Vintage Cartoons. . . And "Vintage Movies"

 The cartoon "Tales of the Wizard of Oz" from 1961 is an animated television series based on L. Frank Baum's classic novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Here are some key points about the history of this cartoon:

1. Title and Release: The series was titled "Tales of the Wizard of Oz" and was first released in 1961. It is important to note that there were various adaptations and interpretations of "The Wizard of Oz" story in different animated formats over the years.

2. 
   Format: The cartoon was produced in an episodic format, likely with each episode depicting different adventures or stories within the larger narrative of "The Wizard of Oz."

3. Source Material: As mentioned, the source material for this cartoon is L. Frank Baum's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," which was first published in 1900. The story follows the adventures of Dorothy Gale in the magical Land of Oz.

4. Characters: The cartoon would have featured iconic characters from the original novel, including Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wizard of Oz himself, among others.

   
   
   

5. Style and Animation: The animation style of cartoons from this era often had a distinctive look. It would have been hand-drawn animation, reflecting the technology and artistic techniques prevalent in the early 1960s.

6. Cultural Impact: Animated adaptations of classic stories like "The Wizard of Oz" have often played a significant role in introducing these tales to new generations. The cartoon likely contributed to the ongoing popularity of the Wizard of Oz story.

7. 🙈🙉🙊/BJ

This Cartoon Preceeded The Movie Classic (1930's).... The Wizard Of Oz

Here's a brief overview of some cartoons from the 1950s to 2005 that, despite their initial promise, did not last very long:

1. 
   
   "Crusader Rabbit" (1950-1952): Often considered one of the earliest animated television series, "Crusader Rabbit" featured the adventures of a resourceful rabbit and his friend. While groundbreaking in its format, the show faced financial challenges and lasted only a couple of years.

2. 
   
   "The Alvin Show" (1961-1962): Based on the popular Chipmunks characters, "The Alvin Show" brought Alvin, Simon, and Theodore to the small screen. Despite the success of the characters in other mediums, the show was short-lived, lasting only one season.

3. 
   
   "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour" (1968-1970): A mix of live-action and animation, "The Banana Splits" featured four costumed animal characters. Although memorable, the show faced cancellation after only two seasons.

4. 
   
   "Josie and the Pussycats" (1970-1971): A Hanna-Barbera creation, "Josie and the Pussycats" followed the adventures of an all-female band. Despite its catchy music and engaging characters, the series ended after one season.

5. 
   
   "The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan" (1972): Attempting to capitalize on the success of detective cartoons, this series featured a Chinese-American family solving mysteries. However, it failed to gain sustained popularity and was canceled after one season.

6. "Fish Police" (1992): As mentioned earlier, "Fish Police" was an animated series set in a world of anthropomorphic fish. Despite its unique premise and star-studded cast, the show was canceled after only a few episodes.

7. "God, the Devil and Bob" (2000): An animated sitcom exploring theological themes, "God, the Devil and Bob" faced controversy and was canceled after airing only a handful of episodes.

8. "The Oblongs" (2001-2002): Darkly comedic and satirical, "The Oblongs" depicted the lives of a deformed family living in a polluted valley. Despite its unique style, the show struggled to find a consistent audience and ended after one season.

9. "Home Movies" (1999-2004): While "Home Movies" had a longer run than some others on this list, it faced cancellation and revival challenges throughout its five seasons. The show gained a cult following but struggled with network support.

These cartoons, though short-lived, contributed to the diverse landscape of animated television over the years. Some of them have found a second life as cult classics, demonstrating the enduring impact of their unique storytelling and animation styles.

 

The Fantastic Four, a team of superheroes created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, first appeared in "The Fantastic Four" #1, published by Marvel Comics in November 1961. The team consisted of four individuals with unique superpowers: Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards),

who could stretch his body like rubber; the Invisible Woman (Susan Storm), who could become invisible and create force fields; the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), who could generate and control fire; and the Thing (Ben Grimm),

a rock-like creature with superhuman strength.

Over the years, the Fantastic Four became one of Marvel's most iconic superhero teams, and in the late 1960s and early 1970s, they made their way into animated television.

Here is a brief history of some of the notable Fantastic Four animated series:

1. The Fantastic Four (1967-1968): The first animated adaptation of the Fantastic Four aired in 1967. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and ran for 20 episodes. The show was relatively faithful to the early comic book stories, featuring the team battling various villains from their rogues' gallery.

2. Fantastic Four (1978): This series, produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, was an animated adaptation that aired as part of the "Marvel Super Heroes" programming block. The animation was limited, but it provided a glimpse of the Fantastic Four's adventures for a new generation of viewers.

3. The Fantastic Four (1994-1996): One of the more well-known animated adaptations, this series ran for two seasons and a total of 26 episodes. It closely followed storylines from the comics and introduced characters such as the Skrulls, the Inhumans, and the Silver Surfer.

4. Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes (2006-2007): This series adopted a more stylized animation approach and modernized the team's origin story. It featured 26 episodes and focused on both traditional villains and newer threats from the Marvel Universe.

While these are some of the primary animated adaptations, the Fantastic Four has appeared in various other Marvel animated projects, including guest appearances in series like "Spider-Man: The Animated Series" and "The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes."

It's worth noting that the Fantastic Four has not been as prominently featured in animated form as some other Marvel characters, but they remain integral to the Marvel Comics legacy and have left a lasting impact on superhero storytelling.

I think this is one the best action cartoons that ever came out. (BJ)

 

"Spy vs. Spy" is a wordless comic strip that features two characters, both dressed in identical black and white spy attire, trying to outsmart and harm each other with elaborate and often absurd booby traps and schemes. The strip was created by Cuban cartoonist Antonio Prohías and first appeared in Mad magazine in 1961.