"Hoppity Hooper" DVD

[cbrubaker]

My copy of the "Hoppity Hooper" DVD from East West came today.

It's nothing special. It's basically like the PD DVDs you see in Dollar Stores. Looks like the source copy for the cartoons came from old VHS tapes, and in some scenes, the quality is a bit dark, but it's still watchable, fortunately.

Contains the following:

The Dragon of Eubetcha (4 parts)
Rare Butterfly Hunt (4 parts)
Oil's Well at Oasis Gardens (4 parts)

And a bonus cartoon:

Always Kickin' (Hunky and Spunky)

Do I recommend it? Well, if you have money to burn and you find the DVD in a store for only $1, then sure, why not? But it could've been better.

[cbrubaker]

Here are some screenshots.

Note that Bullwinkle and Dudley Do-Right make cameos in part 3 of "Rare Butterfly Hunt."

Boris Badenov also makes an appearance in parts 1 and 4 of "Oil's Well at Oasis Gardens."

[cpdavison]

Those cameos easily justify the cost of the disc. Thanks for posting these, Charles!

Craig D.

[Snowpeck II]

Yeah the quality definitely isn't bad for a PD release. Too bad here in Tennessee nobody is carrying EastWest DVDs. Is the entire Hoppity Hooper series in the public domain?


Greg

[cbrubaker]

I uploaded part 1 of "The Dragon of Eubetcha" on YouTube.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=58aC4FxhrAg

[Der Captain]

Anybody know which stores carry this DVD?

[Geezil]

Anybody know which stores carry this DVD?

As noted in this thread (http://forums.goldenagecartoons.com/showthread.php?t=8994&page=1&pp=10), [CORRECTION] EastWest DVDs have lately been spotted at a CVS Pharmacy in Maine, but we've so far come up empty on the frog at a few CVS locations in Texas and New York. The hunt continues. :D

[SkippitySnooper]

Does the DVD contain the original "Hoppity Hooper" titles, or is it the syndicated version with the "Uncle Waldo's Cartoon Show" title? Also, is it just the Hoppity Hooper episodes, or is it the entire broadcasts? Each half-hour program used to have two Hoppity cartoons, a Fractured Fairy Tale, one or two McBragg toons (or Mr. Peabody during the first season).

As far as copyright goes, I have my doubts that these episodes are PD. According to sources (possibly Charles Ulrich of the "Frostbite Falls Far Flung Flier", if memory serves), the Hoppity Hooper series was remastered for syndication in non-US markets. Last I checked the TV distribution rights were still held by the Program Exchange, a division of Saatchi & Saatchi. They even produced a simple promotional webpage for the series. (Note I said web-page, not "site".)

The big catch to preserving copyright is that the holder has to exercise an effort to protect their property when someone is distributing it without permission. Considering that some guy on eBay was selling homemade videotapes of the entire series since 2000 (and homebrew DVD's as of 2002), one could argue that the copyright may be dubious at this point. (He doesn't appear to be selling on eBay anymore, but that could be more the result of ebay's policies than the copyright holder standing up to protect their interests.)

I'm just saying that if you see it somewhere, you might want to pick it up before some lawyer has it pulled from the stores.

[cbrubaker]

Does the DVD contain the original "Hoppity Hooper" titles, or is it the syndicated version with the "Uncle Waldo's Cartoon Show" title? Also, is it just the Hoppity Hooper episodes, or is it the entire broadcasts? Each half-hour program used to have two Hoppity cartoons, a Fractured Fairy Tale, one or two McBragg toons (or Mr. Peabody during the first season)
None. There's no original opening and closing credits. And it only contains "Hoppity" (plus the bonus Fleischer cartoon). No Peabody or McBragg, just Hoppity.

[Studio Toledo]

None. There's no original opening and closing credits. And it only contains "Hoppity" (plus the bonus Fleischer cartoon). No Peabody or McBragg, just Hoppity.
Just a random mess is to put it bluntly. :)

[Geezil]

None. There's no original opening and closing credits. And it only contains "Hoppity" (plus the bonus Fleischer cartoon). No Peabody or McBragg, just Hoppity.

