The Perils of Penelope Pitstop

The Perils of Penelope Pitstop is an American animated comedy television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for CBS' Saturday morning children's programming. It ran from 1969 to 1970, airing 17 episodes that spanned one season. It was the second spin-off from Wacky Races.

In the style of the silent movie era of melodrama cliffhangers, Penelope Pitstop must evade capture of the Hooded Claw and the Bully Brothers. The Hooded Claw is in fact really her uncle and guardian, Sylvester Sneekly. If Sylvester can do away with Penelope, he will receive her inheritance. She is often aided by the Ant Hill Mob, who have been converted from villainous mobsters to heroic Seven Dwarfs-types. Despite their best intentions, they end up in need of her help during their rescue of her, although despite her resourcefulness, she inevitably will always need to be the one saved.

The entire series has also been released on DVD.

Development
Fred Silverman, head of children's programming for CBS, suggested the idea of spinning off the Wacky Racers based on the success of Wacky Races.

The Perils of Penelope Pitstop was inspired by the silent film serial The Peril of Pauline.

Music
The score was composed by Hoyt Curtin, who was credited as music director.

Cast

 * Janet Waldo as Penelope Pitstop
 * Mel Blanc as Yak Yak, Chug-a-Boom, and the Bully Brothers
 * Don Messick as Dum Dum, Snoozy, Pockets, and Zippy
 * Paul Winchell as Clyde and Softy
 * Paul Lynde as Hooded Claw/Sylvester Sneekly
 * Gary Owens as the Narrator

Legacy
The show's versions of the Ant Hill Mob would later reappear for the Yogi's Treasure Hunt episode, "Yogi Bear on the Air."

In 2018, DC Comics published Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #41, which concluded the series with Penelope discovering the truth about her uncle.

In popular culture

 * In the Animaniacs segment "Back in Style," Penelope Pit-A-Pat Stop is mentioned to have lost ratings by adding the Warner siblings.