THE MUSEUM OF UNCUT FUNK PRESENTS FUNKY TURNS 40™: BLACK CHARACTER REVOLUTION
A RETROSPECTIVE OF 1970‘S CARTOON ANIMATION ART FEATURING BLACK CHARACTERS
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THE MUSEUM OF UNCUT FUNK PRESENTS FUNKY TURNS 40: BLACK CHARACTER REVOLUTION
Art Item Photo Artwork Description
Cartoon Studio Network Run Historical Notes
I. BLACK CAST CARTOONS:
Billy Jo JiveBilly Jo Jive - Original Production Cel
Fat Albert And The Cosby KidsFat Albert And The Cosby Kids - “Band Practice” Limited Edition Cel
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids - Original Production Cel
Features Billy Jo Jive and Smart Susie Sunset
Billy Jo Jive Sesame Street PBS: 11/27/78 - through the 1980’s
Billy Jo Jive was the first positive Saturday morning cartoon series featuring Black characters to be created from a series of children’s books. Billy Jo Jive was a self-described super crime fighting ace, a prepubescent Black detective in animated segments on Sesame Street in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Billy Jo Jive and his sidekick, Smart Susie Sunset, originated in a series of children's books by John Shearer, with illustrations by his father Ted Shearer. The series debuted with Billy Jo Jive, Super Private Eye: The Case of the Missing Ten Speed Bike in 1976. The earliest known TV appearance: Sesame Street Episode 1186.
Features Fat Albert gang from Halloween Special - Fat Albert, Bill, Bucky, Dumb Donald, Mush Mouth, Rudy, Russell, Weird Harold
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids
Filmation CBS: 9/9/72 - 8/10/85 Run: 110 episodes, 4 specials
Fat Albert is the longest running positive Black cast Saturday morning cartoon series and the third positive Black cast Saturday morning cartoon series. Fat Albert first appeared in the Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s Fat Albert primetime special that aired on November 12, 1969. This was the first positive Black cast cartoon to appear on TV.
Features Fat Albert gang playing football - Fat Albert, Bill, Bucky, Dumb Donald, Mush Mouth, Rudy, Russell, Weird Harold
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids
Filmation CBS: 9/9/72 - 8/10/85 Run: 110 episodes, 4 specials
The director of the special was Ken Mundie. Two Black animators were Floyd Norman and Leo Sullivan. The characters Fat Albert Jackson, Bill Cosby and Mushmouth were voiced by Bill Cosby. The music for the special was written and performed by jazz pianist / keyboardist Herbie Hancock and was released on the album Fat Albert Rotunda.
EXHIBITION INVENTORY
Contact Information Museum First Name Last Name Phone Address E-Mail
Curator
Co-Curator
The Museum Of UnCut Funk Pamela Thomas
The Museum Of UnCut Funk Loreen Williamson
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Art Item Photo Artwork Description
Cartoon Studio Network Run Historical Notes
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids - Original Production Cel
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids - Original Production Cel
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids - Halloween Special - Original Production Cel
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids - Halloween Special - Original Production Cel
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids - Halloween Special - Original Production Drawing
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids - Halloween Special - Original Production Drawing
Features Fat Albert on a go cart
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids
Filmation CBS: 9/9/72 - 8/10/85 Run: 110 episodes, 4 specials
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids ran for 22 episodes from 9/9/72 - 10/27/73, and then again for 14 episodes from 9/6/75 - 10/30/76. The New Fat Albert Show ran for 24 episodes from 9/8/79 - 9/16/81. The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids ran for 50 episodes from 9/1/84 - 8/10/85. The show was in syndication from 1984 - 1985.
Features Fat Albert playing an instrument
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids
Filmation CBS: 9/9/72 - 8/10/85 Run: 110 episodes, 4 specials
The four Fat Albert specials are: Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s Fat Albert (11/12/69), The Fat Albert Halloween Special (10/24/77), The Fat Albert Christmas Special (12/18/77), The Fat Albert Easter Special (4/3/82)
Features Fat Albert gang from Halloween Special - Fat Albert, Bill, Bucky, Dumb Donald, Mush Mouth, Russell, Weird Harold
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids
Filmation CBS: 9/9/72 - 8/10/85 Run: 110 episodes, 4 specials
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids included ten Black and white advisors who were degreed professional psychologists from UCLA. This series had clear educational elements and addressed issues of poverty, child abuse, kidnapping, teen parenting, smoking, bullying and vandalism. This series won mass parent approval and Cosby and Filmation Associates kept tight reins on the popular uses of the series.
