A Laurel & Hardy Cartoon
| A Laurel & Hardy Cartoon | |
|---|---|
 On-screen title card. | |
| Network | NBC |
| Production company | Hanna-Barbera Larry Harmon Production David L. Wolper Productions |
| Distributor | Wolper Television Sales |
| Original release | September 10, 1966–October 12, 1967 |
| Run time | 5 minutes |
| Starring | Larry Harmon Jim MacGeorge |
| Producer(s) | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Music composed by | Hoyt Curtin |
| Director(s) | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
A Laurel & Hardy Cartoon, also known as Laurel & Hardy, is an animated American television series produced by Hanna-Barbera, Larry Harmon Production and David L. Wolper Productions for NBC's Saturday morning children's programming debuting. It ran from 1966 to 1967, airing 156 episodes that spanned one season.
An animated iteration of the duo's comedy acts, the series follows cartoon versions of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy as they went out on various misadventures. The two were known famously for their slapstick routines, with Laurel acting as the inoccent, childlike friend to Hardy's well-meaning but snobbish character.
Animated versions of Laurel and Hardy also guest starred for The New Scooby-Doo Movies episode, "The Ghost of Bigfoot," however, it's unclear how much connection their appearance has to the cartoon HB produced years prior.
It's unknown who currently holds rights to the series after Larry Harmon's passing.
Production
Development
Larry Harmon, who received the exclusive publicity rights to Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy's likenesses in 1961, approached Laurel and his wife Eda in that year on generating more income for the couple, by producing an animated series based on the film characters of the comedy pair. Harmon then negotiated with Hardy’s widow, Lucille, at the same time for the likenesses of the duo.[1]
In a United Press International press release dated May 7, 1961, Laurel said about the project that "I hope they’ll be good. Our films approached 'cartoonery' and some of the things we did in the movies could be done in cartoons", referring to some of the exaggerated physical gags in the duo's short films.[1] NBC, in an announcement in the New York Times on October 22nd, 1961, planned that the show to "be televised in color in prime time, although the weekly half-hour period has not been selected."[1] On January 11, 1962, Laurel wrote to audio engineer Richard Sloan, "I very seldom see or hear from Mr Harmon, so know little about his affairs concerning the cartoon series - I understand they have started production (I read in the trade papers here). That's all I know about it."[2] The same issue occurred repeatedly from 1962 and 1963, with Laurel's letters having no word from Harmon. In a typewriter letter on August 21, 1962, Laurel mentioned that he had not seen the potential series except for a small animation test, but found it unimpressive in his experience.[3] Laurel then learned in 1963 that the NBC deal was cancelled and Harmon was looking for a syndication deal, although he never told Laurel what happened with the network.[1]
After Laurel's death on February 25, 1965, documentary film director David L. Wolper was working with Hanna-Barbera at the time and had acquired the rights to make a cartoon version of Laurel and Hardy. After he approached the studio on making an animated series, Harmon found out and claimed that he owned the rights for a series. In a legal challenge, it was argued that while the contract may have given Harmon the rights to the characters from the films, it did not extend to the actual persons. Both parties eventually settled on a state of affairs where they agreed to disagree, with Harmon giving permission to use the characters in exchange for Wolper getting the distribution rights.[1]
Casting
Before Laurel passed away, Harmon gave him the impression that he was only signing a contract for the animated pilot and merchandising rights to only that pilot. However, the cartoon version of Laurel was portrayed by Harmon in the series, as Laurel had already passed away a year earlier.[1]
Due to Hardy's death prior on August 7, 1957, Laurel was originally planned to be paired up with Chuck McCann, a friend of Laurel's, as the voice of Hardy in the cartoon, which met with Laurel’s approval. McCann never got along with Harmon, however, and was instead replaced with Jim MacGeorge.[1]
Music
The music was composed by Hoyt Curtin.
