''The Banana Splits'' is an American television
variety show
Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical theatre, musical performances, sketch comedy, magic (illusion), magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is ...
produced by
Hanna-Barbera Productions
Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ) was an American animation studio and production company which was active from 1957 to 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera following the decision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to c ...
and featuring the Banana Splits, a fictional rock band composed of four costumed animal
characters
Character or Characters may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''Character'' (novel), a 1936 Dutch novel by Ferdinand Bordewijk
* ''Characters'' (Theophrastus), a classical Greek set of character sketches attributed to The ...
in red marching band hats with yellow plumes. The costumed hosts of the show are Fleegle (
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
,
vocals
Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...
), Bingo (
drums
A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
, vocals), Drooper (
bass
Bass or Basses may refer to:
Fish
* Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species
Music
* Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range:
** Bass (instrument), including:
** Acoustic bass gui ...
, vocals) and Snorky (
keyboards
Keyboard may refer to:
Text input
* Keyboard, part of a typewriter
* Computer keyboard
** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping
** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware
Music
* Musi ...
,
effects
Effect may refer to:
* A result or change of something
** List of effects
** Cause and effect, an idiom describing causality
Pharmacy and pharmacology
* Drug effect, a change resulting from the administration of a drug
** Therapeutic effect, a ...
).
The series ran for 31 episodes on
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...
Saturday mornings from September 7, 1968, to September 5, 1970, and in syndication from 1970 to 1982. The show features the Banana Splits band as live-action costumed characters, who host both live-action and animated segments within their program. The costumes and sets were designed by
Sid and Marty Krofft
Sid Krofft (born July 30, 1929) and Marty Krofft (born April 9, 1937) are a Canadian sibling team of television creators and puppeteers. Through their production company, Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures, they have made numerous children's television a ...
, and the series' sponsor was
Kellogg's Cereals
The Kellogg Company, doing business as Kellogg's, is an American multinational food manufacturing company headquartered in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States. Kellogg's produces cereal and convenience foods, including crackers and toaste ...
.
A feature-length comedy horror film adaptation called ''
The Banana Splits Movie
''The Banana Splits Movie'' is a 2019 American comedy horror film directed by Danishka Esterhazy from a screenplay written by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas. Serving as a horror reimagining of Hanna-Barbera's 1968 children's television series ''The ...
'' premiered at the
San Diego Comic-Con
San Diego Comic-Con International is a comic book convention and nonprofit multi-genre entertainment event held annually in San Diego, California since 1970. The name, as given on its website, is Comic-Con International: San Diego; but it is co ...
on July 18, 2019, and was released worldwide on August 27, 2019.
History
In 1967,
William Hanna
William Denby Hanna (July 14, 1910 – March 22, 2001) was an American animator and cartoonist who was the creator of ''Tom and Jerry'' as well as the voice actor for the two title characters. Alongside Joseph Barbera, he also founded the ani ...
and
Joseph Barbera
Joseph Roland Barbera ( ; ; March 24, 1911 – December 18, 2006) was an American animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist who co-founded the animation studio and production company Hanna-Barbera.
Born to Italian im ...
approached
Sid and Marty Krofft
Sid Krofft (born July 30, 1929) and Marty Krofft (born April 9, 1937) are a Canadian sibling team of television creators and puppeteers. Through their production company, Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures, they have made numerous children's television a ...
to design costumes for a television show, featuring animated and live-action segments, hosted by a
bubblegum rock
Bubblegum (also called bubblegum pop) is pop music in a catchy and upbeat style that is considered disposable, contrived, or marketed for children and adolescents. The term also refers to a rock and pop subgenre, originating in the United States ...
group of
anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology.
Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics t ...
characters. The format of the show was loosely based on ''
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' (often simply referred to as ''Laugh-In'') is an American sketch comedy television program that ran for 140 episodes from January 22, 1968, to March 12, 1973, on the NBC television network, hosted by comedians Da ...
'', and the characters appeared on one episode of that show. ''The Banana Splits Adventure Hour'' premiered on
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...
on September 7, 1968.
In his autobiography, Barbera said that the show was originally going to be called ''The Banana Bunch'', but permission could not be obtained from the author of a children's book by that same title.
The Krofft brothers credit the series' success for making possible their own entry into television, ''
H.R. Pufnstuf
''H.R. Pufnstuf'' is a children's television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in the United States. It was the first Krofft live-action, life-sized-puppet program (not including their previous work with the Hanna-Barbera program ''The Ba ...
''. NBC picked up the Krofft series, which was launched on August 30, 1969, during an hour-long special hosted by the Banana Splits.
