Remember King Leonardo, Tennessee Tuxedo and Underdog?

[tv star collector]

I'm reading the new book, Created and Produced by Total TeleVision Productions, by Mark Arnold (Bear Manor, 2009). This book examines
in detail the largely overlooked studio that is often confused with Jay Ward
Productions (because the shows for both studios were animated by Gamma
Productions and sponsored by General Mills). Although not as witty or as
topical as Ward's shows (which were geared toward a slightly older audience),
the TTV shows (King Leonardo, Tennessee Tuxedo, Underdog and The Beagles) did have a charm and humor of their own. They also featured some very talented voice actors (Jackson Beck, Allen Swift, Kenny Delmar, Don Adams, and Wally Cox, to name a few). Interesting book with
lots of behind-the-scenes info, scripts, theme song lyrics, character sketches, photos of tie-in merchandise, and a complete episode guide to all
the shows. If you're a fan of these toons, I highly recommend it (along with
the 2005 book, How Underdog Was Born, by creators Buck Biggers &
Chet Stover, also published by Bear Manor).

[Rezny@gmail.com]

I remember all of them,except The Beagles.

[TV Knowledge Fan]

....and its "sibling", Leonardo Productions, were created in 1959 by a quartet of talented men to create and produce TV cartoon shows for General Mills. Three of them originally worked for the ad agency representing General Mills, Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample: Joe Harris, an art director, and W. Watts "Buck" Biggers & Chet Stover, account executives (who wrote virtually all the scripts). The fourth member was sound engineer Treadwell D. Covington, who primarily supervised recording the dialogue and voice tracks for TTV's various programs.

"KING LEONARDO AND HIS SHORT SUBJECTS" was their first, in 1960 with animation provided, from the West Coast, by Shull Bonsall's "TV Spots" {aka Creston Studios}, who also animated several of the first season's "Fractured Fairy Tales" episodes for Jay Ward's "ROCKY AND HIS FRIENDS" in 1959-'60 [also sponsored and controlled by General Mills]. When new episodes of "The King & Odie" (also the syndicated title for the original "KING LEONARDO" series in the mid-'60s) were produced for "TENNESSEE TUXEDO AND HIS TALES" in 1963-'64, the animation for those (and new episodes of "The Hunter", from "KING LEONARDO") were rendered by Gamma Productions in Mexico, who created all animation for the remainder of the TTV/Leonardo series [and, yes, Jay Ward's "ROCKY AND HIS FRIENDS", "THE BULLWINKLE SHOW", and "HOPPITY HOOPER" as well].

Stories and voice tracks were created in New York, with the cream of radio/TV and Broadway talent lending their voices to the various shows-
Jackson Beck, Allen Swift, Sandy Becker, Kenny Delmar, George S. Irving, Ben Stone, Mort Marshall, Bradley Bolke {Dayton Allen's brother} and Norma McMillan (the latter two also providing voices for "THE NEW CASPER CARTOON SHOW" at the time). Don Adams was still a "struggling" stand-up comedian in New York when he became the voice of "Tennessee Tuxedo" [along with Larry Storch as "Phineas J. Whoopee, the man with all the answers"]. Wally Cox was the only "star voice" of the group [but originally gained fame while in New York during the early '50s, especially as "MISTER PEEPERS"], and he was "Underdog".

"THE UNDERDOG SHOW" was probably TTV's "masterpiece", in production from 1964 through '66. It initially began syndicated repeats (paired with "Tennessee Tuxedo" episodes) as "CARTOON CUT-UPS" in 1965, reverting to the original "UNDERDOG" title after the original series finally left network television in 1973.

"THE BEAGLES", TTV's final series, lasted only one season (1966-'67)- but the original elements and master negatives of all 26 episodes were inadvertently destroyed, shortly after the series ended on CBS. Only a handful of black and white films (and "kinescopes") from several episodes are known to exist.

By all means, get the book! Get Biggers & Stover's book, too!!!!

[howilu]

I remember those cartoon shows, especially Underdog and Tennessee Tuxedo. Those the animation was limited, the voice talent was outstanding. Don Adams, prior to being well-known as Agent 86 on Get Smart used his distinctive voice for Tennessee Tuxedo. Wally Cox brought life to the rhyming Underdog and the versatile talents of Allen Swift and Kenny Delmar added a lot to the episodes.

[MrCleveland]

Anyone heard of Klondike Kat?

[Rezny@gmail.com]

Oh yeah.And the animal he always chased,Savoir-Faire the mouse "Savoir Faire is everywhere."Klondike Kat always said,"I'm gonna make mincemeat out of that mouse."

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...and "Go-Go Gophers" were originally part of the 1966-'67 edition of "THE UNDERDOG SHOW" when it moved from CBS to NBC (on programming executive Fred Silverman's suggestion; originally, repeats of "Tooter & Mr. Wizard" and "The Hunter" [from "KING LEONARDO"] were part of "UNDERDOG"'s first two seasons). Klondike's other catchphrase was "Klondike Kat ALWAYS gets his mouse!". To which his superior, Major Minor, would sometimes add at the end of an episode, "...and sometimes, his Major!".

[tv star collector]

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

Anyone heard of Klondike Kat?

Klondike Kat was voiced by Mort Marshall, who was also the Trix Rabbit and
Stanley Livingstone, on Tennessee Tuxedo. Other voices in that segment were provided by Sandy Becker (Savoir Fare) and George S. Irving
(Major Minor and the narrator).

[comedyfreak]

I love these cartoons my friend just gave me an Underdog dvd.

[KurtfromPitts]

I remember all of those. I think TTV is one of the most underrated cartoon studios of all.

[comedyfreak]

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...and "Go-Go Gophers" were originally part of the 1966-'67 edition of "THE UNDERDOG SHOW" when it moved from CBS to NBC (on programming executive Fred Silverman's suggestion; originally, repeats of "Tooter & Mr. Wizard" and "The Hunter" [from "KING LEONARDO"] were part of "UNDERDOG"'s first two seasons). Klondike's other catchphrase was "Klondike Kat ALWAYS gets his mouse!". To which his superior, Major Minor, would sometimes add at the end of an episode, "...and sometimes, his Major!".

Don't forget savoir Fair is everywhere.

[ComedyGuy]

Does anyone remember Tooter Turtle ???

The hapless turtle kept wanting to be some
occupation, which Mr. Wizard would obligingly turn him into. After
learning about the occupation, the turtle would get into trouble, shout
"Help me, Mr. Wizard! Help me!", and the wizard would chant in his German accent
"Drizzle-Drazzle Drizzle-Drome, Time for this vun to come home".

[MickeyMac]

Tennesse Tuxedu, Underdog, and King Leonardo. Now those were cartoons. Too bad the young kids are cheated out of watching these classic, and are stuck with this jive they call cartoons now.

[steevo]

I used to watch Underdog reruns every morning before going to Kindergarten. Those were the days. What memories.

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...Kenny Delmar was "Savoir Faire".