I'm just saying that if you see it somewhere, you might want to pick it up before some lawyer has it pulled from the stores.

Just a random mess is to put it bluntly. :)

OK, at least now I finally get the picture on why no one responded when I offered an extra sealed copy for trade a while back. (And it's still a decent package among those of its kind.)

But in the event of a change of mind on the part of anyone who doesn't live near a C.H. Martin store, that offer remains open, either for trade or $3.00 including postage. PM me if interested. :D

[Jon Cooke]

OK, at least now I finally get the picture on why no one responded when I offered an extra sealed copy for trade a while back. (And it's still a decent package among those of its kind.)

Hey Geezil,

I remember sending you an e-mail about the Hoppity disc and never got a reply, so I just assumed you found a home for it. If it is still available, let me know! :bosko: :cool:

[Geezil]

Hey Geezil,

I remember sending you an e-mail about the Hoppity disc and never got a reply, so I just assumed you found a home for it. If it is still available, let me know! :bosko: :cool:

Indeed it is, Jon! Be watching your PM box shortly. :D

[Madison Carter]

A small update/non-update:

Went into a local dollar store called 99 Cents Only Stores (it's a chain, not sure how widespread though) today. Normally their bin is filled with stuff from that company Television Classics (aka Cartoon Classics), but it appears they've started carrying EastWest now, as they had several displays of them.

While I didn't find Hoppity Hooper, they had a number of other animation DVDs I hadn't seen in this area (Dallas) before. They include:

Fraidy Cat
Wacky and Packy
Great Animation Vol. 3 (which appears to be mostly Canadian "art" cartoons plus, for some reason, Bambi Vs. Godzilla)
Asterix and Cleopatra (that CAN'T be legal)
The Hobbit (ditto)

and one called The Boy Who Cried Wolf, which includes the 'bonus feature' cartoons All This and Rabbit Stew, To Duck or Not to Duck, Daffy the Commando, Bosko's Party, Superman & the Bulleteers, Ant & the Grasshopper, You're Too Careless with All Your Kisses)

Anyway, anyone looking for Hooper may want to start checking this place out if there's a local one.

[Studio Toledo]

A small update/non-update:

Went into a local dollar store called 99 Cents Only Stores (it's a chain, not sure how widespread though) today. Normally their bin is filled with stuff from that company Television Classics (aka Cartoon Classics), but it appears they've started carrying EastWest now, as they had several displays of them.
Guess Genius Entertainment got out of that racket! They're in the big time now with the Weinstein Company. :cool:

While I didn't find Hoppity Hooper, they had a number of other animation DVDs I hadn't seen in this area (Dallas) before. They include:

Fraidy Cat
Wacky and Packy
Still don't expect Entertainment Rights PLC of ever finding anyone in the US to release those cartoons!

Great Animation Vol. 3 (which appears to be mostly Canadian "art" cartoons plus, for some reason, Bambi Vs. Godzilla)
Earlier here, I identified what this was, it's a bootleg of the Spike & Mike's Festival of Animation Vol. 1, which was released about 15 years ago on VHS and LD. Titles that were on this include "How to Kiss" (Bill Plympton, 1988), "The Thing What Lurked in the Tub (Dave Wasson, 1988), "A Story" (Andrew Stanton/CalArts, 1987), "Charade" (Jon Minnis/Sheridan College, 1983), The Hill People (Mark Baker/National Film & TV School, 1988), Lea's Press on Limbs (Chris Miller, 1988), "Bambi Meets Godzilla" (Marv Newland, 1969) and others. It might only be worth tracking down since the tape and LD are out-of-print and can fetch up to any amount on eBay these days.

Asterix and Cleopatra (that CAN'T be legal)
No kidding!

