Deputy Dawg#Background

{{Infobox television

| image = Deputy Dawg.jpg

| caption = Deputy Dawg

| camera =

| runtime = 4–6 minutes

| creator = Larz Bourne

| developer =

| executive_producer = Bill Weiss

| starring = Dayton Allen

| narrated =

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| company = Terrytoons

| country = United States

| network = CBS

| first_aired = {{Start date|1960|01|1}}

| last_aired = {{End date|1964|12|31}}

| num_episodes = 104

}}

Deputy Dawg is a Terrytoons cartoon character, featured on the animated television series of the same name that aired from 1960 to 1964.{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |pages=151–152}}

Background

The character of Deputy Dawg originated in 1959 as part of a projected series entitled Possible Possum, intended as a component of the Captain Kangaroo Show. Larz Bourne came up with the series concept and drew the first storyboards. Midway through production, the project was overhauled as a standalone series; Deputy Dawg became the star, and "Possible" was rechristened Muskie Muskrat, to avoid comparisons with Walt Kelly's comic strip character Pogo Possum.[https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-secret-origin-of-deputy-dawg/ The Secret Origin of Deputy Dawg] A later, less Kelly-inspired Terrytoons character would eventually take the Possible Possum name.

The Deputy Dawg Show first ran weekly from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1964. Each episode has a Deputy Dawg cartoon, followed by Sidney the Elephant. The British television debut came on BBC Television on August 31, 1963.{{cite book |last1=Sheridan |first1=Simon |title=The A–Z of Classic Children's Television: From Alberto Frog to Zebedee |date=2004 |publisher=Reynolds & Hearn Ltd |isbn=1903111277 |pages=100–101}}

The cartoons are between four and six minutes long, and were packaged three at a time and shown as a half-hour program. The show was produced by CBS and was the professional animation debut of Ralph Bakshi (as animator) of adult animation fame.

The cartoons originally featured Deputy Dawg, an anthropomorphic dog, as a deputy sheriff in Florida, although as the episodes progressed, the location changed to Mississippi, and later to Tennessee. The other main characters are the "varmints" Muskie Muskrat, Ty Coon, Vincent van Gopher, and Pig Newton, as well as Dawg's boss the Sheriff and his wife Mrs. Deputy.{{cite book |last1=Hyatt |first1=Wesley |title=The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television |date=1997 |publisher=Watson-Guptill Publications |isbn=978-0823083152 |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofda00hyat|url-access=registration |access-date=19 March 2020|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofda00hyat/page/123 123]}} A wilder addition to the cast was the "space varmint" Astronut, a mischievous alien visitor who was later given his own spin-off show.

Deputy Dawg was voiced by Dayton Allen, a prolific voice actor who voiced many Terrytoons characters in television and theatrical shorts in the 1950s and 1960s.{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981 |date=1983 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-1557-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/childrenstelevis0000wool |url-access=registration |access-date=14 March 2020 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/childrenstelevis0000wool/page/79 79]-80}}

Much of the comedy in the cartoons is sight gag/action-based, with additional humor provided by comical dialects and stereotypical southern characteristics. Many storylines involve Deputy Dawg battling with peculiar locals and trying to please the Sheriff, as well as protecting his produce from Muskie and Vince.{{cite book |last1=Rovin |first1=Jeff |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cartoon Animals |date=1991 |publisher=Prentice Hall Press |isbn=0-13-275561-0 |access-date=8 April 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc00rovi |url-access=registration |pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc00rovi/page/65 65]-66}} However, most of Muskie's and Vince's crimes are not taken very seriously, enabling Deputy Dawg to pal around with them when they are not causing trouble. The trio often engage in their favorite pastime, fishing for catfish.

Musical direction was by Terrytoons standby Philip A. Scheib, who at the time had recently worked on the Oscar-nominated Terrytoons shorts Sidney's Family Tree (1958) and The Juggler of Our Lady (1958). The Deputy Dawg musical accompaniment often features a distinctive bass harmonica.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770535/bio|title=Philip A. Scheib|website=IMDb}}

Deputy Dawg later appeared in episodes of the 1987 series Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures.

