King Leonardo and His Short Subjects

Even as a child I recognized a political element in the King Leonardo stories. Odie, ostensibly a loyal toady, was the power behind the throne in the constant conflict to maintain the status quo on one hand against the installation of a puppet of the scheming lower class Biggie. Neither of the lion brothers were really more than figureheads. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but then Jay Ward and Bill Scott were pretty subversive guys! I was fortunate enough to get on their mailing list (by claiming to be editor of a humour magazine) and the stuff they sent out free was even better than their cartoons. What stays with me after forty years is the stories were endlessly entertaining and the characters well defined. I can still hear the voices.

Before anything else, I have to make a correction to someone else's comment. Jay Ward and Bill Scott had nothing to do with "King Leonardo and His Short Subjects." In fact, it was the first production of Total Television (AKA TTV), the same folks who brought us "Tennessee Tuxedo" and "Underdog." They used the same animators as Jay Ward and had a similar style, not to mention both were sponsored by General Mills, so it is very easy to get confused! At any rate, "King Leonardo and His Short Subjects" may not be as well remembered as "Underdog" or "Tennessee Tuxedo," but it should be. It has the same wit and sense of whimsy about it as TTV's later work. And the voice work, as with any TTV production, is superb.

It never ceases to amaze me that some of the best shows from the "Golden Days of Television" attract so little comment. This is yet another example. Only two of us (so far) have ventured an opinion.

'King Leonardo' is right up there with 'Milton the Monster' as one of my all time favorite TV shows. The animation was very basic but the characters and the comedy were both memorable. It's often overlooked that several of the character voices were, in fact, based on Hollywood movie stars. Biggy Rat was Edward.G.Robinson and Odee Colonee was Ronald Coleman.

One of my favorite moments in the show came when Itchy Brother got dressed up as a mother and Biggy Rat was in a pram dressed as a baby complete with cigar! This unlikely ploy was cooked up in an effort to get past the guards at King Leonardo's palace. Needless to say, the jig was soon uncovered.

A great little show which brings back lots of happy memories.

There are only just so many plots. As for this one, Jacob and Esau or Cain and Able would suffice.

The tradition continues, right down to present day "sophisticated" America. We know our kids are smarter than we were, learn more info faster and earlier in their lives than any previous generation. So why for do they still watch Saturdy Morning Cartoons?

Well, Schultz, we seem to be laboring under a delusion that intelligence level and maturity are the same thing. They are not. Even a bright kid, an extremely bright kid still has the emotional make-up of their child,which they are. Ergo, we should not expect them to behave like a (so called) "grown-up".* So, what I'm trying to tell you is at 14 years of age, this writer still saw many a Saturday Network animated series, some not so hot and having no appeal and some were excellent, with wide and varied age groups being able to enjoy the humor inherent in the 'adventure' story lines.

"KING LEONARDO AND HIS SHORT SUBJECTS"(1960) (aka just "KING LEONARDO") was the name given to the weekly half-hour that was shown on the NBC TV Network, Saturday morn, naturally. Like most of the typical cartoon half-hours, it was divided between 2 or 3 featured series. In the case of this "KING LEONARDO", there were three separate story lines shown of three different series.

Leading off, we would have an opening installment of the serialized "King and Odie". The featured characters King Leonardo, the Sovreign of the mythical Kingdom of Bongo-Congo. He was always being helped out of horrible situations by his Personal Valet, Odie Colognie. Leonardo. being King, is of course a Lion, and his servant with the perfumey sounding name is a Skunk, of course. The King is constantly finding himself the object of the 'Bad Guys', his treacherous, envious sibling, Itchy Brother. He is flea ridden with a scraggly looking Mane, and lacks any real intelligence of his own. He has a sort of 'Prince John to King Richard the Lion Hearted' relationship with his brother.

Itchy constantly and chronically covets his brother's throne as Ruler of Bongo-Congo, but, on his own lacks the drive, initiative and the smarts to hatch a plot and conduct a campaign against the King.

So, it is Itchy's cohort who is the plotter and driving force behind each and every plot against the Crown. His 'partner in crime is Biggy Rat, himself.