Features Fat Albert gang from Halloween Special - Fat Albert, Bill, Bucky, Dumb Donald, Mush Mouth, Rudy, Russell, Weird Harold
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids
Filmation CBS: 9/9/72 - 8/10/85 Run: 110 episodes, 4 specials
Gold Key Comics created a comic book adaptation of Fat Albert which ran for 29 issues, from 1974-1979. A lunch box, a board game and record album was also produced. A live action film was produced in 2004, introducing a new generation to Fat Albert.
Features Fat Albert gang from Halloween Special - Fat Albert, Bill, Bucky, Dumb Donald, Mush Mouth, Russell, Weird Harold
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids
Filmation CBS: 9/9/72 - 8/10/85 Run: 110 episodes, 4 specials
The original cartoon series was released on DVD in 2005-2006 and again in 2013. The cartoon specials were released on DVD in 2008-2009.
Features Fat Albert gang from Halloween Special - Fat Albert, Bill, Bucky, Dumb Donald, Mush Mouth, Rudy, Russell, Weird Harold
Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids
Filmation CBS: 9/9/72 - 8/10/85 Run: 110 episodes, 4 specials
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Art Item Photo Artwork Description
Cartoon Studio Network Run Historical Notes
Harlem GlobetrottersHarlem Globetrotters - Original Production Cel
Harlem Globetrotters - Original Production Cel
Harlem Globetrotters - Original Production Cel
Harlem Globetrotters - Original Production Drawing
Harlem Globetrotters - Original Production Drawing
I Am The GreatestI Am The Greatest - Original Production Cel
I Am The Greatest - Original Production Drawing
Features George “Meadowlark” Lemon
Harlem Globetrotters
Hanna-Barbera CBS: 9/12/70 - 9/2/72 Run: 22 episodes (16 - 70-71; 6 new plus repeats - 71-72)
Harlem Globetrotters was the first positive Black cast Saturday morning cartoon series and the first to feature a Black sports team. For perspective, this cartoon aired six years after the enactment of the Civil Rights Act, and only two years after racist cartoon shorts featuring derogatory depictions of Black characters were banned from television syndication.
Features Meadowlark Lemon and J.C. "Gip" Gipson
Harlem Globetrotters
Hanna-Barbera CBS: 9/12/70 - 9/2/72 Run: 22 episodes (16 - 70-71; 6 new plus repeats - 71-72)
The Harlem Globetrotters featured the following players: George “Meadowlark” Lemon, Freddie “Curly” Neal, Hubert “Geese” Ausbie, J.C. "Gip" Gipson, Bobby Joe Mason and Pablo Robertson. Scatman Crothers provided the voice of Meadowlark Lemon. Meadowlark Lemon also contributed to the series. He was the only Globetrotter to do so.
Features J.C. "Gip" Gipson, Bobby Joe Mason, Pablo Robertson
Harlem Globetrotters
Hanna-Barbera CBS: 9/12/70 - 9/2/72 Run: 22 episodes (16 - 70-71; 6 new plus repeats - 71-72)
The series was an instant hit, earning the highest ratings in Saturday morning television history. It was syndicated to more than 30 countries, the first time any sports team had its own network television series. In 1972 / 1973, The Harlem Globetrotters made three appearances in The New Scooby-Doo Movies.
Features J.C. "Gip" Gipson, Pablo Robertson
Harlem Globetrotters
Hanna-Barbera CBS: 9/12/70 - 9/2/72 Run: 22 episodes (16 - 70-71; 6 new plus repeats - 71-72)
In 1978, the series was re-run as the Go-Go Globetrotters, a two hour program that also included old episodes of The C.B. Bears, The Herculoids and Space Ghost. The Globetrotters were featured in a third cartoon series in 1979, The Super Globetrotters. In spring 1999, TV Land aired repeats of the Harlem Globetrotters on Saturday mornings. A new Harlem Globetrotters cartoon is rumored to be in the works.