Episodes
| Title | Number | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| "Can't Keep a Secret Agent" | 1x01 | September 10, 1966 |
| "Mutt Rut" | 1x02 | September 10, 1966 |
| "How Green Was My Lawn Mower" | 1x03 | September 10, 1966 |
| "Prairie Panicked" | 1x04 | September 17, 1966 |
| "Missle Hassle" | 1x05 | September 17, 1966 |
| "No Moose is Good Moose" | 1x06 | September 17, 1966 |
| "The Bullnick" | 1x07 | September 24, 1966 |
| "High Fly Guys" | 1x08 | September 24, 1966 |
| "False Alarms" | 1x09 | September 24, 1966 |
| "Hillbilly Bully" | 1x10 | October 1, 1966 |
| "Ball Maul" | 1x11 | October 1, 1966 |
| "Handle with Care" | 1x12 | October 1, 1966 |
| "You and Your Big Mouse" | 1x13 | October 8, 1966 |
| "Sitting Roomers" | 1x14 | October 8, 1966 |
| "Babe's in Sea Land" | 1x15 | October 8, 1966 |
| "Rome Roamers" | 1x16 | October 15, 1966 |
| "Rocket Wreckers" | 1x17 | October 15, 1966 |
| "Hot Rod Hardy" | 1x18 | October 15, 1966 |
| "Knight Mare" | 1x19 | October 22, 1966 |
| "Defective Story" | 1x20 | October 22, 1966 |
| "Crash & Carry" | 1x21 | October 22, 1966 |
| "Desert Knight" | 1x22 | October 29, 1966 |
| "Tale of a Sale" | 1x23 | October 29, 1966 |
| "Fancy Trance" | 1x24 | October 29, 1966 |
| "Suspect in Custody" | 1x25 | November 5, 1966 |
| "Auto-Matic Panic" | 1x26 | November 5, 1966 |
| "Shiver Mr. Timbers" | 1x27 | November 5, 1966 |
| "Stand Out, Stand In" | 1x28 | November 12, 1966 |
| "Big Bear Bungle" | 1x29 | November 12, 1966 |
| "Shrinking Shrieks" | 1x30 | November 12, 1966 |
| "Mounty Rout" | 1x31 | November 19, 1966 |
| "Bond Bombed" | 1x32 | November 19, 1966 |
| "What Fur" | 1x33 | November 19, 1966 |
| "Spook Loot" | 1x34 | November 26, 1966 |
| "Camera Bugged" | 1x35 | November 26, 1966 |
| "Plumber Pudding" | 1x36 | November 26, 1966 |
| "Robust Robot" | 1x37 | December 3, 1966 |
| "Vet Fret" | 1x38 | December 3, 1966 |
| "Copper Bopper" | 1x39 | December 3, 1966 |
| "Feud For Thought" | 1x40 | December 10, 1966 |
| "Love Me, Love My Puppy" | 1x41 | December 10, 1966 |
| "Squawking Squatter" | 1x42 | December 10, 1966 |
| "Goofy Gopher Goof-Up" | 1x43 | December 10, 1966 |
| "Sassy Sea Serpent" | 1x44 | December 10, 1966 |
| "Wacky Quackers" | 1x45 | December 10, 1966 |
| "Truant Ruined" | 1x46 | December 17, 1966 |
| "Country Buzzin'" | 1x47 | December 17, 1966 |
| "Naps & Saps" | 1x48 | December 17, 1966 |
| "Bad Day in Baghdad" | 1x49 | December 24, 1966 |
| "The Missing Fink" | 1x50 | December 24, 1966 |
| "Always Leave 'em Giggling" | 1x51 | December 24, 1966 |
| "Badge Budgers" | 1x52 | December 31, 1966 |
| "Two for the Crow" | 1x53 | December 31, 1966 |
