I watched this on my "portable" B&W in the rec room, 1966. Darned TV weighed 54 pounds, and was full of tubes, but lasted over 30 years without repairs!
We always credit the producer, and forget the actual creators. Crusader Rabbit, along with Rocky and Bullwinkle and Dudley Do-right were created by Ward's old friend, Alex Anderson. Anderson was out of the picture by the time the latter three were revived for ROCKY AND HIS FRIENDS. and later THE BULLWINKLE SHOW. After Ward's death, Anderson found that the characters had all been copyrighted in Ward's name, and he had to sue to get his name restored as creator of the original concepts.
Episode 2 of "Crusader Vs. the State Of Texas". This was the first episode produced on a regular basis, beginning in early 1949 (after the pilot). Jerry Fairbanks, the "executive producer", previewed the first five episodes at a "press party" thrown for interested parties [and their kids] in March of '49. However, it took more than a year for him to syndicate the series to local stations!
Crusader Rabbit was my favorite show as a little kid - watched it on my 7" Motorola on Sunday mornings. I should have realized a decade later that it was produced by Jay Ward, the producer of Rocky and Bullwinkle, then my favorite show. this is great stuff, far, far ahead of its time.
This was first seen, in most areas, in the fall of 1950, 'Sundance', although the earlier chapters were initially seen in New York (on WNBT's "CHILDREN'S THEATER") in 1949.
narrator"so now our story opens to day on Crusader rabbit-" crusader rabbit "what's that" narrator "beg your pardon sir" narrator "general crusader rabbit"
Great animation is not just about frames per second, there is no reason at all it should not be relatively static. Good artists adapt restrained means to their advantage that can contribute to a richer art form. The result may be schlock, but it isn't necessarily so. These folks had good stories to tell and used simple, fun, drawing to tell them. They adapted very well to their means. I'll bet they would have loved to have a huge budget. They didn't but made the very best of it.
What shows like this lack in animation, they more than make up for in writing and voice acting. BTW, Crusader's voice in this first series of episodes was done by Lucille Bliss, the future voice of "Smurfette" on the "Smurfs" (she was also Snoopy on "The Space Kidettes"--remember him and PupStar?).
HEY,dont think this is what cartoons were like in the late 1950's, this is the first ''made for tv'' cartoon. We still watched all the classic Bugs Bunny,Popeye, Felix and a ton of other theatrical shorts made for the movie theaters ,that were shown on tv. By the way Colonel Bleep was the first ''Color made for tv cartoon'' in 1957.
@RetroToledo That's not destroying it... And that person didn't even draw anything in a crude way. ._. Read before you reply. I have to disagree with HCShannon's statement, too.
@HCShannon You're wrong when you say that dA destroys things like that. There aren't many people like that on dA, and there's always going to be a few in any community, so don't just point your finger at one in particular. There is a place that's a LOT worse, and you should be happy that they haven't done anything because it'd be a lot worse.
Discovered this show a few months ago. Doesn't look bad for it's time. Never knew this was the first ever animated TV show!
I remember this as my first cartoon I ever saw on tv. never missed an episode.
i can remember this before i could read the titles...thank you ithis was a shot in the dark to find...a little piece of my childhood
I watched this on my "portable" B&W in the rec room, 1966. Darned TV weighed 54 pounds, and was full of tubes, but lasted over 30 years without repairs!
We always credit the producer, and forget the actual creators. Crusader Rabbit, along with Rocky and Bullwinkle and Dudley Do-right were created by Ward's old friend, Alex Anderson. Anderson was out of the picture by the time the latter three were revived for ROCKY AND HIS FRIENDS. and later THE BULLWINKLE SHOW. After Ward's death, Anderson found that the characters had all been copyrighted in Ward's name, and he had to sue to get his name restored as creator of the original concepts.
Episode 2 of "Crusader Vs. the State Of Texas". This was the first episode produced on a regular basis, beginning in early 1949 (after the pilot). Jerry Fairbanks, the "executive producer", previewed the first five episodes at a "press party" thrown for interested parties [and their kids] in March of '49. However, it took more than a year for him to syndicate the series to local stations!
I remember these shorts in the afternoon in between movies and other cartoons!
Crusader Rabbit was my favorite show as a little kid - watched it on my 7" Motorola on Sunday mornings. I should have realized a decade later that it was produced by Jay Ward, the producer of Rocky and Bullwinkle, then my favorite show. this is great stuff, far, far ahead of its time.
Not only the first animated show made for TV, but one of the very few not destoryed by pervs on DeviantART
This was first seen, in most areas, in the fall of 1950, 'Sundance', although the earlier chapters were initially seen in New York (on WNBT's "CHILDREN'S THEATER") in 1949.
Oh, and I love the opening theme!
VERY early a.m. cartoon for me in the VERY early 60's
Actually, late 1940's
Right, and I saw the re-runs in the early 1960's
I watched this as a kid. Loved it. I saw some episodes a few years ago and they were in bad shape but these look great. That makes me happy.
Love Crusader Rabbit, jelly bean soup!!!! I remember watching this on the round screen TV. Thank you for posting.
narrator"so now our story opens to day on Crusader rabbit-"
crusader rabbit "what's that"
narrator "beg your pardon sir"
narrator "general crusader rabbit"
Great animation is not just about frames per second, there is no reason at all it should not be relatively static. Good artists adapt restrained means to their advantage that can contribute to a richer art form. The result may be schlock, but it isn't necessarily so. These folks had good stories to tell and used simple, fun, drawing to tell them. They adapted very well to their means. I'll bet they would have loved to have a huge budget. They didn't but made the very best of it.
From Clutch Cargo to Commander McBragg (Garfield Goose & Friends Only)
What shows like this lack in animation, they more than make up for in writing and voice acting. BTW, Crusader's voice in this first series of episodes was done by Lucille Bliss, the future voice of "Smurfette" on the "Smurfs" (she was also Snoopy on "The Space Kidettes"--remember him and PupStar?).
I looked this up after my dad started telling me about the cartoons he watched as a kid, man this is history right here
Love Crusader Rabbit, Jelly bean soup I do. Thanks for posting.
>>>Lucille Bliss was smurfette TOO !!!
2:33 AHH! THEY'RE MOVING!
thank you for these .
RIP Lucille Bliss, 1916-2012.
Ren and Stimpy must have gotten inspiration from this...
our boy crusader
These are GREAT!!!!!!!
I loved Rags.
HEY,dont think this is what cartoons were like in the late 1950's, this is the first ''made for tv'' cartoon. We still watched all the classic Bugs Bunny,Popeye, Felix and a ton of other theatrical shorts made for the movie theaters ,that were shown on tv. By the way Colonel Bleep was the first ''Color made for tv cartoon'' in 1957.
You mean first animated tv series
@HCShannon Never underestimate the power of rule 35.
Thanks!!!!!
The turkey from Jerky Turkey at 3:44
Rags The Tiger is portrayed as a bit of a dill!🤨🐯🐅
Why am I watching this?????
@HCShannon I'll get right on it?
@mistertakeda
Oh GOD NO!
@RetroToledo
That's not destroying it... And that person didn't even draw anything in a crude way. ._. Read before you reply.
I have to disagree with HCShannon's statement, too.
Wow. Beastars had a weird pilot.
@HCShannon Rule 34, Shannon. Rule 34.
@HCShannon
You're wrong when you say that dA destroys things like that. There aren't many people like that on dA, and there's always going to be a few in any community, so don't just point your finger at one in particular. There is a place that's a LOT worse, and you should be happy that they haven't done anything because it'd be a lot worse.