Vague Harveytoons Memory

[Stanislav]

I have a vague memory of a crudely censored moment in a Harveytoons cartoon that used to run often on local TV when I was a child. Don't ask me which series it was (may have been Casper, or something else) but the plot involved a fox hunt, and at one point a stuffy monocled type with a stiff upper lip British accent (for some reason the memory makes me think of Mr. Harriman on Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends) refers to a character as a "silly ass." I remember seeing this cartoon, uncensored, and then later very crudely edited (probably by the local station) in such a manner that you could still pretty much tell what he said. (It was as if they cut out the middle of the word only and left the very beginning of the "a" sound and the tail end of the "s," so it wasn't much of a mystery). ;) I often wonder about the line (as mild as it is by contemporary standards) being included in the first place -- perhaps they thought the thick accent of the voice would make it sound undecipherable to young American ears?

Can anyone pinpoint which cartoon this was from, and any memories of seeing it censored vs. uncensored?

[Jon Cooke]

I am pretty sure that was from "By Leaps and Hounds" (Famous, 1951). It was a Noveltoon one-shot featuring "Herbert".

[Ray Pointer]

It's just an example of how "silly" the censorship was. This expression was in the stage version and television broadcast of PETER PAN without omission. The expression, "Silly Ass" references the equestrian relative, not the common vulgar expression referring to hips. It is an expression that refers to a stupid, stuborn animal. So the result of the censorship of the expression, "Silly Ass" is more of revelation of the minds of the station managers and their concepts of "standards and practices," and perhaps applies to such a person. Consider the free use of more vulgarisms on television today. "Ass" in the vulager sense is one of them.

[Studio Toledo]

It's just an example of how "silly" the censorship was. This expression was in the stage version and television broadcast of PETER PAN without omission. The expression, "Silly Ass" references the equestrian relative, not the common vulgar expression referring to hips. It is an expression that refers to a stupid, stuborn animal. So the result of the censorship of the expression, "Silly Ass" is more of revelation of the minds of the station managers and their concepts of "standards and practices," and perhaps applies to such a person. Consider the free use of more vulgarisms on television today. "Ass" in the vulager sense is one of them.
True, things do change over time.

[kaneda]

I know a Casper cartoon called "A Haunting We Will Go" features Ferdie Fox in it being chased by huntsmen and dogs. I don't know if that's the one and will check when I can find it.


I have looked at various censored and banned cartoons of the forties and they are totally harmless by today's standards.