The Houndcats
The Houndcats is an American Saturday morning cartoon series produced by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises. The series was broadcast by NBC from September 9 to December 2, 1972, with reruns continuing until September 1, 1973. Thirteen episodes were produced.
Plot
Loosely based on the CBS adventure series Mission: Impossible and the short-lived 1971 series Bearcats!, it was headed by a combined team of dogs and cats, hence the name, as they go on spy missions in 1914 America.Each episode begins with the Houndcats receiving orders from their unseen "Chief", whose message is played on an old-fashioned gramophone, player-piano or other devices, parodying the tape recorder scene at the start of most episodes of Mission: Impossible. However, the words "this message will self-destruct in five seconds", always takes the Houndcats by surprise, causing them to run away from the explosion.
Members
- The "Houndcats" were led by cool and confident cat Stutz.Dingdog was Stutz' right-hand man. He wore a blue Civil War uniform. He was known for bad timing and bad judgment. He is a Briard.Mussel Mutt was the muscle – large, bulky and ever-hungry, his eyes were almost always hidden under his hat. He is an Old English Sheepdog.Putty Puss was a cat and a disguise expert.Rhubarb was a dog and a scientist. He wore a long coat and a large sombrero usually revealing only his nose. His coat was full of gadgets.
Cast
- Michael Bell as Stutz, the Raven
- Joe Besser as Putty Puss
- Daws Butler as Rhubarb and the Chief, Dr. Strangeless, Grogan
- Stu Gilliam as Dingdog
- Arte Johnson as Rhubarb, the Chief, Captain Blight
- Aldo Ray as Mussel Mutt
- Joan Gerber as Madame X
- Bob Holt
- John Stephenson as Doctor Doll, Dr. Greenhouse
Production
13 half-hour episodes of the series were produced. An adult laugh track was added, as was common practice for cartoon series at the time.Incarnations
The Houndcats- ''The Houndcats and The Barkleys''