The reason why there are only about 4 frames of animation per foot of film here vs. the 40 in a fully animated movie is that this show was made initially in a San Francisco garage on a on a insanely tiny budget. The later CR episodes had more animation, but in the early days all animation done for TV (as opposed the theatres) featured limited animaton -- as shown in nearly every Hanna Barbera production (Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, etc.). And H-B came a decade AFTER Crusader Rabbit.
The series "bounced" across several local New York stations in the '50s {WNBT/WRCA/WNBC, WPIX, WOR} because it had more than one distributor [and, by 1959, there were TWO versions of "CRUSADER", including the 260 color episodes produced by Shull Bonsall/TV Spots/Capital Enterprises in 1957-'58].
My late father, Paul Kincade had an opportunity to be a part of this great cartoon.
He had two small children at the time, and decided it was too much of a risk so he remained with his job at the time. Oh....how I wish he would have taken a chance with his characters and have been associated with this great pioneer in the early days of television cartoons. His main character was a cowboy called String Bean. He had others and I have the renderings, but I do not recall their names.
Thanks so much. I watched this while in kindergarten of Sheriff John. The first episode was before school, but I hated having to go to school and miss the second episode.
@PhuckHue2 - Well, "sucking" is in the eye of the beholder. I grew up with Crusader Rabbit, and we didn't let the animation get in the way of enjoy the storylines or the dialogue. Besides, it led to "Rocky and Bullwinkle," another Limited animation cartoon that is a classic.
Alexander Anderson Jr. is recognized as the creator of Crusader Rabbit, Dudley Do Right, Rocky the Flying Squirrel, and Bullwinkle the Moose. He died at age 90 on 22-Oct-2010. Jay Ward was his childhood friend and business partner. Anderson was the creative one, Ward ran the business side.
It isn't often I get to say I'm too young to remember an old TV cartoon, but this one was just a little before my time. I'd heard of it, but this is the first chance I've had to actually see any of the original episodes. Now I'm a Crusader Rabbit fan for life! Thanks very much for posting this classic.
This is the earliest cartoon show I can remember. I grew up outside of Baltimore. Thank you for having this available for some of us "Boomers" who had vague memories of TV programs; I could remember names of characters but not specifics! I'm so glad I had TV as my friend in the 1950s since there were no other kids in my neighborhood. I had books, my imagination, and TV, & I lived my adventures through TV & books. I was excruciatingly shy; still am in some ways......Lyneeeenostalgia
Is there anyone out there that worked on the production of CR? Think my dad said that he did some illustration work on CR and he'd love to hear from some of the others.
This was TV animation ,not the really good movie theater animation . Just imagine how shocked we kids were to see this after watching Bugs bunny or Popeye super animated cartoons. And i do remember as a little kid , thinking, how cheap can you get !
God damn .. I'd almost forgotten all about this marvellous cartoon show. But there was just a speck of good memory there .. in the recesses of this ole brain-box of mine. And you've brought it right back to complete life for me again. Many thanks !!
Again, 'rmadara', Jay Ward and his partner Alex Anderson produced this, in 1949, on a VERY TINY BUDGET. They couldn't afford "full animation", so they used a mixture of "still drawings" and some "limited" animation (even if they had to move the camera to make it appear as though something was moving)- and very clever scripts. On the other hand, Vallee Video's "THE TELECOMICS", syndicated during that same period, WERE basically "still drawings".
Crusader Rabbit, Beany and Cecil, Casper, Engineer Bill, and if you lived in the Los Angeles area... anyone remember Chucko the Birthday Clown? "I'm Chucko, I'm Chucko, I'm Chucko the birthday clown!" I got to go on his show. Dating myself here I know... I'll be 56 in November, and those were the days of my childhood growing up in the San Fernando Valley!!! I live in Central FL now, and would never go back, but So. CA in the 50's and 60's was a GREAT place to be!!!
@Bugaleena Hey, I'm from the Valley too (Chatsworth) and do you also remember Hobo Kelly and Sherriff John? I also live in Central Florida (Tampa) I hope to find more classics on youtube.
I have not seen this since I was a wee lad. COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Though I still like Family Guy, and cannot stand South Park. Gag me with a dead cat. Byron.
Ha I found out about this by reading the Resurrection Of Doom Graphic Novel! :D
In it Doom Says "Sylvia get me that other Rabbit! You know the one with that tiger for a buddy!"
At first I thought it might've been a reference to Rabbit and Tigger from winnie the pooh and Judge Doom merely misinterpreted Tigger as a Tiger. Glad I checked what he was referencing because he was in fact refering to Crusader Rabbit; this is a great cartoon :D
@Gerry50ify I'm 55 and had fond memories of this until I saw it again on youtube. Does this even qualify as an animated cartoon? I believe the operative word is "animated". This is just a slide show. For cryin' out loud...at least Clutch Cargo's lips moved.