The show's live-action segment ''
Danger Island'', a
cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode or a film of serialized fiction. A cliffhang ...
serial, as well as the short-lived ''
Micro Ventures'', a part-live action, part-animated series consisting of only four episodes, ran alongside the animated segments ''
Arabian Knights
''Arabian Knights'' is an animated segment of ''The Banana Splits Adventure Hour'', created by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series is based on the '' Arabian Nights'', a classic work of Middle Eastern literature. The cast includes Henry Corden, ...
'' and ''
The Three Musketeers
''The Three Musketeers'' (french: Les Trois Mousquetaires, links=no, ) is a French historical adventure novel written in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is in the swashbuckler genre, which has heroic, chivalrous swordsmen who fight f ...
''.
Actors
Jan-Michael Vincent
Jan-Michael Vincent (July 15, 1944 – February 10, 2019) was an American actor known for portraying helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke in the TV series ''Airwolf'' (1984–1987) and the protagonist, Matt Johnson, in the 1978 film ''Big W ...
(billed as Michael Vincent) and
Ronne Troup
Ronne Troup is an American actress and educator whose acting roles include Polly Williams Douglas on the sitcom ''My Three Sons''.
Biography
Troup is the daughter of musician/actor Bobby Troup, and his first wife, Cynthia Hare, and the stepdaugh ...
appeared in the live-action component ''Danger Island''. All the live-action material filmed for the series' first season, including the ''Banana Splits'' and ''Danger Island'' segments, was directed by
Richard Donner
Richard Donner (born Richard Donald Schwartzberg; April 24, 1930 – July 5, 2021) was an American filmmaker whose notable works included some of the most financially-successful films during the New Hollywood era. According to film historian M ...
.
Jason Ankeny of
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
has blamed the show's drastic ratings drop during the second season on the failure of production staff to change backgrounds or set designs, a situation that misled young viewers into believing that they were watching reruns instead of new segments.
Synopsis
Each show represented a meeting of the "Banana Splits Club", and the
wraparounds featured the adventures of the club members, who acted as a musical quartet meant to be reminiscent of
the Monkees
The Monkees were an American rock and pop band, formed in Los Angeles in 1966, whose lineup consisted of the American actor/musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork alongside English actor/singer Davy Jones. The group was conc ...
.
The Splits' segments, including songs of the week and comedy skits, served as wraparounds for a number of individual segments.
For the first season, some of the live-action segments—specifically those used during the musical segments—were shot at
Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas is a 212-acre (86 ha) amusement park, in Arlington, Texas, east of Fort Worth, Texas, Fort Worth and west of Dallas, Texas, Dallas. It is the first amusement park in the Six Flags chain, and features themed areas and attracti ...
, an amusement park located in
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, located in Tarrant County. It forms part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and is a principal city of the metropolis and region. ...
.
For the second season, filming took place at the
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, Manhattan Beach to its east, L ...
amusement park in
Cincinnati
Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...
, Ohio. In many episodes, the Banana Splits were seen riding on the many rides at Six Flags and Coney Island.
The "Banana Buggies", mentioned in the theme song, were customized vehicles driven by each live-action character. The buggies were customized
Amphicat
The Amphicat is a six-wheel-drive, skid steer amphibious all-terrain vehicle invented in Spain by José Artés de Arcos, manufactured in the late 1960s through the early 1970s by Mobility Unlimited Inc. of Auburn Hills, Michigan. The product lin ...
six-wheel drive
Six-wheel drive (6WD or 6×6) is an all-wheel drive drivetrain configuration of three axles with at least two wheels on each axle capable of being driven simultaneously by the vehicle's engine. Unlike four-wheel drive drivetrains, the configurat ...
all-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a light utility vehicle (LUV), a quad bike, or simply a quad, as defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI); is a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, with a seat that is stra ...
s, each decorated to resemble the character who drove it. Plastic 1/25 scale model kits were issued by
Aurora Plastics Corporation
The Aurora Plastics Corporation was an American toy and hobby manufacturing company. It is known primarily for its production of plastic scale models of cars, airplanes, and TV and movie figures in the 1960s. Its principal competition in modelin ...
, under catalog number 832, beginning in 1969. These were never reissued by Aurora, but they have since been released as high-end resin-based kits.
''The Banana Splits'' was one of the first two Hanna-Barbera series in 1968 in which Hanna and Barbera received
executive producer
Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights o ...
credits, the other being ''
The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
''The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' is an American live-action and animated fantasy television series that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1968, through February 23, 1969. Produced by Hanna-Barbera and based on the classic Mark ...
''; Edward Rosen served as
producer
Producer or producers may refer to:
Occupations
*Producer (agriculture), a farm operator
*A stakeholder of economic production
*Film producer, supervises the making of films
**Executive producer, contributes to a film's budget and usually does not ...
on both series. This Hanna-Barbera series was also one of the first Saturday morning shows to feature a
laugh track
A laugh track (or laughter track) is a separate soundtrack for a recorded comedy show containing the sound of audience laughter. In some productions, the laughter is a live audience response instead; in the United States, where it is most common ...
