Before there were Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle Moose and before there were Mr. Peabody and Sherman, there were Crusader Rabbit and Ragland T. Tiger, Jay Ward's first foray into animated television. In fact, Crusader Rabbit was the first animated series for television anywhere. Crusader Rabbit aired in syndication from 1950 to 1952 with 195 episodes covering ten story arcs. Originally, the series was little more than story boards. He was revived in 1957 for another 260 episodes covering 13 story arcs. The second series is the one I remember fondly -- wildly inventive and subversively funny, the great precursor to Ward's Rocky and Bullwinkle.
Here's America's very first look at a Crusader Rabbit episode, wherein our hero goes off to battle the state of Texas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3hHQvkUhJo
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Sad to say I remember Crusader Rabbit!
ReplyDeleteNever sad, Patti. There's enough to be sad to remember. I've even seen a few from time to time...but I'm always ready to be reminded of Jay Ward.
ReplyDeleteSooner or later someone will collect CRUSADER RABBIT. The Complete Series of ROCKY & BULLWINKLE has just been released.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the DVD gods just don't listen to us, George.
ReplyDelete