Filed under: LA Woman Half of the legendary Hanna-Barbera cartoon consortium that created Tom & Jerry, The Flintstones, The Jetsons and Scooby-Doo passed away this Monday. Joseph Barbera was preceded in death by his producing partner William Hanna (who died in 2001). Barbera was the one who actually drew the characters that would become icons for not only millions of baby boomers but for every Gen X or Y child that ever vegged out in front of a TV. Hanna once said that his partner could "capture mood and expression in a quick sketch better
than anyone I've ever known" and I think all us grown up kids (and not yet grown up kids) can agree with that! I loved The Flintstones and The Jetsons! I couldn't WAIT for the future if it was gonna look like The Jetsons. In fact, I have been gravely disappointed that the 21st century doesn't look more like that futuristic TV show (see the show's intro in video above). Of course, I also yearned to live in the prehistoric era.... if life resembled the opening credits of The Flintstones. The Flintstones was apparantly inspired by The Honeymooners. But as much as I enjoyed the comic genius of both Jackie Gleason and Art Carney, The Honeymooners didn't make life lived in a New York tenament with a view of a brick wall very enticing. Until I found out people like the New York Dolls and Lou Reed and the nutcases in all of Andy Warhol's movies lived like that. Then I couldn't wait to move into my own tenament slum with The Honeymooners view of the brick wall! That particular dream came true when I moved to the East Village in the late 70's. I'd soon find other suburban refugees my age who were also weaned on glam rock and Hanna Barbera cartoons; specifically Kenny Scharf who incorporated those characters into his street graffiti and later his (high priced) fine art. (Like this 1981 painting "Hannah Barbaric Paradise" seen above right). But as much as I loved The Flintsones and The Jetsons (especially the
episode where Jane Jetson sneaks into the Miss Galaxy competition and
wins the crown with a swingin' Bobby Darinesque rendition of "Won't
You Come Home Bill Bailey?"), I entered the Hanna-Barbera universe earlier through "The Huckleberry Hound Show" and "The Ruff & Ready Show". Both of these shows spawned characters that are dear to my heart, especiallyYogi Bear , Snagglepuss and the so-obscure-they-don't-even-have-a- Wikipedia-entry characters Lippy Lion and his whiney hyena sidekick Hardy Har Har.
Hmmm...now that I think about it that pink mountain lion Snagglepuss
(whose catch phrase "Exit Stage Left" is frequently on my lips) and
that other charming Hanna Barbera rouge Top Cat are probably responsible for my (former) weakness for wise-cracking charming bad boys ...who were forever exiting stage left and right and center. And maybe that strange alien creature The Great Gazoo
that popped up on The Flintstones in 1965 (and was voiced by Carol
Burnett's great co-star Harvey Korman!) explains my weakness for
wise-cracking charming alien creatures! And who didn't think hunky "Race" Bannon of the Hanna Barbera action/adventure cartoon "Johnny Quest" was hot Of course now I can recognize now that Race was probaby gay. Or, at the very least, bi-curious. What were he and Dr. Quest really up to?
Plus I was always annoyed that there wasn't an 11 year old GIRL who
could have adventures as cool as Johnny Quest's. The opening credits
for that show really induced a bad case of wanderlust in me. Again, I
couldn't wait to grow up and have
death defying adventures in all those exotic locales! And do things
like escape from angry African natives across the Sahara desert in a
hovercraft! (as seen in photo at right from the show's closing credits.)
But as patriarchal as "Johnny Quest' was, the wikipedia entry does
mention that "The character Hadji was noted as the first major
non-white character to
be presented as an equal sympathetic participant in the stories in
American television." There are so many reasons to celebrate
the life Joseph Barbera! Rest in peace Mr. Cartoon! You gave us soooo
much pleasure! And have left behind a glorious legacy! Permalink|Email this|Comments
ng charming bad boys ...who were forever exiting stage left and right and center. And maybe that strange alien creature 
e
death defying adventures in all those exotic locales! And do things
like escape from angry African natives across the Sahara desert in a
hovercraft! (as seen in photo at right from the show's closing credits.)
But as patriarchal as "Johnny Quest' was, the wikipedia entry does
mention that "The character Hadji was noted as the first major
non-white character to
be presented as an equal sympathetic participant in the stories in
American television." There are so many reasons to celebrate
the life Joseph Barbera! Rest in peace Mr. Cartoon! You gave us soooo
much pleasure! And have left behind a glorious legacy! 