, but only the live-action comedy segments. It its first year, the cartoons were adventure-based and did not have laugh tracks. The first Saturday morning cartoon with a laugh track with
Filmation's The Archie Show
''The Archie Show'' (also known as ''The Archies)'' is an American musical animated sitcom television series produced by Filmation for CBS. Based on the Archie Comics, created by Bob Montana in 1941, ''The Archie Show'' aired Saturday mornings ...
.
Characters
Main
* Fleegle – A dog with a lisp and the self-proclaimed leader of the Splits. Suit performed by
Jeff Winkless
Jeffrey Alan Winkless (June 2, 1941 – June 26, 2006) was an American actor. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts (U.S.). Two of his younger brothers, Terence H. Winkless and Daniel Owen Winkless, worked with him on ''The Banana Splits Ad ...
(1968), Ginner Whitcombe (2008), and Terry Sauls (2019 film). Voiced by
Paul Winchell
Paul Winchell (''né'' Wilchinsky; December 21, 1922 – June 24, 2005) was an American actor, comedian, humanitarian, inventor and ventriloquist whose career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. From 1950 to 1954, he hosted ''The Paul Winchell S ...
(1968–1972),
Bill Farmer
Bill Farmer (born November 14, 1952) is an American voice actor, comedian and impressionist. He has performed the voice of the Disney character Goofy since 1987, and has also been the voice of Pluto and Horace Horsecollar since 1990.
Early li ...
(2008),
Eric Bauza
Eric Bauza (born December 7, 1979) is a Canadian-American voice actor and comedian. His most-known roles include Stimpy on '' Ren and Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon"'', Foop on ''The Fairly OddParents'' and its reboot ''Fairly Odder'', Thunderbolt Ro ...
(2019 film), and
Paul F. Tompkins
Paul Francis Tompkins (born September 12, 1968) is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He is known for his work in television on such programs as ''Mr. Show with Bob and David'', ''Real Time with Bill Maher'', and ''Best Week Ever'', later ...
(in ''Jellystone!'').
* Bingo – A nasal-voiced orange ape wearing white sunglasses and a yellow vest. Suit performed by
Terence H. Winkless
Terence H. Winkless is an American producer, director, actor and writer of motion pictures and television, and a cast member of ''The Banana Splits Adventure Hour'', playing Bingo the Gorilla, also a cast member in ''Trade Routes'', and ''Goreyan ...
(1968), Casey Hadfield (2008), and Buntu Plam (2019 film). Voiced by
Daws Butler
Charles Dawson Butler (November 16, 1916May 18, 1988) was an American voice actor. He worked mostly for the Hanna-Barbera animation production company where he originated the voices of many familiar characters, including Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Ho ...
(1968–1972),
Frank Welker
Franklin Wendell Welker (born March 12, 1946) is an American voice actor. He began his career in the 1960s, and holds over 860 film, television, and video game credits as of 2022, making him one of the most prolific voice actors of all time. With ...
(2008), Eric Bauza (2019 film), and
Jim Conroy
Jim Conroy (born September 17, 1970) is an American actor and television writer known for appearing on television shows and movies, such as ''The Cuphead Show!'', ''Jellystone!'', ''Kenny the Shark'' and ''Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman'', as well as ...
(in ''Jellystone!'').
* Drooper – A Southern-accented lion with a long tail wearing yellowish-orange sunglasses. Suit performed by Anne W. Withrow (1968), Adam Grubner (2008), and Kori Clarke (2019 film). Voiced by
Allan Melvin
Allan John Melvin (February 18, 1923 – January 17, 2008) was an American actor and impressionist, who was cast in hundreds of television episodes from the 1950s to the early 1990s, often appearing in recurring roles on various series. Some of th ...
(1968–1972),
Carlos Alazraqui
Carlos Jaime Alazraqui (born July 20, 1962) is an American actor, stand-up comedian, impressionist, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Deputy James Garcia on ''Reno 911!'' and for his voice acting roles. His extensive ...
(2008), Eric Bauza (2019 film), and
C.H. Greenblatt
Carl Harvey Greenblatt (born June 17, 1972) is an American animator, storyboard artist, voice actor, writer, producer and director. He has worked on Nickelodeon's ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' and on Cartoon Network's ''The Grim Adventures of Bill ...
(in ''Jellystone!'').
* Snorky – An
elephant
Elephants are the largest existing land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae an ...
wearing pink sunglasses who communicates through honking noises. Originally depicted as being covered in shaggy fur, he was redesigned for the second season to more resemble an elephant. Suit performed by James Dove and
Robert Towers
Robert Towers (born August 19, 1936) is an American actor who has appeared in many television shows, including '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. He also played Buster the coke-snorting jockey on ''It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'' in season ...
