"The Banana Splits Adventure Hour" (1968) TV series 1968-1970

Directors:

Tom Boutross
Richard Donner

Writers:

Neal Barbera (animation story) (1968-1970)
Walter Black (animation story) (1968-1970)

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

7 September 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Animation | Family | Comedy

Tagline:

A mess of fun for everyone!

Plot:

Join the Banana Splits gang Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky as they bring you fun, songs, and cartoons.

Plot Keywords:

Musketeer | Queen | Lion | Surrealism | Elephant

Cast

Frank Aletter	...	Prof. Irwin Hayden (4 episodes)
Jeffrey Brock	...	Fleegle the Dog (in the suit) (4 episodes)
Kim Kahana	...	Chongo (4 episodes)
Terence Henry		(4 episodes)
Rockne Tarkington	...	Elihu Morgan (4 episodes)
Dan Owen	...	Drooper the Lion (in the suit) (4 episodes, 1968-1969)
Ronne Troup	...	Leslie Hayden (4 episodes, 1968-1970)
Robert Towers		(4 episodes)
Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Lincoln 'Link' Simmons (4 episodes, 1968-1970)
Henry Corden	...	Bez / ... (4 episodes)
Don Messick	...	Aramis / ... (4 episodes)
Paul Frees	...	Evil Vangore / ... (4 episodes, 1968-1970)
Jay North	...	Prince Turhan (4 episodes)
Frank Gerstle	...	Raseem (4 episodes)
John Stephenson	...	Bakaar of the Arabian Knights / ... (4 episodes)
Shari Lewis	...	Princess Nidor (4 episodes, 1968-1970)
Jean Vander Pyl	...	Floral Rugg / ... (4 episodes)
Daws Butler	...	Bingo (4 episodes)
Allan Melvin	...	Drooper (4 episodes)
Rick Lancelot		(4 episodes)
Thomas Poole		(4 episodes)
Jay Larrimore	...	Snorky the Elephant / ... (4 episodes)
Robert Smith		(4 episodes)
Paul Winchell	...	Fleegle (4 episodes)

Also Known As:

The Banana Splits and Friends Show (USA) (syndication title)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-G | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Coney Island Amusement Park - 6201 Kellogg Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Company:

Hanna-Barbera Productions

Trivia:

Besides the "Banana Splits" live-action comedy and music skits, the other segments of the show were: "The Arabian Knights" (animated) "The Three Musketeers" (animated) "Micro-Ventures" (animated) "Danger Island" (live action) Later seasons also featured re-runs of segments from "The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1968), "The Adventures of Gulliver" (1968), and "The Atom Ant Show" (1965).

Quotes:

Fleegle: [at the end of the opening theme] The Banana Splits presents... The Banana Splits!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ricky Gervais Meets... Garry Shandling (2006) (TV)

Pop Group with Costumed Animal Schtick

This was basically, "The Monkees" for kids with cartoons and a weekly serial tossed in for fun. Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In was an obvious influence as well with the pop-art sets, patterns and color schemes. Paul Winchell's voice (Jerry Mahoney and Mortimer Snurd - a popular Ventriloquist/Dummy act of the time) as Fleagle was fun. Winchell was also the voice of "Tigger" from Disney's "Winnie the Pooh" and many other cartoon voices, including the leader of the "Anthill Mob" in "The Adventures of Penelope Pitstop." Daws Butler's voice (Huckleberry Hound and many others) as Bingo was great too.

I had to see reruns of this show to remember it was Jan Michael Vincent's t.v. debut in the "Danger Island" segment.

"Chongo" (Uh Oh) got a little irritating with his constant bird sounds in place of real language.

The cartoons were fun - Three Musketeers and Arabian Nights.

It was an obvious Hannah-Barbera effort.

Lots of fun for kids. Teens too.

GREAT theme song (La la la, la la la la)!