Your Handy Guide to those Miserable Meeces

A little while ago, there was a post of full credits for all but one the Huckleberry Hound cartoons not available on DVD. The three seasons were restored but never released, but they have surfaced on Italian TV.

Reader Adel Khan alerted me to the fact almost all of the last three seasons of Pixie and Dixie from the same Italian TV channel are on line. And just about all of them contain full credits. So I’m going to post them here as a handy—and more importantly, accurate—guide. There are a couple of surprises.

A pleasant discovery is that Manny Perez worked on Hi-Fido, the first meece cartoon of the second season of the Huck show. The bulk of Manny’s career was spent dealing with the grouchy Friz Freleng, first at Warners and later at DePatie-Freleng. Hi-Fido has a really unusual opening running cycle for Mr. Jinks which doesn’t look like the work of the regular animators at Hanna-Barbera and had left me wondering who it was that had animated it. Now we all know. There are some nice expressions on Jinks in it, too.

Something else the credits reveal is that Paul Sommer arrived in time to do layout work on the last two cartoons that aired in the 1959-60 season, though his name is misspelled as “Sommers.” Individual episode production numbers are unavailable, so it’s impossible to say when he arrived at the studio or if he replaced Bob Givens, who was hired at the start of the season but seems to have left early. Sommer was originally an East Coast artist in the 1930s who came west and co-directed at Columbia during the war years. He had an extremely long career at Hanna-Barbera. It was long enough to enable him to work on the pointless (and this may be the only time you read these words on this blog) Yo Yogi!, along with fellow 1940s MGM artists Carl Urbano, Ray Patterson and Ed Love. As Doggie Daddy would say: “How humiliatin’!” Sommer was an art director for T.V. Spots in 1957 so perhaps that’s where he was before arriving at H-B.

Once again, part way through the second season, Dan Gordon loses his credit and Alex Lovy replaces him, though I gather at the end of the half-hour shows, both were credited.

Somewhere during the second season, the copyright on the title cards change from “H-B Enterprises, Inc.” to “Hanna-Barbera Productions.” For you obsesso credit geeks, you’ll notice at the same time, there’s mention of the AFL-CIO below the IATSE logo.

After the third season, there’s a bit of confusion. As far as I know, I’ve listed the remaining nine cartoons in running order. But some have 1961 copyright dates, others have 1962. By contrast, the final Huck cartoons only have 1961 dates. Unfortunately, the U.S Copyright Office only has what appears to be the running order, and not the productions wherein they were first broadcast.

Don Messick and Daws Butler appeared on all cartoons. There were very few additional voice artists, but I’ve listed the ones I can remember.

Stock music was used in the first three seasons. The remaining ones used the Hoyt Curtin tracking library. Thus you’ll hear Flintstones (minor key version of the theme when Jinks looks at his mansion in Fresh Heir) and Top Cat cues (like in Meece Missiles when the meece are floating over city and the cop’s on the phone).

The production numbers are for the half-hour Huck show, not for the actual cartoon. It means the cartoons likely aren’t in order of production.

Yowp note: Three years after this post was made, credits surfaced for “Strong Mouse” from a South American TV source. They’ve been included.

Second Season 1959-60
HI-FIDO Production No. K-27
Animation – Manny Perez; Layout – Ed Benedict; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Story – Warren Foster; Story Sketches – Dan Gordon; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson. Copyright 1959 by H-B Enterprises, Inc.

RAPID ROBOT Production No. K-28
Animation – Carlo Vinci; Layout – Dick Bickenbach; Backgrounds – Joe Montell; Story – Warren Foster; Story Sketches – Dan Gordon; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1959 by H-B Enterprises, Inc.

SOUR PUSS Production No. K-29
Animation – Ed Love; Layout – Dick Bickenbach; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Story – Warren Foster; Story Sketches – Dan Gordon; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1959 by H-B Enterprises, Inc.

KING-SIZE POODLE Production No. K-30
Animation – Carlo Vinci; Layout – Dick Bickenbach; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Story – Warren Foster; Story Sketches – Dan Gordon; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Additional Voice: Hal Smith.
Copyright 1959 by H-B Enterprises, Inc.

MIGHTY MITE Production No. K-31
Animation – Lew Marshall; Layout – Ed Benedict; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1959 by H-B Enterprises, Inc.

BIRD-BRAINED CAT Production No. K-32
Animation – Don Patterson; Layout – Dick Bickenbach; Backgrounds – Bob Gentle; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1959 by H-B Enterprises, Inc.

BATTY BAT Production No. K-33
Animation – Don Williams; Layout – Walt Clinton; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1959 by H-B Enterprises, Inc.

