Linus the Lionhearted - early kids TV commercialism - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Steve Carras · 03-17-2008, 04:06 AM

This show started with General Foods/Post cereal characters:
Sugar Bear (the SOLE, soulful, Crosby-Dean martin sounding survivor) as a little girl bear then as a male!=Sugar --- I mean, Golden Crisp.

Linus = Crispy Critters.

Rory Raccoon=Post Toasties (flakes).

So-Hi the Chinese Boy=Post Rice Kringles

Loveable B.Truly, postman=Alpha-Bits

Animation producer Ed Graham and some faicitlies or whatever in NY and CA did the series of ads eventually, starting aorund 1962 when the whole gang (including the MALE Sugar Bear) was evolved, with Sheldon Leonard (then producing Dick Van Dykle, Danny Thomas & Andy Griffth while still acting) as Linus, and Carl Reiner (who credited DvD!) as others. A comic named Gerry Matthews has been noted as doing the definite Sugar Bear; Sterling Holloway was the first Alphabits Postman, then Bob McFadded; Ruth Buzzi as Grnany Woodwitch (with Sugar Bear) and even producer Graham himself as various!

The cartoon resulted...Some oif these voice credits may or niot be bu the first several are!
besides Leonard, and the others:
Stiller and Meara,Paul Frees, Jesse White, Fredericka Weber, and some named as Bashful Bigshots, aka various big names like Johnathan Winters. (Credits varied with Seasons. YouTube has some.. The Big Cartoon Database identifies a guy named Jack Narz as Lovable T.'s nemesis.). Also, the Johnny Mann singers were credited (and Thurl Ravenscroft, the voice of Tony the Tiger and many group sessions, the rival to Linus, sneaks in on in the open credits..in the "bridge" section of the theme song ("Linus is the one.." and at the end, tha'ts Thurl sneaking in a KELLOGS Tony catchline.In a Post-sponsored show yet.)

An eclectic group of famous studios's varied talents came forht for this;besides the voices, Disney director Clyde Geronimi ("Dumbo","Alice","Bambi"m such longer shorts as "Susie the little coupe"), even H-B music director Hoyt Curtin and animation veteran Irv Spector,

September 26, 1964-September 1966 CBS, September 1966-September 1969, ABC. Briefly rerun but banned by the FCC due to the obvious commercialism (not to mention So-Hi's "racism" and the great humor..all of whcih would disappear except TRULY awful shillin' by "toons" (which resumed in the 80s.Unfortunately, by the 80s, nothing as truly funny as "Linus" was done for all the "toymercials" in contrast to the cereal-based show.)

(whew...)

tv star collector · 03-17-2008, 07:22 AM

I loved Linus the Lionhearted during its original run. I still have the rare
LP record album and the Gold Key comic book. Yes, it had a great voice cast
(and some very good characters, too). Well-designed show. The crooning
Sugar Bear was/is my fave character on that show.

03-17-2008, 04:06 AM	#1
Steve Carras Sandra Bullock RULES! Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 30, 2002 Location: Riverside County, CA Posts: 807	Linus the Lionhearted - early kids TV commercialism This show started with General Foods/Post cereal characters: Sugar Bear (the SOLE, soulful, Crosby-Dean martin sounding survivor) as a little girl bear then as a male!=Sugar --- I mean, Golden Crisp. Linus = Crispy Critters. Rory Raccoon=Post Toasties (flakes). So-Hi the Chinese Boy=Post Rice Kringles Loveable B.Truly, postman=Alpha-Bits Animation producer Ed Graham and some faicitlies or whatever in NY and CA did the series of ads eventually, starting aorund 1962 when the whole gang (including the MALE Sugar Bear) was evolved, with Sheldon Leonard (then producing Dick Van Dykle, Danny Thomas & Andy Griffth while still acting) as Linus, and Carl Reiner (who credited DvD!) as others. A comic named Gerry Matthews has been noted as doing the definite Sugar Bear; Sterling Holloway was the first Alphabits Postman, then Bob McFadded; Ruth Buzzi as Grnany Woodwitch (with Sugar Bear) and even producer Graham himself as various! The cartoon resulted...Some oif these voice credits may or niot be bu the first several are! besides Leonard, and the others: Stiller and Meara,Paul Frees, Jesse White, Fredericka Weber, and some named as Bashful Bigshots, aka various big names like Johnathan Winters. (Credits varied with Seasons. YouTube has some.. The Big Cartoon Database identifies a guy named Jack Narz as Lovable T.'s nemesis.). Also, the Johnny Mann singers were credited (and Thurl Ravenscroft, the voice of Tony the Tiger and many group sessions, the rival to Linus, sneaks in on in the open credits..in the "bridge" section of the theme song ("Linus is the one.." and at the end, tha'ts Thurl sneaking in a KELLOGS Tony catchline.In a Post-sponsored show yet.) An eclectic group of famous studios's varied talents came forht for this;besides the voices, Disney director Clyde Geronimi ("Dumbo","Alice","Bambi"m such longer shorts as "Susie the little coupe"), even H-B music director Hoyt Curtin and animation veteran Irv Spector, September 26, 1964-September 1966 CBS, September 1966-September 1969, ABC. Briefly rerun but banned by the FCC due to the obvious commercialism (not to mention So-Hi's "racism" and the great humor..all of whcih would disappear except TRULY awful shillin' by "toons" (which resumed in the 80s.Unfortunately, by the 80s, nothing as truly funny as "Linus" was done for all the "toymercials" in contrast to the cereal-based show.) (whew...)
	__________________ "And that's showbiz......kid" -Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger, Chicago, 2002)

03-17-2008, 07:22 AM	#2
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,487	I loved Linus the Lionhearted during its original run. I still have the rare LP record album and the Gold Key comic book. Yes, it had a great voice cast (and some very good characters, too). Well-designed show. The crooning Sugar Bear was/is my fave character on that show.