Deputy Dawg also appeared in the 1999 pilot Curbside.{{cite web|url=https://www.bcdb.com/cartoon/101602-Curbside|title=Curbside (Nickelodeon)|first=The Big Cartoon|last=DataBase|website=Big Cartoon DataBase (BCDB)}}{{dead link|date=January 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Home video

Children's Video Library issued "Terrytoons Good Guys" compilation VHS tapes in 1985 which included one Deputy Dawg cartoon per tape.

Video Treasures issued five "Deputy Dawg" VHS tapes in 1989. The tape catalogue numbers are listed below for the titles released.

Episode guide

= Season 1 (1960) =

class="wikitable"

!No.

Overall

!No. in

season

!Title

!Directed by

!Story by

!Date

!Prod.

code{{Cite web|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/a-deputy-dawg-follow-up/|title=A Deputy Dawg Follow-Up|date=2021-05-17|access-date=2021-05-17|website=Cartoon Research|last=Brubaker|first=Charles}}

!VHS tape number

colspan="2" |1

|The Yoke's On You

|Dave Tendlar

| rowspan="6" |Larz Bourne

| rowspan="26" |1960

|657

colspan="2" |2

|Space Varmint

|Connie Rasinski

|659

colspan="2" |3

|Shotgun Shambles

| rowspan="3" |Dave Tendlar

|660

colspan="2" |4

|Seize You Later, Alligator

|663

colspan="2" |5

|Li'l Whooper

|666

colspan="2" |6

|Welcome, Mischa Mouse

|Martin Taras

|672

| rowspan="5" |TT 2606

colspan="2" |7

|Cotton-Pickin' Picnic

|Connie Rasinski

|Eli Bauer

|673

colspan="2" |8

|Henhouse Hassle

|Mannie Davis

|Larz Bourne

|674

colspan="2" |9

|Law and Disorder

|Dave Tendlar

|Bob Kuwahara

|675

colspan="2" |10

|Rabid Rebel

|Mannie Davis

|Larz Bourne

|676

colspan="2" |11

|Friend Fox

|Dave Tendlar

|Eli Bauer

|677

|TT 2603

colspan="2" |12

|Deputy Dawg's Nephew

|Mannie Davis

|Bob Kuwahara

|683

|TT 2606

colspan="2" |13

|Dog-Gone Catfish

|Connie Rasinski

|Larz Bourne

|684

|TT 2603

colspan="2" |14

|National Spoof Day

|Mannie Davis

|Eli Bauer

|685

| rowspan="5" |TT 2607

colspan="2" |15

|Aig Plant

|Dave Tendlar

|Larz Bourne

|691

colspan="2" |16

|Creek Mud Monster

|Connie Rasinski

|Eli Bauer

|693

colspan="2" |17

|Duped Deputy

|Mannie Davis

|Al Bertino & Dick Kinney

|694

colspan="2" |18

|Home Cookin'

|Dave Tendlar

|Larz Bourne

|695

colspan="2" |19

|Penguin Panic

|Mannie Davis

|Bob Kuwahara

|697

| rowspan="3" |TT 2603

colspan="2" |20

|People's Choice

|Connie Rasinski

| rowspan="2" |Al Bertino & Dick Kinney

|698

colspan="2" |21

|Kin Folk

|Dave Tendlar

|700

colspan="2" |22

|Lynx, th' Jinx

|Mannie Davis

|Larz Bourne

|701

|TT 2607

colspan="2" |23

|The Bird Burglar

|Dave Tendlar

|Kin Platt

|703

|TT 2603

colspan="2" |24

|Watermelon Watcher

|Connie Rasinski

|Larz Bourne

|704

| rowspan="3" |n/a

colspan="2" |25

|Dragon, My Foot

|Mannie Davis

|Eli Bauer

|705

colspan="2" |26

|Star for a Day

|Connie Rasinski

|Al Bertino & Dick Kinney

|706

= Season 2 (1961–1962) =

class="wikitable"

!No.

