The Funny Company
Encyclopedia
The Funny Company was an American
animated cartoon
produced in 1963 and seen in syndication
. Ken Snyder and Charles Koren produced 260 six minute long episodes (they later would create the cult favorite Roger Ramjet
). The Mattel
Corporation provided financial backing. Snyder conceived the program in response to then-Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) chairman Newton N. Minow
's call for more educational children's programs.
The Funny Company group resembled a club not unlike a Junior Achievement
organization, and most of the time, the stories would revolve around the Company being hired for various jobs to make a little money (doing yardwork, house cleaning, baby sitting, etc.) or doing something for charity (such as putting on shows).
Members included leader Buzzer Bell (rarely seen without his Funny Company visor), inventor Jasper N (for National) Park, club secretary Polly Plum, rotund Merry Twitter (the club treasurer), club mascot Terry Dactyl (an actual pterodactyl), shy Shrinkin' Violette (who could literally become smaller if she became embarrassed), and two Native American
adults--Super Chief
(named after the Santa Fe Railroad's crack passenger train) whose voice was an air horn of a single-chime railroad locomotive, and his translator Broken Feather. Another adult lending a hand was Professor Todd Goodheart with his supercomputer, the Weisenheimer.
Villainous Belly Laguna (who was modeled after Bela Lugosi
in his Dracula
role) always tried to thwart the Funny Company's plans (for his own profit), but never with any success.
Each segment included a two-minute live-action short educational film, reinforcing the topic being discussed. Initially produced in black and white, the series switched after one season to full color.
owned Smile of a Child TV network (early Monday mornings).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
animated cartoon
Animated cartoon
An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
produced in 1963 and seen in syndication
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
. Ken Snyder and Charles Koren produced 260 six minute long episodes (they later would create the cult favorite Roger Ramjet
Roger Ramjet
Roger Ramjet is an animated American children's television comedy series that first ran in 1965 and has aired in syndication since. Starring Roger Ramjet and the American Eagle Squadron, the show was known for its crude animation, frenetic pace, and frequent references to popular culture, which...
). The Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
Corporation provided financial backing. Snyder conceived the program in response to then-Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) chairman Newton N. Minow
Newton N. Minow
Newton Norman Minow is an American attorney and former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. His speech referring to television as a "vast wasteland" is cited even as the speech has passed its 50th anniversary...
's call for more educational children's programs.
The Funny Company group resembled a club not unlike a Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement or JA or JA Worldwide is a non-profit youth organization that was founded in 1919 by Horace A. Moses, Theodore Vail, and senator Winthrop M. Crane. JA focuses on educating kids in K-12 about the free enterprise system...
organization, and most of the time, the stories would revolve around the Company being hired for various jobs to make a little money (doing yardwork, house cleaning, baby sitting, etc.) or doing something for charity (such as putting on shows).
Members included leader Buzzer Bell (rarely seen without his Funny Company visor), inventor Jasper N (for National) Park, club secretary Polly Plum, rotund Merry Twitter (the club treasurer), club mascot Terry Dactyl (an actual pterodactyl), shy Shrinkin' Violette (who could literally become smaller if she became embarrassed), and two Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
adults--Super Chief
Super Chief
The Super Chief was one of the named passenger trains and the flagship of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It was often referred to as "The Train of the Stars" because of the many celebrities who traveled on the streamliner between Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California.The Super...
(named after the Santa Fe Railroad's crack passenger train) whose voice was an air horn of a single-chime railroad locomotive, and his translator Broken Feather. Another adult lending a hand was Professor Todd Goodheart with his supercomputer, the Weisenheimer.
Villainous Belly Laguna (who was modeled after Bela Lugosi
Béla Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
in his Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
role) always tried to thwart the Funny Company's plans (for his own profit), but never with any success.
Each segment included a two-minute live-action short educational film, reinforcing the topic being discussed. Initially produced in black and white, the series switched after one season to full color.
Syndication
The series originally was syndicated to local stations all over the country--usually with the segments as part of a locally produced children's show. Currently, The Funny Company airs on the TBNTrinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
owned Smile of a Child TV network (early Monday mornings).
Voice cast
- Dick BealsDick BealsRichard "Dick" Beals is an American voice actor. He has performed many voices in his career, which spans from the early 1950s into the 21st century...
--Buzzer Bell, Shrinkin' Violette - Robie LesterRobie LesterRobie Lester was an American Grammy-nominated voice actress and singer.-Early years:Lester was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in northern Ontario, Canada. After a few years in Detroit, she joined the US Army Air Corps before attending UCLA with a major in music...
--Polly Plum - Nancy Wible--Merry Twitter, Jasper N. Parks
- Ken SnyderKen SnyderKen Snyder is a prinicpal and co-founder of SnyderPickerill Media Group, a political media frim that specializes in the production of television advertising for political campaigns and candidates. Snyder was formerly a prominent press secretary and public relations manager. He is best known for...
--Terry Dactyl (also producer) - Tom ThomasTom ThomasThomas Robert "Savage Tom" Thomas was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Cleveland Spiders and St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals.-External links:...
--Broken Feather - Hal SmithHal Smith (actor)Harold John "Hal" Smith was an American character actor and voice actor. Smith is best known as Otis Campbell, the town drunk on The Andy Griffith Show, and was the voice of many characters on various animated cartoon shorts...
--Dr. Todd Goodheart, Belly Laguna, Dr. Von Upp
Film credits
- Executive Producer: Kenneth C.T. Snyder
- Producer: Sam Nicholson
- Co-Producer: Leo Salkin
- Written and Created by Kenneth C.T. Snyder
- Musical Direction: Jack Fascinato
- Animators: Bob Bemiller, Brad Case, John Sparey, John Walker
- Layout: Norm Gottfredson
- Backgrounds: Rosemary O'Connor
- Animation Checking: Maggi (Alcumbrac) Raymond
- Picture and Sound Editor: Norm Vizents
- Production Coordinator: Dave Hoffman