On a Fly

I dedicate this post to Starla. I haven’t heard from the good lady in Montana, so I hope all is well with her and Navar. She requested this character, and I am pleased to honor her request.

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More powerful than a speeding rocket and faster than a beam of light.

No flypaper can hold him and no insecticide can stop him.

Factoids
Produced by Hal Seeger Productions

Debuted October 9, 1965 on ABC

First episode Fly By Might (1964)

Last (27th) Martians Meet Their Match (1966)

Voiced by Bob McFadden

Never his own show, thus only as a segment in Milton the Monster show (but not in every show)

Milton made a brief cameo in one episode (“Ferocious Fly”) while Hirem is hallucinating

Personal Data
In reality, an ordinary housefly named Hirem

Hirem is mild-mannered

Hangs out at the Sugar Bowl

His girlfriend Flory

His best friend is Horsey

Hiram and Horsey Drinking

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Fearless Fly Bio
When danger arises, Hirem enters a nearby matchbox, and exits as Fearless Fly

Wears a red sweater and special glasses that provide millions of mega-tons of energy through the sensitive muscles in his head.”

Only weakness is losing his glasses: “Without my super high-powered glasses I’m helpless!”

His chief nemesis is the 900-year-old Dr. Goo Fee and his sidekick Gung Ho

Occasionally, Milton the Monster’s Professor Weirdo threatens, as does Ferocious Fly

I discovered these lyrics, but can’t find the tune.

Hey I’m in trouble
and I’m all by myself (so)
I’m callin’ to the fly
I need a little help (help)
Hey fearless, you know you’re really cool (cool)
You know you’re the one who makes me drool (drool)

His name is Fearless Fly
His name is Fearless Fly
His name is Fearless Fly
So fearless
(I’m fearless)

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On an Oyl that Isn’t Oil

Mae
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Olive Oyl is most commonly known as Popeye’s girlfriend

Appeared in nearly 25,000 comic strips, 750 cartoons, and countless comic books

Created by Elzie Crisler Segar in 1919 for Thimble Theater, and Olive was a main character for 10 years before Popeye’s 1929 appearance (yes, Popeye chased an older woman)

Before Popeye’s appearance in Thimble Theater, Harold Hamgravy was her man

Comic strip family: Cole (father), Nana (mother), Castor (brother), Diesel and Violet (nieces)

Appeared in Fleischer Studio’s first Technicolor short, Somewhere in Dreamland (1936), but without Popeye

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Most commonly voiced by character actress Mae Questel

Description: Very tall and very skinny with hair in a tight bun with a red bow, commonly wears short-sleeved solid-colored blouse and a black skirt with a line on the bottom that matches the blouse, and enormous feet, which aren’t big when she wears heels

Popeye’s comment about her measurements is, She is a perfect 57… 19-19-19.

She is, in a word – fickle

In Spain and Sweden she is known as Oliva, but as Olga in Finland

Common storyline: Bluto kidnaps her, and Popeye rescues her

In Robin-Hood Winked, her sex appeal exempted her from taxes

Quotes by Olive Oyl

• Oh, Popeye!
• Help! Popeye, save me!
• Goochy goo.
• Oh, woe is me! Oh, help! Saveth me! Saveth me!
• Keep away from me, you, you, you wolf in ship’s clothing!
• You, you sea monster! What have you done to my Popeye?
• Now, now, you let me outta here, you, you stone-age baboon!
• You wolf in cheap clothing!
• Oh, Popeye, you are the most, the absolute highest, the farthest out, the utmost, the kookiest. And besides that, you’re hip. Crazy and cool, real cool!

… and Olive Oyl paved the way for female politicians

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… and enjoy the one from the black and white days

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On Variety Show Saturday

I wanted to try something different for today. Besides, I don’t want to mess up a Saturday Morning Classic Cartoon post!

Because I haven’t tried the time/scheduled post function, this weekend is a good time to try. Therefore, wherever you are at whatever time, and no matter the mood, there’s probably something below to strike your fancy.  Watch as many as you want. Return at different part of your day. Nonetheless, but I want to know: What did you watch?

For those needing the Saturday morning cartoon fix, watch one of the all-time, great introductions

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One of my favorite overtures, the very moving Festive Overture

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Get some energy with Riverdance

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Perhaps you prefer a graceful trip around the dance floor

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Enjoy the pleasant tones of a choir and orchestra version of Call Me Maybe

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Jump on for a quick tour of the city of my birth

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Nothing like job interview tips from a hyper comic

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Maybe you want the soothing, mystical sounds of handbells

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Grins from Squirrels and Gangnam Style

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A great training video for learning how to twirl your tassels

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For those who have the time an interest, here is a Cincinnati tradition on Labor Day – a sensational 30-minute fireworks display choreographed to music

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On Chilly Willy

A diminutive penguin that is persistent in his quest for food and warmth

Created by Paul Smith for Walter Lantz (1953)

Appeared in 50 cartoon shorts

First appearance: Chilly Willy (1953) – Last Appearance: The Rude Intruder (1972)

First episode at the South Pole, but moved to Alaska (where his penguin type is not found) – also an episode was in Switzerland (definitely no penguins there)

Common nuisance to Smedly (dog), who commonly either throws Chilly out the door or takes far away – but they commonly end as friends

Friends to Maxie (polar bear) and Gooney (albatross also called Gooney Bird), but the three only appeared together in two episodes

Occasionally deals with hunter Colonel Pot Shot

Spoke in the first episode, but was mute in most cartoons in the 50s and early 60s. When we returned to speaking, he sounds like Elroy Jetson

Nominated for an Academy Award for The Legend of Rockabye Point (1954) – so watch below

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On Super Mouse

First appeared in Mouse of Tomorrow 1944, Last appearance Cat Alarm 1961 sandwiching 78 theatrical shorts

Created by Terrytoons (a 20th Century Fox studio)

Originally named Super Mouse (in the first 7 films)

Intentionally dressed similar to Superman

Voiced by Roy Hallee, Sr., Tom Morrison, and Patrick Pinney

Superpowers include flight, X-ray vision, super strength, telekinesis, turn back time

Two recurring female leads: Pearl Pureheart and Mitzi

Oil Can Harry is the common evil villain cat

Characters often sing opera songs

Received an Oscar nomination for Short Subject (Cartoon) in 1945

CBS bought the rights, and then aired Mighty Mouse Playhouse 1955-1967 with supporting characters including Heckle and Jeckle, Dinky Duck, and Gandy Goose

Mighty Mouse and the Mighty Heroes (Diaper Man, Cuckoo Man, Rope Man, Strong Man, and Tornado Man) aired for two years

The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle aired 1969-1981 (41 shows)

A Kentucky family (with too much time on their hands and obvious UK basketball fans) interpreted a scene as Mighty Mouse snorting cocaine, thus reporting this to the American Family Association, which demanded changes

“Thus ends the adventure of Super Mouse…he seen his job and he done it!”

Mighty Mouse and the Mighty Heroes Intro

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Barbershop-Style Introduction 1987-89

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