Dick Dastardly ( The Mean Machine ) 1968
Dick Dastardly
Wacky Races was an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera. The series, inspired by the 1965 slapstick comedy film The Great Race,it features 11 different cars racing against each other in various road rallies throughout North America,with each driver hoping to win the title of the ‘World’s Wackiest Racer.’ The cartoon had a large number of regular characters, with 23 people and animals spread among the 11 race cars.
Theme Tune
“And now here they are!
The most daredevil group of daffy drivers to ever whirl their wheels in the Wacky Races.
Competing for the title of worlds wackiest racer.
The cars are approaching the starting line.
First, is the Turbo Terrific driven by Peter Perfect.
Next is Rufus Ruffcut and Sawtooth in the Buzzwagon.
Maneuvering for position is the Army Surplus Special.
Right behind is the Ant Hill Mob in their Bullet Proof Bomb.
Then there’s ingenious inventor Pat Pending in his Convert-A-Car.
Oh! Here’s the lovely Penelope Pitstop, the glamour gal of the gas pedal.
Next we have the Bouldermobile with the Slag Brothers, Rock & Gravel.
Lurching along is the Creepy Coupe with the Gruesome Twosome,
and right on their tail is the Red Max.
And there’s the Arkansas Chug-A-Bug with Luke & Blubber Bear.
Sneaking along last is that Mean Machine
with those double dealing do-badders Dick Dastardly and his sidekick, Muttley.”
Quote
Muttley, Do Something!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Drat and Double Drat
Cast
Daws Butler … Big Gruesome / …17 episodes, 1968-1969
Don Messick … Gravel Slag / …17 episodes, 1968-1969
John Stephenson … Blubber Bear / …17 episodes, 1968-1969
Janet Waldo … Penelope Pitstop17 episodes, 1968-1969
Dave Willock … Narrator17 episodes, 1968-1969
Paul Winchell … Clyde / …
Dick Dastardly and Muttley in the Mean Machine
The villains of the series, in a purple, rocket-powered car with an abundance of concealed weapons and the ability to fly. Dastardly (voiced by Paul Winchell, in a manner that Winchell would use several years later to portray the Smurfs’ nemesis Gargamel) is an archetypal mustache-twirling villain; Muttley (voiced by Don Messick) is his trademark wheezily snickering, anthropomorphic dog henchman.
Dastardly’s rocket car was arguably the fastest car in the series, as evinced by Dastardly’s repeatedly zooming to a stunning lead from far behind. Dastardly never saw victory. He came close at least 3 times: once when he crossed the line first, and is seen to do so in the original and official footage, but a tampered replay viewed by the judges showed him cheating, and another time when he was battling with 3 other cars to finish first, but he stopped to pose for the photo finish. He also came close to winning another race, but he stopped again, this time to sign an autograph for Muttley.
Trivia
The show was inspired by the film The Great Race (1965). Natalie Wood (playing Maggie DuBois) became Penelope Pitstop (even wearing the same pink racing outfit). Dick Dastardley was based on Jack Lemmon’s character Prof. Fate and Dastardley’s sidekick Muttley was loosely based on Peter Falk’s Max Meen.
Trivia
This was one of several cartoon shows cancelled during the late-1960s.early-1970’s (Hanna-Barbera’s ‘Fantastic Four’ was another) due to parental protests about excessive violence in children’s programming.
The show was inspired by the film The Great Race (1965). Natalie Wood (playing Maggie DuBois) became Penelope Pitstop (even wearing the same pink racing outfit). Dick Dastardly was based on Jack Lemmon’s character Professor Fate and Dastardly’s sidekick Muttley was loosely based on Peter Falk’s Max Mean.
Info
| Running time | 20 minutes (10 minutes per segment) |
|---|---|
| Production companies |
Hanna-Barbera Productions Heatter-Quigley Productions |
| Distributor | Taft Broadcasting |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release | September 14, 1968 – January 4, 1969 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by |
The Perils of Penelope Pitstop Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines |
| Related shows | Wacky Races (2017) |
Trivia
Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines (or simply Dastardly and Muttley in the UK and Ireland) is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, and a spin-off from Wacky Races.
QUIZ 1
The character was voiced originally by Paul Winchell, then by Jim Cummings. Which other role have they both shared ?
A. Tigger
B. Roadrunner
C. Goofy
D. Bugs Bunny
Press for Answer
A. Tigger
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QUIZ 2
Paul Winchell voiced in another Famous cartoon. Which evil villain did he Play ?
A. Sir Hiss ( Robin Hood )
B. Captain Hook
C. Gargamel
D. Gustav the Giant
Press for Answer
C. Gargamel
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QUIZ 1
The character was voiced originally by Paul Winchell, then by Jim Cummings. Which other role have they both shared ?
A. Tigger
B. Roadrunner
C. Goofy
D. Bugs Bunny
James Jonah Cummings (born November 3rd, 1952) is an American voice actor who has appeared in almost 400 roles, including Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, the Tasmanian Devil, Pete and Darkwing Duck.
QUIZ 2
Paul Winchell voiced in another Famous cartoon. Which evil villain did he Play ?
A. Sir Hiss ( Robin Hood )
B. Captain Hook
C. Gargamel
D. Gustav the Giant
In the fictional world of The Smurfs, Gargamel the Evil Wizard is the sworn enemy of the Smurfs and always tries to capture them. He is the main antagonist in the show and comic books. His main goal in life is to destroy the Smurfs or to capture enough of them to create a potion to turn base matter into gold.
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- Sir Hiss
-
- Captain Hook
-
- Gargamel
-
- Gustav the Giant
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