Charlton Comics, naturally) outlived the original run and survived with new issues all the way into 1971!
SON OF KONK
FISH HOOKED
GI JOKERS
KOOKS AND SPOOKS
ASTRO NUTTYS
The comic book series,from Hanna Barbera mainstay CHARLTON COMICS ran from February 1968 to August 1971 for a total of 22 issues. The art was provided by Henry Scarpelli, and later by the most exceptionally talented Tony Tallarico.Nearly every cover was quite well crafted and definitely above the usual standards of Charlton at the time.This cover gallery features the entire 22 issue run followed by a 7 page story from issue #5,1968. (click to enlarge, of course!)
To my knowledge the show has not been issued on home video, but it can be found on a few bootlegs (with artwork utilizing art from the Charlton Comics).
I also remember the even less remembered "Laurel and Hardy" cartoon, where they occasionally turned into superheroes. or maybe they were all the time. I don't know anymore.
ReplyDeletethe Laurel And Hardy show is slated for an upcoming entry, as is the insipid Robonic Stooges.
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