YOGI'S ARK LARK
Hanna-Barbera was the most prolific supplier of fare for the series. Their first entry, Yogi's Ark Lark (9/16/72), was the pilot for the weekly Yogi's Gang series.
Based loosely on the Biblical "Noah's Ark" tale, and featuring nearly every early animated star from the Hanna-Barbera stable, the story was given an ecological twist.
Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, joined by Magilla Gorilla, Wally Gator, Quick Draw McGraw and others, help Cap'n Noah in his quest to rid the world of environmental dangers while traveling around in a flying ark. Daws Butler, Don Messick, Allan Melvin and John Stephenson were among the voices.
OLIVER AND THE ARTFUL DODGER
Hanna-Barbera's next effort was the two-part Oliver and the Artful Dodger (10/21 & 10/28/72), an animated continuation of the Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist novel.
Once a cunning thief, The Artful Dodger now devotes his time to rescuing small children from the greedy clutches of Bumbles, the manager of the local workhouse.
Meanwhile, Oliver Twist has been adopted by the wealthy Mr. Brownlow and stands to inherit his fortune. When Mr. Brownlow dies, and his will cannot be located, his wicked nephew Sniperly arrives to claim his uncle's money. When it is discovered that the will has been hidden in the drawer of some furniture that has been sold to a man in the country, the race to recover it is on. In spite of Sniperly's treacherous tricks, the boys recover the will and Oliver uses the money to establish an orphanage.
Produced and Directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. The story is by Blanche Hanalis, with Ruth Brooks Flippen as the Story Editor. The Story Direction is by Alex Lovy, Lew Marshall, Jan Green and George Singer. Voices included Gary Marsh, Richard Dawson, Jon Walmsley, Mike Bell, Lucille Bliss, Darryl Pollack, Pam Ferdin, Bernard Fox, Joan Gerber, Anna Lee, Ronald Long, Don Messick, John Stephenson and Michael Evans as the narrator.
ROBIN HOODNIK
Hanna-Barbera's animated version of Robin Hood, with animals filling the human roles, was entitled Robin Hoodnik (11/4/72). It featured the attempts of the Sheriff of Nottingham and his faithful deputy, Oxx, to capture Robin and his merry band and prevent Robin from marrying the lovely Maid Marian.
The prolific Lennie Weinrib voiced Robin, Alan Airedale, Whirlin' Merlin, Lord Scurvy, Friar Pork and Little John. Other voices included John Stephenson, Daws Butler, Joe E. Ross, Hal Smith and Cynthia Adler.
GIDGET MAKES
THE WRONG CONNECTION
Gidget Makes the Wrong Connection (11/18/72) was Hanna-Barbera's animated version of Screen Gems' Gidget TV series. In this entry, Gidget, voiced by Kathy Gori, and her new surfer buddies have a run-in with a ring of gold smugglers on the high seas. Other voices include Denny Evans, Don Messick, Mike Road, Bob Hastings, Virginia Gregg and David Lander.
THE BANANA SPLITS
IN HOCUS POCUS PARK
Hanna-Barbera's Banana Splits appear in the only entry which features extensive live-action sequences. The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park (11/25/72), filmed at Cincinnati's King's Island amusement park. The Splits are tour guides who offer to take a little girl, Susie, on a tour of the park. The little girl spies a runaway balloon and tries to retrieve it. The balloon floats away, and right into a billboard advertising an area of the park inhabited by Hocus and Pocus, magicians with special powers, and an evil witch. As Susie and the Splits enter the billboard they become animated characters and encounter the witch. The witch captures Susie, and the Splits with the help of Hocus and Pocus must fight a mechanical knight to gain her freedom.
This feature marks the only time that the Banana Splits appeared in animated form. Susie is portrayed by Michelle Tobin. Voices were supplied by Daws Butler, Allan Melvin, Paul Winchell, Joan Gerber and Howard Morris.
TABITHA AND ADAM
AND THE CLOWN FAMILY
Hanna-Barbera next attempted to spin-off Screen Gems' popular Bewitched series by featuring the Stephens' off-spring as a teen-aged witch and warlock who attempt to save a circus. Tabitha and Adam and the Clown Family (12/2/72) featured the voices of Cindy Eilbacher and Michael Morgan as the leads, with John Stephenson, Frank Welker, Paul Winchell and Lennie Weinrib among the other voice actors.
LOST IN SPACE
Hanna-Barbera's last entry, an animated version of the Lost in Space (9/8/73), kicked off the second season of the series. Craig Robinson (voiced by Mike Bell) and his crew embark on a peace-saving mission, cruising the universe in their space shuttle, the Jupiter II. They help the peaceful Throgs in their attempts to ward off the Tyranos, a group of metallic creatures who have declared war on their planet. Jonathan Harris reprised his role as Dr. Smith, and along with the Robot were the only characters from the original series to be featured in this version. The cartoon featured Shari Alberoni as Deanna Carmichael, Vince Van Patten as Linc Robinson and Don Messick as the Robot, the narrator and other incidental voices. Other voices included Sidney Miller and Ralph James.
Return To Saturday Superstar Movies Main Page
Go To Saturday Superstar Movies 1: Filmation
Go To Saturday Superstar Movies 3: Other Producers
Go To Toon Tracker Home Page
This WEB site created and maintained by RON KURER. Send comments to:
TOON TRACKER © 1996 - 2007
Since December 2, 1997.
Updated June 19, 2007
Hanna-Barbera characters © 1997, 1998 Hanna-Barbera Productions. Groovie Goolies © 1997, 1998 Filmation Associates. The Brady Kids © 1997, 1998 Paramount Television. Lassie © 1997, 1998 Lassie Television. Daffy Duck and Tweety © 1997, 1998 Warner Brothers. Lost in Space © 1997, 1998 Twentieth Century Fox/Space Productions. Popeye © 1997, 1998 King Features Syndicate. The Toon Tracker sites are not endorsed by any of the respective copyright owners. They are presented solely for historical reference and educational purposes. The creators and maintainers of this web site take no responsibility for the information provided herein. All products and brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. All characters and all related slogans and indicia are trademarks of the respective copyright owners. The use of such material falls under Fair use provisions