Devlin (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Devlin |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Action Drama |
| Directed by | Charles A. Nichols |
| Voices of | Michael Bell Micky Dolenz Michelle Robinson Norman Alden |
| Composer(s) | Hoyt Curtin |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 16 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Producer(s) | Iwao Takamoto |
| Camera setup | Gene Cropper Ralph Milgori John Curtis Hall Louis Niemeyer Roy Wade |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Hanna-Barbera Productions |
| Distributor | Taft Broadcasting |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Picture format | 4x3 |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release | September 7 – December 21, 1974 |
Devlin was an exciting American animated TV show. It was made by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The show aired on ABC from September 7 to December 21, 1974. It had 16 episodes. Reruns were shown until September 1976.
The story was about a family of stunt motorcyclists. They traveled with a circus. The main character was Ernie Devlin. He was a brave motorcycle daredevil. His younger siblings, Tod and Sandy, joined him. This show was one of the few serious (dramatic) series from Hanna-Barbera.
The show was first going to be called Wild Wheels. The main character's name was "Dare" Devlin. But the TV network, ABC, worried about promoting dangerous activities. So, they changed the title and Ernie's name. They also made sure to include safety tips in every episode.
About the Show
Devlin focused on the adventures of the Devlin siblings. They were Ernie, Tod, and Sandy. They worked for a traveling circus run by Hank McSummers. Ernie was the star motorcycle stunt rider. Tod was the mechanic and helped plan the stunts. Sandy was the youngest and often found herself in exciting situations.
The show often explored themes like courage and teamwork. It also showed how the family faced challenges together. They learned important lessons while traveling with the circus.
Characters
The main characters in Devlin were:
- Ernie Devlin (voiced by Michael Bell) – The brave motorcycle stunt rider.
- Tod Devlin (voiced by Micky Dolenz) – Ernie's younger brother and the team's mechanic.
- Sandy Devlin (voiced by Michelle Robinson) – The youngest Devlin sibling.
- Henry "Hank" McSummers (voiced by Norman Alden) – The kind owner of the traveling circus.
Other Voices
Many other talented actors lent their voices to the show. These included Philip Clarke, Don Diamond, Sarina Grant, Bob Hastings, David Jolliffe, Robby Lester, Stan Livingston, Derrel Maury, Barney Phillips, Fran Ryan, John Stephenson, John Tuell, Ginny Tyler, Don Wells, and Jesse White.
Episode Themes
The 16 episodes of Devlin featured many exciting stories. Each episode showed the Devlin family facing new challenges. They often had to help others or overcome their own fears.
- Overcoming Fear: In one episode, Ernie had to face his fear of crashing. He did this to rescue some Boy Scouts.
- Helping Others: The Devlins often helped people they met on their travels. This included runaways or people in trouble.
- Circus Life: Many stories were about life in the circus. This included dealing with problems like a lion running away or a rival challenging Ernie.
- Family Bonds: The show highlighted the strong bond between the siblings. They always supported each other, even when they disagreed. For example, Tod used his smarts to save Hank during a tornado. Sandy also learned important lessons about growing up.
- Learning Lessons: Characters often learned valuable lessons. This included understanding that being a star takes hard work. They also learned about honesty and responsibility.
Other Appearances
An older version of Ernie Devlin appeared in a few episodes of the animated show Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. He was voiced by Toby Huss.