Features Freddie “Curly” Neal
Harlem Globetrotters
Hanna-Barbera CBS: 9/12/70 - 9/2/72 Run: 22 episodes (16 - 70-71; 6 new plus repeats - 71-72)
In April 1972, Gold Key Comics launched a comic book adaptation of the Harlem Globetrotters animated series. Their first comic book appearance was in issue #8 of Gold Key's Hanna-Barbera Fun-In, published in July 1971. The comic series followed and lasted for 4 years and 12 issues through January 1975. A board game, lunch box and a record album, The Globetrotters, was also produced.
Features Muhammad Ali
I Am The Greatest: The Adventures Of Muhammad Ali
Farmhouse Films, Fred Calvert Productions, TCF
NBC: 9/10/77 - 9/2/78 Run: 13 episodes
Muhammad Ali was the second Black athletic personality to lead a positive Saturday morning cartoon series, following the Globetrotters. I Am The Greatest was also the fourth positive Black cast Saturday morning cartoon series. Ali voiced his own character. Ali’s public relations agent, Frank Bannister, also voiced his character.
Features Muhammad Ali
I Am The Greatest: The Adventures Of Muhammad Ali
Farmhouse Films, Fred Calvert Productions, TCF
NBC: 9/10/77 - 9/2/78 Run: 13 episodes
Muhammad Ali’s adventures dealt with unexplained mysteries and solving crimes. Other characters in his entourage were his niece Nicky and nephew Damon (voiced by real-life siblings Patrice and Casey Carmichael).
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Art Item Photo Artwork Description
Cartoon Studio Network Run Historical Notes
Jackson 5iveJackson 5ive - Original Production Cel
Jackson 5ive - Original Production Cel
Jackson 5ive - Original Production Cel
Jackson 5ive - Original Production Cel
Jackson 5ive - Original Production Cel
Jackson 5ive - Original Production Drawing
Features Michael, Rosie “The Crusher” (Snake), Ray and Charles (Mice), Hairy Godfather
Jackson 5ive Rankin-Bass ABC: 9/11/71 - 9/1/73 Run: 23 episodes
The Jackson 5ive cartoon was the second positive Black cast Saturday morning cartoon series and Motown Productions' first television series. Motown executives had to "approve every aspect of the series" and they rejected a number of writers' scripts before things met their approval. The Jackson 5ive cartoon was also the first positive Black cast Saturday morning cartoon series that featured Black musicians. Prior to this, animators regularly used Black jazz musicians Cab Calloway, Thomas "Fats" Waller, Louis Armstrong, Ethel Waters and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson as archetypes for a host of animals and people in animated features. Many of these caricatures reinforced stereotypes about Blacks' natural ability to dance and sing and their supposed animalistic nature.
Features Michael and Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito in silhouette in dance sequence
Jackson 5ive Rankin-Bass ABC: 9/11/71 - 9/1/73 Run: 23 episodes
Between 1932 and 1955 twenty different film shorts featured a caricature of or reference to Cab Calloway. Racist and racialized caricatures of other Black entertainers appeared in at least a dozen films including: six with Fats Waller, six with Bill Robinson, seven with Louis Armstrong and two with Ethel Waters.
Features Jackie, Marlon and Michael in dance sequence
Jackson 5ive Rankin-Bass ABC: 9/11/71 - 9/1/73 Run: 23 episodes
The Jackson 5ive featured the band in a series of comic misadventures, usually sandwiched around two songs per show. Young Michael was usually the focus, along with his pet mice Ray and Charles and pet snake Rosie.
Features Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, Michael and Tito
Jackson 5ive Rankin-Bass ABC: 9/11/71 - 9/1/73 Run: 23 episodes
Diana Ross added her voice in the debut episode. Berry Gordy’s character was voiced by Paul Frees. The Jackson Five did not lend their voices to the cartoon. The Jackson Brothers were voiced by: Michael - Donald Fullilove, Marlon - Edmund Sylvers, Jermaine - Joel Cooper, Tito - Mike Martinez, Jackie - Craig Grandy.
Features Michael
Jackson 5ive Rankin-Bass ABC: 9/11/71 - 9/1/73 Run: 23 episodes
The Jackson 5ive cartoon series was re-aired during the 1990’s on MTV and VH-1. DVD’s of the series are now available. With the death of Michael Jackson in 2009, a whole new generation has been made aware of the cartoon series. A Jackson 5ive board game was also produced.
