Unbelievably, this show was done live 5 times a week for 6 years, from 1949 to 1955, on KTLA in Los Angeles. Stan Freberg and Daws Butler played, respectively, Cecil and Beany, and it was produced by Bob Clampett, with all 3 sharing writing credits. It was about the adventures of a boy and his seasick sea serpent, and was a hit almost from the first episode.
That said, it doesn't for a moment convey the incredible inventiveness and hilarious insanity that went on during the show, and behind the scenes. To understand that, you need to pick up the new Beany and Cecil DVD, and listen to Stan Freberg's audio commentary while 3 of the original live episodes play. His comments are priceless; I would have loved to be a part of this experience. I would pay any amount to hear more about the show from Freberg, too; his memory is unparalleled. He talks about one of the special effects they used, to portray bats in an episode. They used black balloons, which burst when they got too hot under the studio lights, causing children watching to scream when it looked like the bat had exploded, on purpose. He then tells us about all the letters they got from angry mothers on that episode, laughing as he talks. They frequently adlibbed, especially when they couldn't find the scripts.
The "Time for Beany" live show eventually became "Beany and Cecil", the animated cartoon that all us baby boomers loved. But the animation could never, no matter how much we loved it, surpass these live shows. If anyone in Production Land is listening out there, I'd buy more of them on DVD at any price.
That said, it doesn't for a moment convey the incredible inventiveness and hilarious insanity that went on during the show, and behind the scenes. To understand that, you need to pick up the new Beany and Cecil DVD, and listen to Stan Freberg's audio commentary while 3 of the original live episodes play. His comments are priceless; I would have loved to be a part of this experience. I would pay any amount to hear more about the show from Freberg, too; his memory is unparalleled. He talks about one of the special effects they used, to portray bats in an episode. They used black balloons, which burst when they got too hot under the studio lights, causing children watching to scream when it looked like the bat had exploded, on purpose. He then tells us about all the letters they got from angry mothers on that episode, laughing as he talks. They frequently adlibbed, especially when they couldn't find the scripts.
The "Time for Beany" live show eventually became "Beany and Cecil", the animated cartoon that all us baby boomers loved. But the animation could never, no matter how much we loved it, surpass these live shows. If anyone in Production Land is listening out there, I'd buy more of them on DVD at any price.