Overall

!No. in

season

!Title

!Directed by

!Story by

!Date

!Prod.

code

!VHS tape number

|Th' Two Inch Inchworm

|Connie Rasinski

| rowspan="26" |Larz Bourne

| rowspan="15" |1961

|731

|Nobody's Ghost

|Dave Tendlar

|732

|Honey Tree

|Art Bartsch

|733

|Where There's Smoke

|Bob Kuwahara

|734

|Oil Tycoons

|Tom Golden

|735

|Rebel Trouble

|Dave Tendlar

|736

|Big Chief No Treaty

|Bob Kuwahara

|737

|Beaver Battle

|Dave Tendlar

|738

|Ship Aha Ha

|Bob Kuwahara

|739

|10

|The Fragrant Vagrant

|Tom Golden

|740

|TT 2604

|11

|Noise Annoys

|Connie Rasinski

|741

|12

|Tennessee Walkin' Horse

|Bob Kuwahara

|742

|13

|Peanut Pilferer

|Bill Tytla

|743

|14

|Mr. Moose

| rowspan="2" |Bob Kuwahara

|744

|15

|National Lazy Day

|745

|16

|Little Red Fool House

|Dave Tendlar

| rowspan="11" |1962

|746

|17

|Astronut

|Connie Rasinski

|747

|18

|Echo Park

|Dave Tendlar

|748

|19

|Physical Fatness

|Bob Kuwahara

|749

|TT 2604

|20

|Corn Cribber

|Dave Tendlar

|750

|21

|Herman the Hermit

|Connie Rasinski

|751

|22

|Heat Wave

|Dave Tendlar

|752

|23

|Long Island Duckling

|Connie Rasinski

|753

|24

|Tents Moments

|Bill Tytla

|754

|25

|Dangnabit, Rabbit

| rowspan="2" |Dave Tendlar

|755

|26

|Tourist Tirade

|756

= Season 3 (1963–1964) =

class="wikitable"

!No.

Overall

!No. in

season

!Title

!Directed by

!Story by

!Animator

!Date

!Prod.

