Colonel Bleep

I was another person thinking I was the only one to remember this program. I dutifully and eagerly awoke every Saturday morning to watch Colonel Bleep battle the forces of evil. I was beginning to think I was losing my mind whenever I attempted to discuss the early Saturday morning cartoon lineups of the mid 1960's with anyone of my generation as not a soul, save myself seemed to remember this show, including my brother with whom I watched every week, LOL. My feeling is that the show actually was somewhat ahead of its time and perhaps too cerebral compared to its contemporaries, Johnny Quest, Bugs Bunny Rocky and Bullwinkle. I have not seen or heard of its release to DVD but would love to see them again.

A year or more ago I saw Facebook friends temporarily updating their profile pictures to cartoon characters that they related to. I thought about it a few days. I like The Flintstones, but I'm not any of them. Nor am I a Looney Toons character. Then it hit me - Colonel Bleep! I had completely forgotten about him and did not have a thought of him in many years. But then I remembered being transfixed by him when I was little. Despite the poor animation, and lack of character voices, I thought he was SO cool because he could pedal real fast and make powerful lightning bolts come out of his head. What little boy wouldn't want to do that! It's so nice to see him again on YouTube after all these years.

I too thought I was the only one who remembered Colonel Bleep (although I had forgotten his name momentarily when I was in my early twenties, but my twin brother set me straight soon thereafter), as many in even my high school knew not whereof I spoke when I uttered the name, Colonel Bleep. I saw some episodes on YouTube last year, which made me recall with much fondness my childhood recollections of making sure I caught every episode on the weekday cartoon show, most particularly that opening countdown prior to the rocket launch.

As I look at the episodes on YouTube nowadays, several features of the cartoon seem rather peculiar, to wit: Col. Bleep needs to wear a helmet even on his home planet, whereas his associates Squeak and Scratch never needed to wear helmets, no matter where they were in outer space or which planet they were on. Interesting too, that Col. Bleep never walked, but pedaled that strange unicycle no matter where he went - even on his home planet! But to compare this cartoon, the first color one made for TV, with the likes of the successors, viz., Clutch Cargo, Crusader Rabbit, Rocky & Bullwinkle, and Bugs Bunny, is like comparing the Model T Ford to the Motorama models. I do appreciate, however, that there are a select few that still recall with much joy and enthusiasm the erstwhile escapades of Colonel Bleep!

As a child, this was one of my favorite shows. It would start my Saturday morning lineup. Colonel Bleep and his friends would battle evil and go to far off worlds all in a half hour. I've only met one other person who remembers this show.

Yes, the incredible internet has reunited us with Colonel Bleep! Spent years looking for the 50's show which made an indelible mark on our minds and it has surfaced! Thought we were the only ones who remembered, but alas, there are others! This stuff is classic invaluable, priceless history! Its amazing how much time and energy was spent before internet to re-unite with this cartoon. Great to see that others have the same memories and impressions of the show. We have spoken to many folks who just don't remember the Colonel. I suppose that it was not aired in some states. Actually I never knew it was in color since we had black and white. Caw! Caw! Richard