The Krazy Kat Came Back

There’s something nice about seeing old cartoon characters revived, provided the revivals are done well.

Revivals are really nothing new. Let’s take Krazy Kat, for example. George Herriman invented the character and her unique, cross-hatched little world in 1913 for the Hearst papers. Hearst’s International Film Service released animated Krazy Kats beginning February 18, 1916. Donald Crafton’s fine book Before Mickey explains the studio died by 1918 but Bill Nolan revived Krazy in 1925 for the Mintz studio for release by Columbia. Krazy made the transition to sound before the series died in 1940, not resembling Herriman’s newspaper cartoons in the slightest.

When television expanded and needed animated cartoons to fill endless hours of kids programming, Columbia was ready. The studio sold the TV distribution rights to the sound Krazys to Hygo Corp. in October 1954 (Variety, Dec. 1, 1954) but got them back when it bought Hygo two years later (Variety, Dec. 2, 1956).

King Features Syndicate, the comic strip arm of Hearst, still owned the character. No doubt buoyed by the tremendous success of the TV Popeye cartoons it ordered for production in 1960, it delved into other properties it could turn into similar gold mines. So it was the Krazy Kat was revived, except this time for the small screen.

Here’s a little time-line of how Krazy returned.

Paramount Cartoon Studios, at 35 West 45th Street, JU 2-4500, a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures, is currently embarking on the most important theatrical and commercial production program in its history.
Howard Minsky, the executive in charge of the cartoon studio and Paramount Pictures’ assistant general sales manager, said, “Our current production program is a far cry from the years when we turned out not only 20 theatrical cartoons annually. We are not only increasing our theatrical output with the introduction of new series and “specials,” but also producing a wide variety of subjects for television, commercials, and the government.”
Mr. Minsky added that Paramount Cartoons have completely updated the plant with the most modern cameras and machines. The program is under the direction of Manager Abe Goodman, with a staff of about seventy people headed by Seymour Kneitel and Music Director Winston Sharples who are responsible for creative planning.
Mr. Goodman emphasized the fact that Paramount is capable of competitive bidding in all fields of animation, but at no time would they sacrifice quality in the end product. The standards which Paramount adheres to, are such that only “...a good product ...a quality product,” is turned out at the studio.
The studio, one of the largest in the East, is currently releasing a new series featuring Cliff Arquette’s “Charlie Weaver”, the popular comic strips, “Barney Google,” “Krazy Kat” and “Beetle Bailey” as well as Jackie Gleason’s television characters, “Reggie Van Gleason” and “The Poor Soul”. Just completed for release is a two-reel color cartoon “Abner the Baseball” with music and narration by Eddie (“The Old Philosopher”) Lawrence. In advance the studio is producing 62 films for King Features, in the “Popeye” series, and a new series for television called “The Kid From Mars.” (Back Stage, May 19, 1961).

Paramount Pic[t]ures and King Features Syndicate have entered into a co-production deal on three cartoon properties out of King Features' comic strip stable. Novel part of the deal is that it calls for both theatrical and tv release of [t]he animated cartoons, with Paramount handling theatrical and KFS handling tv distribution.
The three properties are "Beetle Bailey," "Barney Google and Snuffy Smith," and "Krazy Kat."
Al Brodax, director of tv for King Features, began developing these three strips for tv over a year ago, and signed a Coast animation plant to produce a pilot subject of each. When Paramount, which has had a long and close relationship with King, found out about the project, it became enamored with the project and decided to go theatrical with them. Hence. Paramount's cartoon studios in N.Y. will produce a dozen subjects spread over the three properties. Paramount plans to start theatrical distribution of the first of these this spring.
Meanwhile, Brodax this week, returns from the Coast where he completed work on the third of the pilot films, "Beetle Bailey." For tv, Brodax is planning to offer the three properties in an "omnibus" half-hour with appropriate bridges, or he may go for a half-hour show of any one of the three properties. Voice of Private Bailey is being done by Howard Morris, of the old "Sid Caesar Show." Allen Melvin, who played Corporal Henshaw in the old "Bilko" show, voices the role of Sergeant Snorkel in "Beetle Bailey."
The Paramount-King Features relationship goes back to 1932, the year that Paramount made the first "Popeye" cartoon. When Bordax [sic] set up the KFS tv division two years ago, he signed the Paramount cartoon s[t]udio to make a large part of the 220 new "Popeye" cartoons that King is producing specifically for tv. (Weekly Variety, Feb. 7, 1962)

