Happy 50th, moose and squirrel! - Never Forgotten: a Foster's Home Community

Ccook50 · 11-19-2009, 11:00 AM

50 years ago today, Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose made their first appearances on TV. Rocky & His Friends premiered on ABC and aired 15 minutes a day Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 PM Eastern. It was retooled in 1961 and aired in syndication as The Rocky Show (15 minutes) and on NBC prime time as The Bullwinkle Show (30 minutes). It was first developed in 1955 after Ward left Jerry Fairbanks Productions (where he co-created Crusader Rabbit, TV's first made-for-TV cartoon show) under the title The Frostbite Falls Review.

In 1961, creator Jay Ward stirred two controversies. The first came when he went to Washington seeking statehood for Moosylvania, an impoverished island he bought off one of the Great Lakes (it was also the landmark in two storylines of the show). Unfortunately, he arrived with this mission in the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and he was ejected from the White House grounds.

The second controversy came when he developed the "Kirward Derby" in a story arc. The Derby made whoever wore it the smartest person in the world. There was a TV personality at the time, Durward Kirby (second banana to Allen Funt on Candid Camera), and he took offense to the name Kirward Derby. He threatened to sue Ward, who replied "Sue us. Please. We need the publicity."

Lynnie · 11-19-2009, 07:07 PM

Aw, happy birthday Rocky and Bullwinkle! I hope 50 treats you both well!

Believe it or not, I've never had much of a chance to really watch this cartoon, but I've wanted to for many years. My mother grew up with it though, and loved it.

Howard · 11-19-2009, 07:48 PM

"Hey Rocky, watch me pull 50 years out of my Hat!" Bless you Jay Ward!

Another Castle · 11-20-2009, 04:51 AM

I think Rocky and Bullwinkle are pretty much unheard of in Europe, but with the exception of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adv...and_Bullwinkle, made in 2000, and starring one of the greatest actors of his generation, Robert de.Nero! I enjoyed it when it came out, but is perhaps considered the low point of his career.

koosie · 11-20-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ccook50

In 1961, creator Jay Ward stirred two controversies. The first came when he went to Washington seeking statehood for Moosylvania, an impoverished island he bought off one of the Great Lakes (it was also the landmark in two storylines of the show). Unfortunately, he arrived with this mission in the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and he was ejected from the White House grounds.

Hahaha! Is that true? I soooooo admire that! Especially the last bit.

I know this toon from early morning saturday TV when I was a kid. You'd see all sorts of things from America's cartoon past from great stuff like these guys, Batfink, Jetsons, Secret Squirrel etc. All sorts of things. There was this really odd thing called Wait till your father goes home that just seemed oddly mawkish and ill-suited to the task of entertaining excitable children on a weekend morning.

Anyway happy birfday Rocky & Bullwinkle! That movie was ok! I liked De Niro in it, he made me laugh. I'll admit I didn't sit through the whole thing.

Ccook50 · 11-21-2009, 02:41 PM

Actually, Wait Till Your Father Gets Home was intended as an adult cartoon and aired weeknights during what was called the "prime time access" period. The networks had started prime time programming at 7:30 PM Eastern, and in 1971 they gave the 7:30 time period to affiliates to air syndicated programming. First-run shows made specifically for syndication were quickly made, and Wait Till Your Father Gets Home came about in 1972. Hanna-Barbera created it and it was animated in Canada and Australia.

And a belated happy 50th to H-B's Quick Draw McGraw, which premiered in syndication on September 29, 1959.

bloonuggets · 11-26-2009, 01:28 PM

Ah, moose and squirrel turn 50? Get the exploding cake out. Fearless Leader's gonna love it!

Another Castle · 11-26-2009, 01:51 PM

Like I said, my only exposure to R+B (no no, not the music!

) is that movie- is there any old video of them I should look up?

Ccook50 · 11-27-2009, 04:28 AM

Here's episode two of the very first story arc, "Jet Formula." Look past the wonky animation (it was on ABC, which was an also-ran in the late 50s and couldn't pop for better animation) for it was the characters and stories that steered the show. It's on YouTube, and there's many, many more episodes.