Features Michael, Rosie “The Crusher” (Snake), Ray and Charles (Mice)
Jackson 5ive Rankin-Bass ABC: 9/11/71 - 9/1/73 Run: 23 episodes
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Art Item Photo Artwork Description
Cartoon Studio Network Run Historical Notes
Rickety RocketRickety Rocket - Original Model Cel
II. BLACK CHARACTERS IN CARTOONS:
Captain Caveman And The Teen AngelsCaptain Caveman And The Teen Angels - Original Model Cel
Casper And The AngelsCasper And The Angels - Original Production Cel
I Got SixSchoolhouse Rock - I Got Six - Limited Edition Cel
Josie And The Pussy CatsJosie And The Pussy Cats - Original Production Cel
Features the entire Rickety Rocket gang - Cosmo, Rickety Rocket, Splashdown, Sunstroke, Venus
The Plastic Man Comedy / Adventure Show
Ruby-Spears ABC: 9/1/79 - 1/1/80 Run: 16 episodes
Rickety Rocket was a segment in The Plastic Man Comedy / Adventure Show about an artificially intelligent space ship created by a group of four Black kid geniuses who run the Far Out detective agency and solve mysteries in the future. The characters were voiced by: John Anthony Brown - Sunstroke, Johnny Brown - Splashdown, Al Fann - Rickety Rocket, Bobby F. Ellerbee - Cosmo, Dee Timberlake - Venus.
Features Dee Dee Sykes and other Teen Angels - Brenda and Taffy and Captain Caveman
Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics, Scooby’s All-Stars, Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
Hanna-Barbera ABC: 9/10/77 - 6/21/80 Run: 40 episodes
The first and second seasons were originally broadcast as segments on the package shows Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics and Scooby’s All-Stars from 1977 to 1979. The third season featured Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels in their own half-hour time slot in 1980. Dee Dee Sykes was the leader of the teen angels and was voiced by Vernee Watson. The teen angels were crime solvers patterned after the primetime show "Charlie's Angels".
Features Maxie and Minnie
Caper And The Angels
Hanna-Barbera NBC: 9/22/79 - 5/3/80 Run: 13 episodes
Casper the Friendly Ghost was a guardian angel for two female motorcycle space cops named Minnie and Maxie in the year 2179. This was the second cartoon series modeled after Charlie’s Angels, the first being Captain Caveman And The Teen Angels. Maxie was voiced by Diana Mc Cannon.
Features Boy from I Got Six
Multiplication Rock
Schoolhouse Rock
ABC: 1973 Run: 1986
I Got Six was part of the Multiplication Rock series and introduced the first Black feature characters to the Schoolhouse Rock series. I Got Six was named Best Picture of 1973 by ASIF-East, a chapter of the International Animated Film Association. In 2002, a 30th anniversary DVD was released.
Features Valerie Brown playing the tambourine
Josie And The Pussy Cats
Hanna-Barbera CBS: 9/12/70 - 1/2/71 Run: 16 episodes
Valerie Brown was the first positive Black female cast member in a Saturday morning cartoon series and the first positive Black female musician character in a Saturday morning cartoon series. She was voiced by Barbara Pariot (speaking voice) and Patrice Holloway (singing voice). Hanna-Barbera wanted to recast Patrice Holloway and portray "Josie and the Pussy Cats" as an all-white trio and alter Valerie, who was Black in the comic book, to make her white. The producer refused to recast Holloway and threatened to walk away from the project. Hanna-Barbera finally relented, kept Holloway and changed Valerie back to being Black.
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Art Item Photo Artwork Description
Cartoon Studio Network Run Historical Notes
Josie And The Pussy Cats - Original Production Cel
Josie And The Pussy Cats In Outer Space - Original Production Drawing
Kid PowerKid Power - Original Production Cel
Kid Power - Original Production Cel
Mission: Magic!Mission: Magic! - Original Production Cel
PeanutsPeanuts - Original Production Cel
Peanuts - Original Production Drawing
Features Valerie Brown, Alan and Josie
Josie And The Pussy Cats
Hanna-Barbera CBS: 9/12/70 - 1/2/71 Run: 16 episodes
A comic book series ran from 1963 - 1982. A live action film was produced in 2001. Two albums were recorded, one soundtrack for the cartoon series, the other soundtrack for the movie. The series has also been released on DVD.
