Something disturbing about the '67 Spider-Man cartoons...

[HardyGirl]

I dunno if this has been posted before, but mixed in w/ the weird 1/2 hour segments of this cartoon were two 10 minute ones called "Winged Things" and "Connor's Reptiles". Both of these are just spliced, disjointed versions of 2 previous cartoons "The Sky Is Falling" and "Where Crawls The Lizard" w/ different dialogue dubbed in. I wonder why Grantray/ Lawrence/ Krantz did that?

[cjefferys]

Even as a little kid, I recognized the similarities in those recycled cartoons and thought it was a cheapo thing to do.

[The Toyroom]

I don't think Grantray/ Lawrence/ Krantz were known as big spenders...just take a look at the old Marvel Super-Heroes/Marvel Men cartoon

[MIB41]

I dunno if this has been posted before, but mixed in w/ the weird 1/2 hour segments of this cartoon were two 10 minute ones called "Winged Things" and "Connor's Reptiles". Both of these are just spliced, disjointed versions of 2 previous cartoons "The Sky Is Falling" and "Where Crawls The Lizard" w/ different dialogue dubbed in. I wonder why Grantray/ Lawrence/ Krantz did that?

Gantray-Lawrence didn't do that. What your seeing is the trademark hack job performed by Ralph Bakshi. Gantray-Lawrence produced the animation for the show during season one before going into bankruptcy. Because Krantz films was contracted with ABC to complete 52 episodes, they had to find another animation company. At this point they had only finished 20. Enter Ralph Bakshi. He wasn't too ethusiastic about doing Spiderman but agreed to do it so it would give him time to put together an animation studio, so he could get financing to do a project he was working on at the time - a low budget, R-rated, cartoon called 'Fritz the cat'. If you heard Bakshi's account, he will tell you his work was mostly "original" animation and the stories closer to the Spiderman comics of that day. Neither statements are true. Bakshi often reused Gantray-Lawrence animation over and over, even within the same episodes. He also borrowed other animation heavily from Rocket Robinhood. As a matter of fact he took an entire episode of Rocket Robinhood and simply replaced the principle hero while keeping the SAME VILLIAN. Which episode is that? "Revolt in the Fifth Dimension"

Actually the '67 Spiderman is quite good and a real classic during season one. Virtually all of the stories are directly lifted from the comics, including the same titles. The story consultants during that time were also the authors/artists of that time - Stan Lee and John Romita Sr. Now while the animation was simplistic and they didn't have the budget to put webbing on his shirt, the material did come from the original creators of Spiderman and this was their first interpretation of their hero for film. I grew up watching the show, including during it's first run, and it was very big for it's day.

One other fact most of you may not know - The majority of you have grown up watching your favorite holiday specials in the company of the same vocal talent that brought you that Spiderman cartoon. In Rudolph, Donner is portrayed by Paul Kligman who gave you J Jonah Jameson. Peg Dixson who did the voice for Rudolph's momma reindeer played Betty Brant and Bernard Cowan who did the voice of Kirmy the dentist (vocally enhanced to sound like an elf of course) was the voice of Peter Parker. Go back and listen to Rudolph. Most people's jaws drop when they realize they've been there all along and never knew it (even those who grew up with the Spiderman cartoon).

Most of the negativity you hear from the Spiderman series comes from what Bakshi did after those first 20 episodes. With titles like "Super Swami" and "The Devious Dr. Dumpty" it's hard to believe Bakshi was serious about any of it, least of all being faithful to the comics.

[The Toyroom]

^ Interesting stuff!

[kingdom warrior]

Wow great Info. I thought towards the end of the series...it seemed uninspired but heck i didn't care back then. i'd watch it with my mego Spidey at hand. I love that series and Glad i have on Dvd for my kids.....

[HardyGirl]

Most enlightning! (and I knew about Paul Kligman! ) Thanks for the info, MIB!

[palitoy]

Bernard Cowan was not the voice of Peter Parker/ Spiderman or Hermy the Elf, it's Paul Soles. Bernard Cowan has a very distinct baratone voice, he was the announcer on "Wayne and Shuster" and the narrator of the Marvel Superheroes Cartoons.

A friend of mine ran into Paul Soles on the subway in the 80s, he didn't like being called "Spidey". Actor Chris Wiggens was the voice of Mysterio, most Americans might know him from the "Friday the 13th" TV series.

Two episodes were swiped from Rocket Robin Hood, the Infinata one already mentioned and another where Spider-man swipes a rocket ship (which looks familiar) to visit an "Island".

[Earth 2 Chris]

Yeah, the later episodes are like bad acid trips. Even more annoying than recycling whole episodes is the repetitive swinging sequences which go on for 10 minutes at a time.

I'm glad to have all of these on DVD, but other than "The Origin of Spider-Man" (which is my favorite episode), the later ones are just aggravating to watch.

Chris

[goldenryan]

the first season of spidey was great. i can't watch the rest. i think in one later episode spiderman was fighting a giant viking

[cockyhoskins]

Great info MIB41 and palitoy! Paul Soles was indeed the voice of Spider-Man and Peter Parker. Here is an interview with him about the series:

Paul Soles Talks 1967 Spider-Man Cartoon

[HardyGirl]

Cool interview, thanks for posting. Whenever I think of Spidey, it's Paul's voice I hear.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Cool interview, thanks for posting. Whenever I think of Spidey, it's Paul's voice I hear.

Same here. When I read my son a Spidey comic, I do the voice change between Peter and Spidey like he did and I try and mimic his voice.

Chris

[palitoy]

Soles would occasionally do television in Canada (he was a CBC radio guy for a long time) and I always found it jarring watching him. It's Spider-Man's voice coming out of this guy who kind of looks like Harry Shearer.

[jds1911a1]

Yeah, the later episodes are like bad acid trips. Even more annoying than recycling whole episodes is the repetitive swinging sequences which go on for 10 minutes at a time.

I'm glad to have all of these on DVD, but other than "The Origin of Spider-Man" (which is my favorite episode), the later ones are just aggravating to watch.

Chris

the only thing that makes the extended swinging tolerable is the groovy jazz soundtrack that goes with it