The 1975 Tom & Jerry Show

My personal favorite version of the cat and mouse.

Regardless of how many negative posts, criticisms, rants and insults of it that come out of the woodwork, Hanna-Barbera's 1975 version of Tom & Jerry shall always hold dear to me! To each his own...

I've been a fan of it ever since 1979, when they first aired locally in my hometown, N'Awlins, every Monday-Friday afternoon @ 3:30 on ABC (now FOX) affilliate WVUE-TV Channel 8, on The Tom & Jerry Hour. It was a mixed bag of T&J cartoons, theatrical (1940 to 1967) and TV (1975 to 1977). This was how I first learned of these made-for-TV T&Js from H-B. The theatricals were great, but I (being a child of the 1970s) somehow grew more attatched to the 1970s version. Sometimes WVUE aired the main title sequence from The Tom & Jerry Show separately from the 48 7-minute T&J stories, sometimes they aired the end credits.

I later read in Stuart Fischer's book KIDS' TV: The First 25 Years that they originally aired in 1975 on The (New) Tom & Jerry/Grape Ape Show. I remember thinking, "Ah! So that's where they came from!" This is also how I learned of The New T&J's originally pairing with The Great Grape Ape, which I only discovered via repeats on ABC Sunday Mornings! (Yep, I missed out on the original run on ABC, and I had just come into it.)

I decided that the 1970s T&J was my sole favourite, from its first airing on WVUE to its reairing in the 1980s on WNOL-TV Channel 38 (now a WB affilliate) and Superstation WTBS, which, on Tom & Jerry And Friends, showed 7-minute 1975 T&J cartoons framed inbetween main and end title sequences! I also realize that a huge number of serious animation fans have and continue to liken New Tom & Jerry to New Coke, calling it a cheap imitation of the originals, and thus giving them a bad rep over the years.

Hence my web presence, The New Tom & Jerry Info Site @ http://www.1975tomjerry.50megs.com/, which I launched in March 1997, to show all and sundry that there was someone out there who took interest in them and, to a degree at least, put an end to all the bad press they've been getting. (And my avatar, too!) Until January of this year, Boomerang from Catoon Network has done the 1975 T&J's justice by showing them periodically on Boomerang Saturdays (1976, 1977 and 1978). I'm rather disappointed that they neglected to show them this month during the weekly Friday T&J marathons; they seem to be limited to the 1940-67 MGM theatricals, Filmation's 1980-82 version (The Tom & Jerry Comedy Show) and that 1990-93 Fox revival Tom & Jerry Kids (that grey stripe between Tom's eyes was not his best feature, IMHO!).

Like I said, to each his own. Everyone here has his/her favourite version of Tom & Jerry; mine is and shall forever remain H-B's "black sheep" 1975 TV version. Just because a Tom & Jerry cartoon, be it old or new, is nonviolent does not mean it cannot be watched and enjoyed. (I mean, check out the sports-themed New T&Js! And Spike! And Hoyt Curtin's jazzy underscore!)

So, if you will, sing along!!!

Set your dial for a while!
Have a laugh, wear a smile!
It's The Tom & Jerry Show!
You'll begin with a grin
When you first tune us in
On The Tom & Jerry Show!

Introducing that world-famous cat...TOM!
And that magnificent mouse...JERRY!

(instrumental solo)

Lots of zing, lots to sing!
Everything's gonna swing!
So, get ready - here we go!
Big or small, short or tall,
You will all have a ball
On The Tom & Jerry Show!

Comments

I like all forms of T&J, except the myriad movies. I didn't see the H&B ones when they first aired (was still a year from being born), nor (to the best of my knowledge) did I see the filmation version originally. However, both of those aired on weekdays during my gradeschool years.
The H&B version aired just before I left for school in the mornings (I got to watch about 2/3 of it before I had to leave), and the filmation one aired just as I got home (I would usually miss the first 1/3 or so). It seemed almost as though it was a single show which had waited for me to return home.

Actually I'm not certain, because if you recall, Dastardly and Muttley also had their own series, but in the credits Heatter and Quigley aren't mentioned as they are in Wacky Races.

According to 'The Animated World of Hanna-Barbera,' 'Wacky Races' was loosely based on H-Q's 'The Great Race,' whereas 'Dastardy and Muttley and their Flying Machines,' was based on 'Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines.'

