Milton the Monster
Milton the Monster, also called The Milton the Monster Show, is an American animated cartoon TV series that ran on ABC from October 9, 1965, to September 8, 1968.[1] It was produced and directed by Hal Seeger.[2]
The Milton the Monster Show | |
---|---|
Milton, although he's a monster, he's just a big kid. | |
Also known as | Milton the Monster |
Genre | Animated Cartoon |
Created by | Hal Seeger |
Directed by | Hal Seeger |
Voices of | Bob McFadden Beverly Arnold (uncredited) Dayton Allen (Stuffy Durma shorts only) |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 26 |
Production | |
Producer | Hal Seeger |
Running time | 30 min. |
Production companies | Hal Seeger Productions, in association with the ABC Television Network |
Release | |
Original network | ABC |
Picture format | Color |
Original release | October 9, 1965 – September 8, 1968 |
Overview
The series starred Milton the Monster, a Frankenstein-looking monster with a flat-topped, seemingly hollow head which emitted various quantities of white steam or smoke based on his mood or situation.[3] He was created by mad scientist Professor Montgomery Weirdo and his assistant Count Kook, who lived in a haunted house on Horror Hill.[4] Milton is a smiling, good-natured fellow, thanks to the Professor having used too much "tincture of tenderness" as explained in the opening theme of each individual Milton the Monster segment. Milton was created not of individual body parts, but rather in a mold from such liquids as "essence of terror" and "sinister sauce." Out of fear of his creation destroying him, Professor Weirdo intended to add just a touch of the aforementioned tincture of tenderness to the mold, but Count Kook bumped the Professor's elbow, resulting in too much of the tincture being added to the mix. Milton's voice, which was based on the southern accent used by Jim Nabors in his television role as Gomer Pyle,[5] was provided by Bob McFadden who also provided voices for Professor Weirdo's resident monsters:
- Heebie - a skull-faced, top hat-wearing ghoul with a Peter Lorre voice
- Jeebie - a slow-witted, cyclopian, hairy green creature with a single sharp tooth that was often used to open soda cans
Professor Weirdo's nemesis was Professor Fruitcake, another mad scientist who lived in a castle on an opposite hill. Professor Fruitcake's major creation was Zelda the Zombie. Other characters in the series included Fangenstein, a biker monster apparently inspired by Marlon Brando, his sidekick Abercrombie Zombie, and Professor Weirdo's aunt, the witchy Aunt Hagatha.
Other features
Other features on the show included:
- Fearless Fly, starring an insect super-hero similar to Hanna-Barbera's Atom Ant. One of the most popular segments of the Milton the Monster Show, Fearless Fly was, in reality, Hiram, an ordinary housefly. When danger threatens, he ducks into a nearby matchbox, dons a red sweater and, in a reversal of Clark Kent, changes into the superhero Fearless Fly by putting on a pair of super high-powered glasses. FF, according to the opening, is more powerful than a speeding rocket and faster than a beam of light. No flypaper can hold him and no insecticide can stop him. Fearless Fly's sole weakness is losing his glasses, which happens in most of the episodes. His chief nemesis is the 900-year-old Fu Manchu-inspired Dr. Goo Fee and his sidekick Gung Ho.[6] Occasionally, Milton the Monster's Professor Weirdo makes an appearance to threaten Fearless Fly. Usually, [Bob McFadden] does all the voices, such as the seductive Lady Deflayah.
- Flukey Luke, with a cowboy detective and his Irish-accented Native American companion Two Feathers. Flukey Luke was so named because of his dumb luck that allowed him to get the upper hand despite being incredibly inept.
- Stuffy Durma, starring a nouveau-riche hobo who resisted the attempts of valet Bradley Brinkley to get some culture and breeding.
- Muggy-Doo, featuring a sly boy fox who often gets into trouble with his get-rich-quick schemes.
- Penny Penguin, starring a bratty aquatic bird.
Voice cast
Principal characters and voices:[7]
- Bob McFadden: Milton the Monster
- Dayton Allen: Professor Weirdo, Fearless Fly, Flukey Luke, Stuffy Durma, Bradley Brinkley, Chester Penguin
- Larry Best: Count Kook, Muggy Doo, Two Feathers
- Beverly Arnold: Penny Penguin, Flora Fly
- Hettie Galen: Beulah Penguin
Episode list
Episode 1
- Fearless Fly: Trick or Treatment
- Flukey Luke: Loot Pursuit
- Milton the Monster: Zelda the Zombie
Episode 2
- Fearless Fly: Horse Shoo Fly
- Muggy Doo: Gogh Van Gogh
- Milton the Monster: Boy Meet Ghoul
Episode 3
- Fearless Fly: Fatty Karate
- Muggy Doo: You Auto Be in Pictures
- Milton the Monster: Monsters for Hire
Episode 4
- Fearless Fly: Captain Fligh
- Muggy Doo: Doo Or Die
- Milton the Monster: Who Do Voodoo?