(1968–2008) and Brandon Vraagom (2019 film).
Secondary
* Announcer – The unseen announcer is the one who introduces the Banana Splits and certain acts. Voiced by Allan Melvin (1968–1972) and Eric Bauza (2019 film).
* The Banana Vac – A blue
moose
The moose (in North America) or elk (in Eurasia) (''Alces alces'') is a member of the New World deer subfamily and is the only species in the genus ''Alces''. It is the largest and heaviest extant species in the deer family. Most adult mal ...
-like head with brown hair and light bulbs on his head. He hangs over the entrance of the clubhouse making different comments and often helps the Banana Splits introduce segments. Voiced by Allan Melvin.
*
Cuckoo Clock
A cuckoo clock is, typically, a pendulum clock that strikes the hours with a sound like a common cuckoo call and has an automated cuckoo bird that moves with each note. Some move their wings and open and close their beaks while leaning forwards ...
– A clock with a blue and yellow bird head inside that gives snarky remarks to the "What time is it" question. He also helps the Banana Splits introduce segments. Voiced by Paul Winchell.
* Goofy Gopher – A gopher who lives in a flower pot. Voiced by Paul Winchell, the Goofy Gopher was created for the show's second season.
* Mildred the Robot - An invention of Fleegle's that can grant wishes, often literally. "Performed" by
Robby the Robot
Robby the Robot is a fictional character and science fiction icon who first appeared in the 1956 film ''Forbidden Planet''. He made a number of subsequent appearances in science fiction films and television programs, which has given him the d ...
* The Sour Grapes Bunch – A group of silent human girl characters who are all named Charley (portrayed by Sheri Freeman) and the Banana Splits' rivals. They take turns bringing written notes to the Banana Splits. The Sour Grapes Bunch danced one song with the title characters. In the first season on October 5, 1968, a song debuted entitled "Doin' the Banana Split" has all five girls appeared together with the hosts.
* The Dilly Sisters (Nelly and Miriam) – Two human girls who play acoustic classical guitars and sing two songs: "
The Mexican Hat Dance
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
" and "
Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay
"Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay" is a vaudeville and music hall song. Its first known public performance was in Henry J. Sayers' 1891 revue ''Tuxedo'' in Boston, Massachusetts. The song became widely known in the version sung by Lottie Collins in London music ...
".
Segments
The show had four segments:
* ''
Arabian Knights
''Arabian Knights'' is an animated segment of ''The Banana Splits Adventure Hour'', created by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series is based on the '' Arabian Nights'', a classic work of Middle Eastern literature. The cast includes Henry Corden, ...
'' – Prince Turhan (voiced by
Jay North
Jay North (born August 3, 1951) is an American actor. His career as a child actor began in the late 1950s with roles in eight TV series, two variety shows and three feature films. At age 7 he became a household name for his role as the well-mean ...
), his cousin Princess Nida (voiced by
Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis (born Phyllis Naomi Hurwitz; January 17, 1933 – August 2, 1998) was a Peabody-winning American ventriloquist, puppeteer, children's entertainer, television show host, dancer, singer, actress, author, and symphonic conductor. She wa ...
), and their allies Fariik the Magician (voiced by
John Stephenson), Raseem the Strong (voiced by
Frank Gerstle
Francis M. Gerstle (September 27, 1915 – February 23, 1970) was an American character actor who appeared in supporting roles in numerous films, radio programs and TV shows following World War II.
Biography
Gerstle's notable appearances inc ...
), his donkey Zazuum (voiced by
Don Messick
Donald Earle Messick (September 7, 1926 – October 24, 1997) was an American voice actor. He was best known for his performances in Hanna-Barbera cartoons.
His best-remembered vocal creations include Scooby-Doo, Bamm-Bamm Rubble and Hoppy in ...
), and shapeshifter Bez (voiced by
Henry Corden
Henry Corden (born Henry Cohen; January 6, 1920 – May 19, 2005) was a Canadian-born American actor, best known for taking over the role of Fred Flintstone after Alan Reed's death in 1977. His official debut as Fred's new voice was in the 1 ...
) work to free Persia from the evil Bakaar the Black Sultan (voiced by
John Stephenson) and his enforcer Vangore (voiced by
Paul Frees
Solomon Hersh "Paul" Frees (June 22, 1920November 2, 1986) was an American actor, comedian, impressionist, and vaudevillian. He is known for his work on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Walter Lantz, Rankin/Bass, and Walt Disney theatrical cartoons during ...
).