@Gerry50ify I'm 55 and had fond memories of this until I saw it again on youtube. Does this even qualify as an animated cartoon? I believe the operative word is "animated". This is just a slide show. For cryin' out loud...at least Clutch Cargo's lips moved.
This is what we had! TV was such a magic thing we used to sit transfixed watching the test pattern! (Yes, I know, what's a test pattern?) Beanie & Cecil, Red Rider, Lone Ranger and most of what allendames mentioned were our fare. No color, no HD, snowy pictures when an airplane flew by, ghosts on the screen and more. Vertical and horizonral controls. Brightness and volume. Glowing tubes inside monsterous cabinets with a 5" picture tube. Magic.
Crusader Rabbit & Raggs, Wild Bill Hickock, Andy's Gang (Andy Devine) Captain Midnight (Secret Squadron), The Sandy Becker Show, Wonderama (Sonny Fox), The Cisco Kid...all Saturday morning fare for me in NYC.
Bye-the-way, I believe that Rocky J Squirrel & Bullwinkle were the follow-on to Crusader Rabbit???
I used to watch this around 1954, I think. I don't remember what show it was associated with, but I know that Crusader Rabbit wasn't such a wus. He was the straight man to Raggs, who always was a good-hearted coward.
Hello, I am doing a presentation about this cartoon because it was the first on TV, right? Well, in my visual presentation y want to show a video, but I can't access to Internet at school, so, I want to download it, does someone knows where, or even if I can download it here?
@DonZabu Yeah they just do the opening scene once and forever reuse that and they want it to look appealing, with an episode its a one time scene then they move on to the next so they don't care so much about the quality.
Here in the uk, we did not get a lot of usa cartoons, i dont think we got crusader rabbit, watching it now, is really good, i am a huge fan of tv cartoons.
They just don't make-um like that anymore. One of my childhood favorites. Saw it on "Cartoon Club". The show opened with a black and white static picture of a circus clown carrying a bass drum on which was written "Cartoon Club".
The later 1957-'58 color edition, Steve, was produced by Shull Bonsall, when he acquired the rights to the series following a dragged-out lawsuit between Anderson & Ward, Jerry Fairbanks [who declared bankruptcy in 1953, indirectly causing the lawsuit by auctioning the series to another distributor, without Ward's knowledge] and NBC over WHO owned it. Bonsall gave Ward a "take it or leave it" offer, and Jay had to accept, as he didn't have the money to challenge Bonsall's claim of ownership.
"CRUSADER RABBIT" was not a part of "CAPTAIN KANGAROO", 'michael'; their limited animation series, produced in 1957-'58, was [CBS] Terrytoons' "THE ADVENTURES OF TOM TERRIFIC" (with a brief follow-up series, "THE ADVENTURES OF LARIAT SAM"). "CRUSADER" was designed to be seen as a daily five-minute series, but most often, it was seen as a segment of various live local children's shows from the '50s through the '70s {including "SHERIFF JOHN' in Los Angeles and "CHILDREN'S THEATER" in New York}.
Thanks for posting this. I remember Crusader and his friend Ragland T. Tiger. They were the predecessors to Rocky and Bullwinkle, but had no connection the the sappy Capt. Kangaroo.
All I know is I have very fond memories although they are not specific, I had to have seen the show sometime between around 1957 and sixty something. Was'nt it part of Captain Kangaroo?
The art work is OK, the plot is OK, but the animation is way too limited. As a small kid inthe 60's I couldn't get into it because of the limited animation, and I watch cartonss quite a bit. I used to watch Coronel Bleep which had a little more movement.
When "Rocky and Bullwinkle" made their debut on TV, I kept wondering, "Where had I seen this before?" And then it came to me: Crusader Rabbit! And it wasn't until later on that I found out that Jay Ward had created them both!
He [Crusader Rabbit] didn't stop the train? We're all agreed that Crusader Rabbit did not stop the speeding train? Okay then - its game over! Crusader Rabbit became not exactly "road kill", but more exactly "train kill".
The reason Crusader Rabbit was so popular was because of the novelty of having made-for-television cartoons back in the late 40's-early 50's. Before this, all cartoons that aired were just reruns of cartoons that had been show in theaters already.
This video shows the start of what has now become the most common form of animation.
Comparing Superman to the Christian Soldiers that Killed Arabs? In the form of a Rabbit?... I support the idea of getting rid of TEXANS.... they want to Secede though right?
