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BEST CARTOON SHOW OPENING OR THEME SONG
- Thread starter gregg75
- Start date
The closing theme to "The Alvin Show" from the early 1960s. Upbeat, boisterous and fun. Also, I liked the fact that it's long enough so that most people can actually read all of the credits if they choose to do so. Visually, it's fun to see shots of a smiling Alvin sitting in the control room, pressing buttons or turning dials and then pointing in different directions, to the next set of credits. They only do that three times... should have done it a bit more. Because they allow time to actually read the credits, the closing theme is pretty long, clocking it at over one minute. You can see it on YouTube, although some posters indicate that there is another version of it out there.
In second place is one that is one of the shortest closing credits. The end of "The Underdog Show". It starts with a monster terrorizing a city and the announcer says... "This must be the end!" Then it cuts to this very non-descript music playing as a building painter and/or an outside window washer paints the credits as he descends down while working. Then when the guy finally gets to the ground, he stands there admiring his work.
A policeman walks up behind him, taps him on the shoulder with his night-stick and then uses the night stick to point up in another direction. The painter/window washer has a shocked look on his face. Then the picture cuts to more credits (ostensibly on another building, I guess) although they are just printed credits on a blue screen. Look how long it took me to explain all of this. And to think, it all happens in under 30 seconds!
In second place is one that is one of the shortest closing credits. The end of "The Underdog Show". It starts with a monster terrorizing a city and the announcer says... "This must be the end!" Then it cuts to this very non-descript music playing as a building painter and/or an outside window washer paints the credits as he descends down while working. Then when the guy finally gets to the ground, he stands there admiring his work.
A policeman walks up behind him, taps him on the shoulder with his night-stick and then uses the night stick to point up in another direction. The painter/window washer has a shocked look on his face. Then the picture cuts to more credits (ostensibly on another building, I guess) although they are just printed credits on a blue screen. Look how long it took me to explain all of this. And to think, it all happens in under 30 seconds!
C
cd637299
Guest
Actually, John, the original closing to "Underdog" (shown on the networks on Sat. morning) was not the one you mention. The cop points to a sign that read "Post No Bills."
The one you have seen is a syndicated print (also shown on Nickelodeon) where "Tennessee Tuxedo" and other "quickie" cartoons from Total TV were included on the Underdog show. The additional credits are that of Tennessee Tuxedo (Don Adams, Bradley Bolke, et al.)
True, it does't make a lotta sense, but Total TV throughout the 60s to 80s shuffled their series around, and it is almost impossible to get a true synopsis of what cartoons were shown on which series!
There's a book out on Total TV, written by one of the creators (Chet Stover & one other guy IIRC)...I think I might purchase it.
(Total TV was the production co. of Underdog, TT, King & Odie/King Leonardo, the Hunter, Tooter Turtle & others.)
cd
The one you have seen is a syndicated print (also shown on Nickelodeon) where "Tennessee Tuxedo" and other "quickie" cartoons from Total TV were included on the Underdog show. The additional credits are that of Tennessee Tuxedo (Don Adams, Bradley Bolke, et al.)
True, it does't make a lotta sense, but Total TV throughout the 60s to 80s shuffled their series around, and it is almost impossible to get a true synopsis of what cartoons were shown on which series!
There's a book out on Total TV, written by one of the creators (Chet Stover & one other guy IIRC)...I think I might purchase it.
(Total TV was the production co. of Underdog, TT, King & Odie/King Leonardo, the Hunter, Tooter Turtle & others.)
cd
johnbasalla said:
When NBC reran this show back in 1979, they sped up the closing credits and cut all shots of Alvin at the controls out. They showed the Bagdasian logo already spelled over about the last three seconds of the closing theme. It was all done in about 30 seconds.
