"The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn't" Talkback

[Kolbar]

Boomerang airs this Thanksgiving special the day before Thanksgiving! Be sure to watch it at 12:00 noon!

"The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn't"
Original Airdate - November 1972

In 1621, Jeremy Squirrel must rescue Pilgrim boy Johnny Cooke, and his Native American friend, Little Bear from a waterfall and a fierce timber wolf before the first Thanksgiving feast can be celebrated.

Comments?

[dth1971]

Is anyone familiar with a 1971-1972 Hanna-Barbera/Avco Embassy produced animated cartoon special that aired in syndication called "The Thankgiving That Almost Wasn't" about a pilgrim boy and an Indian boy who become friends and suddenly get lost to not find their way back in time for the first Thanksgiving until a squirrel named Jeremy helps them out?

[Killtacular]

Yes.. it's only airing on CN three times today. (The second time in 15 minutes)

[Nin-Nin69]

We all have since it's been burned into our skulls for the past 4 years.

[Rover_Wow]

Not really relevant, but the "...That Almost Wasn't" theme seems to pop up in other holiday specials, am I right, people?

[DianaGohan]

Yeah, it kind of did in a way, but I really try and avoid that special. I mean, come on, anyone can make a better thanksgiving peice then "The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn't". Here's Mine:

When The pilgrims came to America, they were visited by the Turkey Gods who caused them much problems and chaos, like incredibley cold weather, low crop prodcution and disease. Desperate, the Pilgrims turned to the Chicken Jesus, who told them that if they joined forces with the Indians, they would defeat the Turkey Gods. One introduction, making friends with Indian and bloody battle with the Turkey Gods later, the Pilgrims were victorious, but the Turkey Gods cursed the Pilgrims and Indians with bad feelings towards the other. Before that went into affect though, the two sides decided the only way to make sure the Turkey Gods were gone for good would be to eat them. And so they did. And now each year we eat Turkeys to make sure they don't become Turkey gods and get revenge for what happen many years ago.

The End.

[Candy Man]

This show had the EXACT same music as Scooby Doo I swear.

[J.E.Smith]

Not really relevant, but the "...That Almost Wasn't" theme seems to pop up in other holiday specials, am I right, people?

Yeah...I recall there being a "Valentine's Day That Almost Wasn't"(That I actually still have on tape somewhere). It was a bad puppet show with low-budget sets. All I can remember from the limited plot is that some lady invents some serum that makes people hate each other and she sneaks into the cupid's HQ and pours into the love potion they dip their arrows in...I can't remember anything else, and I don't really want to since it was about on the same level as this Thanksgiving special.

Of course, I went up to the old mountain house about three or four hours away that didn't have TV, so I didn't even have to worry about this thing. But that also meant I missed CN finally showing Fievel Goes West again for the first time in FOREVER. (I like it mostly for Cathy Cavadini's execellent singing numbers). Yeah, I know they've shown it to Toon Disney, but I don't have as much access to it than I do CN. Hopefully that means CN can show the second one regularly again. Now all they have to do is get the rights to Serect of NIHM(You want to show some good quality animation for Cartoon Theater CN? Then pick this one up sometime!) and I'll be all set^_^.

[Eddie G.]

This show had the EXACT same music as Scooby Doo I swear.

I don't think in exact, but in some parts me and my sister were like (and I hate to use stupid IM lingo) WTF?

Anyway like I said in the CN forum I want an Adult Swim parody next year.

[Howard Fein]

This show had the EXACT same music as Scooby Doo I swear.

You're right. This show recycled H-B score from Hoyt Curtin and Ted Nicholas heard as far back as 1960. Cues originally heard in Yogi Bear, Snagglepuss, Magilla Gorilla, Ricochet Rabbit and Abbott & Costello cartoons are used here as well.

This was a common H-B practice through 1972. Most series would blend a new set of cues composed especially for it with older music heard in shows made in previous seasons. It was very bizarre to watch HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS, HAIR BEAR BUNCH and ROMAN HOLIDAYS on Saturday mornings and hear the same background music as in older H-B cartoons (as noted above) shown the previous day on indie station early AM or after-school syndicated reruns. Remember the days before FOX, WB, UPN and talk shows?

From 1973 on, this practice was largely curtailed, with every new H-B show having its own 'dedicated' score and very little cross-pollination of scores between shows. There were exceptions (1977's LAFF-A-LYMPICS using score from 1975's nonviolent Tom & Jerry revival; various SCOOBY-DOO revivals through the eighties recycling score from the original 1969 series).

This special was a rare instance of H-B producing a first-run special with original characters for syndication. Perhaps it was a busted pilot for Saturday AM. It would've fit in very well with the heavily pro-social P.C. climate of the seventies: People in the 1600s endowed with modern 20th century vocabulary; various ethnic groups (in this case, pilgrims and Indians) living in harmony; mild, non-violent slapstick with comic relief cute animals (squirrel getting stuck in log); characters narrowly escaping from life-threatening peril (marauding bear, canoe going over waterfall). The only stark attempt at historical accuracy occurred at the beginning, in which a doctor covers a presumably deceased pilgrim under narration explaining the harsh conditions under which they lived.

