October 9, 1965 (1965-10-09) – September 8, 1968 (1968-09-08)
Milton the Monster, also called The Milton the Monster Show, is an American Saturday morning animated cartoon television series that ran on ABC from October 9, 1965, to September 8, 1968.[1] It was produced and directed by Hal Seeger.[2]
Overview
The series starred Milton the Monster, a Frankenstein-looking monster with a flat-topped, seemingly hollow head which emitted various quantities of white steam or smoke based on his mood or situation.[3] He was created by mad scientist Professor Montgomery Weirdo and his assistant Count Kook, who lived in a haunted house on Horror Hill.[4] Milton is a smiling, good-natured fellow, thanks to the Professor having used too much "tincture of tenderness" as explained in the opening theme of each individual Milton the Monster segment. Milton was created not of individual body parts, but rather in a mold from such liquids as "essence of terror" and "sinister sauce." Out of fear of his creation destroying him, Professor Weirdo intended to add just a touch of the aforementioned tincture of tenderness to the mold, but Count Kook bumped the Professor's elbow, resulting in too much of the tincture being added to the mix. Milton's voice, which was based on the southern accent used by Jim Nabors in his television role as Gomer Pyle,[5] was provided by Bob McFadden who also provided voices for Professor Weirdo's resident monsters:
Jeebie - a slow-witted, cyclopian, hairy green creature with a single sharp tooth that was often used to open soda cans.
Mechanical Mike - A blue robot who only appears in one episode and some episodes of Fearless Fly. Milton accidentally destroys Mike while helping him with indigestion. But Milton manages to put him back together as a computer.
Professor Weirdo's nemesis was Professor Fruitcake, another mad scientist who lived in a castle on an opposite hill. Professor Fruitcake's major creation was Zelda the Zombie (who only appears in one episode). Other characters in the series included Fangenstein, a biker monster apparently inspired by Marlon Brando, his sidekick Abercrombie the Zombie (who is sometimes Milton's friend), and Professor Weirdo's aunt, the witchy Aunt Hagatha.
Other features
Other features on the show included:
Fearless Fly, starring an insect superhero similar to Hanna-Barbera's Atom Ant. One of the most popular segments of the Milton the Monster Show, Fearless Fly was, in reality, Hiram, an ordinary housefly. When danger threatens, he ducks into a nearby matchbox, dons a red sweater and changes into the superhero Fearless Fly by, in a reversal of Clark Kent, putting on a pair of super high-powered glasses. Fearless Fly, according to the opening, is more powerful than a speeding rocket and faster than a beam of light. No flyswatter can harm him, no flypaper can hold him and no insecticide can stop him. Fearless Fly's sole weakness is losing his glasses, which happens in most of the episodes. His chief nemesis is the 900-year-old Dr. Fu Manchu-inspired Dr. Goo Fee and his assistant, Gung Ho.[6] Occasionally, Milton the Monster's Professor Weirdo makes an appearance to threaten Fearless Fly. Usually, Bob McFadden does the voices, such as the seductive Lady Deflyah.
Flukey Luke, with a cowboydetective, his Irish-accented Native American companion, Two Feathers and his horse, Pronto. Flukey Luke was so named because of his dumb luck that allowed him to get the upper hand, despite being incredibly inept.
Stuffy Durma the Millionaire Hobo, starring a nouveau-riche hobo who resisted the attempts of valet Bradley Brinkley to get some culture and breeding.
Bob McFadden: Milton the Monster, Heebie, Jeebie, Fearless Fly, Horsey the Fly, Additional Voices, Narrator (Milton the Monster and Fearless Fly segments)
Dayton Allen: Professor Weirdo, Dr. Goo Fee, Flukey Luke, Stuffy Durma, Bradley Brinkley, Chester Penguin
Larry Best: Count Kook, Professor Fruitcake, Two Feathers, Gung Ho, Additional Voices, Narrator (Flukey Luke segments)
Fearless Fly: Fearless Fly Meets the Monsters (pilot)
Muggy Doo: Crumb-Bumming
Milton the Monster: V for Vampire
Episode 17
Milton the Monster: Monster vs. Mobster
Fearless Fly: Martians Meet their Match (pilot)[citation needed]
Milton the Monster: Witch Crafty
Episode 18
Milton the Monster: Camp Gitchy Gloomy
Fearless Fly: Let's Phase It
Milton the Monster: The Hearse Thief
Episode 19
Milton the Monster: Boo to You
Fearless Fly: Under Waterloo
Milton the Monster: Kid Stuff
Episode 20
Milton the Monster: Horror Scope
Fearless Fly: Lady Deflyah
Milton the Monster: The Flying Cup & Saucer
Episode 21
Milton the Monster: Monster-Sitter
Fearless Fly: Robinson Shoesole
Milton the Monster: The Moon Goons
Episode 22
Milton the Monster: Think Shrink
Fearless Fly: Private Fly
Milton the Monster: Skullgaria Forever!
Episode 23
Milton the Monster: Crumby Mummy
Fearless Fly: Stage Plight
Milton the Monster: Fort Fangenstein
Episode 24
Fearless Fly: Safari Harry
Stuffy Durma: Nuggets to You
Milton the Monster: Batnap
Episode 25
Milton the Monster: Dunkin' Treasure
Fearless Fly: Ferocious Fly
Milton the Monster: Monstrous Monster
Episode 26
Fearless Fly: Napoleon Bonafly
Flukey Luke: Violin Violence
Milton the Monster: The Mummy's Thumb
DVD release
On March 20, 2007, Shout! Factory released the complete series on a 4-DVD set. However it has since become out of print, making copies of the DVD online fetch for high prices.
Kevin Scott Collier. Milton the Monster : Horror Hill Epitaph. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018. ISBN1984189808
References
^Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 551–553. ISBN978-1476665993.
^Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 398. ISBN978-1538103739.
^Markstein, Don. "Milton the Monster". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