| "Good Hoods" | 1x54 | December 31, 1966 |
| "Animal Shelter" | 1x55 | January 7, 1967 |
| "Tragic Magic" | 1x56 | January 7, 1967 |
| "Ring-A-Ding King" | 1x57 | January 7, 1967 |
| "Ups & Downs" | 1x58 | January 14, 1967 |
| "Beanstalk Boobs" | 1x59 | January 14, 1967 |
| "Leaping Leprechaun" | 1x60 | January 14, 1967 |
| "Tourist Trouble" | 1x61 | January 21, 1967 |
| "The Genie was Meanie" | 1x62 | January 21, 1967 |
| "Mars Little Helper" | 1x63 | January 21, 1967 |
| "Curfew for Kids" | 1x64 | January 28, 1967 |
| "Lion Around" | 1x65 | January 28, 1967 |
| "Shoot-Down at Sundown" | 1x66 | January 28, 1967 |
| "Horse Detectives" | 1x67 | February 4, 1967 |
| "The Two Musketeers" | 1x68 | February 4, 1967 |
| "Ali Boo Boo" | 1x69 | February 4, 1967 |
| "Ghost Town Clowns" | 1x70 | February 11, 1967 |
| "Hurricane Hood" | 1x71 | February 11, 1967 |
| "Ride and Seek" | 1x72 | February 11, 1967 |
| "Tee Pee T.V." | 1x73 | February 18, 1967 |
| "Shoe-Shoe Baby" | 1x74 | February 18, 1967 |
| "Train Strain" | 1x75 | February 18, 1967 |
| "Monster Bash" | 1x76 | 1967 |
| "Say Uncle, Ants" | 1x77 | 1967 |
| "Kitty Pity" | 1x78 | 1967 |
| "Frigid-Ray-Gun" | 1x79 | 1967 |
| "Southern Hospital-ity" | 1x80 | February 25, 1967 |
| "Frog Frolic" | 1x81 | February 25, 1967 |
| "Shutter Bugged" | 1x82 | February 25, 1967 |
| "Circus Run Aways" | 1x83 | March 4, 1967 |
| "Witch Switch" | 1x84 | March 4, 1967 |
| "Pie in the Sky" | 1x85 | March 4, 1967 |
| "Slipper Slip-Up" | 1x86 | March 11, 1967 |
| "Sign of the Times" | 1x87 | March 11, 1967 |
| "Two Many Cooks" | 1x88 | March 11, 1967 |
| "Flea's a Crowd" | 1x89 | March 18, 1967 |
| "Dingbats" | 1x90 | March 18, 1967 |
| "We Clothe at Five" | 1x91 | March 18, 1967 |
| "The Stone-Age Kid" | 1x92 | March 25, 1967 |
| "Quick Change" | 1x93 | March 25, 1967 |
| "Whing-a-Ding" | 1x94 | March 25, 1967 |
| "Termite Might" | 1x95 | April 1, 1967 |
| "To Bee or Not to Bee" | 1x96 | April 1, 1967 |
| "Mistaken Identi-Tree" | 1x97 | April 1, 1967 |
| "Rodeo Doug" | 1x98 | April 8, 1967 |
| "Pet Shop Polly" | 1x99 | April 8, 1967 |
| "Laff Staff" | 1x100 | April 8, 1967 |
| "Try and Get It" | 1x101 | April 15, 1967 |
| "Riverboat Detectives" | 1x102 | April 15, 1967 |
| "Unhealthy Wealthy" | 1x103 | April 15, 1967 |
| "Honesty Always Pays" | 1x104 | April 22, 1967 |
| "Plant Rant" | 1x105 | April 22, 1967 |
| "Sky-High-Noon" | 1x106 | April 22, 1967 |
| "Get Tough" | 1x107 | April 29, 1967 |
| "Handy Dandy Diary" | 1x108 | April 29, 1967 |
| "Jumpin Judo" | 1x109 | April 29, 1967 |
| "They Take the Cake" | 1x110 | May 6, 1967 |
| "Gold Storage" | 1x111 | May 6, 1967 |
| "Lots of Bad Luck" | 1x112 | May 6, 1967 |