The Hobbit (ditto)
I really hate these people! Reason why I would suggest not getting these unless you're really that desperate not to go online and buy through foreign shops if possible.

and one called The Boy Who Cried Wolf, which includes the 'bonus feature' cartoons All This and Rabbit Stew, To Duck or Not to Duck, Daffy the Commando, Bosko's Party, Superman & the Bulleteers, Ant & the Grasshopper, You're Too Careless with All Your Kisses)

Anyway, anyone looking for Hooper may want to start checking this place out if there's a local one.
The closest such place to me called "Dollar Tree" didn't have any when I checked them today. I only wanted to see if someone in town had these things anyway, but wasn't too interested in getting 'em.

[samtheq]

A small update/non-update:

Went into a local dollar store called 99 Cents Only Stores (it's a chain, not sure how widespread though) today.

Oh my gosh...the dollar stores have been bested by the invention of the 99 Cent Store! It had to happen! Quick, I'm starting a 98 Cent Store! Of course, I see why, considering what a dollar is worth these days!


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Studio Toledo wrote:
Guess Genius Entertainment got out of that racket! They're in the big time now with the Weinstein Company. :cool:
>>>>>>>>>>>>

What gives with THAT? I just bought the two new Godzilla DVDs which came out last week (Ghidorah the Three-Headed Mosnter, Invasion of the Astro Monster), which are put out by Sony/Classic Media....and what logo comes up at the very start? The red curtain and GENIUS ENTERTAINMENT. I thought I had been slipped a Target cheapie disc for a moment...that was weird!

Either this means no more Target discs with occasional gold for $1, or maybe Sony's gonna start putting out discs of recolored WB, TV prints of Van Buren cartoons, and animated Three Stooges?????


brant

[Studio Toledo]

Oh my gosh...the dollar stores have been bested by the invention of the 99 Cent Store! It had to happen! Quick, I'm starting a 98 Cent Store! Of course, I see why, considering what a dollar is worth these days!
True, you can put whatever name you want on those signs it makes no difference either way.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Studio Toledo wrote:
Guess Genius Entertainment got out of that racket! They're in the big time now with the Weinstein Company. :cool:
>>>>>>>>>>>>

What gives with THAT? I just bought the two new Godzilla DVDs which came out last week (Ghidorah the Three-Headed Mosnter, Invasion of the Astro Monster), which are put out by Sony/Classic Media....and what logo comes up at the very start? The red curtain and GENIUS ENTERTAINMENT. I thought I had been slipped a Target cheapie disc for a moment...that was weird!
Needless to say I was stunned when I noticed this on the disc for Clerks II.

Either this means no more Target discs with occasional gold for $1, or maybe Sony's gonna start putting out discs of recolored WB, TV prints of Van Buren cartoons, and animated Three Stooges?????


brant
Well maybe for now we won't have to see more of Stanchfield's work getting used in anymore of their releaeses. Just seems funny to see them selling stuff that's out of the Public Dormain now.

[Madison Carter]

Seems a lot of the bargain-bin companies are going legit these days. Genius is already a major player thanks to the Weinstein deal, among other things. Then companies like BCI and Alpha have been releasing licensed DVDs instead of their usual PD stuff.

I think I need to see about buying some stock in Digiview or Treasure Box.

[Studio Toledo]

Seems a lot of the bargain-bin companies are going legit these days. Genius is already a major player thanks to the Weinstein deal, among other things. Then companies like BCI and Alpha have been releasing licensed DVDs instead of their usual PD stuff.
Made me think of how long it took Goodtimes to do the same, yet they still like to dabble in the PD stuff alongside their own 'original' animated crap.

I think I need to see about buying some stock in Digiview or Treasure Box.
Perhaps, but I hope no one better try to give EastWest a chance! They don't need it.

[Jon Cooke]

I think I need to see about buying some stock in Digiview or Treasure Box.

Digiview seems to be going legit as well. A lot of their new $1 stuff is officially licensed.

I haven't seen any new additions in the "Toon Factory" or "Cartoon Craze" collections in ages.