The Tomfoolery Show facts for kids
The Tomfoolery Show was a fun American cartoon TV series that aired from 1970 to 1971. It was a comedy show based mostly on the silly poems and stories by a writer named Edward Lear. The cartoons were made by Halas and Batchelor Studios in England.
Even though Lear's works were the main inspiration, the show also used ideas from other famous writers like Lewis Carroll (who wrote Alice in Wonderland) and Ogden Nash. Many of the show's characters, like the Yongy-Bonghy-Bo and the Umbrageous Umbrella Maker, came straight from Edward Lear's imagination. Other characters included the Enthusiastic Elephant, the Fastidious Fish, and the Scroobious Snake.
Sometimes, new stories were created for the show using Lear's characters. Other times, the show simply recited his poems and limericks, or sang songs that used his words. A funny running joke in the series involved a delivery boy who kept running around trying to deliver a very large plant, shouting, "Plant for Mrs Discobolus!"
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What Other Characters Appeared?
The show also featured characters from the works of Gelett Burgess. These included the famous "The Purple Cow" and the Goops, who were characters known for teaching good manners.
How Were the Funny Skits Made?
Some of the jokes and funny scenes in The Tomfoolery Show were inspired by classic comedy routines from a famous duo called Abbott and Costello. These skits often put one of the show's regular characters into a tricky or silly situation. Each episode also included a cooking lesson for a very silly recipe, which added to the humor.
Who Produced the Show?
The series was produced by Rankin/Bass and Videocraft International. These companies are well-known for creating popular holiday TV specials, such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman.
Who Lent Their Voices to the Characters?
Since the show was made in England, it featured the voices of talented British actors. These included Peter Hawkins and Bernard Spear. The music for the show was performed by the Maury Laws Singers.