King Features' Al Brodax has commissioned Creston Studios to turn out a pilot based on the comic strip, "Beetle Bailey". (Weekly Variety, Feb. 28, 1962)

Two-media cartoon deal ■ Paramount Pictures and King Features Syndicate announce a co- production agreement on three of King's comic strip properties for both theatrical and tv release. Paramount will handle theatrical and King will handle tv distribution of the three animated cartoon series: Beetle Bailey, Barney Google and Snuffy Smith and Krazy Kat. Al Brodax, director of the KFS tv division, announced that pilots have been completed, and the film shorts will be offered to tv as an "omnibus" half-hour show of any one of the three properties. (Broadcasting, March 12, 1962)

KFS' trio ■ King Features Syndicate-Tv is starting to sell three new cartoon series, Beetle Bailey, Barney Google and Snuffy Smith and Krazy Kat, but they will not be available for tv showing before the fall of 1963. KFS-Tv will produce 50 episodes in each of the three series, with each segment 5 ½ minutes long, except for nine longer subjects (8½ minutes) that will be released theatrically over the next year. (Broadcasting, Nov. 26, 1962)

Cleffers Jay Livingston and Redd Evans were signed this week to writ the music for the sound track of 50 new Krazy Kat TV cartoons which are being put into production by King Features Syndicate. The cartoons are part of a package of 150 which includes 50 Beetle Bailey shows and 50 Barney Google stanzas. The series will go on the air in the fall of 1963. TV stations are being set up across the nation. New York outlet will be WPIX. (Billboard, Dec. 1, 1962)

Nearly nine months in advance of its debut, King Features Syndicate has lined up Ideal Toy and Kenner Products to buy participations in a roster of markets in KFS' new cartoons, "Beetle Bailey," "Barney Google an' Snuffy Smith," and "Krazy Kat."
Inking of the two toy companies for participations in particular markets, the number of which is sizeable, is a feather in the cap for Al Brodax, KFS tv director, and a big sales plus for the 150 cartoons in this series. Cartoons, being done in color, are of five-and-a-half-minutes in length and are all based on King Features comic strips.
Ideal, through Grey, has signed for more than 50 markets. Kenner, in its participation commitment, has signed for upwards of 25 markets. According to Brodax, a couple of other national advertisers are now registering interest for similar participation deals.
Stations that have signed so far include WPIX, N.Y.; KTLA, Los Angeles; CKLW-TV, Detroit; WTAE, Pittsburgh; WEWS-TV, Cleveland; WTCN-TV, Minneapolis. All of these stations will be included in the participation buys of Ideal and Kenner.
Before even beginning its syndication selling, KFS screened the upcoming cartoons with potential advertisers. In the case of toy companies, KFS has been talking merchandising possibilities, although no licensing of properties has begun as yet. (Weekly Variety, Jan. 23, 1963)

Cartoon Trilogy, Beetle Bailey, Barney Google an' Snuffy Smith and Krazy Kat (King Features Synd.): Sold to Triangle Publications for WFIL-TV Philadelphia, WFBG-TV Altoona and WLYH-TV Lebanon, all Pennsylvania; WNBF-TV Binghamton, N. Y.; WNHC-TV New Haven and KERE-TV Fresno. Also sold to WTTV (TV) Indianapolis-Bloomington; KIRO-TV Seattle and KSL-TV Salt Lake City. (Broadcasting, Feb. 3, 1963)

King Features Syndicate is offering its stations the concept and wherewithal for a local wraparound format that will give its three new cartoon series national identification while preserving local promotional values. The format, called "Operation Hangout," features an odd-ball ice cream parlor called The Hangout. The emcee is the soda jerk.
In addition, there are other features to KFS' expensive layout, all aimed at preserving the identity of the KFS cartoons, "Beetle Bailey," "Barney Google an' Snuffy Smith," and Krazy Kat." (Weekly Variety, March 27, 1963)

