Hanna-Barbera, the Recorded History
From Modern Stone Age to Meddling Kids
A comprehensive look at one of the world’s most influential entertainment companies in celebration of its artistry in sound, music, and character voices
Description
Whether it’s Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo, the Jetsons, Yogi Bear, Top Cat, Huckleberry Hound, or hundreds of others, the creations of the Hanna-Barbera studio continue to delight generations worldwide. The groundbreaking company employed thousands in the art and business of animation. Some of them were vintage-era veterans, others were up-and-coming talents, some of whom found blockbuster success at other studios. The power of the sounds that Hanna-Barbera crafted to accompany the compelling visuals was a key factor in its spectacular success. Legendary vocal performances and signature sound effects evoke countless visual images. Catchy music cues and theme songs are recalled instantly.
Hanna-Barbera, the Recorded History: From Modern Stone Age to Meddling Kids chronicles, for the first time, the story of this entertainment phenomenon from one century to the next and reveals unexplored aspects of its artistry. Hanna-Barbera’s impact on the music industry is chief among these aspects. Author Greg Ehrbar chronicles the partnership between Bill Hanna, Joe Barbera, and their talented associates—and, at the same time, parallels the impact of their artistry on the recording industry. Page after page abounds with exclusive interviews, surprising facts, and previously unpublished anecdotes. Also featuring the first extensive H-B discography ever published, Hanna-Barbera, the Recorded History earns its place on the go-to shelf of every animation, music, television, and film enthusiast.
Reviews
"Sound and music in animation is one of the most interesting but perhaps undertold stories in show business. In this remarkable book, Greg Ehrbar has gone both deep and wide, and brings the sound out from behind the scenes to stand proudly alongside the visuals. He celebrates not just the great achievements and iconic characters of Hanna-Barbera, but the voices, composers, musicians, and audio technicians who played such a huge part in their success."
- Loren Bouchard, creator of Bob’s Burgers
"I’m so glad that Greg Ehrbar has done this deep dive into H-B audio history to set the often-forgotten record straight (pun intended). No one is more qualified to tell the story."
- From the preface by Leonard Maltin, film critic and author of the Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide series
"Hanna-Barbera made records? Who knew? The answer: Greg Ehrbar, Hanna-Barbera historian extraordinaire who follows these lost tracks and uncovers a whole missing chapter in animation history. It’s a deep cut into the story of one of the world’s most successful animation studios. The TV soundtracks and theme songs, the spoken-word audio plays and the rock & roll—it’s all covered with expertise by Ehrbar. An overlooked piece of music and cartoon history—with smarter-than-the-average research and writing. Bravo!"
- Jerry Beck, author of The Hanna-Barbera Treasury
"What a nostalgia fest! Even cartoon fanatics will find plenty to discover within these pages—how our favorite Hanna-Barbera characters became recording stars, from the Flintstones to the Banana Splits to Josie & the Pussycats. It's all here in this thoroughly researched, fascinating history."
- Jon Burlingame, author of Music for Prime Time: A History of American Television Themes and Scoring
"For years I've had a zillion and five questions about Hanna-Barbera records and now along comes Greg Ehrbar to answer all of ’em in one fell swoop and one swell book. Nobody knows more about this kind of thing than Greg, but if you read and study this must-have volume you might be tied with me for second place."
- Mark Evanier, historian and comic book and television writer
"Hanna-Barbera, the Recorded History is an entertaining study of one of the world’s most influential and prolific creators of character-based storytelling. Scholars and fans of Hanna-Barbera and television animation will undoubtedly find this book to be an invaluable addition to their collections."
- James Bohn, author of Music in Disney’s Animated Features: “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to “The Jungle Book”