Hanna-Barbera Studios: P-R: The Ruff and Reddy Show: The Ruff And Reddy Show

The Ruff And Reddy Show Production Information

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Production Notes:

Ruff (the Cat) and Reddy (the Dog) was the first TV cartoon series marketed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera and the newly formed H-B Enterprises (the future Hanna-Barbera) after MGM shut down its animation division. This was also the first hosted show consisting of new Saturday morning cartoons.

While MGM continued producing through Chuck Jones and Gene Deitch, Hanna and Barbera opened a new facility pioneering the new technique that allowed cel movement to assist action and created a somewhat more economically feasible way to produce cartoon series compared to the full animation of their former employer. MGM's Tom & Jerry had been budgeted at upwards of $40,000 per episode, but H and B were allotted a paltry $2,800 for Ruff and Reddy. Luckily, the show made up for its skimpy animation with voiceovers by Daws Butler and Don Messick, two voice kings who went on to become Hanna-Barbera essentials.

This series was first broadcast in black and white, although all episodes were produced in color.

The Ruff and Reddy Show was seen Saturday mornings on the NBC TV network from Saturday, December 14, 1957 to Saturday, October, 1960, and was initially hosted by Jimmy Blaine and his puppet birds, Rhubarb the Parrot and Jose the Toucan (12/14/1957 to 10/1960). The series returned to the NBC-TV network on Saturday, September 29, 1962 with Captain Bob Cottle, and his band of puppets— Jasper, Gramps, and Mr. Answer— became the new hosts. Other guests included the Andy Bader Puppets. It remained on the screen until it was finally canceled in September 1964.