This is the 1949 original...when were you young? In 1957 there was another, the one I saw in the 1960s on "Sherriff John". Jay Ward, Jerry Fairbanks,. and Al Alexander produced this and Jay and Al got in fight over the rights to this [Jerry wasn't involved in the suit..] Kinda like Clampett and his crew over beany Boy,.
OMG, I loved Crusader Rabbit. I still knew the opening music by heart. Wanted to be able to show my daughter what the world of TV cartoons was like in the beginning. Now if I can also find Gerald McBoingBoing...
'ekso', your father was a part of TV history by working with Alex Anderson & Jay Ward in Berkeley. I remember reading that sometimes, Jay Ward didn't have enough money to meet the "payroll" in the early days (1949), and often "rotated" payment of salaries among key members of the staff.
Thanks, I used to watch this on Captain Mac broadcast from St. Petersburg FL in 1950! I was 6!!! Would I recognize one of the episodes? Now, that's a scarey idea!
Talk about a stab from the past! I haven't seen this for 50 years and it's still just as weird as I remember. I'd sit on the floor in front of our black-and-white RCA tv with the round picture tube totally enrapt with these characters. Thanks for the memories.
Just curious... how did you get all these episodes of CR? You are obviously too young to have worked on this project, right? My dad worked on this back in 1949, in Berkeley as an "ink and paint" guy,and was wondering if their were CR "junkies" out there in 2009?
Funny you say that.....I put this on and my seven year old raced in and was fascinated, especially with Crusader Rabbits ''scary eyes''. He asks for this cartoon all the time now ...
Crusade 2 should be completed by the end of this month. Hoping others find some episodes to post as well - maybe one day we'll have all of them available for viewing.
One of my Voice Over coaches is Lucille Bliss and she was the voice of CR back in the 50's. She still working as a voice over artist, and she is even better than ever.
Hey! Just did a search for Crusader Rabbit. Didn't really think it would be here. Used to watch this in college half a century ago. It was considered very cool.
I can identify with that. I'm 60 years old and I remember Crusader Rabbit as the first TV show I ever saw. I am surprised to even see it now - I did a video search and yes = BEHOLD! Thanks Youtube.
I'm 61 and I used to go home from school at lunch time. Cusader Rabbit came on around 12:45 p.m. and I'd watch it quick and run back to school to be there at 1:00 p.m. I really loved that rabbit. Howdy Doody would have to be my first children's TV show. It was a blast also!
Whenever there was mention of a rabbit, my dad would always exclaim "Do you mean Crusader Rabbit?" I always thought he was making it up, but one day out of curiousity I looked it up, and behold, he's not as crazy as I thought he was! This is a really cute cartoon, and when I showed him my findings he was really excited and said he remembered watching this very episode as a kid.
Me too, these really haunted my memory and I am so glad to see them here. I think Sheriff John also was showing a lot of Farmer Alfalfa aka Farmer Al Falfa aka Farmer Gray.
Since I watched Sheriff John live that makes me pretty old, and admit I have only been really into YouTube fairly recently. I used to check it out for the occasional hilarious vid, but now it has a massive databank of INCREDIBLY interesting media over a good part of a/v media history. It's as good as ANY museum in its way.
Wow! This is the first time seeing this show I'd only read about in animation history books.
It's cute! The all-too-limited animation unwittingly disguises a whimsical plot.
From the posts here, I assume most of you know when this first aired - back then, I believe, they were still feeling their oats about the feasibilty of TV animation.
I was born in '77, and can see why a kid would enjoy this.
Ahh, thank you rocketlonscher....my brain was foggy on that one. If I'd only watched the video BEFORE commenting, I would have seen the tiger! Thanks.
Who do you think invented computers? Us old farts who got tired of black and white tv. Unfortunately we let the content get taken over by a bunch if ignorant no talent children. You are right, you "don't think".
The limited animation (Drawn for b/w tv)Was actually a plus on our 10" low def tv. Recption was sometimes iffy--you had to learn to adjust the "rabbit ears" antenna!
1952 San Francisco daily late afternoon. Their dialog was more descriptive and radio-like. Well enunciated. Made up for the limited animation. You listened to the story. Great to see them again.
I remember watching Crusader and Rags early morning before school on Channel 7 here in Sydney and can remember entering a competition where you had to correctly name Ragland T Tiger...I couldn't believe it when I didn't win! LOL
"Down in Texas they're still talking about the little rabbit who came down to wipe out the whole state of Texas. And obviously, that rabbit must have been Crusader Rabbit, because who else would have thought of such a wonderful idea?" XD use the first lines in the first of that series and the whole Bush problem would have been resolved all those years ago! *sigh*
I remember Crusader with fondness. I was around 6 and was a faithful viewer. Years later, when folks were all agog about Rocky and Bullwinkle, I reminded them who was first. Many years later, I worked as a reporter for the San Jose Mercury News and one of our staff had written a story about an activist rabbi who was retiring. An editor wrote the best-ever headline, about "Crusader Rabbi."