Features Valerie Brown
Josie And The Pussy Cats In Outer Space
Hanna-Barbera CBS: 9/9/72 - 12/23/72 Run: 16 episodes
In 1972, the show was re-conceptualized as Josie and the Pussy Cats in Outer Space, 16 episodes aired in 1972-73 and were rerun the following season. Josie and the Pussy Cats was rerun during 1975-76. The series ran on The Cartoon Network in 1992 and airs today on Boomerang.
Features Diz and Nipper
Kid Power Rankin-Bass ABC: 9/16/72-1/6/73 Run: 17 episodes
Kid Power was the first truly multicultural Saturday morning cartoon series and the first positive Saturday morning cartoon series featuring Black characters to be created from a syndicated comic strip. The characters were members of the Rainbow Club. The cartoon was based upon Morrie Turner’s Wee Pals comic strip series.
Features Randy and Ralph
Kid Power Rankin-Bass ABC: 9/16/72-1/6/73 Run: 17 episodes
Morrie Turner’s Wee Pals comic strip series was introduced in 1965. The character were voiced by: Donald Fullilove (Diz, Randy); Michelle Johnson Murray (Sybil).
Features Franklin and the Mission Magic! gang - Rick Springfield, Carol, Harvey, Kim, Miss Tickle, Socks, Vinnie
MIssion: Magic! Filmation ABC: 9/8/73 - 12/22/73 Run: 16 episodes
Franklin was an “athletic Black teen” voiced by Lane Scheimer.The cartoon featured Rick Springfield and a group of kids called “The Adventurers Club”. Mission Magic! was a spinoff of The Brady Kids cartoon.
Features Franklin Armstrong playing the drums
Peanuts Charles Schultz CBS: 3/11/73
Franklin Armstrong was introduced on July 31, 1968 as the first Black character in the Peanuts comic strip. He went to school with Peppermint Patty and Marcie. He met Charlie Brown at the beach. Franklin's father was a soldier fighting in Vietnam.
Features Franklin Armstrong playing the drums
Peanuts Charles Schultz CBS: 3/11/73
Franklin first appeared on TV in There’s No Time For Love Charlie Brown (3/11/73), the first appearance by a Black character in a Peanuts TV special. He then appeared in: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (11/20/73); Be My Valentine Charlie Brown (1/28/75); You’re A Good Sport Charlie Brown (10/28/75); It’s Arbor Day Charlie Brown (3/16/76); It’s Your First Kiss Charlie Brown (10/24/77). The animation cel and drawing are from the 1989 TV animated series This Is America, Charlie Brown, The Music and Heroes of America.
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Art Item Photo Artwork Description
Cartoon Studio Network Run Historical Notes
Star TrekStar Trek - Original Production Cel
Star Trek - Original Production Drawing
The Hardy BoysThe Hardy Boys - Original Production Cel
The Hardy Boys - Original Production Cel
U.S. Of ArchieU.S. Of Archie - Original Model Cel
U.S. Of Archie - Original Model Cel
Features Lt. Uhura
Star Trek: The Animated Series
Filmation NBC: 9/8/73 - 10/12/74 Run: 22 episodes
Lt. Uhura was the first positive Black character from a television series to appear as the same character in a Saturday morning cartoon series. Lt. Uhura was voiced by Nichelle Nichols.
Features close up of Lt. Uhura
Star Trek: The Animated Series
Filmation NBC: 9/8/73 - 10/12/74 Run: 22 episodes
Initially, Filmation was only going to use the voices of William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan and Majel Barrett. Doohan and Barrett would also perform the voices of Sulu and Uhura. Leonard Nimoy refused to sign up to lend his voice to the series unless Nichelle Nichols and George Takei were added to the cast — claiming that Sulu and Uhura were of importance as they were proof of the ethnic diversity of the 23rd century and should not be recast.
Features Peter Jones and other members of The Hardy Boys gang - Frank Hardy, Joe Hardy, Chubby Morton
The Hardy Boys Filmation ABC: 9/6/69 - 9/4/71 Run: 17 episodes
The Hardy Boys cartoon featured the first positive Black male character in a cartoon series, who was also the first positive Black male musician character in a Saturday morning cartoon series - Peter Jones. He was the drummer in the band. He was voiced by Byron Kane.