* ''
The Three Musketeers
''The Three Musketeers'' (french: Les Trois Mousquetaires, links=no, ) is a French historical adventure novel written in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is in the swashbuckler genre, which has heroic, chivalrous swordsmen who fight f ...
'' – Based on
the novel of the same name.
Athos
Athos may refer to:
Fictional or mythical characters
* Athos (character), one of the title characters in the novel ''The Three Musketeers'' (1844) by Alexandre Dumas père
* Athos (mythology), one of the Gigantes in Greek mythology
* Athos Fadiga ...
(voiced by
Jonathan Harris
Jonathan Harris (born Jonathan Daniel Charasuchin, November 6, 1914 – November 3, 2002) was an American character actor whose career included more than 500 television and film appearances, as well as voiceovers. Two of his best-known roles we ...
),
Porthos
Porthos, Baron du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds is a fictional character in the novels ''The Three Musketeers'' (1844), ''Twenty Years After'' (1845), and ''The Vicomte de Bragelonne'' (1847-1850) by Alexandre Dumas, père. He and the other ...
(voiced by
Barney Phillips
Bernard Philip Ofner (October 20, 1913 – August 17, 1982), better known by his stage name Barney Phillips, was an American film, television, and radio actor. His most prominent roles include that of Sgt. Ed Jacobs on the 1950s '' Dragnet' ...
),
Aramis
René d'Herblay, alias Aramis, is a fictional character in the novels ''The Three Musketeers'' (1844), ''Twenty Years After'' (1845), and ''The Vicomte de Bragelonne'' (1847-1850) by Alexandre Dumas, père. He and the other two musketeers, Atho ...
(voiced by Don Messick), and
D'Artagnian (voiced by Bruce Watson) partake in new adventures fighting the enemies of the crowned heads of France
King Louis XIV
Louis XIV (Louis Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was List of French monarchs, King of France from 14 May 1643 until his death in 1715. His reign of 72 years and 110 days is the Li ...
(voiced by Don Messick) and
Queen Anne (voiced by
Julie Bennett
Julie Bennett (January 24, 1932 – March 31, 2020) was an American actress and later talent agent and realtor.
Early years
Bennett was born in Manhattan, New York, on January 24, 1932.
Acting career
A native of Hollywood, Bennett worked as a ...
). They are sometimes assisted by a queen's handmaid named Lady Constance Bonacieux (voiced by Julie Bennett) and her young nephew Tooly (voiced by
Teddy Eccles
Theodore Edward Eccles (born June 9, 1955) is an American actor.
Career
Eccles performed much of his best known roles as a child actor. He appeared in several television series and feature films in the 1960s and 1970s. Eccles may be best known f ...
).
* ''
Danger Island'' – The show's only live-action segment. This adventure
serial depicts archaeologist Professor Irwin Hayden (portrayed by
Frank Aletter
Frank George Aletter (January 14, 1926 – May 13, 2009) was an American theatre, film, and television actor.
Early years
Born in College Point, Queens, New York, Aletter studied acting at the Dramatic Workshop in Manhattan. He served in the U ...
), his assistant Lincoln "Link" Simmons (portrayed by
Jan Michael Vincent
Jan, JaN or JAN may refer to:
Acronyms
* Jackson, Mississippi (Amtrak station), US, Amtrak station code JAN
* Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, US, IATA code
* Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), a Syrian militant group
* Japanese Article Numb ...
), and his daughter Leslie (portrayed by
Ronne Troup
Ronne Troup is an American actress and educator whose acting roles include Polly Williams Douglas on the sitcom ''My Three Sons''.
Biography
Troup is the daughter of musician/actor Bobby Troup, and his first wife, Cynthia Hare, and the stepdaugh ...
) having adventures on an unnamed island chain with a shipwrecked merchant mariner named Elihu Morgan (portrayed by
Rockne Tarkington
William Rockne Tarkington, Jr. (May 14, 1932 – April 5, 2015) was an American stage, film and television actor.
Career
Born in Junction City, Kansas, Tarkington began his career as a stage actor, and made the transition to television with g ...
) and his sidekick Chongo (portrayed by
Kim Kahana
Kim Kahana, Sr. (born 1929) is an American actor, stunt performer and action choreographer of Hawaiian and Japanese descent. He has done stunts for over 300 movies and television programs and runs a stunt school in Groveland, Florida that has tra ...
) as they avoid a group of bumbling yet heavily armed modern day pirates led by Captain Mu-Tan (portrayed by Victor Eberg).
* ''
Micro Ventures'' – A four-episode segment where Professor Carter (voiced by Don Messick) and his children Jill (voiced by
Patsy Garrett
Virginia "Patsy" Garrett (May 4, 1921 – January 8, 2015) was an American actress and singer. Beginning her career as a radio performer at the age of seven, Garrett is best known for her seven years on Fred Waring's ''Pleasure Time'' radio sho ...
