I’ve completed the sixties set and (A) it meets or exceeds (mostly meets) my expectations based on the previous set and (B) does not fall short of the previous set in any unexpected way. Personal preference of shows selected, notwithstanding. Everyone’s mileage will vary on THAT but, overall, they did a fine job with it.
There are two areas in which it is significantly improved over its predecessor.
One is in MENU NAVIGATION – that allows you to view the shows as a WHOLE and also as individual cartoons. Volume One, in most cases, returned you to the menu each time a cartoon ended – rather than allow you to watch the complete show without having to work your remote. Thanks to WHV for recognizing that problem!
Two is that it is INTERSTITIAL HEAVEN! So many lost or forgotten little bits of shows turn up here!
The interstitials for BOTH Quick Draw McGraw Shows – where Quick Draw introduces Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy and Snooper and Blabber – were missing… BUT the full credits to each of the three cartoons (with the writing credits for Michael Maltese and other animation credits) were there.
They also have the FULL original Kellogg’s opening and closing, which were trimmed from the shows on Volume One.
“The Bugs Bunny Show” has SOME, but not all, of the interstitials. Still very worthwhile!
“The Porky Pig Show” has many of the same interstitials as did Volume One – but there is one different one of Porky and Daffy (existing footage from a McKimson cartoon) and there is what appears to be one that might have been originally produced for “The Bugs Bunny Show” (of Bugs playing a piano – on the “stage background” for “The Bugs Bunny Show” that sets up “Baton Bunny”!
“The Road Runner Show” has many (about five) Road Runner and Wyle E. Coyote interstitials that bookend all of the commercial breaks. They appear to have been done by Rudy Larriva, who WAS doing the Road Runner theatrical cartoons at the time, and have Bill Lava music as did the contemporary cartoons. Yes, I know how most folks feel about Larriva and Lava vs. Chuck Jones and Carl Stalling (So do I!) but they are interesting “lost” bits – and have value in that alone!
On the minus side, about the last two seconds of “The Wild Chase” is cut off (where “THE END” is spelled out by the final explosion – compare it with your LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION Volume 4. Though I DO believe that’s the way it was shown on “The Road Runner Show” back in the day – and, frankly, I doubt anyone really cares if that one is slightly nicked, if it reflects the Sat AM TV experience.
“Zip and Snort” is very washed-out in places, but the other two cartoons are kinda okay.
Atom Ant, surprisingly, has two interstitials – one for Atom Ant and one for Precious Pupp!
And, best for last, Tom and Jerry has the original sixties opening and closings! The opening is mostly stock clips from the Hanna and Barbera days – with an ending gag produced by the Chuck Jones Unit, which was making the current theatricals. There are also a few Jones Unit interstitials throughout the show! So, here’s your chance to see some lost Jones (or Levittow/Noble) animation!
I recall more than one opening credit sequence… distinctly one that ended with Jerry flying a “rocket-powered cream pie” (!) into Tom’s face with the “Tom and Jerry” logo appearing over that! So, there are more such goodies that can appear in future volumes.
As with many of you, I’d prefer season or series sets of many of these properties – over this format (Quick Draw Mc Graw, The Bugs Bunny Show, The Herculoids, and Peter Potamus above all!).
BUT, in my view, Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960s Volume Two is improved in certain ways (like less double dipping, navigation, and interstitials) over its predecessor – and I look forward to Volume Three!
There are two areas in which it is significantly improved over its predecessor.
One is in MENU NAVIGATION – that allows you to view the shows as a WHOLE and also as individual cartoons. Volume One, in most cases, returned you to the menu each time a cartoon ended – rather than allow you to watch the complete show without having to work your remote. Thanks to WHV for recognizing that problem!
Two is that it is INTERSTITIAL HEAVEN! So many lost or forgotten little bits of shows turn up here!
The interstitials for BOTH Quick Draw McGraw Shows – where Quick Draw introduces Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy and Snooper and Blabber – were missing… BUT the full credits to each of the three cartoons (with the writing credits for Michael Maltese and other animation credits) were there.
They also have the FULL original Kellogg’s opening and closing, which were trimmed from the shows on Volume One.
“The Bugs Bunny Show” has SOME, but not all, of the interstitials. Still very worthwhile!
“The Porky Pig Show” has many of the same interstitials as did Volume One – but there is one different one of Porky and Daffy (existing footage from a McKimson cartoon) and there is what appears to be one that might have been originally produced for “The Bugs Bunny Show” (of Bugs playing a piano – on the “stage background” for “The Bugs Bunny Show” that sets up “Baton Bunny”!
“The Road Runner Show” has many (about five) Road Runner and Wyle E. Coyote interstitials that bookend all of the commercial breaks. They appear to have been done by Rudy Larriva, who WAS doing the Road Runner theatrical cartoons at the time, and have Bill Lava music as did the contemporary cartoons. Yes, I know how most folks feel about Larriva and Lava vs. Chuck Jones and Carl Stalling (So do I!) but they are interesting “lost” bits – and have value in that alone!
On the minus side, about the last two seconds of “The Wild Chase” is cut off (where “THE END” is spelled out by the final explosion – compare it with your LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION Volume 4. Though I DO believe that’s the way it was shown on “The Road Runner Show” back in the day – and, frankly, I doubt anyone really cares if that one is slightly nicked, if it reflects the Sat AM TV experience.
“Zip and Snort” is very washed-out in places, but the other two cartoons are kinda okay.
Atom Ant, surprisingly, has two interstitials – one for Atom Ant and one for Precious Pupp!
And, best for last, Tom and Jerry has the original sixties opening and closings! The opening is mostly stock clips from the Hanna and Barbera days – with an ending gag produced by the Chuck Jones Unit, which was making the current theatricals. There are also a few Jones Unit interstitials throughout the show! So, here’s your chance to see some lost Jones (or Levittow/Noble) animation!
I recall more than one opening credit sequence… distinctly one that ended with Jerry flying a “rocket-powered cream pie” (!) into Tom’s face with the “Tom and Jerry” logo appearing over that! So, there are more such goodies that can appear in future volumes.
As with many of you, I’d prefer season or series sets of many of these properties – over this format (Quick Draw Mc Graw, The Bugs Bunny Show, The Herculoids, and Peter Potamus above all!).
BUT, in my view, Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960s Volume Two is improved in certain ways (like less double dipping, navigation, and interstitials) over its predecessor – and I look forward to Volume Three!
