Waiting 'round the bend...my huckleberry friend

The 1968 NBC series THE NEW ADVENTURES OF HUCK FINN combining live action and animation was later featured in the Banana Splits & Friends syndicated package of the 1970s.

The series featured Kevin Schultz (one half of an acting twin brother duo) as Tom Sawyer, Lu Ann Haslam (this was pretty much her only role) as Becky Thatcher, and Michael Shea as Huck Finn (he has been on the LAPD for decades).

This intro featuring Ted "Lurch" Cassidy as Injun Joe was originally shown at the beginning of each episode. It cleverly explained that the trio was chased by escaped murderer Injun Joe who vowed to follow them anywhere they went -- even in cartoonland where they ended up with Injun Joe (or his animated doppelganger) as the weekly villain. Hanna-Barbera Productions gave viewers 20 entertaining episodes with many directed by Hollingsworth Morse - director of F-Troop, H.R. Pufnstuf and many other 60s & 70s classics.

I loved watching this filmed series - heavy on the 60s blue-screen and optical printer effects. It looked so fun to comfortably run around barefoot in exotic locations such as Egyptian desert, Aztec jungles, and (in one episode) inside a whale's belly.

The Pussycat Scat

Last Friday, Donna and I saw Jackie Joseph walking around at a TV Industry event and I informed DL "that's Audrey from Corman's Little Shop of Horrors and 'Melody' from Josie & The Pussycats." We heard her giggle to the folks in front of us and got a bit of that old Melody charm. I so wanted to call her a "bubble head" in my best bitchy Alexandra (Sherry Alberoni) voice - or ask her to leave my outgoing cel phone message, but I didn't. These people are superstars to me. They taught me how to run from villains to a pop beat - and for that I will be forever grateful. Did you know that if you and your friends stop, freeze and pose like a statue - the bad guys will think you ARE a statue and just run past you? It's true.

Ps - The cartoon's Josie voice was done by Janet Waldo (she played the annoying teen spaz who loved Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy. Her voice grates on me. She was also frantic teen Judy Jetson).

The singers for J&PCs: Cathy Dougher (Josie) and Patrice Holloway (Valerie) and Cherie Moor aka Cheryl Ladd (Melody). Holloway actually did most of the heavy lifting on the vocals. Thanks to Rhino Records I can listen to their hits as I drive around town.