IN BRINGING THIS very well known and widely published Mort Walker comic strip to the world of Television, the production companies had managed to bring an additional aspect to the already "alive" characters. Unlike many of these Comic Strip/Comic Book adaptations, King Features/Famous Studios & Company meticulously strove to maintain the original concept and flavor of the strip.
ALTHOUGH THE ANIMATION is certainly of the "limited" nature, as is with all such TV productions, it is as high a quality as is possible. Coordinating movement (animation) with vocals, music, characterization with story lines that befitted the strip; all added up to a mirror image of that which appears in 1800 newspapers in 50 counties Daily and Sundays.
THE CAST, HEADED up by Howard Morris (who voiced Beetle and others) had a good handle on their characters. From the underachieving Private Bailey, Sergeant Snorkle, General Halftrack, Lieutenant Peachfuzz, Killer, Zero, Plato, Miss Buxley, Bunny (Breetle'sd Girl) and all the rest; they are the same characters on the screen as they are on the newspaper page.
THE SERIES, WHICH we remember fondly, was syndicated. In our town, Chicago, it was slotted at 10:30 or 11:00 AM, Sunday mornings. It was shown over our local, NBC Affiliate; which was and is WMAQ (formerly WNBQ), Channel 5. It was an odd time period for animation, we would most likely agree; it languished in a time and day normally reserved for Religiousprogramming and other "Public Service" oriented shows.
WHEN THE RELEASE of BEETLE BAILY Series of animated cartoon shorts was offered to the TV Station Managers of America and the World, it was as a part of a package. Along with two other cartoon series, also adapted from The Hearst Corporation's King Features Syndicate. The other two segments were taken up by BARNEY GOOGLE & SNUFFY SMITH and Geotrge Herriman's KRAZY KAT.* The half hour showcasing all three cartoon series was called KAT TALES.
AS WE HAVE previously stated, this show was a favourite of ours at the Ryan Household on Damen Avenue, in Chicago's West Englewood Neighborhood. Regrettably, it only lasted one season**
NOTE* Ironcially, this was perhaps the best adaptation of the most revered KRAZY KAT Comic Strip; being light years ahead of the Columbia/Screen Jems productions of the 1930's.
NOTE: ** In much the same manner,3 years later, Marvel Comics' initial foray into the small screen, THE MARVEL SUPER HEROES, served as an umbrella program for CAPTAIN America, HULK, SUB-MARINER, THOR and IRON MAN.
ALTHOUGH THE ANIMATION is certainly of the "limited" nature, as is with all such TV productions, it is as high a quality as is possible. Coordinating movement (animation) with vocals, music, characterization with story lines that befitted the strip; all added up to a mirror image of that which appears in 1800 newspapers in 50 counties Daily and Sundays.
THE CAST, HEADED up by Howard Morris (who voiced Beetle and others) had a good handle on their characters. From the underachieving Private Bailey, Sergeant Snorkle, General Halftrack, Lieutenant Peachfuzz, Killer, Zero, Plato, Miss Buxley, Bunny (Breetle'sd Girl) and all the rest; they are the same characters on the screen as they are on the newspaper page.
THE SERIES, WHICH we remember fondly, was syndicated. In our town, Chicago, it was slotted at 10:30 or 11:00 AM, Sunday mornings. It was shown over our local, NBC Affiliate; which was and is WMAQ (formerly WNBQ), Channel 5. It was an odd time period for animation, we would most likely agree; it languished in a time and day normally reserved for Religiousprogramming and other "Public Service" oriented shows.
WHEN THE RELEASE of BEETLE BAILY Series of animated cartoon shorts was offered to the TV Station Managers of America and the World, it was as a part of a package. Along with two other cartoon series, also adapted from The Hearst Corporation's King Features Syndicate. The other two segments were taken up by BARNEY GOOGLE & SNUFFY SMITH and Geotrge Herriman's KRAZY KAT.* The half hour showcasing all three cartoon series was called KAT TALES.
AS WE HAVE previously stated, this show was a favourite of ours at the Ryan Household on Damen Avenue, in Chicago's West Englewood Neighborhood. Regrettably, it only lasted one season**
NOTE* Ironcially, this was perhaps the best adaptation of the most revered KRAZY KAT Comic Strip; being light years ahead of the Columbia/Screen Jems productions of the 1930's.
NOTE: ** In much the same manner,3 years later, Marvel Comics' initial foray into the small screen, THE MARVEL SUPER HEROES, served as an umbrella program for CAPTAIN America, HULK, SUB-MARINER, THOR and IRON MAN.