LEND-LEASE MEECE Production No. K-34
Animation – George Nicholas; Layout – Walt Clinton; Backgrounds – Art Lozzi; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1959 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

A GOOD GOOD FAIRY Production No. K-35
Animation – Lew Marshall; Layout – Dick Bickenbach; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Additional Voice: Jean Vander Pyl.
Copyright 1959 by H-B Enterprises, Inc.

HEAVENS TO JINKSY Production No. K-36
Animation – Ken Muse; Layout – Ed Benedict; Backgrounds – Joe Montell; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1959 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

GOLDFISH FEVER Production No. K-37
Animation – Dick Lundy; Layout – Dick Bickenbach; Backgrounds – Bob Gentle; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1959 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

PUSHY CAT Production No. K-38
Animation – Carlo Vinci; Layout – Paul Sommer; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson. Copyright 1959 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

PUSS IN BOATS Production No. K-39
Animation – Dick Lundy; Layout – Paul Sommer; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1959 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Third Season 1960-61
PIED PIPER PIPE Production No. K-40
Animation – Don Patterson; Layout – Walt Clinton; Backgrounds – Bob Gentle; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

PRICE FOR MICE Production No. K-41
Animation – Ken Muse; Layout – Walt Clinton; Backgrounds – Fernando Montealegre; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

PLUTOCRAT CAT Production No. K-42
Animation – Lew Marshall; Layout – Walt Clinton; Backgrounds – Bob Gentle; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

HIGH JINKS Production No. K-43
Animation – Dick Lundy; Layout – Tony Rivera; Backgrounds – Art Lozzi; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

PARTY PEEPER JINKS Production No. K-44
Animation – Dick Lundy; Layout – Tony Rivera; Backgrounds – Bob Gentle; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

WOO FOR TWO Production No. K-45, Episode E-119.
Animation – Bob Carr; Layout – Tony Rivera; Backgrounds – Bob Gentle; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Additional Voice: Julie Bennett.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

A WISE QUACK Production No. K-46
Animation – Bob Carr; Layout – Paul Sommer; Background – Vera Hanson; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Additional Voice: Red Coffey.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

KIND TO MEECES WEEK Production No. K-47
Animation – Hicks Lokey; Layout – Paul Sommer; Background – Vera Hanson; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

MISSILE BOUND CAT Production No. K-48
Animation – Lew Marshall; Layout – Tony Rivera; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Story – Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

CREW CAT Production No. K-49
Animation – Brad Case; Layout – Paul Sommer; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

JINXED JINKS Production No. K-50
Animation – Art Davis; Layout – Paul Sommer; Background – Bob Gentle; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

LIGHT-HEADED CAT Production No. K-51
Animation – Lew Marshall; Layout – Paul Sommer; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

MOUSE FOR RENT Production No. K-52
Animation – Bob Carr; Layout – Tony Rivera; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – Alex Lovy; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Copyright 1960 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Fourth Season 1961-62
JINKS JINX
Animation – Emil Carle; Layout – Jack Huber; Backgrounds – Art Lozzi; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – Paul Sommer; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Music: Hoyt Curtin.
Copyright 1961 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

FRESH HEIR
Animation – La Verne Harding; Layout – Tony Rivera; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – Paul Sommer; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Music: Hoyt Curtin.
Copyright 1961 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

HOME FLEA (copyrighted as MIGHTY MITE)
Animation – John Boersma; Layout – James Carmichael; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – John Freeman; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Music: Hoyt Curtin.
Copyright 1962 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

BOMBAY MOUSE
Animation – John Boersma; Layout – Tony Rivera; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – Lew Marshall; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Music: Hoyt Curtin.
Copyright 1961 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

STRONG MOUSE (copyrighted as HERCULES)
Animation – Hicks Lokey; Layout – Tony Rivera; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – Art Davis; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Additional Voices: Doug Young.
Music: Hoyt Curtin.
Copyright 1961 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

MOUSE TRAPPED
Animation – Ken O’Brien; Layout – Lance Nolley; Backgrounds – Art Lozzi; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – John Freeman; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Music: Hoyt Curtin.
Copyright 1961 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

MAGICIAN JINKS
Animation – Ed Parks; Layout – Jerry Eisenberg; Backgrounds – Art Lozzi; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – John Freeman; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Music: Hoyt Curtin.
Copyright 1962 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

MEECE MISSILES
Animation – Carlo Vinci; Layout – Tony Rivera; Backgrounds – Dick Thomas; Written by Warren Foster; Story Direction – Paul Sommer; Titles – Lawrence Goble; Production Supervision – Howard Hanson.
Music: Hoyt Curtin.
Copyright 1962 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

HOMELESS JINKS
No credits (Music: Hoyt Curtin)

We hope the full run of Quick Draw McGraw cartoons in Italian (known for some reason as “Ernesto Sparalesto”) with credits surfaces to end a few more mysteries.