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Hanna-Barbera, the Recorded History: From Modern Stone Age to Meddling Kids
MP3 CD Format
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.
Hanna-Barbera, the Recorded 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. This book is abound with exclusive interviews, surprising facts, and previously unpublished anecdotes.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.
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.
Hanna-Barbera, the Recorded 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. This book is abound 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.
- GenresNonfictionTv
344 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 15, 2025
It's about the Viny Records
Oh, Now the Title makes sense.
This 344 page book (13 hour audio) has some facts and history about the different shows, but it ALWAYS comes back to the Vinyl Records sold in record stores and toy departments. Who published them, Who voiced the characters (Not always the same voice actors from the show) sometimes even what studio they were recorded in, and whether it came along with a book.
What an charmingly niche subject.
If you are looking for a history of the Hanna-Barbara studio, this will get you most of the way there, but there are surely better less convoluted sources.
Oh, Now the Title makes sense.
This 344 page book (13 hour audio) has some facts and history about the different shows, but it ALWAYS comes back to the Vinyl Records sold in record stores and toy departments. Who published them, Who voiced the characters (Not always the same voice actors from the show) sometimes even what studio they were recorded in, and whether it came along with a book.
What an charmingly niche subject.
If you are looking for a history of the Hanna-Barbara studio, this will get you most of the way there, but there are surely better less convoluted sources.
August 31, 2026
After a few chapters, I started getting disappointed that the author spent most of his words describing HB music history on various formats. "The Recorded History of the Title" should have been a dead giveaway on the content. I was hoping for a more in-depth history of the animators and other talents involved in the cartoons' production. For a while, I thought this was a subtle impugning of the shallowness of the HB cartoons as a result of a corporate assembly line approach to animation production- there is less discussion about the animation itself. I also wanted a warts-and-all commentary about the casual prejudices that informed the characterizations of HB's earlier output. Fortunately, the book points out how tuned-in Bill and Joe were to social trends and how they adjusted their output accordingly.
As I read on, I did learn about the various voice actors, composers and arrangers who passed through HB's orbit. I also started to appreciate how devoted Bill and Joe were to work and how their talents perfectly meshed. It is a tribute to Greg Ehrbar's writing that he kept the subject compelling enough for the reader to continue reading. I do recommend this book, but with a caveat about it's narrow focus.
As I read on, I did learn about the various voice actors, composers and arrangers who passed through HB's orbit. I also started to appreciate how devoted Bill and Joe were to work and how their talents perfectly meshed. It is a tribute to Greg Ehrbar's writing that he kept the subject compelling enough for the reader to continue reading. I do recommend this book, but with a caveat about it's narrow focus.
February 16, 2026
I just finished up The Recorded History of Hanna-Barbera book the other day. There are a lot of insightful stories and facts here. Starting with Huckleberry Hound, and going all the way up to Charlotte's Web & 2 Stupid Dogs.
What I found most interesting was that this book covers all of the original recorded LP records that came out alongside the shows. Stories I've never heard of like William Castle's narrated THE TELL-TALE HEART from HB Recordings and some stinkers included in exchange for cereal box tops.
Snag a copy at your local book store!
What I found most interesting was that this book covers all of the original recorded LP records that came out alongside the shows. Stories I've never heard of like William Castle's narrated THE TELL-TALE HEART from HB Recordings and some stinkers included in exchange for cereal box tops.
Snag a copy at your local book store!
May 21, 2026
Exhaustive and exhausting. It feels like there's more to be said about HB Records' non cartoon stuff but far too much on every single edit to Huckleberry Hound.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews