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11 things you didn't know about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids
Let's go behind the scenes of this classic mystery cartoon!
From September 28 through October 2, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids is our featured cartoon on Cartoon Carousel. Here are 11 interesting facts about the show:
Director Charles August Nichols was an Oscar winner.
Before directing Butch Cassidy, Nichols co-directed two short films for Disney: Melody and Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom. Melody was well-recognized for being Disney's first 3-D cartoon, but Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom earned Nichols the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. He also directed other Hanna-Barbera cartoons, including Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, Super Friends, and more.
Unlike other shows, the voice cast also sang all the songs.
Josie and the Pussycats notably had two voice actors per Pussycat: a speaking voice actor and a singing voice actor. The singing voice actors even went on a concert tour as Josie and the Pussycats! But for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids, the songs were sung by voice actors Chip Hand and Micky Dolenz.
Wally's voice actor, Micky Dolenz, was a member of The Monkees.
Dolenz sings lead vocals on "I'm A Believer"! Just like Wally, Dolenz sang and played the drums in The Monkees. In addition to his rock and television career, Dolenz has also starred in other cartoons, including The Funky Phantom, Partridge Family 2200 A.D., The Scooby-Doo Show, and Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels.
The Sundance Kids released four singles.
In 1973, Romar Records released "Little Miss Magic" and "Blue", and then in 1974 they released "Rosie Was a Good Old Girl" and "De De Dinah". Both LPs mention a forthcoming full album that never materialized.
After voicing Steffy, Kristina Holland became a psychologist.
Holland first became interested in psychology after reading Carl Jung in the 1970s, later decided to pursue her Ph.D. in the 1990s, and became a therapist in 2000. She is also known for her voice acting roles in The Funky Phantom, Jeannie, and was perhaps best known for her role as Alice Boyle in Wait Till Your Father Gets Home.
After voicing Merilee, Judy Stangis starred in Electra Woman and Dyna Girl.
Stangis's career covered both live-action and animation, and she starred as Judy/Dyna Girl in Electra Woman and Dyna Girl. Additionally, she starred as Helen in Room 222 and voiced characters in other cartoons like My Little Pony, Moon Dreamers, Donkey Kong, and Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch.
After voicing Butch Cassidy, Chip Hand became a screenwriter and producer.
He co-wrote the movie Lovelines with William Byron Hillman and co-wrote one of the story segments of Belle's Magical World.
The Sundance Kids don't have one set vehicle.
Unlike the other teen mystery-solving shows, The Sundance Kids do not have a van. Throughout the show, they use multiple vehicles, including a helicopter, a private jet, and a race car.
Elvis was one of Frank Welker's first cartoon animal roles.
Known best for playing Fred (and later Scooby-Doo) throughout the Scooby-Doo franchise, Frank Welker had not played many animal characters (besides an occasional cat). He was likely inspired by Don Messick; Elvis's laugh sounds a lot like Muttley's!
Butch Cassidy's ring is a radio.
He calls it "the ring radio," and he only uses it to contact Mr. Socrates.
Finally, this show has nothing to do with the movie of almost the exact same name
Their band is called "The Sun Dance Kids," and the lead character is named Butch Cassidy, but other than that, this cartoon has no relation to the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
