Calvin and the Colonel

[nakak]

Now here's an obscure cartoon.

Calvin and the Colonel was a prime time cartoon that aired for one full season on ABC back in 1961. It was produced by Kayro Production (which also produced "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Munsters") and aired on ABC.

It was unsuccessful in prime time (I think it's because shows like "Alfred Hitchcock Hour" was on the same time in another network) and it was moved to Saturday Morning a year later, and eventually cancelled completly. Was never seen on TV since, although black and white copies were spread around, thus proving the existance of the show.

So, anyone here old enough to remember the show? I think Boomerang should air it. About 27 episodes were made.

[AarHan3]

Now here's an obscure cartoon.

Calvin and the Colonel was a prime time cartoon that aired for one full season on ABC back in 1961. It was produced by Kayro Production (which also produced "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Munsters") and aired on ABC.

It was unsuccessful in prime time (I think it's because shows like "Alfred Hitchcock Hour" was on the same time in another network) and it was moved to Saturday Morning a year later, and eventually cancelled completly. Was never seen on TV since, although black and white copies were spread around, thus proving the existance of the show.

So, anyone here old enough to remember the show? I think Boomerang should air it. About 27 episodes were made.


It was an animated reincarnation of radio's Amos 'N' Andy, with the original stars---Freeman Goodsen and Charles Correll---providing the voices. http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/26.gif

[Eric Brown]

I'm old enough to remember the series and I do. Just barely, however. The series never "grabbed" me. The prime characters were a bear and a fox. The animation quality was par for the time and atcually reminded me more of a Jay Ward cartoon. Having seen many reruns of the old Amos and Andy television series, I recognized the re-use of old story lines. Haven't seen one since then. Would be interesting to review one, again.

THANX

[nakak]

Many people confuse "Calvin and the Colonel" with Jay Ward for two reasons

1. It's limited animation

2. The show was animated by Creston Studios. Creston previously animated "Crusader Rabbit" for TV Spots. "Crusader Rabbit" was originally an animated serial Jay Ward created for television.

[Gary L Thompson]

Now here's an obscure cartoon.

Calvin and the Colonel was a prime time cartoon that aired for one full season on ABC back in 1961. It was produced by Kayro Production (which also produced "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Munsters") and aired on ABC.

It was unsuccessful in prime time (I think it's because shows like "Alfred Hitchcock Hour" was on the same time in another network) and it was moved to Saturday Morning a year later, and eventually cancelled completly. Was never seen on TV since, although black and white copies were spread around, thus proving the existance of the show.

So, anyone here old enough to remember the show? I think Boomerang should air it. About 27 episodes were made.

If Boomerang were run by classic cartoon lovers the way Turner Classic Movies is run by classic movie lovers, I think it would have been shown long ago, simply because of its historic interest.

Actually, all animated shows in 1960s prime-time were initially unsuccessful, except for the "Huckleberry Hound"/"Yogi Bear"/"Quick Draw McGraw" and "Flintstones" hits that inspired them. However, all the other shows ("Beany & Cecil", "The Alvin Show", "The Bugs Bunny Hour", "Bullwinkle", "Top Cat", "Jetsons" "Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo" and "Jonny Quest") eventually became hits over the long haul through a long afterlife in reruns. For some reason, "Calvin and the Colonel" didn't.

[ap75021]

I remember seeing the show on ABC prime time when I was about 5. It aired very occasionally in syndication around 1970 or so (one New England station had it at 7am on Saturdays)...unfortunately this was well before VCRs or I would have been on it for sure. There are some clips (in glorious B&W) on YouTube...even the credits were cleverly done, and the theme music was catchy as anything. I'd LOVE to see these shows on DVD, but in B&W I'm not sure about the chances of this ever happening.

[hobbyfan]

If Boomerang were run by classic cartoon lovers the way Turner Classic Movies is run by classic movie lovers, I think it would have been shown long ago, simply because of its historic interest.

Actually, all animated shows in 1960s prime-time were initially unsuccessful, except for the "Huckleberry Hound"/"Yogi Bear"/"Quick Draw McGraw" and "Flintstones" hits that inspired them. However, all the other shows ("Beany & Cecil", "The Alvin Show", "The Bugs Bunny Hour", "Bullwinkle", "Top Cat", "Jetsons" "Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo" and "Jonny Quest") eventually became hits over the long haul through a long afterlife in reruns. For some reason, "Calvin and the Colonel" didn't.

Part of the reason for Calvin & the Colonel not being aired anywhere right now might be the same thing that has kept its forerunner, Amos & Andy, off the air all these years. The racial stereotypes that Freeman Gosden & Charles Correll created for Amos & Andy and continued---albeit using animals---in Calvin & the Colonel raised the ire of folks back in the day, and in today's PC times, it wouldn't play any better than it did back in the 60's. I've seen the opening & closing on YouTube. Paul Frees, who seemed to be everywhere in those days, worked on the show.