code

!VHS tape number

|Orbit a Little Bit

|Bob Kuwahara

| rowspan="22" |Larz Bourne

|Cosmo Anzilotti

| rowspan="22" |1963

|768

|Dry Spell

|Dave Tendlar

|769

|Terrific Traffic

| rowspan="3" |Bob Kuwahara

|Cosmo Anzilotti

|772

|Safe an' Insane 4th

| rowspan="2" |Ralph Bakshi

|773

|Lowman Lawman

|775

|Open Wide

|Dave Tendlar

|786

|The Catfish Poachin' Pelican

|Bob Kuwahara

|Mannie Davis

|787

|The Milkweed from Space

|Dave Tendlar

|788

|Bad Luck Day

| rowspan="3" |Bob Kuwahara

| rowspan="2" |Cosmo Anzilotti

|789

|10

|Royal Southern Dismounted Police

|790

|11

|Stuck Duck

|Ralph Bakshi

|792

|12

|Go-Go Gorilla

|Dave Tendlar

|793

|TT 2604

|13

|Grandpa Law

|Bob Kuwahara

|Mannie Davis

|794

|14

|Champion Whopper Teller

|Art Bartsch

|795

|15

|Daddy Frog Legs

| rowspan="2" |Bob Kuwahara

|Cosmo Anzilotti

|796

|16

|Science Friction

|Ralph Bakshi

|797

|17

|On the Lam with Ham

|Connie Rasinski

|798

|TT 2604

|18

|Just Ghost T' Show You

|Dave Tendlar

|799

|19

|Mama Magnolia's Pecan Pies

| rowspan="6" |Bob Kuwahara

|Mannie Davis

|800

|TT 2604

|20

|Lawman to the Rescue

|Cosmo Anzilotti

|801

|21

|Peach Pluckin' Kangaroo

|Ralph Bakshi

|802

|22

|The Neverglades

|Cosmo Anzilotti

|803

|23

|Feud for Thought

|Kin Platt

| rowspan="2" |Mannie Davis

| rowspan="30" |1964

|804

|24

|The Poster Caper

| rowspan="3" |Larz Bourne

|805

|25

|Diamonds in the Rough

|Ralph Bakshi

|806

|26

|Double Barreled Boom-Boom

|Art Bartsch

|Art Davis

|807

|27

|Spare That Tree

|Cosmo Anzilotti

|Kin Platt

|Cosmo Anzilotti

|808

|28

|The Pig Rustler

| rowspan="3" |Bob Kuwahara

| rowspan="2" |Larz Bourne

| rowspan="2" |Bard Wiggenhorn

|809

|29

|Chicken Bull

|810

|30

|Hex Marks the Spot

|Kin Platt

| rowspan="2" |Cosmo Anzilotti

|811

|31

|Something to Crow About

|Cosmo Anzilotti

| rowspan="2" |Larz Bourne

|812

|32

|Catfish Crisis

|Art Bartsch

|Alan Zaslove

|813

|33

|Show Biz Whiz

| rowspan="2" |Ralph Bakshi

|Jack Mercer

| rowspan="2" |Ralph Bakshi

|814

|34

|Save Ol' Piney

| rowspan="4" |Larz Bourne

|815

|35

|Pinch Hittin' for a Pigeon

|Art Bartsch

|Alan Zaslove

|816

|TT 2604

|36

|Mountain Melvin Meets Hairy Harry

| rowspan="2" |Bob Kuwahara

|Mannie Davis

|817

|37

|Protestin' Pilot

|Bard Wiggenhorn

|818

|38

|Mule-itary Maneuvers

|Art Bartsch

|Jack Mercer

|John Gentilella

|819

|39

|Millionaire Deputy

|Connie Rasinski

|Kin Platt

|Connie Rasinski

|820

|40

|All Tuckered Out

|Bob Kuwahara

| rowspan="9" |Larz Bourne

|Mannie Davis

|821

|41

|Th' Hungry Astronut

|Dave Tendlar

|822

|42

|Museum of th' South

| rowspan="2" |Bob Kuwahara

|Bard Wiggenhorn

|823

|43

|Scare Cure

|Ralph Bakshi

|824

|44

|The Great Grain Robbery

|Connie Rasinski

|825

|45

|Corn Pone Limited

|Art Bartsch

|John Gentilella

|826

|46

|Space Invitation

| rowspan="2" |Bob Kuwahara

|Cosmo Anzilotti

|827

|47

|You're Fired and I'm Tired

| rowspan="2" |Mannie Davis

|828

100

|48

|The Pink Flamingo

| rowspan="2" |Art Bartsch

|829

101

|49

|Imperfect Crime

|Bernie Kahn

|John Gentilella

|830

102

|50

|Obnoxious Obie

| rowspan="2" |Bob Kuwahara

| rowspan="3" |Larz Bourne

|Ralph Bakshi

|831

103

|51

|Elusive Louie

|Cosmo Anzilotti

|832

104

|52

|The Governor's Guide

|Art Bartsch

|John Gentilella

|833

Credits

Direction: Art Bartsch, Bob Kuwahara, Connie Rasinski, Dave Tendlar, Mannie Davis, Ralph Bakshi
Story supervisor: Tom Morrison
Stories: Larz Bourne, Eli Bauer, Bob Kuwahara, Al Bertino, Dick Kinney
Animation: Cosmo Anzilotti, Ralph Bakshi, Doug Crane, Mannie Davis, Eddie Donnelly, Dick Hall, John Gentilella, Larry Silverman
Design and layout supervisor: Art Bartsch
Design and layout: Martin Strudler, John Zago
Backgrounds: Bill Focht, Bill Hilliker
Music: Phil Scheib
Voices: Dayton Allen
Photography: George Davis, Ted Moskowitz, Joseph Rasinski
Editing: George McAvoy, Jack MacConnell
Production manager: Frank Schudde
Executive producer: Bill Weiss