The second feature is "THE HUNTER" an Anthropomorphic Canine Detective character with a fondness for sounding a trumpet. The Hunter is a Southern Gentleman in the old tradition, with a deep, rich and somewhat slowly and deliberately elocuted voice. His perennial Arch Enemy is the Master Criminal known as 'The Fox', who, naturally, is one.

The 3rd Cartoon featured TOOTER TURTLE, who is always wanting to try his hand at a different occupation or walk of life. He may even wish for a different life in another age, such as being a Knight in the Middle Ages or at King Arthur's Camelot.

He would start out each adventure by paying a visit to MR. WIZARD, a Lizard who lived "down by the forest by a tall, tall tree", in a box. Mr. Wizard, who spoke with a distinctly Germanic Accent, would caution Tooter, and question the Turtle's desire to be whatever it was that week. After going through a few trials and tribulations, Tooter would always find himself in a very bad position and would call out the usual "HELP, MR. WIZARD!" With the recital of the Lizard's Magic Incantation, "DRIZZLE, DRAZZLE, DRAZZLE, DROME! TIME FOR THIS ONE TO COME HOME!" And Tooter would be magically returned to the wooden box Lizard house. And Mr. Wizard would always remind him that he should be content in being what he is by using some rhyme, which escapes the old memory at this moment.

This 3rd Cartoon would be followed with a second "KING and ODIE" installment of their serialized story.

The Show and the 3 Features in it, were the creation of W. Watts "Buck" Biggers, who would a few years later bring us "UNDER DOG"(1964-). The Companies were Leonardo Productions, Liason Productions and TOTAL Television, with the broadcast venue being NBC TV Network (1960-63).

The Voice Characterizations were done by a fine, crew of real, true Professionals, veterans of "Old Time Radio", all. We had former Narrator/Announcer of the SUPERMAN Radio Show, as well as the voice for Bluto in the Paramount Famous Studios POPEYE Cartoons, Jackson Beck. He provided voices for not only King Leonardo, but also an Edward G.Robinson-like Biggy Rat voice.Kenny Delmar ("Senator Claghorn" on THE FRED ALLEN Radio Show)did 'THE HUNTER'.Sandy Becker & Frank Milano apparently split time with Mr. Wizard the Lizard. Allen Swift gave us Odie Colognie, Itchy Brother and Tooter Turtle, with Ben Stone providing us with the Fox's audio. George S.Irving and Delo Slates gave various other voices.

Very much like the older "CRUSADER RABBIT", "ROCKY & BULLWINKLE" and their own later "UNDER DOG!", the production crew provided us with a half hour that could be enjoyed by the entire family, though on different levels.

And they had one of the funniest theme songs, both in coming on and in signing off. It is in itself a sort of parody of theme songs and really has to be heard to be appreciated. Please,don't ask me to sing it! Please!

NOTE: * In our household, we were blessed with two very bright girls. And when they were say in the 3rd Grade, with reading levels and math skills at a 9th grade levels, they still played with dolls and would play house. Their intelligence should not deprive them of a childhood. ANOTHER good example is our 42nd President of the United States of America. A most likable guy, possessed a very high I.Q.; but was very Immature, indeed.

King Leonardo and His Short Subjects (aka The King and Odie) was the first show produced by Total Television Productions and it turned out to be a success. Even though the animation was limited and produced by the same company who animated Rocky and Bullwinkle, the plots were pretty much the same as King Leonardo and his valet Odie Cologne consistently foiled the plans of Biggy Rat to put the king's brother Itchy on the throne.

There were also the other segments, including The Hunter and Tooter Turtle, best known for the line from Mr. Wizard the Lizard when things got rough for Tooter "Drizzle drazzle druzzle drone. Time for this one to come home." Another segment was Twinkles the Elephant, based on the General Mills (who sponsored the show) character.

But to me, one of the keys to the show's success was the voice cast, including Jackson Beck as the king and Biggy Rat, Kenny Delmar as The Hunter and New York kids show host Sandy Becker as Mr. Wizard the Lizard.

The real star of the show was Allen Swift, who voiced Odie, Itchy and Tooter. The former host of the New York version of Popeye shows his versatility as a voice actor and it paved the way for roles in Tennessee Tuxedo, Underdog and the last show from Total Television, The Beagles.

Confound it! This review is over.