cartoon treasures

Finally, we are being treated to some classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons for the first time on dvd! Two separate volumes; Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960's & Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1970's.

Content includes; Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960's Volume 1 features a collection of 14 episodes taken from 12 rare and popular cartoon series on two discs. Disc one includes Top Cat, The Atom Ant Show, The Peter Potamus Show, The Secret Squirrel Show, The Flintstones, The Porky Pig Show and The Quick Draw McGraw Show. Disc two includes The Jetsons, Marine Boy, Space Ghost & Dino Boy, Herculoids, Frankenstein Jr. & the Impossibles, The Magilla Gorilla Show and The Quick Draw McGraw Show. This collection will also include newly created enhanced content featuring Quick Draw McGraw, Herculoids, and Frankenstein Jr. & the Impossibles.

Saturday Morning Cartoons 1970's Volume 1 includes a collection of 12 episodes from 12 different cartoons on two discs. Disc one features The Jetsons, The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour, Hong Kong Phooey, Goober and the Ghost Chasers, Speed Buggy and Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch. Disc two features Yogi's Gang, Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, Roman Holidays, Josie and the Pussycats, The New Scooby-Doo Movies and Funky Phantom. This collection will also include newly created enhanced content featuring Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan and Funky Phantom. Release date is May 19th.

it's about time

From the creator of Gilligan’s Island comes, It’s About Time. Yes, pure comedy at it’s best!

With Gilligan receiving massive ratings during it’s final year, CBS asked, Mr Schwartz for another show. The premise? Two clunky astronauts travel back in time to the Stone Age. Whop-Ding – perfect idea! This live-action show filmed in color and lasted one season back in 1966/67. It’s About Time, filmed at the same studio as Gilligan’s Island. They filmed on a separate stage to Gilligan but, on occasion, would wander over to the Gilligan set and film there. It’s About Time borrowed music cues from Gilligan as well. But to be fair, Gilligan borrowed the Space Capsule for an episode and for an episode called, The Secret of Gilligan’s Island, they even had a caveman dream sequence filming on the It’s About Time set.

Besides the Gilligan’s Island lagoon making the occasional cameo (albeit slightly re-dressed) another Gilligan icon makes a cameo. Remember the large black Morning Spider that frightened the inhabitants of the Island? He returns for a scene stealing bit of action high up on the berm (also seen on the occasional Gilligan episodes.)

To save the flagging ratings the show switched premise half way through the season (always a sure fire sign the show is going to tank) and took the astronauts (along with the stone age stowaways) back to the 20^th century. Yes, more priceless comedy as the stone age dwellers have to deal with modern day (make that late 1960's) living. It’s hard to pick which premise worked better. Both had merits, but I guess the ‘modern day’ would suit more classic sitcom writing using the ‘fish out of water approach’.

The show was last seen on Australian TV back in 1978. Mr Schwartz has evidently made it clear he wants everyone to forget about this show. Well, sorry, I can’t. Sadly, the show will never see light of day with an official DVD release (if Sherwood has his way). Which is a shame, Imogene Coca (Shad) is hysterical. I was thrilled to see all 26 episodes again – I just wish the world had a chance to laugh (and on occasion, groan along, as well.)