Famous Classic Tales#14

{{Infobox television

| image =

| caption =

| genre = Anthology
Television special

| producer = Neil Balnaves
Walter J. Hucker
William Hanna
Joseph Barbera

| runtime = 30–60 minutes

| company = Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.
Air Programs International
Ruby-Spears Enterprises

| country = United States
Australia

| language = English

| network = CBS

| first_aired = {{Start date|1970|11|1}}

| last_aired = {{End date|1984|11|23}}

| num_series =

| num_episodes = 31

| list_episodes =

}}

Famous Classic Tales is an animated anthology television series featuring animated adaptations of classic children's stories which aired on CBS from 1970 to 1984. The series was produced by the Australian division of Hanna-Barbera and Air Programs International (API), also from Australia, but the thirtieth installment was animated by Ruby-Spears Enterprises.

Overview

Famous Classic Tales was broadcast on CBS and distributed by Kids Klassics Home Video and Storybook World. It had cartoons from Sydney-based API's Family Classic Tales. Featured cartoons included adaptions of classic literature such as Gulliver's Travels, Treasure Island, Black Beauty, Moby-Dick, and many others.

The creation of a series of animated features based on classic children's stories was conceived by Jack Thinnes, Media Director at Sive Advertising in Cincinnati, Ohio. The series was created for a Sive client, toy manufacturer Kenner Products, and each program was fully sponsored by Kenner on CBS Television Network on Sunday, late afternoon or early evening, during the prime toy selling season before Christmas. In 1983, the show was billed as Kenner Family Classics.

The idea to use classic children's books sprang from Thinnes' viewing of a two-minute demo of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, which was produced by Walter J. Hucker's studio, Air Programs International (API), of Sydney, Australia. API was acquired by Hanna-Barbera in 1972 after Thinnes introduced the owners of the studios to one another. After the series ran on CBS for nearly ten years, it was moved into local syndication by Sive's syndication department. However, their adaptation of A Christmas Carol was such a favorite that it continued to run on the network for fifteen years.[http://fa02.blogspot.ca/2014/04/famous-classic-tales.html Famous Classic Tales].

A similar series, Festival of Family Classics, was produced by Rankin/Bass and aired in syndication in 1972–1973.{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |page=204}}

Episode list

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
style="text-align:left;" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Nº ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Airdate ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Director(s) ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" \| Production
1	Tales of Washington Irving{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/408/mode/2up \|pages=408–409}}	November 1, 1970	Zoran Janjic	Air Programs International
2	A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/94/mode/2up \|pages=95–97}}	November 26, 1970	Zoran Janjic	Air Programs International
3	A Christmas Carol{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/76/mode/2up \|page=76}}	December 13, 1970	Zoran Janjic	Air Programs International
4	The Legend of Robin Hood{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/242/mode/2up \|pages=243–244}}	November 14, 1971	Zoran Janjic	Air Programs International
5	Treasure Island{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/422/mode/2up \|pages=422–423}}	November 28, 1971	Zoran Janjic	Air Programs International
6	Travels of Marco Polo{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/262/mode/2up \|pages=263–264}}	January 1, 1972	Leif Gram	Air Programs International
7	Robinson Crusoe{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/343/mode/2up \|pages=342–343}}	November 23, 1972	Leif Gram	Air Programs International
8	The Prince and the Pauper{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/314/mode/2up \|pages=314–315}}	November 26, 1972	Chris Cuddington	Air Programs International
9	The Count of Monte Cristo{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/98/mode/2up \|pages=98–99}}	September 23, 1973	William Hanna, Joseph Barbera	Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.
10	Kidnapped{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/230/mode/2up \|page=231}}	October 22, 1973	Leif Gram	Air Programs International
11	The Swiss Family Robinson{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/404/mode/2up \|page=404}}	October 28, 1973	Leif Gram	Air Programs International
12	Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/430/mode/2up \|pages=431–433}}	November 22, 1973	William Hanna, Joseph Barbera	Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.
13	The Three Musketeers{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/416/mode/2up \|pages=416–417}}	November 23, 1973	William Hanna, Joseph Barbera	Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.
14	The Black Arrow{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/34/mode/2up \|page=34}}	December 2, 1973	Leif Gram	Air Programs International
15	The Gentlemen of Titipu	January 15, 1974	Leif Gram	Air Programs International
16	Moby-Dick{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/276/mode/2up \|page=276}}	January 1, 1975	Richard Slapczynski	Air Programs International
17	The Mysterious Island{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/282/mode/2up \|pages=283–284}}	November 15, 1975	Leif Gram	Air Programs International
18	The Last of the Mohicans{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/240/mode/2up \|pages=240–241}}	November 27, 1975	Charles A. Nichols	Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.
19	Ivanhoe{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/222/mode/2up \|page=222}}	November 27, 1975	Leif Gram	Air Programs International
20	From the Earth to the Moon{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/162/mode/2up \|pages=163–164}}	January 1, 1976	Richard Slapczynski	Air Programs International
21	Off on a Comet{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/292/mode/2up \|page=293}}	January 1, 1976	Richard Slapczynski	Air Programs International
22	Master of the World{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/264/mode/2up \|page=264}}	October 23, 1976	Leif Gram	Air Programs International
23	Davy Crockett on the Mississippi{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/106/mode/2up \|pages=106–108}}	November 20, 1976	Charles A. Nichols	Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.
24	A Journey to the Center of the Earth{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/230/mode/2up \|page=230}}	November 13, 1977	Richard Slapczynski	Air Programs International
25	Five Weeks in a Balloon{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/146/mode/2up \|pages=147–148}}	November 24, 1977	Chris Cuddington	Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.
26	Black Beauty{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/34/mode/2up \|pages=34–35}}	October 28, 1978	Chris Cuddington	Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.
27	Gulliver's Travels{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/180/mode/2up \|pages=180–181}}	November 18, 1979	Chris Cuddington	Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.
28	The Adventures of Sinbad{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/3/mode/2up \|pages=3–4}}	November 23, 1979	Richard Slapczynski	Air Programs International
29	Daniel Boone{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/104/mode/2up \|pages=105–106}}	November 27, 1981	Geoff Collins	Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.
30	Beauty and the Beast{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/2/mode/2up \|page=3}}	November 25, 1983	Rudy Larriva	Ruby-Spears Enterprises
31	The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn{{cite book \|last1=Woolery \|first1=George W. \|title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 \|date=1989 \|publisher=Scarecrow Press \|isbn=0-8108-2198-2 \|accessdate=27 March 2020 \|url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/28/mode/2up \|page=29}}	November 23, 1984	Paul McAdam	Air Programs International

Home video release

Several of the Famous Classic Tales specials were released on VHS by Worldvision Home Video, GoodTimes Entertainment, Fox Lorber, Kids Klassics, Hanna-Barbera Home Video and Turner Home Entertainment. Several other stories made it to DVD afterwards, including a 2007 release from Southern Star by Koch Vision titled Hanna-Barbera Storybook Favorites which featured The Last of the Mohicans, Black Beauty and Gulliver's Travels. All of these are now out of print.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment currently handled home video distribution rights to several of the Famous Classic Tales specials (due to Endemol Shine Australia's parent company Endemol Shine Group was acquired by and folded into Banijay on July 3, 2020 and Neil Balnaves's death of boating accident on February 21, 2022).