[Steve Carras]

You're right. This show recycled H-B score from Hoyt Curtin and Ted Nicholas heard as far back as 1960. Cues originally heard in Yogi Bear, Snagglepuss, Magilla Gorilla, Ricochet Rabbit and Abbott & Costello cartoons are used here as well.

This was a common H-B practice through 1972. Most series would blend a new set of cues composed especially for it with older music heard in shows made in previous seasons. It was very bizarre to watch HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS, HAIR BEAR BUNCH and ROMAN HOLIDAYS on Saturday mornings and hear the same background music as in older H-B cartoons (as noted above) shown the previous day on indie station early AM or after-school syndicated reruns. Remember the days before FOX, WB, UPN and talk shows?

From 1973 on, this practice was largely curtailed, with every new H-B show having its own 'dedicated' score and very little cross-pollination of scores between shows. There were exceptions (1977's LAFF-A-LYMPICS using score from 1975's nonviolent Tom & Jerry revival; various SCOOBY-DOO revivals through the eighties recycling score from the original 1969 series).

You and I have discussed this special over in rec.arts.animation (thread-"BOUNCY CURTIN..."). I would add that the music in The Tom & Jerry revival that you rfer to ALSO used early 60s music....

Hanna-Barbera in 1972 (c) 1971 but 1972) made a special also with Avco Embasssy titled "A CHRISTMAS STORY" (NOT the 1983 movie by Bob Clark, in turn not to be confused with MAD's Bob Clarke) with Paul Winchell, Daws Butler, Don Messick, Henry Corden, Hal Smith, John Stepenson, Janet Waldo, and in his very last role, the late Walter Tetley.About a dog and mouse trying to see their young master Timmy's letter through to Santa before it's too late.

[Skeeter]

Now all they have to do is get the rights to Serect of NIHM(You want to show some good quality animation for Cartoon Theater CN? Then pick this one up sometime!) and I'll be all set^_^.

A-men.

-Skeeter

[Kolbar]

AOL's In2TV has both "The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn't" and "Bugs Bunny's Thanksgiving Diet" to watch. Here's the link.

[Kolbar]

With Thanksgiving just one week away, what better time to rewatch this Hanna-Barbera special. In2TV still has it up in case anyone wants to watch. It doesn't look like either Boomerang or Cartoon Network will be showing it this year, so online's the only place to see it.

[Steve Carras]

It's the kind of thing Warner Bros.Animaiton in "Animanaics" and "TIny Toons Adventures" woulld have done (Wheel of Morality anyone?)

[Master Toon]

It's a shame it's not on tv anymore. If I worked at CN or Boom I'd show it and then get fired but I'd be somewhat of a hero. Anyway I love this special, it's one of the 3 animated thanksgiving movies anywhere unless I don't know of any others, click on the link below to watch.

In2TV - The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn't

[dth1971]

I know June Foray voices the son of the father squirrel in the cartoon, doesn't bring June flashbacks when she voiced Rocky the Flying Squirrel.

[hobbyfan]

I remember seeing this on CN a few years ago. I believe the year might actually be 1970-71, not 1972. H-B/Avco Embassy also came out with a Christmas special around the same time, with one song ("Who is the Real Santa Claus?") later used in a Flintstones Christmas special.

Maybe Da Boom will sneak it in today or tomorrow?

[Eric B]

You and I have discussed this special over in rec.arts.animation (thread-"BOUNCY CURTIN..."). I would add that the music in The Tom & Jerry revival that you rfer to ALSO used early 60s music....

Is that the same rec.arts.animation from back in the day? I thought those were long gone! So it's a Google group now?

Say, anyone remember ol' Ira Zimmerman, and the endless flame wars on Porky Pig's stuttering? (I guess that was rec.arts.animation.warners, or something liek that. Is that on e still around?)

[Eric Brown]

I remember watching this special when it was first broadcast in 1972. In subsequent years, I could never seem to be in front of the TV when it was rebroadcast. Commitments with the reatives or whatever. Having finally secured it on tape a few years ago, I revisited it, the other day.

What stands out, to me, is the noticeable character design changes that H-B started using in the early '70's. The eyes were the most noteable change. No more white pupiled round eyes. I can only assume, a cost cutting measure. The use of Xerography being quite noteable in outline quality on the characters. In this production, the repetative use of the same animation sequences is a bit annoying.

The easily identifiable H-B backround music, I thought, worked in the production's favor. Although some have found it annoying to move music from one identifiable production to another, I've always found it interesting to have it be so. It identifies the production as genuine H-B.

The last stand out is are work of veteran animators Ed Love's (mostly of Jeremy Squirrel and family) and Carlo Vinci's animation of the wolf chase
sequence.

Not a memorable production, but a noteable one.

THANX