11-19-2009, 11:00 AM	#1
Ccook50 Foster's Legend Don't forget to turn left at Greenland Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 510	Happy 50th, moose and squirrel! 50 years ago today, Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose made their first appearances on TV. Rocky & His Friends premiered on ABC and aired 15 minutes a day Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 PM Eastern. It was retooled in 1961 and aired in syndication as The Rocky Show (15 minutes) and on NBC prime time as The Bullwinkle Show (30 minutes). It was first developed in 1955 after Ward left Jerry Fairbanks Productions (where he co-created Crusader Rabbit, TV's first made-for-TV cartoon show) under the title The Frostbite Falls Review. In 1961, creator Jay Ward stirred two controversies. The first came when he went to Washington seeking statehood for Moosylvania, an impoverished island he bought off one of the Great Lakes (it was also the landmark in two storylines of the show). Unfortunately, he arrived with this mission in the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and he was ejected from the White House grounds. The second controversy came when he developed the "Kirward Derby" in a story arc. The Derby made whoever wore it the smartest person in the world. There was a TV personality at the time, Durward Kirby (second banana to Allen Funt on Candid Camera), and he took offense to the name Kirward Derby. He threatened to sue Ward, who replied "Sue us. Please. We need the publicity." __________________ "God forgot to make stupidity painful." --Ivan Stang (Church of the SubGenius) Last edited by Ccook50; 11-19-2009 at 11:06 AM.

11-19-2009, 07:07 PM	#2
Lynnie Lady of Brightwood Dream maker, wherever you're going I'm going your way Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Emerald City, in the Evergreen State, where everything is GREEN Posts: 2,419	Aw, happy birthday Rocky and Bullwinkle! I hope 50 treats you both well! Believe it or not, I've never had much of a chance to really watch this cartoon, but I've wanted to for many years. My mother grew up with it though, and loved it. __________________ MySpace-Facebook-LiveJournal-Y!Profile-Dragon Cave

11-20-2009, 04:51 AM	#4
Another Castle At Home Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 238	I think Rocky and Bullwinkle are pretty much unheard of in Europe, but with the exception of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adv...and_Bullwinkle, made in 2000, and starring one of the greatest actors of his generation, Robert de.Nero! I enjoyed it when it came out, but is perhaps considered the low point of his career. __________________ What do you mean our Princess is in...... Alpha November Oscar Tango Hotel Echo Romeo Charlie Alpha Sierra Tango Lima Echo

11-21-2009, 02:41 PM	#6
Ccook50 Foster's Legend Don't forget to turn left at Greenland Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 510	Actually, Wait Till Your Father Gets Home was intended as an adult cartoon and aired weeknights during what was called the "prime time access" period. The networks had started prime time programming at 7:30 PM Eastern, and in 1971 they gave the 7:30 time period to affiliates to air syndicated programming. First-run shows made specifically for syndication were quickly made, and Wait Till Your Father Gets Home came about in 1972. Hanna-Barbera created it and it was animated in Canada and Australia. And a belated happy 50th to H-B's Quick Draw McGraw, which premiered in syndication on September 29, 1959. __________________ "God forgot to make stupidity painful." --Ivan Stang (Church of the SubGenius) Last edited by Ccook50; 11-21-2009 at 02:41 PM.

11-26-2009, 01:28 PM	#7
bloonuggets Take a bow, Bloo. You deserve it. FHfIF: 8/11/04 - 5/3/09 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Philly (There is NO East Philly for the record) Posts: 755	Ah, moose and squirrel turn 50? Get the exploding cake out. Fearless Leader's gonna love it! __________________ Editor of tv.com's FHFIF pages Thank you Craig for the ride. We all will miss you.

11-19-2009, 07:48 PM	#3
Howard Desert Rat I believe in Babo! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: AZ desert Posts: 1,356	"Hey Rocky, watch me pull 50 years out of my Hat!" Bless you Jay Ward!

11-26-2009, 01:51 PM	#8
Another Castle At Home Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 238	Like I said, my only exposure to R+B (no no, not the music!) is that movie- is there any old video of them I should look up? __________________ What do you mean our Princess is in...... Alpha November Oscar Tango Hotel Echo Romeo Charlie Alpha Sierra Tango Lima Echo

11-27-2009, 04:28 AM	#9
Ccook50 Foster's Legend Don't forget to turn left at Greenland Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 510	Here's episode two of the very first story arc, "Jet Formula." Look past the wonky animation (it was on ABC, which was an also-ran in the late 50s and couldn't pop for better animation) for it was the characters and stories that steered the show. It's on YouTube, and there's many, many more episodes. __________________ "God forgot to make stupidity painful." --Ivan Stang (Church of the SubGenius)