Help! ... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! @ The Cartoon Scrapbook

Prod. Notes:

September 1971 - January 1972, CBS

1973 - 1974, CBS

Hanna-Barbera

Cast:

Hair Bear ................................................................................... Daws Butler

Square Bear ............................................................................ Bill Callaway

Bubi Bear ................................................................................ Paul Winchell

Mr. Peevely ..................................................................... John Stephenson

Botch ............................................................................................ Joe E. Ross

Synopsis:

Living in Cave Block 9 at the Wonderland Zoo, The Hair Bear Bunch were three cousins who, under cover of darkness, would break out and explore the real world, trying to find out what they were missing. The leader was Hair Bear, so named for the amazingly large afro that he sported, as was the style of the times. Square Bear was a goofy, hat-wearing bear with an obsession for food, and Bubi Bear was a kind of Boo-Boo Bear for this show; in fact, this whole show owed no small debt to fellow Hanna-Barbera cartoon Yogi Bear on many levels. The Bears, although freedom-loving, were also quite content living in the zoo where food was free and the surroundings lavish.

The trio was pursued on their excursions by zoo curator Mr. Peevely and his tubby assistant Botch. Once Peevely and Botch were able to show proof of escape to the authorities, it would be back to the North Woods for the bears. But the bears were far too clever to be caught, despite constant sneaky schemes and traps set for the trio.

The legendary Daws Butler provided the voice for Hair Bear. Sadly, his presence was not enough, and the show was cancelled after one season. It was revived after a year’s hiatus, however, and the repeats of the show’s first season ran on Sunday mornings from 1973-74.

Episodes:

Keep Your Keeper

Rare Bear Bungle

Raffle Ruckus

Bridal Boo Boo

No Space Like Home

Love Bug Bungle

Gobs of Gobaloons

Ark Lark

I'll Zoo You Later

Panda Pandemonium

Closed Circut TV

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

The Bear Who Came to Dinner

Unbearable Peevly

The Diet Caper

Kling Klong Versus the Masked Marvel

Opening Lyrics:

"In The Wonderland Zoo,

There are certain bears who,

Stay at home every night,

Never quarrel or fight,

Ah! We don't even bite!

So don't yell,

Help! Help! Here come the bears,

Lets split!

So don't yell,

Help! Help! Here come the bears,

Lets split!

Help! It's the hair bear bunch!"