riginally a
series of fifteen theatrical shorts made between 1958 and
1963, Hector Heathcote made its way to NBC in October of 1963.
After the cycle of original shorts had been shown, Terrytoons
quickly began to produce new episodes, and the Saturday
morning The Hector Heathcote Show was born.
Hector, a pint-sized patriot, was witness to several
crucial moments in American history. He had somehow discovered
how to travel back in time, visiting famous events in an
effort to better understand them. Hector would sometimes even
try to give history a little nudge, though his plans usually
went awry.
Most of Hector's adventures took place during the
Revolutionary War, but Hector always sported that late 1700's
triangle hat regardless of the era he was visiting.
Accompanied by his wise and trusted dog, Winston, who was
voiced to sound just like Churchill, Hector readied Paul
Revere’s horse for the famous ride, built the rowboat George
Washington used to cross the Delaware, and even tried to build
the first plane.
Two other theatrical shorts were used to round out the
program. "Hashimoto-san” focused on a Japanese mouse who often
got into trouble with his American friend G.I. Joe. Thanks to
his jujitsu skills, he was always able to get himself, his
wife Hanako and their children Yuriko and Saburo out of
whatever mess they were in that week.
“Sidney's Family Tree” featured a childish adult elephant
who had to be watched over constantly by his less-neurotic
companions, Stanley the Lion and Cleo the Giraffe.