Tom Slick is the cartoon star of a series of shorts that aired within the half-hour animated television series George of the Jungle (ABC, 1967). It was the work of Jay Ward Productions, the creators of Rocky & Bullwinkle and other satiric animated characters.[1] Seventeen six-minute episodes were made.
| Tom Slick | |
|---|---|
 Tom Slick in the Thunderbolt Grease-Slapper | |
| Starring | Bill Scott June Foray Paul Frees Daws Butler |
| Opening theme | Stan Worth Sheldon Allman |
| Production | |
| Producers | Jay Ward Bill Scott |
| Production company | Jay Ward Productions, Inc |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | September 9 – December 30, 1967 |
The premise
editFreckled, grinning, all-American racecar driver Tom Slick (voiced by Bill Scott) competes in various races with his trusty vehicle, the Thunderbolt Grease-Slapper. He is accompanied by his girlfriend Marigold (voiced by June Foray) and his elderly mechanic Gertie Growler (also voiced by Bill Scott). The two women do not always get along well. A recurring antagonist is the evil Baron Otto Matic (voiced by Paul Frees), and the Baron's stupid lackey Clutcher (voiced by Daws Butler impersonating Frank Fontaine as "Crazy Guggenheim" ), whom the Baron has a penchant for hitting across the head with a monkey wrench.
A running gag throughout the series is that the Thunderbolt Grease-Slapper can be converted into virtually any type of racing vehicle, often looking nothing like the original vehicle itself. Various episodes show the Grease-Slapper as a train, stock car racer, drag racer, racing balloon, swamp buggy, submarine, even a miniaturized skateboard.
As the theme song is sung, Tom's Thunderbolt Grease-Slapper suddenly "hops" out of control off a road and into a barnyard occupied by farm animals. Tom is knocked momentarily unconscious with a chicken sitting on top of his head as he drives straight into a brick wall. But he miraculously gets out of the sudden pandemonium as his car falls apart in mid-air and suddenly falls back together again. The car then jumps onto (and off) a stone monument bearing Tom Slick's name and gets back on the road as Tom waves his hand and smiles.
Theme song
editThe theme song was written by the team of Stan Worth and Sheldon Allman, with Worth primarily composing the music and Allman handling the lyrics.[2] The lyrics are as follows:
- Tom Slick
- Tom Slick
- Let me tell you why
- He's the best of all good guys
- Tom Slick
- Tom Slick
- In the Thunderbolt Grease-Slapper, once he's on your tail,
- He won't quit because you know there's no such word as "fail" to
- Tom Slick
- Tom Slick!
Tom Slick in the comics
editIn comic books, Tom Slick appeared as a backup feature in Gold Key Comics's two-issue George of the Jungle title (1969).[3]
Episodes
editList of Tom Slick episode titles and dates
edit| Nº | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Bigg Race" | 1967-09-09 |
| 2 | "Monster Rally" | 1967-09-16 |
| 3 | "Send In a Sub" | 1967-09-23 |
| 4 | "Snow What" | 1967-09-30 |
| 5 | "The Great Balloon Race" | 1967-10-07 |
| 6 | "I Was Railroaded" | 1967-10-14 |
| 7 | "Dranko the Dragster" | 1967-10-21 |
| 8 | "The Cupp Cup Race" | 1967-10-28 |
| 9 | "Irish Cheapstakes" | 1967-11-04 |
| 10 | "Overstocked" | 1967-11-11 |
| 11 | "Double Cross Country Race" | 1967-11-18 |
| 12 | "The Apple-less Indian 500" | 1967-11-25 |
| 13 | "Sneaky Sheik" | 1967-12-02 |
| 14 | "Cheap Skate Board Derby" | 1967-12-09 |
| 15 | "The Badyear Blimp" | 1967-12-16 |
| 16 | "Swamp Buggy Race" | 1967-12-23 |
| 17 | "Mack Buster Trophy" | 1967-12-30 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Scott, Keith (2014). The Moose That Roared: The Story of Jay Ward, Bill Scott, a Flying Squirrel, and a Talking Moose. Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-4668-6743-7.
- ^ Oliver, Myrna (February 8, 2002). "Sheldon Allman, 77; Actor, Songwriter, Cartoon Voice". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ Eury, Michael (2017). Hero-A-Go-Go: Campy Comic Books, Crimefighters, & Culture of the Swinging Sixties p. 217. TwoMorrows Publishing. ISBN 978-1-6054-9073-1.