Valley of the Dinosaurs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Valley of the Dinosaurs |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Adventure Action Drama Science fiction |
| Directed by | Charles A. Nichols |
| Voices of | (See article) |
| Narrated by | Don Messick |
| 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 |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Hanna-Barbera Productions |
| Distributor | Taft Broadcasting (1974–1979) Worldvision Enterprises (1979–1989) Great American Broadcasting (1989–1991) Turner Program Services (1991–1996) Warner Bros. Television Distribution (1996–present) |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | September 7 – December 21, 1974 |
Valley of the Dinosaurs is an exciting American animated TV show. It was made by Hanna-Barbera Productions and first shown on CBS from September to December 1974. Later, it was shown again from 1977 to 1983. The series is about a modern family who gets sent back in time to the Stone Age by a strange vortex. The show was made to be both fun and educational. It taught viewers about how early humans used fire, made clothes, created weapons, and cooked food.
Contents
Story of the Valley
Professor John Butler, a science expert, goes on a rafting trip with his family. His family includes his wife Kim, their teenage daughter Katie, young son Greg, and their dog Digger. While on the Amazon River, their raft hits a rock and flips over. They are pulled through a cave and into a whirlpool.
Lost in Time
When they come out, they find themselves in a mysterious land. In this place, people live alongside amazing prehistoric creatures, including dinosaurs! The Butlers soon meet a group of Neanderthals. These early humans are led by Gorok, his wife Gara, their teenage son Lok, and their young daughter Tana. Gorok's family even has a pet baby Stegosaurus named Glump.
Helping Each Other
Gorok and his family help the Butlers try to find a way to get back home. In return, John and his family teach the Neanderthals useful things. For example, they show them simple tools like the lever and the wheel. They also introduce them to sailboats and windmills. This helps make the Neanderthals' daily lives much easier.
Characters and Voices
Many talented voice actors brought the characters of Valley of the Dinosaurs to life.
Main Voice Cast
- Melanie Baker - Tana
- Shannon Farnon - Kim Butler
- Joan Gardner - Gara
- Kathy Gori - Katie Butler
- Jackie Earle Haley - Greg Butler
- Don Messick - Narrator
- Alan Oppenheimer - Gorok
- Mike Road - John Butler
- Frank Welker - Digger, Glump, Lok
Beyond the TV Show
Valley of the Dinosaurs also appeared in other forms of entertainment.
Other Appearances
Characters from the show were featured in an episode of Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. This episode was called "Beyond the Valley of the Dinosaurs." In it, Gorok was voiced by Chris Edgerly, and Tana was voiced by Mary Birdsong.
Comic Books
Charlton Comics created a comic book series based on the TV show. They published 11 issues with new stories. These comics came out from April 1975 to December 1976.
