[.ca] Huckleberry Hound - Vol. 1

From Amazon.com:
When The Huckleberry Hound Show debuted in syndication on October 2, 1958, it launched the Hanna-Barbera empire--and radically changed the course of American animation. After MGM closed its cartoon studio in 1957, Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera, the Oscar-winning directors of the "Tom and Jerry" shorts, started their own company. Their first cartoon series, Ruff and Reddy was used in a package show that included a live host, puppets, and old theatrical shorts. Hanna and Barbera realized that to succeed in television animation, they needed programs that were entirely their own, andThe Huckleberry Hound Show was their first. Huck, who hosted the series, was an amiable, none-too-bright turquoise dog. No matter what ridiculous situation he stumbled into, his genial, good nature enabled him to come out on top, singing "Clementine" in his off-key Southern drawl. This four-disc set offers plenty of nostalgic laughs for anyone who grew up in the '50s and '60s, especially the "Reassembled Episodes," which include the familiar theme song and interstitial gags. Some of the extras are silly, but in "The Legendary Sound of Daws Butler," Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart Simpson) and other former students pay tribute to the gentle and talented actor who provided the voice of Huck and dozens of other Hanna-Barbera characters. It's a must-have for students of animation--and for aging Baby-Boomers who ate dinner off TV trays, rather than miss The Huckleberry Hound Show when it aired 40-plus years ago. (Unrated, suitable for ages 6 and older: cartoon violence, occasional ethnic stereotypes) --Charles Solomon