| "Kangaroo Kaper" | 1x113 | May 13, 1967 |
| "The Finks Robbery" | 1x114 | May 13, 1967 |
| "Strictly for the Birds" | 1x115 | May 13, 1967 |
| "Birds of a Feather" | 1x116 | May 23, 1967 |
| "Bird Brains" | 1x117 | May 20, 1967 |
| "Switcheroony" | 1x118 | May 20, 1967 |
| "Mechanical Mess-Up" | 1x119 | May 27, 1967 |
| "Horsey Sense" | 1x120 | May 27, 1967 |
| "Bowling Boobs" | 1x121 | May 27, 1967 |
| "Dog Tired" | 1x122 | June 3, 1967 |
| "Wayout Campers" | 1x123 | June 3, 1967 |
| "Goofer Upper Golfers" | 1x124 | June 3, 1967 |
| "My Friend the Inventor" | 1x125 | June 10, 1967 |
| "Hard Day's Work" | 1x126 | June 10, 1967 |
| "Sky-Scraper-Scape" | 1x127 | June 10, 1967 |
| "Sleepy King" | 1x128 | June 17, 1967 |
| "Fair Play" | 1x129 | June 17, 1967 |
| "Fly-Foot Flatfeet" | 1x130 | June 17, 1967 |
| "Baboon Tycoon" | 1x131 | June 24, 1967 |
| "A Real Live Wife" | 1x132 | June 24, 1967 |
| "Wishy Washy Fishy Tale" | 1x133 | July 1, 1967 |
| "Stuporman" | 1x134 | July 1, 1967 |
| "Wheel and Deal Seal" | 1x135 | July 1, 1967 |
| "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" | 1x136 | July 8, 1967 |
| "Lumber Jerks" | 1x137 | July 8, 1967 |
| "That's Snow Biz" | 1x138 | July 8, 1967 |
| "A Clothes Call" | 1x139 | July 15, 1967 |
| "Boot Hill Bill" | 1x140 | July 15, 1967 |
| "Stop Action Faction" | 1x141 | July 15, 1967 |
| "Molecule Rule" | 1x142 | July 22, 1967 |
| "Peek A Boo Pachyderm" | 1x143 | July 22, 1967 |
| "Mummy Dummy" | 1x144 | July 22, 1967 |
| "Nitey Knight" | 1x145 | July 29, 1967 |
| "Fly Spy" | 1x146 | July 29, 1967 |
| "Franken-Stan" | 1x147 | July 29, 1967 |
| "A Real Tycoon" | 1x148 | June 24, 1967 |
| "Puppet Show Down" | 1x149 | August 5, 1967 |
| "Madcap Mischief" | 1x150 | August 5, 1967 |
| "Secret Agents 0-0-0" | 1x151 | August 5, 1967 |
| "Flight of the Bumble-Brains" | 1x152 | August 5, 1967 |
| "Salt Water Daffy" | 1x153 | August 5, 1967 |
| "From Wrecks to Riches" | 1x154 | August 12, 1967 |
| "Truant or Consequences" | 1x155 | August 12, 1967 |
| "Flipped Van Winkles" | 1x156 | August 12, 1967 |
Cast
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Korkis, Jim (December 30, 2022). Suspended Animation #404: Larry Harmon's "Laurel and Hardy" Cartoon Research.
- ^ "Letters from Stan": January, 1961. Retrieved June 14, 2023
- ^ [...] "what they are like, I have'nt [sic] the slightest idea - have'nt [sic] seen any of the film, except a short piece of a TEST, was'nt [sic] too impressed incidently [sic] - the color looked very good indeed, but that does'nt [sic] produce laughs." - Stan Laurel (August 21, 1962). "Letters from Stan": August, 1962. Retrieved June 14, 2023