OK here are a few links
JETSONS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qcMjG1KL2Q
FLINTSTONES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s13X66BFd8
BUGS BUNNY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-t8PngHgWY
UNDERDOG http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XRil07h5uE
JETSONS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qcMjG1KL2Q
FLINTSTONES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s13X66BFd8
BUGS BUNNY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-t8PngHgWY
UNDERDOG http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XRil07h5uE
...kinda cheating on this one, since they weren't specifically written for the show, but:
The Beatles ("A Hard Day's Night," "Help!," "And Your Bird Can Sing")
The Beatles ("A Hard Day's Night," "Help!," "And Your Bird Can Sing")
The sixties version of "Spiderman" is surely one of the best for an action cartoon.
And, of course, the opening for "Scooby Doo, Where are You?" -- not the later versions, which had pretty lame openings, but the first season version.
Oh, and I certainly agree on "The Jetsons" -- great song, with good visuals that set up the show nicely.
And, of course, the opening for "Scooby Doo, Where are You?" -- not the later versions, which had pretty lame openings, but the first season version.
Oh, and I certainly agree on "The Jetsons" -- great song, with good visuals that set up the show nicely.
...Hoyt Curtin, who composed most of Hanna-Barbera's opening theme tunes, was arguably the best melody guy in series television at the time (Henry Mancini being his only real rival). Clark Terry, one of the best trumpet men in jazz in the '60s and '70s, made Curtin's theme tune for The Flintstones a staple of his big band concerts...
I like to add "Josie & The Pussycats" to that list.
UNDERDOG: I believe I once saw the network version with the "Post No Bills" sign, however I've been unable to re-find it. If you watch the syndicated one closely, you'll notice that in the voice department, Ben Stone's name appears twice. Once at the bottom of the credits poster hung on the wall with the guy admiring his work until the cop comes up, taps him on the shoulder and points up, revealing another set of credits where Mr. Stone's name appears again. Lucky guy! Also, if you watch the closing syndicated credits on YouTube, right after the close-up shot of the giant squeezing a bottle open, and it explodes, there is an obvious splice to the credits, indicating something was cut out. I assume it was something network or sponsor related. Any idea of what it was. If I ever saw it, I don't remember.
CALVIN & THE COLONEL: I've never seen it and would like to. The original actors who played Amos and Andy on radio in the 1930s and introduced the African-American actors who played the roles in the 1950s TV series, were the voices of the title characters in this series. It's Amos and Andy without the racial component. They felt that by making the characters animals, there would be no controversy. There was no controversy, but they still had a big problem. They also had no ratings.
CALVIN & THE COLONEL: I've never seen it and would like to. The original actors who played Amos and Andy on radio in the 1930s and introduced the African-American actors who played the roles in the 1950s TV series, were the voices of the title characters in this series. It's Amos and Andy without the racial component. They felt that by making the characters animals, there would be no controversy. There was no controversy, but they still had a big problem. They also had no ratings.
These episodes and I think a few others are on a massive 600-Cartoon set put out by Mill Creek Entertainment in 2008..It's still on Amazon.com and has been in some Wal-Mart Stores..This same set has some "Hoppity Hooper" Cartoons..I thought Calvin and The Colonel was pretty good. Somewhat underrated..Ultimajock said:
Details on the 600-Cartoon set:
http://www.amazon.com/Giant-600-Cartoon-Pack-Popeye/dp/B00198J580
Casper, the friendly ghost.
The Woody Woodpecker Song.
And, most of all, Beany and Cecil ("...and your obedient serpent in a Bob Clampett cartooooooooooooooooooooon.")
The Woody Woodpecker Song.
And, most of all, Beany and Cecil ("...and your obedient serpent in a Bob Clampett cartooooooooooooooooooooon.")
TexasTom said:
Agreed on Scooby Doo Where Are You, no question
In no particular order: "This Is It!" (Bugs Bunny), "Cool McCool," the first "Spider-Man" animated series, "The Alvin Show" (great orchestra playing at breakneck speed), and most anything out of Paramount/Famous Studios, with that rich orchestra and great vocal arrangements.
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