) and Mike (voiced by
Tommy Cook) use a shrinking machine to shrink themselves and their dune buggy to miniature size to explore and experience the world from the perspective of an insect.
In the second season, ''The Three Musketeers'' segments were replaced with reruns of ''
The Hillbilly Bears
''The Hillbilly Bears'' is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. The series aired as a segment on ''The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show'' from October 2, 1965 to September 7 ...
'', a cartoon segment that previously appeared on ''
The Atom Ant Show'' (1965–1968). In reruns, episodes of ''
The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show
''The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show'' is an hour-long Saturday morning cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions from 1965 to 1967 for NBC.
In fall 1965, the show aired as two independent half-hour programs. ''The Atom Ant Show'' featured th ...
'', ''
The Adventures of Gulliver
''The Adventures of Gulliver'' is a 1968 television cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The show is loosely based on the 1726 satirical novel ''Gulliver's Travels'' by Jonathan Swift. The show aired Saturday mornings on ABC-TV and las ...
'', and ''The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' were aired on the show.
''The Banana Splits'' was syndicated in 1970 to local stations under the title of ''The Banana Splits and Friends Show'', but with several other series included in a package deal. All the ''Banana Splits'' episodes were syndicated in this package alongside ''The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'', ''The Atom Ant Show'', ''
The Secret Squirrel Show
''Secret Squirrel'' is a cartoon character created by Hanna-Barbera and also the name of his segment in '' The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show'', which debuted in 1965. He was given his own show in 1966, titled ''The Secret Squirrel Show'', but wa ...
'', and ''The Adventures of Gulliver''.
Music
The show's theme song, titled "
The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana) "The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)" is a 1968 pop song, which was the theme song for the children's television program ''The Banana Splits Adventure Hour''.CD liner notes: Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, 1995 MCA Records Origina ...
", was credited as being written by
Ritchie Adams
Richard Adam Ziegler (December 15, 1938 – March 6, 2017), known professionally as Ritchie Adams, was an American singer and songwriter.
Biography
Born in New York City, by 1959 he joined The Fireflies, and sang lead vocals on their hit reco ...
and
Mark Barkan
Mark may refer to:
Currency
* Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
* East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic
* Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927
* Finn ...
, but that was merely contractual. In fact it was written by N. B. Winkless Jr. on the
upright piano
The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...
in his living room—a piano that also spawned the "Snap, Crackle, Pop" jingle, among others. Adams and Barkan were music directors for the show. The song was released as a single, attributed to the Banana Splits, and peaked at number 96 on ''Billboards Top 100 in February 1969. The version included on the ''We're The Banana Splits'' album is the same recording heard at the beginning of the show, while the single version is an entirely different arrangement and recording of the song, featuring an additional verse.
The Banana Splits'
bubblegum pop
Bubblegum (also called bubblegum pop) is pop music in a catchy and upbeat style that is considered disposable, contrived, or marketed for children and adolescents. The term also refers to a rock and pop subgenre, originating in the United States i ...
rock and roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from Africa ...
was provided by studio professionals, including
Joey Levine
Joey Levine (born May 29, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer of pop music, who has been active since 1966.
Career
Levine sang lead vocals on several Top 40 singles including "Run Run Run" by The Third Rail (1966), "Y ...
("I Enjoy Being a Boy", "It's a Good Day for a Parade");
Al Kooper
Al Kooper (born Alan Peter Kuperschmidt; February 5, 1944) is a retired American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears, although he did not stay with the group long enough to share its popularity. ...
("You're the Lovin' End");
Barry White
Barry Eugene Carter (September 12, 1944 – July 4, 2003), better known by his stage name Barry White, was an American singer and songwriter. A two-time Grammy Award winner known for his bass voice and romantic image, his greatest success came ...
("Doin' the Banana Split");
Gene Pitney
Gene Francis Alan Pitney (February 17, 1940 – April 5, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter and musician.
Pitney charted 16 top-40 hits in the United States, four in the top ten. In the United Kingdom, he had 22 top-40 hit singles, inclu ...
("Two Ton Tessie") and
Jimmy Radcliffe
James Radcliffe (November 18, 1936 – July 27, 1973) was an American soul singer, composer, arranger, conductor and record producer.
Biography
James Radcliffe was born in New York City. He released such singles as "My Ship is Coming In", a so ...
, who provided his songs ("
I'm Gonna Find a Cave "I'm Gonna Find a Cave" is a song written in 1965 by Jimmy Radcliffe and Buddy Scott.
First recorded in 1966 by soul singer Charlie Starr on a United Artist Records single followed in the same year by an early psychobilly version by Billy Lee Rile ...
", "Soul", "Don't Go Away Go-Go Girl", "Adam Had 'Em" and "The Show Must Go On") but did not contribute vocals to Splits recordings.
