The Harveytoons DVD........Good and Bad

[Don59]

This is my first post to the board, and I hope to be posting often.

I just bought the new Harveytoons Complete Collection DVD from Walmart.com, as no stores in my area carry it, other than the one time I saw it at Sam's Club, but no more. I've always been a big fan of the Paramount/Famous Studios (aka Harveytoons) cartoons, as they were a huge part of my childhood. A local station used to show them every Saturday morning when I was growing up in the '60's. I even take pride in learning how to spell M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I from the Screen Song "Drippy Mississippi". I am so happy to see these cartoons again, but so bummed out that the opening titles are edited so badly. Without the complete Harveytoons openings, you don't get to hear such wonderful themes as the Casper, Herman & Katnip, or Little Audrey theme songs with the words. I also loved the various opening themes for the Noveltoons/Modern Madcaps which are now severely edited. What I'm really missing are the various Screen Songs & Kartunes which were the "Follow the Bouncing Ball" cartoons. Does anyone remember the opening themes for these, which were "Start the Day With A Song" or "Sing A Song of Six Pence"? I wish Classic Media had done a better job with this set, and left more things complete. It's funny, because these cartoons have really been through alot over the years. They went from having the Paramount/Famous Studios openings replaced with the Harveytoons openings to having the soundtracks edited to having the soundtracks restored but then having the Harveytoons opening edited down. Anyone else have any comments about this DVD set or Famous/Harveytoons in general?

[Studio Toledo]

This is my first post to the board, and I hope to be posting often.

I just bought the new Harveytoons Complete Collection DVD from Walmart.com, as no stores in my area carry it, other than the one time I saw it at Sam's Club, but no more.
And since Sam's Club is owned by Walmart, the truth hurts! :D

I've always been a big fan of the Paramount/Famous Studios (aka Harveytoons) cartoons, as they were a huge part of my childhood. A local station used to show them every Saturday morning when I was growing up in the '60's. I even take pride in learning how to spell M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I from the Screen Song "Drippy Mississippi".
Too bad no station in my vincinity in the 80's would bother to do the same!

I am so happy to see these cartoons again, but so bummed out that the opening titles are edited so badly. Without the complete Harveytoons openings, you don't get to hear such wonderful themes as the Casper, Herman & Katnip, or Little Audrey theme songs with the words. I also loved the various opening themes for the Noveltoons/Modern Madcaps which are now severely edited. What I'm really missing are the various Screen Songs & Kartunes which were the "Follow the Bouncing Ball" cartoons. Does anyone remember the opening themes for these, which were "Start the Day With A Song" or "Sing A Song of Six Pence"? I wish Classic Media had done a better job with this set, and left more things complete. It's funny, because these cartoons have really been through alot over the years. They went from having the Paramount/Famous Studios openings replaced with the Harveytoons openings to having the soundtracks edited to having the soundtracks restored but then having the Harveytoons opening edited down. Anyone else have any comments about this DVD set or Famous/Harveytoons in general?
Well, I didn't get the set anyway, so I can't answer for the opinions others probably have to express in this thread! But being too much an uber-completist I am (even if I have to take it at face value with the Harvey Films opening/closing sequences), this set doesn't come close to satisfying that part of me that would rather have that.

[J Lee]

If you haven't gone back to Page 2 in the current list of topic threads, here's the long thread on the Harveytoons DVD, (http://forums.goldenagecartoons.com/showthread.php?t=7651) which covers comments for the past couple of months.

[Jon Cooke]

Welcome, Don!

Like J Lee said, be sure to check out the long "Talkback" thread about the Harveytoons DVD set for more details and comments. I am actually in the process of finishing off my review for the GAC reviews section as we speak (hoping it will be online sometime this weekend!). :huey: :audrey:

[samtheq]

I was thinking, is there anything to stop us in this group from making our own, purely not-for-profit Harveytoons Filler set to distribute to oursevles? What I mean is, to fill in missing/editted Harveytoons that weren't included in the set, for those of us who own the DVD's? Throw in some original openings and songs while we're at it?

Lots of us in this group own copies of these cartoons in various formats, and we could put together a nice package, just for the sake of sharing. This sort of thing is done in other collecting circles, with lots of talented people who love their hobbies and don't mind giving back to their fellow collectors.

Besides, keep in mind we are talking DVD+Rs here...if upgraded official versions were put out, we'd be buying those anyhow.
But, I think we all know there isn't likely to be another set, and if there WAS another set, we all know material like "No Ifs, Ands, or Butts" won't be on there.
...and dammit, I want to see this "Chew Chew Baby" cartoon.

brant

[mighty mouse]

Looking forward to reading your review Jon, even though ive had the set for a while, I enjoy reading peoples thoughts on my beloved harveytoons !!:huey: :huey: :huey: :buzzy: :buzzy: :buzzy: :audrey: :audrey: :audrey: :) :) :)

[Jon Cooke]

My review (http://reviews.goldenagecartoons.com/harvey/) is online. Featuring a bunch of pictures. :buzzy:

[Duck Dodgers]

My review (http://reviews.goldenagecartoons.com/harvey/) is online. Featuring a bunch of pictures. :buzzy:

And it's a great one, folks! Go read it!;)

[HisBoyElroy]

My review (http://reviews.goldenagecartoons.com/harvey/) is online. Featuring a bunch of pictures. :buzzy:

Great review. Fair. Balanced. Open-minded. Thanks!

[merc]

I am a completist. I want all the openings, closings and what is in between complete. I also am also a realist. If they could only release the set after performing the cost prohibitive restoration frame by frame to restore it to the original, we would never see it. Some day they may put these out one section at a time until it is complete (like I hope is being done to the LTGC and soon the Popeye) at a greatly increased total cost and increaased waiting time. In the meantime, we can enjoy what has been released.