We've been spending the better part of our day... after the hockey game... indulging our Inner Child. Like this:
And this:
Ah. Rocky. Bullwinkle. Boris. Natasha. Dudley. Nell. Sherman. Peabody. They don't make 'em like this any longer, unfortunately. Cartoons for adults, complete with brilliant puns, pointed cultural observations, and obscure references to the literary greats. Kids loved 'em, too, which made these things a cross-generational treat and a handy educational tool. Thank The Deity At Hand for YouTube!
SOOOooo true about Rocky and Bullwinkle! I'd LOVE to get a complete set of ALL cartoons broadcast on DVD if it exists, but sadly don't think it does...a diminishing mkt for it as most of the historical & political/"current events" references are lost on the last few generations (and thus much of the humor) and we're dying off..most of the Bob Hope-Bing Crosby "On the Road to.." movies are like that too, as they were heavily laced with current events and politics--without an understanding of which most of the humor goes right over one's head. Monty Python is like that to some extent as well. In fact if one didn't live in the UK during that time frame or were stationed there as I was, I'd say about 1/4 of ALL the little humorous asides about local customs & politics are lost on ANY age American audience..
ReplyDeletePS: You know that is why Dick Van Dyke purposely DID NOT have ANY current events/political references in his 60s TV series EXACTLY so it wouldn't appear dated and would stand up as fresh over time for syndication. The only thing that dates the show are hair styles, clothes and interior decor. (BTW, fwiw, Dick and his brother Jerry are from Danville, Ill. 70mi north of my hometown of Charleston and both played tennis (badly, briefly) for my Dad at Eastern Ill. right after WWII when I was very young. Dad kept 'em on as mgrs, spare 7th man for road trips, as they were funny as hell and kept everyone constantly cracked up--road trips to away matches were NEVER boring with them along, Dad said. LOL. Dad used to joke (only half-way, I think)years later that they left without turning in all their issued gear and that they still owed him some tennis racquets. LOL!!
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget Beanie and Cecil!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBut the Fractured Fairy Tales on Rocky and Bullwinkle were the best. Edward Everett Horton was the voice. I last saw him in an episode of "F Troop"
The floor is now open to all forms of wise cracks making fun of my age!
Just last night, GBN1 asked me if I had ever seen the cartoon Bugs Bunny. Then she proceeded to tell me all about how funny the rabbit was. They have a dvd of old Looney Tunes.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm sure you know that I am a fan of these, big time. Peabody's Improbable History was my fave, but Fractured Fairy Tales ran a close second. Hilarious stuff.
ReplyDeleteVirgil: I tend to agree with ya, but I WOULD, wouldn't I? I don't know about the completeness of the series, but there are DVDs available. Google is your friend. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've always been sorta amazed at the Monty Python cult here in the US simply for the reasons you mention. Good story about the van Dykes, too.
The floor is now open to all forms of wise cracks making fun of my age!
Heh. This pot shall not call the kettle black.
Lou: Kids are SO cool!
Jim: Yup!
Oh my. Memory lane. I was a pretty young kid, but I distinctly remember sprawling out on my parents' bed so I could watch Sunday afternoon re-runs of Rocky and Bullwinkle instead of some stupid old pro football game or golf tournament. I definitely credit those "adult" cartoons (and my parents who were willing to explain them to me -- usually) for my rather odd and dry sense of hunmor!
ReplyDeleteThe current FOX "adult" cartoons can't hold a candle to the subtlety and acumen. They have to take some things to a political extreme. Don't you wish we still had Boris and Natasha instead of Achmed and Achmedda.
The current FOX "adult" cartoons can't hold a candle to the subtlety and acumen.
ReplyDeleteOh, Moogie. You have inadvertently pushed one of the hottest of my hot buttons. Grandson Number One is infatuated with various Fox cartoons, much to my dismay. I tried to keep my peace during my recent visit to the SN1 household but could NOT after overhearing one particularly raunchy double-entendre... and I let it fly. The SN1 fam'bly was not amused. Oh, well. Those 'toons aren't fit for ADULTS let alone children; they're simply crude in the worst sorta way. I'll stop here, lest my elevating blood pressure causes a stroke.