JVipond
09-25-2007, 10:37 AM
1982 SEPTEMBER 25
Twenty-five years ago, ABC-TV debuted a new 90-minute Saturday morning omnibus series from Hanna-Barbera, featuring Pac-Man, the Little Rascals and Richie Rich. Lead voices included Marty Ingels as Pac-Man and Patty Maloney as Darla Hood.
Although Pac-Man was billed first in the series' umbrella title, he didn't appear until the last half-hour. Most Pac-Man stories combined elements of The Flintstones and Smurfs with aspects of the video games.
The Little Rascals were easily the most underrated part of the series. Though these cartoons were mostly faithful to the 1922-45 short films produced by Hal Roach and MGM, Hanna-Barbera brought the Rascals into the 1980s, with home computers and commercial television. Other changes included the Rascals having their base of operations in a treehouse and Buckwheat becoming a gadgeteer. Why won't King World let these cartoons be shown on Boomerang?
Richie Rich had all-new stories for the 1982-83 season, but no cast changes from his first two seasons. The H-B character designs were a vast improvement over those in the then-still-running Harvey Comics -- especially Gloria! Harvey should have updated the Richie Rich comic books to match the animated show.
Happy 25th anniversary to Pac-Man, Darla and all of their animated co-stars!
Twenty-five years ago, ABC-TV debuted a new 90-minute Saturday morning omnibus series from Hanna-Barbera, featuring Pac-Man, the Little Rascals and Richie Rich. Lead voices included Marty Ingels as Pac-Man and Patty Maloney as Darla Hood.
Although Pac-Man was billed first in the series' umbrella title, he didn't appear until the last half-hour. Most Pac-Man stories combined elements of The Flintstones and Smurfs with aspects of the video games.
The Little Rascals were easily the most underrated part of the series. Though these cartoons were mostly faithful to the 1922-45 short films produced by Hal Roach and MGM, Hanna-Barbera brought the Rascals into the 1980s, with home computers and commercial television. Other changes included the Rascals having their base of operations in a treehouse and Buckwheat becoming a gadgeteer. Why won't King World let these cartoons be shown on Boomerang?
Richie Rich had all-new stories for the 1982-83 season, but no cast changes from his first two seasons. The H-B character designs were a vast improvement over those in the then-still-running Harvey Comics -- especially Gloria! Harvey should have updated the Richie Rich comic books to match the animated show.
Happy 25th anniversary to Pac-Man, Darla and all of their animated co-stars!