The Skatebirds is a 60-minute show produced by Hanna-Barbera that aired on CBS Saturday mornings from 1977 to 1978. The show featured four short segments hosted by live-action wraparounds featuring "The Skatebirds", three large birds played by actors in costumes.
The Skatebirds, so called because they roller skated, were named Satchel (a pelican), Knock-Knock (a woodpecker) and Scooter (a pigeon). Their nemesis was Scat Cat, voiced by Scatman Crothers who had previously played Hong Kong Phooey and a character also named Scat Cat from the Disney movie The Aristocats. The appearance of the characters and the format of the show was similar to The Banana Splits Adventure Hour.
The Skatebirds lasted only a half-season in its original run from September 10, 1977 to January 28, 1978. In the fall of 1979, the show was cut down to a half-hour by removing The Robonic Stooges and Woofer And Whimper, Dog Detectives (which had been spun off into a separate half-hour) and broadcast on CBS Sunday mornings on and off until January 1981. In the late 1980s, a different shortened version of The Skatebirds (now featuring The Robonic Stooges and Wonder Wheels) was shown on USA Cartoon Express and later resurfaced on Cartoon Network and Boomerang.
Segments[]
- The Robonic Stooges - A cartoon featuring bionic versions of the Three Stooges who are secret agents that fight crime.
- Wonder Wheels - A cartoon about a teenage boy and his living shape-shifting motorcycle, Wonder Wheels.
- Woofer & Whimper, Dog Detectives - This segment is actually edited version of Clue Club episodes featuring two talking dogs who help solve mysteries with four teenage detectives.
- Mystery Island - A live-action adventure serial about the crew of a downed plane and their robot P.O.P.S. trying to escape the wrath of Dr. Strange.
Voice cast[]
- Joe E. Baker - Larry Fine ("The Robonic Stooges" segments)
- Wally Burr - Main Title Narrator (one-hour version)
- Henry Corden - Hercules in "Eeenie Meanie Genie", Pierre LeSly in "Mutiny on the Mountie"
- Scatman Crothers - Scat-Cat, King in "Three Stooges and the Seven Dwarves"
- Susan Davis - Dooley Lawrence ("Wonder Wheels" segments)
- Micky Dolenz - Willie Sheerer ("Wonder Wheels" segments)
- Bob Hastings - D.D. ("Woofer and Wimper: Dog Detectives" segments)
- Bob Holt - Satchel the Pelican
- David Jolliffe - Larry ("Woofer and Wimper: Dog Detectives" segments)
- Casey Kasem - Atlantean Scientist in "Rub A Dub Dub, Three Nuts in a Tub"
- Jim MacGeorge - Wimper ("Woofer and Wimper: Dog Detectives" segments)
- Ross Martin - Agent 000 ("The Robonic Stooges" segments), Count Von Crankenstein in "Woo Woo Wolfman"
- Don Messick - Scooter the Penguin
- Ronnie Schell - Main Title Narrator (syndicated version)
- John Stephenson - Sheriff Bagley ("Woofer and Wimper: Dog Detectives" segments), Genie in "Eeenie Meanie Genie", Cardinal Poreleau in "The Three Nutsketeers", Achilles the Heel in "On Your Knees, Hercules", Poodleman in "Woo Woo Wolfman"
- Patricia Stich - Pepper ("Woofer and Wimper: Dog Detectives" segments)
- Tara Talboy - Dotty ("Woofer and Wimper: Dog Detectives" segments)
- Lennie Weinrib - Knock-Knock the Woodpecker
- Frank Welker - Curly Howard ("The Robonic Stooges" segments), Narrator ("The Robonic Stooges" segments), P.O.P.S. ("Mystery Island" segments), Ludwig Lillyput in "Flea Fi Fo Fum"
- Paul Winchell - Moe Howard ("The Robonic Stooges" segments), Woofer ("Woofer and Wimper: Dog Detectives" segments), Director in "Dimwits and Dinosaurs", Professor Octane in "Don't Fuel With a Fool", The Amazing Bordoni in "I Want My Mummy"
- Additional Voices
- Ron Feinberg
- Joan Gerber
- Virginia Gregg
- Ralph James
- Julie McWhirter
- Allan Melvin
- Marvin Miller
- Alan Oppenheimer
- Vic Perrin
- Robert Ridgely
- Ken Sansom
- Hal Smith
- Janet Waldo