The music director was music publisher
Aaron Schroeder
Aaron Harold Schroeder (September 7, 1926 – December 2, 2009) was an American songwriter and music publisher.
Early years
Born in Brooklyn, Schroeder graduated from the school now known as the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art ...
, while production duties were mainly handled by David Mook. When a heavier R&B vocal was needed, the music producers usually turned to singer
Ricky Lancelotti
Ricky Lancelotti (August 25, 1944 – April 7, 1980), also known as Rick Lancelot, was a singer best known for his work with Frank Zappa in 1973. Frank Zappa songs featuring Lancelotti's vocals can be found on the albums ''Over-Nite Sensation'' ...
, who was billed in the show credits under his stage name Rick Lancelot. Lancelotti went on to record several songs with
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American musician, composer, and bandleader. His work is characterized by wikt:nonconformity, nonconformity, Free improvisation, free-form improvisation, sound experimen ...
. In 1968, The Banana Splits released an album on
Decca Records
Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...
titled ''We're the Banana Splits''.
The Banana Splits was among hundreds of artists whose material was destroyed in the
2008 Universal fire
On June 1, 2008, a fire broke out on the backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood, an American film studio and theme park in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County, California. The fire began when a worker used a blowtorch to warm asph ...
.
An unusual claim is that the song may have inspired
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...
, with the striking similarity between the song's chorus and the bridge of the
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Bob Marley and the Wailers (previously known as The Wailers, and prior to that The Wailing Rudeboys, The Wailing Wailers and The Teenagers) were a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae band. The founding members, in 1963, were Bob Marley (Robert ...
song "
Buffalo Soldier
Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This nickname was given to the Black Cavalry by Native American tribes who fought in th ...
". A story by the BBC in 2010 examines the claim.
Covers
US
punk rock act
the Dickies
The Dickies are an American punk rock band formed in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, in 1977. One of the longest tenured punk rock bands, they have been in continuous existence for over 40 years. They have consistently balanced catchy mel ...
covered the theme song in 1978, entitled "
Banana Splits (Tra La La Song) "The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)" is a 1968 pop song, which was the theme song for the children's television program '' The Banana Splits Adventure Hour''.CD liner notes: Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, 1995 MCA Records Origin ...
". Their recording reached Number 7 in the UK charts and appears as a bonus on the CD reissue of their 1979 album ''
The Incredible Shrinking Dickies
''The Incredible Shrinking Dickies'' is the debut studio album by the California punk band The Dickies. It peaked at #18 on the UK album charts. The album includes the group's cover of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid," which reached No. 45 in the UK ...
''.
Comics
The Banana Splits' adventures continued in
comic books
A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...
.
Gold Key began publishing a comic version in 1969, releasing eight issues through 1971. Drawn by Jack Manning, these stories followed the musicians either trying to find work or on the road between gigs.
The Banana Splits had a crossover with the
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad is an antihero/supervillain team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first version of the Suicide Squad debuted in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #25 (September 1959) and the second and modern version, cre ...
in ''Suicide Squad/Banana Splits'' #1 on March 29, 2017.
Other projects
Made-for-television film
Hanna-Barbera produced ''
The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park
''The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park'' is a 1972 live-action/animated television film made by Hanna-Barbera featuring the characters from ''The Banana Splits'' television series. Mixing live action sequences shot at Kings Island amusement par ...
'', a televised feature film, for
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
in 1972 that has the group rescuing a girl from an evil witch.
Educational films
* ''
Hanna-Barbera Educational Filmstrips''
** ''The Banana Splits: Healthy and Happy'' (1978)
** ''The Banana Splits: We Have Five Senses'' (1978)
** ''The Banana Splits: Safety First'' (1978)
** ''The Banana Splits: It's a Sense-sational World'' (1979)
** ''The Banana Splits: Meet the Microbes'' (1980)
* ''
Learning Tree Filmstrip Set''
** ''Learning About Holidays with The Banana Splits'' (1982)
2008 revival
In August 2008,
Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Brands and Experiences (formerly Warner Bros. Global Brands and Experiences, then Warner Bros. Global Brands and Franchises) is one of Warner Bros. Discovery's major business segments and divisions. It was founded in ...
announced a multi-platform release featuring new comedy shorts/series and music videos; this debuted on
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, Car ...
starting on from September 2, 2008.
Bill Farmer
Bill Farmer (born November 14, 1952) is an American voice actor, comedian and impressionist. He has performed the voice of the Disney character Goofy since 1987, and has also been the voice of Pluto and Horace Horsecollar since 1990.