Features Peter Jones
The Hardy Boys Filmation ABC: 9/6/69 - 9/4/71 Run: 17 episodes
Features Chuck Clayton, Archie, Jughead, Reggie, Moose
U.S. Of Archie Filmation CBS: 9/7/74 - 9/76 Run: 16 episodes
Chuck Clayton was the first Black male character to appear in Archie comics as a member of the gang and the first Black male character to appear as a member of the Archie’s gang in a Saturday morning cartoon series.
Features Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver from episode 11, The Giver, 11/16/74
U.S. Of Archie Filmation CBS: 9/7/74 - 9/76 Run: 16 episodes
U.S. Of Archie was a Saturday morning cartoon that was a spinoff of the popular Archie comic books and television show. It featured Archie, Jughead, and the other Riverdale High student regulars re-enacting famous scenes throughout American history, taking full advantage of the Bicentennial in the months leading up to it. Chuck Clayton appeared in this series and later appeared in the New Archie / Sabrina Hour in 1977.
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Art Item Photo Artwork Description
Cartoon Studio Network Run Historical Notes
Where's HuddlesWhere’s Huddles - Original Production Drawing
III. BLACK SUPERHEROES IN CARTOONS:
All New Super Friends HourAll New Super Friends Hour - Black Vulcan - Original Production Cel
All New Super Friends Hour - Black Vulcan - Original Production Drawing
Hong Kong PhooeyHong Kong Phooey - Original Production Cel
Hong Kong Phooey - Original Production Drawing
Space SentinelsSpace Sentinels - Original Production Cel
Features Freight Train, Ed Huddles and Bubba McCoy
Where’s Huddles
Hanna-Barbera CBS: 7/1/70 - 9/2/70 Run: 10 episodes as summer primetime replacement
Freight Train was the first positive Black male character in a primetime cartoon series and the first positive Black athlete character in a primetime cartoon series. Where’s Huddles was a primetime cartoon about a fictional football team called The Rhinos and their players. Freight Train was voiced by Herb Jeffries. There was also a Gold Key comic book which ran for three issues in 1971.
Features Black Vulcan
All New Super Friends Hour
Hanna-Barbera ABC: 9/10/77 - 9/2/78 Run: 15 one hour episodes
Black Vulcan was created to add more cultural diversity to the All New Super Friends Hour. Black Vulcan was not a pre-existing DC superhero. He was voiced by Buster Jones. Black Lightening, a DC character, was not utilized due to rights issues.
Features Black Vulcan
All New Super Friends Hour
Hanna-Barbera ABC: 9/10/77 - 9/2/78 Run: 15 one hour episodes
Black Vulcan also appeared in the All New Super Friends Hour /Challenge Of The Super Friends series, which aired from September 9, 1978 - December 23, 1978 on ABC.
Features Hong Kong Phooey
Hong Kong Phooey
Hanna-Barbera ABC: 9/7/74 - 12/21/74 Run: 16 episodes
Hong Kong Phooey was the first Black male superhero character in a Saturday morning cartoon series and the second Black male superhero character. Hong Kong Phooey was a superhero (“number one super guy”) who used Chinese martial arts to fight crime. Hong Kong Phooey is the secret alter ego of Penrod "Penry" Pooch, a "mild-mannered" police station janitor. Hong Kong Phooey was voiced by Scatman Crothers.
Features Hong Kong Phooey, Sergeant Flint, Rosemary
Hong Kong Phooey
Hanna-Barbera ABC: 9/7/74 - 12/21/74 Run: 16 episodes
Hong Kong Phooey also appeared in the Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics show as a member of the Scoobiy Doobies which aired from 1977 - 1979.
Features Astrea Space Sentinels Filmation NBC: 9/10/77 Run: 13 episodes
Astrea was the first Black female superhero featured in a Saturday morning cartoon series. Roman mythological figures Hercules and Mercury were joined by Astrea, one of the most respected and esteemed goddesses of the Greek and Roman world to form a superhero team to protect mankind. Astrea is the goddess of justice. She can morph into nearly any living animal. Astrea was voiced by Dee Timberlake.