I suspect Dastardly and Muttley were patterned after the villains of both films, and probably at the time, Joe and Bill feared when the contract had run out on the licensing, H-Q's Estate might not fancy Dastardly and Muttley in the Laff-A-Lympics. Also, when you think about it, the characters would've upstaged the other Really Rottens as well.

Thus, the Dread Baron and Mumbly were put in their place. But as I said before, Mumbly got his start in the Tom & Jerry Show, probably because Joe and Bill wanted to test out the character as an 'alternate' Muttley.

Ironically, however, if you recall Dastardly and Muttley did resurface in the Fender Bender 500 cartoons, and were kiddified in 'Yo, Yogi!'

Dastardly was voiced by the late Paul Winchell, and sort of resembled Winchell if you ever saw him. I know his daughter, April, carried on the villainous tradition by voicing Cruella De Vil in the 101 Dalmations seires.

Muttley and Mumbly were voiced by the late Don Messick (who did Scooby-Doo, Astro, and Hampton from Tiny Toons). Don also starred in a series with (believe it or not) Jim Carrey called 'The Duck Factory.'

Possibly TMI but hey, it's RetroJunkies, what did you expect? The Spanish Inquisition?

Actually, like you, I was attracted somewhat to Hanna-Barbera's 'modernized' attempt at Tom & Jerry. Also I recall watching the original shorts on ABC Sunday Mornings, then later when our Houston station 26 changed affliates and they started airing T&J in the afternoons (!).

Yeah, originally Tom & Jerry were first shown with The Great Grape Ape, then later Mumbly (supposedly Muttley's cousin). Before they came up with a syndicated opening for the Hanna-Barbera 1975 version.

The only thing I didn't like about this incarnate was, you could definitely tell the networks were appeasing parents because Tom & Jerry now were 'friends' on-occasion and rarely acted like their original counterparts, except when they were involved in competitions or something involving rivalry.

It wasn't bad, mind you, just not the 'real' Tom & Jerry. Filmation later revived the classic T&J while adding 'Droopy' shorts and invoking a Laugh-In style theme between shorts. Thus later when Turner received the rights to T&J, Hanna-Barbera went back to their original formula, but due to the 'kiddification' craze, came up with Tom & Jerry Kids, adding Spike and Tyke and Droopy and Dribble into the mix of things.

Of course, now Warner Bros. Animation has brought them back in Tom & Jerry Tales with their true form and style we know and love. But as you said, the 1975 version does have a place in our hearts as well. Because if it wasn't for that version, I doubt we'd have the other incarnates to follow.

i loved tom and jerry but ive always preferred the Looney Tunes, they were a LOT funnier. imho.

I liked T&J kids, and droopy. and those stand-alone toons by Tex avery, like that symphony in slang toon

The reason why I said that is because the older Tom and Jerry WAS the Hanna-Barbara version.

Berzerker, never say that again.

ya, the hanna barbara version of tom and jerry was definetly the shittiest. really poorly animated compared to the older ones, and just annoying in general. the music and sound effects made me want to stab my ear drums with a meat thermometer.

tom and jerry kids is the best for me

I remember watching Tom and Jerry when I was a child and they would show Tom and Jerry cartoons from 1940-1982.

Well... To me Tom and Jerry will always be Tom & Jerry.

I watched no matter what.. Although I did like the Chuck Jones cartoons better but when your a kid.. your never pickey and you like what you like.

P.S. I've visited your site in the past, great job.

I have to admit I have the same sentiments....as in the NY/NJ area, the H-B episodes were mixed in with the theatricals on WPIX's T&J block. Nowadays, I'd probably scoff at the idea of Tom and Jerry being friends and watering down the extreme physical comedy of the MGM shorts. But back then I looked forward to seeing one of the "bow tie Jerry" shorts a lot.

Similarly, I can't bring myself to hate the "inferior" KFS Popeye shorts, as that was a big part of the Popeye I grew up with from watching Channel 5 reruns. (Now someone needs to do a similar article on THAT...)

Obsessions from the '75 series:
- "The..." "PIPSQUACK!" "...biiiiiiiird!"
- The lion with the splinter
- The tennis episode
- Supercape!

I liked that show too.

Ahh quit yer complaining guys. He's got the right idea.

This article is just a hardcore fan of a no-longer-existing Tom & Jerry show just bragging about the whole thing. Not a very professional article, if you ask me.

This would have been better if it had pictures, feels like its not worth reading without them.

Could you please do an article for "The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour"?