Being a monster fan I've always been surprised that the Groovie Ghoulies are news to me. I just never saw the cartoon back then and still haven't.
Nevertheless I'm always pleased to see Ghoulie toys and I caught this one online, an action figure type character of Bella La Ghostly - get it? Ha ha. By Chemtoy and dated 1971.
Did you or do you collect Groovy Ghoulie toys?
Surely they couldn't have marketted them in the UK, at least not with that spelling?!
ReplyDeleteHa ha. Even Ive mispelt it! I see what mean Kev! We used to type Goolies on casio calculators at school and howl at it!
DeleteAccording to wiki, Groovie Goolies was shown in the UK with The Banana Splits in the early 1980s (presumably replacing Arabian Nights/Danger Island etc). A quick peek on BBC genome shows Banana Splits being on beeb1 in May'82 ,but no details on the segments. I certainly couldn't have watched the Splits back then (a student getting up in the morning? No chance. Anyway I would have been busy with my end of semester exams), so I've never seen the Goolies grooving...
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing the Banana Splits on UK TV as a kid and I only ever remember Danger Island.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware of the Groovy Goolies until I heard their theme on a compilation CD back in the 90s.
https://www.discogs.com/Various-30-Years-of-Funtastic-TV-Toons-1960-1990/release/11110672
Doesn't "Size of an elephant" ring any bells?
DeleteI was a fan of the Ghoulies as a kid. If I recall correctly, they were on after one of the various incarnations of The Archie Show. Filmation made some very memorable if short lived shows.
DeleteIt was released on dvd a few years back and looks really nice.
Back when the show was first on, they released an album of 10 songs.
https://cartoonresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Groovie_Goolies_Front_cover1.jpg
Thanks for the info guys. GGoolies remains unknown to me. Size of an elephant meanns nothing to me.
ReplyDeleteIts coming back to me. They shanged into animals of different sizes maybe?
DeleteTo Arabian Night ..."Rozan Kobar!"
ReplyDeleteMish.
I had to go look up "Rosan Kobar". Alas, I dont remember that , only "Size of..... ". And when I saw the images that came up with the Nights on the carpet with the donkey "eeek" sayeth I, "tis the donkey which turns into a mini tornado". Instant transportation back 45+ years. Now is there an Arabian Nights dvd I can buy....? Threres certainly Banana Splits series 1. Something to add to a long list of wants.
DeleteI always get the Arabian Knights mixed up with Shazan with the two halves of a ring!
DeleteI was a big fan of The Banana Splits, hence my "Rosan Kobar" reference.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I don't remember "The Groovie Goolies" at all.
Nor do I relate it to the 80s. It was a 60s show surely ?
Mish.
I remember the Banana Splits. The shows within it were: Danger Island (live action), The Arabian Knights (I think it was Knights rather than Nights ?) and The Three Musketeers - both animated.
ReplyDeleteOn looking up The Groovie Goolies, it was 1970-71. A group of classic horror monsters live in a castle. I certainly do not remember this one. Bright pink is a strange colour choice for a horror character, but perhaps everyone wearing black seemed a bit dull ?
One banana two banana ... what a fabulous theme song. Saturday morning cartoons and cereals in a bowl. Heaven!
DeleteWas it Danger Island where they shouted Ah Oh Chongo? Along with Geronimo, Ive been shouting it my whole life for no apparent reason!
Delete"Uh oh Chongo, its Danger Island next"
Deleteand
"Size of an elephant"
are the two phrases that are seared into my memory from Banana Splits. Equivalent to "Exterminate"
Don't forget that Danger Island starred a very young Jan Michal Vincent.
DeleteAh, the Airwolf pilot and one of the Bog Wednesday guys. I once had a couple of Airwolf boxed toys, which I sold on my toystall. May have had a couple of Annuals and paperbacks too. Great connection Lance.
DeleteA bit more research on Groovie Goolies:
ReplyDeleteOriginally part of Sabrina the animated series (1970), they were spun off into their own show. Delving into the depths of the internet gives Groovie Goolies on the telebox in the UK August 1985 09.15 Granada (followed by Fireball XL5). Central showed XL5 at 09.15, no sign of the Goolies there (and as finding regional tv listings is a quagmire I havnt dug further).
Fab stuff Timmy. 1985? Really? I wasn't in Granadaland then alas.
DeleteGroove Goolies was constantly on the The Children’s Channel in the UK during the 80s (a cable channel that was eventually part of BSKYB).
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr. Fiend. Not a channel I knew back then. The cartoon seems to have fallen into obscurity now sadly.
Delete