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Art Item Photo Artwork Description
Cartoon Studio Network Run Historical Notes
Space Sentinels - Original Production Cel
Tarzan And The Super 7Superstretch and Microwoman - Original Production Cel
Superstretch and Microwoman - Original Production Cel
Superstretch and Microwoman - Original Production Cel
The Brown HornetThe Brown Hornet - Original Production Cel
The Brown Hornet - Original Production Cel
The Brown Hornet - Original Production Cel
The Brown Hornet - Original Production Drawing
Features Astrea Space Sentinels Filmation NBC: 9/10/77 Run: 13 episodes
Features Microwoman and Her Dog Trouble
Tarzan and the Super 7
Filmation CBS: First appeared 9/9/79 Run: 11 episodes
Christy and Chris Cross are Micro Woman and Super Stretch, a fictional, shape-shifting, crime fighting duo. They were the first Black Husband and Wife superhero duo in a Saturday morning cartoon series. They appeared as a segment during the Tarzan and the Super 7 cartoon. Christy / Micro Woman was voiced by Kim Hamilton, Chris / Super Stretch by Ty Henderson.
Features Superstretch
Tarzan and the Super 7
Filmation CBS: First appeared 9/9/79 Run: 11 episodes
Features Superstretch and Microwoman
Tarzan and the Super 7
Filmation CBS: First appeared 9/9/79 Run: 11 episodes
Features The Brown Hornet
The New Fat Albert Show
Filmation CBS: 9/8/79 - 9/16/81 Run: 24 episodes
The Brown Hornet first appeared as a part of The New Fat Albert Show in 1979, as a parody of The Green Hornet. His character was voiced by Bill Cosby. The other main characters were Stinger, the Brown Hornet’s sidekick, and Tweeterbell, a female robot assistant.
Features The Brown Hornet
The New Fat Albert Show
Filmation CBS: 9/8/79 - 9/16/81 Run: 24 episodes
Features The Brown Hornet and Stinger
The New Fat Albert Show
Filmation CBS: 9/8/79 - 9/16/81 Run: 24 episodes
Features The Brown Hornet, Stinger and Tweeterbell
The New Fat Albert Show
Filmation CBS: 9/8/79 - 9/16/81 Run: 24 episodes
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Art Item Photo Artwork Description
Cartoon Studio Network Run Historical Notes
Verb: That's What's HappeningSchoolhouse Rock - Verb - Original Production Cel
Schoolhouse Rock - Verb - Original Production Cel
IV. Black Animated Films / Other
BeBe's KidsBeBe’s Kids - Publicity Cel
Our Friend MartinOur Friend Martin - Original Production Cel
Soul TrainSoul Train - Original Production Cel
Soul Train - Original Production Drawing
Features Verb Verb: That’s What’s Happening
Schoolhouse Rock
ABC: 1974 Run: 1986
Part of the Grammar Rock series, Verb was the first Black male superhero character featured in a cartoon. The song, a parody of Shaft and other Blaxploitation films and songs, teaches about verbs. This song was voted the 24th best song on the 30th Schoolhouse Rock anniversary edition, which was released in 2002.
Features Verb and Boy
Verb: That’s What’s Happening
Schoolhouse Rock
ABC: 1974 Run: 1986
Features Robin, Jamika, Leon, PeeWee, Kahlil and LaShawn
BeBe’s Kids Paramount Pictures
1/31/92 The first positive animated feature with an entirely Black main cast. Based on the live stand up routine by comedian Robin Harris.
Features Martin Luther King Jr.
Our Friend Martin
CBS Fox Video 1/12/99 Children’s educational film about Martin Luther King Jr. and the American civil rights movement. Two friends travel through time, meeting Dr. King at several points during his life.
Features Soul Train Animated Train
Soul Train Don Cornelius Productions
Syndication:10/2/71 - 3/25/06
Black music show that was hosted by Don Cornelius and ran for 35 years in syndication, from 1971 - 2006. Soul Train is the “longest-running first-run, nationally syndicated program in television history," with over 1,100 episodes produced from the show's debut through the 2005-06 season.
Features Soul Train Animated Train
Soul Train Don Cornelius Productions
Syndication:10/2/71 - 3/25/06
Total Number of Pieces = 60
Estimated Exhibition Square Feet
Original Production Cels
Original Production Drawings
Original Model Cels
Limited Edition Cels
Publicity Cel Total Number Of Pieces
39 14 4 2 1 60150 Linear Feet