King Features Syndicate has concluded property merchandising arrangements with 20 manufacturers for three of its cartoon series—Barney Google and Snuffy Smith, Beetle Bailey, and Krazy Kat. Ideal Toy and Kenner Products, two of the principal licensees, will have extensive spot schedules on local telecasts of the cartoon series. Among the other licensees are Milton Bradley Co., Golden Records, Multiple Productions, Colorforms, Sawyer's, Barzim, Phoenix Candy, Four Star Candy, Ben Cooper, Collegeville, Western Printing and Louis Marx. Products licensed by the companies include dolls, paint sets, jig saw puzzles, games and records. (Broadcasting, July 15, 1963)

Stay tuned ■ King Features Syndicate, to promote its three new TV cartoon series, "Beetle Bailey," "Barney Google" and "Krazy Kat," is sending customer stations a 16-inch double-faced disc with comic audio promos by the cartoon stars. The 35 spots include 10-second, 20-second and stay-tuned announcements. Also on the disc is an open-end comedy routine in which the local MC's can talk by phone with four of the "Beetle Bailey" principals, right on camera. The cartoons will premiere on most stations in early September. (Broadcasting, Sept. 9, 1963)

Barney Google will get a show of his own in New York, with Ideal Toy sponsoring.
WPIX is spinning off the Google cartoons from the rest of the new King Features Syndicate package to set up the half-hour per week stanza. "The Barney Google Show" had its debut Saturday (7), 6 to 6:30 p.m., with the station's Jack McCarthy emceeing.
The rest of the new KFS cartoons, "Beetle Bailey" and "Krazy Kat," will play on WPIX's new "Chuck McCann Show," 5 to 6 p.m., across the board. In other major markets, Ideal, through Grey Advertising, has bought participations on the KFS cartoons running across the board in early evening periods. (Weekly Variety, Sept. 11, 1963)

Jack...Mendelson is one of the industry’s business TV-cartoon writers, having written more than half of the current Krazy Kat and Beetle Bailey episodes for King Features Syndicate. (Back Stage, Sept. 20, 1963).

Perhaps sales weren’t what King Features hoped, or the syndicate felt it had enough cartoons that it could broker with the idea the kid TV audience would change every few years. Whatever the reason, it decided not to expand.

King Features Syndicate: The company has presently in distribution 370 segments of color cartoons, including 220 Popeye episodes and 50 each of Beatle Bailey, [sic] Barney Google and Snuffy Smith and Krazy Kat. For the moment, a spokesman said, KFS is not planning new production in color for syndication. (Broadcasting, September 20, 1965).

With more big advertisers acquiring their own tv shows, a new firm has been formed to handle distribution of such properties, plug all the fringe merchandising possibilities that go with them, such as trade or character-marked kids' clothes, toys and comic books. The new firm is Media/Syndication Systems and its first client is Quaker Oats.
Latter has picked up four cartoon series from King Features that will be bartered on a straight product-for-time basis, there being, it is understood, no Quaker spots spliced in with the cartoons. Stations taking Quaker up on the deal will reportedly have rights to the animated product for three years, to run whenever and as often as they choose.
The films are "Krazy Kat", "Barney Google an' Snuffy Smith", "Beetle Bailey" and "Cool McCool", latter just off the NBC Saturday kidvid strip.
M/SS is headed by Lawrence P. O'Daly, prez, and Roger Hudson, v.p. O'Daly is ex-ad manager for Ideal Toys, and Hudson was an account exec for WPIX.
Besides its four new cartoon series, Quaker is underwriting film versions of popular moppet books to be produced by David Wolper Productions. (Weekly Variety, Sept. 17, 1969)

I don’t know when these TV versions of Krazy Kat stopped airing but I’ve found a trade ad from 1993 offering them to stations wanting them.

Herriman’s quirky comic strip has been rediscovered a number of the times over the years and Herriman lauded as a genius. I doubt the same has been said for the TV cartoons.