Early li ...
voiced Fleegle, Frank Welker voiced Bingo, and
Carlos Alazraqui
Carlos Jaime Alazraqui (born July 20, 1962) is an American actor, stand-up comedian, impressionist, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Deputy James Garcia on ''Reno 911!'' and for his voice acting roles. His extensive ...
voiced Drooper.
The relaunch included a live show and a website,
as well as a CD and a DVD featuring 13 new songs, released by
Universal Records
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch–American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...
.
In addition, a child-themed area named Banana Splitsville was placed at
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as "The Grand Strand" in the northeastern part of the state. Its y ...
's Hard Rock Park rock-and-roll theme park, which later became
Freestyle Music Park
Freestyle Music Park, formerly called Hard Rock Park, was a short-lived, music-themed amusement park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Built on , the park was located at the intersection of US 501 and the Intracoastal Waterway. It included part of ...
before closing permanently in 2009.
2019 comedy horror film adaptation
On February 19, 2019,
Warner Bros. Television Group's Blue Ribbon Content division announced that it was collaborating with Blue Ice Pictures on producing a film adaptation of ''The Banana Splits'' television series collectively named ''
The Banana Splits Movie
''The Banana Splits Movie'' is a 2019 American comedy horror film directed by Danishka Esterhazy from a screenplay written by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas. Serving as a horror reimagining of Hanna-Barbera's 1968 children's television series ''The ...
'', which would serve as an R-rated parody of slasher films. Danishka Esterhazy was hired to direct the film, based on a script written by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas. On June 13, 2019, Syfy Wire released the official trailer for the film.
''Jellystone!''
The Banana Splits appear in ''
Jellystone!
''Jellystone!'' is an American animated streaming television comedy series developed by C. H. Greenblatt for HBO Max. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and features reimagined versions of various characters by Hanna-Barbera. It p ...
'' which was released
HBO Max
HBO Max is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in the United States on May 27, 2020, the service is built around the libraries of HBO, Warner Bros., Cartoon Netw ...
on July 29, 2021 with Fleegle voiced by
Paul F. Tompkins
Paul Francis Tompkins (born September 12, 1968) is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He is known for his work in television on such programs as ''Mr. Show with Bob and David'', ''Real Time with Bill Maher'', and ''Best Week Ever'', later ...
, Bingo voiced by
Jim Conroy
Jim Conroy (born September 17, 1970) is an American actor and television writer known for appearing on television shows and movies, such as ''The Cuphead Show!'', ''Jellystone!'', ''Kenny the Shark'' and ''Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman'', as well as ...
, and Drooper voiced by show creator
C. H. Greenblatt
Carl Harvey Greenblatt (born June 17, 1972) is an American animator, storyboard artist, voice actor, writer, producer and director. He has worked on Nickelodeon's ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' and on Cartoon Network's ''The Grim Adventures of Billy ...
. They are portrayed as cartoonishly effective criminals and the enemies of
El Kabong
Quick Draw McGraw is a fictional anthropomorphic horse and the protagonist and title character of ''The Quick Draw McGraw Show''. He is a white horse, wearing a red Stetson cowboy hat, a red holster belt, a light blue bandana, and occasionally ...
.
Home media
On September 21, 2009, Warner Home Video released the complete first season on DVD in
Region 2.
[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Banana-Splits-Complete-Season-DVD/dp/B0027UY87M The Banana Splits - Complete Season 1 VD]: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved on April 10, 2012.] The six-disc set consists of 36 edited half-hour episodes of ''The Banana Splits and Friends Show'' as aired on Cartoon Network and
Boomerang
A boomerang () is a thrown tool, typically constructed with aerofoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight. A returning boomerang is designed to return to the thrower, while a non-returning b ...
. The series was also released on
VHS.
See also
*
List of works produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby union ...
*
List of Hanna-Barbera characters
The following is a list of characters created by and featured in various Hanna-Barbera productions and series:
2 Stupid Dogs (1993–1995)
;2 Stupid Dogs
* Big Dog
* Little Dog
* Mr. Hollywood
* The Kitten
* Red Riding Hood
* Grandma
* The Wo ...
References
External links
*
*
*
Interview with Shirley Hillstrom (now Sheri Freedman), who played Charley the Messenger of the Sour Grapes Bunch
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banana Splits, The
1968 American television series debuts
1970 American television series endings
1960s American animated television series
1970s American animated television series
1960s American children's comedy television series
1970s American children's comedy television series
1960s American musical comedy television series
1970s American musical comedy television series
American children's animated comedy television series
American children's animated fantasy television series
American children's animated musical television series
American television shows featuring puppetry
American television series with live action and animation
Fictional musical groups
English-language television shows
NBC original programming
Television shows adapted into comics
Television shows adapted into films
Television series by Hanna-Barbera
Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios
Television shows about apes
Television shows about dogs
Television series about elephants
Television series about lions
Fictional quartets