What's the Deal with Boo Boo?

In Hanna-Barbera's YOGI BEAR cartoons from 1958 and onward, Boo Boo played Yogi's sidekick.  But here's one thing about Boo Boo that has been strange from the very beginning:  his design seems to change from one cartoon to the next.  He might have a round head in a cartoon, and then be blocky in another.  He might have no forehead at all in one segment, and then he'll have a long tall forehead in the next.  The point is this:  early on, the folks at Hanna-Barbara were not terribly concerned about having a consistent model sheet for Boo Boo.  (Nor one for Ranger Smith.) 

"The Yogi Bear Show" -- 50th Anniversary -- Part 3

After "The Huckleberry Hound Show" (1958) and "The Yogi Bear Show" (1961), Yogi went on to star in his own feature film, "Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!" (1964) and in a number of additional television series.  Those series included:  "Yogi's Gang" AKA "Yogi's Ark Lark" (1973-1975), "Yogi's Space Race" AKA "Galaxy Goof-Ups" (1978), "Laff-A-Lympics" (1977-1979), "Yogi's Treasure Hunt" (1985-1987), "The New Yogi Bear Show" (1988),   and "Yo Yogi!" (1991).

Yogi was a regular "go-to" character for Hanna-Barbera, and the "smarter than average bear" was never far from Joe Barbera's thoughts.  Joe really felt a close kinship with this fast-talking and quick-witted star, and Joe was always developing new stories to put Yogi through his paces.  

Along with artists/colleagues including John Ludin, Earl Kress, Scott Jeralds, Alfred Gimeno, Wayne Kaatz,  Charlie Howell and plenty of others, I worked with Yogi and many of the classic Hanna-Barbera characters on the syndicated series "Yogi's Treasure Hunt," which was a regular segment of the two-hour weekend cartoon block entitled "The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera."   

Above is a cel set-up with Yogi and his costars from "Yogi's Treasure Hunt."   (It was fun to have Snooper & Blabber and Augie Doggie & Doggie Daddy back in the mix!)

"The Yogi Bear Show" -- 50th Anniversary -- Part 2

 
A cell set-up of the stars from "The Yogi  Bear Show," Yogi and Boo Boo, signed by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera.

"The Yogi Bear Show" -- 50th Anniversary

January 30, 2011 marks the 50th Anniversary of the premiere of "The Yogi Bear Show" (January 30, 1961) in syndication on TV stations around the nation.  

Yogi first appeared back in October 1958 as one of the costars of "The Huckleberry Hound Show." His popularity led to his own series, in which he was supported by sidekick Boo Boo, nemesis Ranger Smith, and costars Snagglepuss, Yakky Doodle and Chopper.  

The show featured the brilliant voice acting of Daws Butler, Don Messick and, as Yakky Doodle, Jimmy Weldon.

Of course, Yogi became one of Hanna-Barbera's most enduring cartoon stars.