Episode 5
- Fearless Fly: The Goofy Dr. Goo Fee
- Muggy Doo: From Riches To Rags
- Milton the Monster: The Pot Thickens
Episode 6
- Fearless Fly: Sly Fly
- Snuffy Turma: From Wrecks to Riches
- Milton the Monster: Medium Undone
Episode 7
- Fearless Fly: Throne For A Loss
- Flukey Luke: Missin' Masters
- Milton the Monster: Monster Mutiny
Episode 8
- Fearless Fly: The Bomb's Rush
- Penny Penguin: There Auto Be A Law
- Milton the Monster: Ghoul School
Episode 9
- Fearless Fly: Fly Hijack
- Flukey Luke: Tired Gun
- Milton the Monster: Hector the Protector
Episode 10
- Fearless Fly: Si Si Fly
- Flukey Luke: Palace Malice
- Milton the Monster: Horrorbaloo
Episode 11
- Fearless Fly: The House-Fly Guest
- Muggy Doo: Fortune Kooky
- Milton the Monster: Goon Platoon
Episode 12
- Fearless Fly: Invincible Vs. Invisible
- Snuffy Turma: Suit Yourself
- Milton the Monster: The Dummy Talks
Episode 13
- Fearless Fly: Fly By Might
- Snuffy Turma: Hobo Hootenanny
- Milton the Monster: A Pie In The Sky
Episode 14
- Fearless Fly: The Sphinx Jinx
- Penny Penguin: Penny Ante
- Milton the Monster: Monstrous Escape
Episode 15
- Fearless Fly: The Spider Spiter
- Penny Penguin: Sickened Honeymoon
- Milton the Monster: Abercrombie the Zombie
Episode 16
- Fearless Fly: Fearless Fly Meets The Monsters (Pilot)
- Muggy Doo: Crumb-Bumming
- Milton the Monster: V for Vampire
Episode 17
- Milton the Monster: Monster Vs. Mobster
- Fearless Fly: Martians Meet Their Match (Pilot)
- Milton the Monster: Witch Crafty
Episode 18
- Milton the Monster: Camp Gitchy Gloomy
- Fearless Fly: Lets Phase It
- Milton the Monster: The Hearse Thief
Episode 19
- Milton the Monster: Boo To You
- Fearless Fly: Under Waterloo
- Milton the Monster: Kid Stuff
Episode 20
- Milton the Monster: Horror Scope
- Fearless Fly: Lady Deflyah
- Milton the Monster: The Flying Cup & Saucer
Episode 21
- Milton the Monster: Monster-Sitter
- Fearless Fly: Robinson Shoesole
- Milton the Monster: The Moon Goons
Episode 22
- Milton the Monster: Think Shrink
- Fearless Fly: Private Fly
- Milton the Monster: Skullgaria Forever!
Episode 23
- Milton the Monster: Crumby Mummy
- Fearless Fly: Stage Plight
- Milton the Monster: Fort Fangenstein
Episode 24
- Fearless Fly: Safari Harry
- Snuffy Turma: Nuggets To You
- Milton the Monster: Batnap
Episode 25
- Milton the Monster: Dunkin' Treasure
- Fearless Fly: Ferocious Fly
- Milton the Monster: Monstrous Monster
Episode 26
- Fearless Fly: Napoleon Bonafly
- Flukey Luke: Violin Violence
- Milton the Monster: The Mummy's Thumb
DVD release
On March 20, 2007, Shout! Factory released the complete series on a 4-DVD set.
See also
Further reading
Kevin Scott Collier. Milton the Monster : Horror Hill Epitaph. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018. ISBN 1984189808
References
- Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 551–553. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 398. ISBN 978-1538103739.
- Markstein, Don. "Milton the Monster". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- Woolery, George W. (1983). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part 1: Animated Cartoon Series. Scarecrow Press. pp. 187–188. ISBN 0-8108-1557-5. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- Hollis, T. (2008). Ain't That a Knee-Slapper: Rural Comedy in the Twentieth Century. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. p. 192. ISBN 9781604739534.
- Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. p. 95. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
- Hyatt, Wesley (1997). The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television. Watson-Guptill Publications. p. 292. ISBN 978-0823083152. Retrieved 19 March 2020.