I'm in tears. For years I've found only a few who even remembered Crusader Rabbit, and they instantly became friends because we had a precious moment in time in common. Bless you for bringing CR back into my life. I KNEW it would take me to a place I needed to go, and at 63, searching for the childhood inspiration that guided my life's course, it feels I just came home, and truly understand why I am such a crusader for critter's rights. Bless you!!!
yup, and "Pamper,Pamper new shampoo, gentle as a lamb, so right for you ..."; not to forget Tony the Tiger, "Frosted Flakes are GR-R-R-EAT." Can't seem to get away from those inspiring animal references.
OH WOW. Just on a whim I typed in Crusader Rabbit and got this. Yeah, some of us remember this cartoon. I was living in Oklahoma as a child when I watched this (I'm 58). Cool. Does anyone also recall a show about a space alien who had a place called Zero Zero Island? Can't recall much except it was rather strange.
yomabc, thanks so much for the info. I just did a Wikipedia, and there it was. Man, I thought that was lost forever. Cartoons and Three Stooges were a (questionable) link qith the rest of the world when I was a kid - I lived isolated out on the prairie most of the time. I loved it, until the first time I saw the Pacific Ocean LOL. Thanks again.
i'm 46 years old and i used to get up at 5am on saturday mornings and watch this cartoon in the bridgeport, connecticut area. i remember there was a farm report or something right before it came on. these cartoons show how much more innocent things were. now everything kid's watch is mean spirited it no wonder that things are the way they are. crusader rabbitt is the coolest!!!!!
Hey I just found these crusader rabbit clips here, I'm so excited to see them. I am 48 and from NY, and have never met ANYONE my age or younger who can remember these cartoons! C.R. was my favorite when I was very young, 4 or 5, but they were never repeated in reruns so I haven't seen them in over 40 years. Yay YouTube!
I used to see this in Cleveland in the early 60's at age six...didn't know then that it had been the first "Made for TV" cartoon ever broadcast. Thanks for bringing back
Thanks so much for posting this. I've been telling my British wife about Crusader Rabit for years. She's never heard of it and now I can't wait to show this to her. Thanks again!
I haven't seen this since I was 7 years old! Thanks for bringing it to YouTube. I never knew Jay Ward was co-creator of "Crusader Rabbit." Looking at it now, obviously the humor is very much in the same vein as the later "Rocky and Bullwinkle" and "George of the Jungle" cartoons.
This used to be the ONLY THING on TV when I woke up in the morning as a kid in the early sixties. That and The Modern Farmer. And maybe Colonel Bleep if I was REAL lucky. Like wow, man. You're blowing my mind.
It has been a while since I've checked back here on YouTube. Looks like it is about time I posted the rest of the series. Thank you all for your comments. Hoping that someday they offer these again on DVD!
I loved the bit where he was reading he eye chart. I think they repeated that bit in a later color cartoon. Could be it was repeated at the beginning of every new story arc. BTW, I see only eps 1-8 here --there are more in this one --12 or 15.
Hell Yeah! Wipe out that WHOLE state! Go Hero! Everyday Christmas!? Even Better! Wait, how did he go past Maisie, the world's greatest bait?
akashashen 1 month ago
lol this was about 40 years before i was born
BellaTwinsLoverz 1 month ago
The reason why there are only about 4 frames of animation per foot of film here vs. the 40 in a fully animated movie is that this show was made initially in a San Francisco garage on a on a insanely tiny budget. The later CR episodes had more animation, but in the early days all animation done for TV (as opposed the theatres) featured limited animaton -- as shown in nearly every Hanna Barbera production (Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, etc.). And H-B came a decade AFTER Crusader Rabbit.
horarwgt 2 months ago
i was less than 3 years old. crusader & his partner rags the tiger were my first & favorite cartoon characters on tv. had to be 1950.
dogman1947 2 months ago
The series "bounced" across several local New York stations in the '50s {WNBT/WRCA/WNBC, WPIX, WOR} because it had more than one distributor [and, by 1959, there were TWO versions of "CRUSADER", including the 260 color episodes produced by Shull Bonsall/TV Spots/Capital Enterprises in 1957-'58].
fromthesidelines 3 months ago
Jay Ward went on to create Rocky and Bullwinkle and Fractured Flickers. All of these things are why the man was a genius and a true pioneer.
Ryusuta 4 months ago
thx god for spongebob
cron102 6 months ago
I wasn't even sure this existed for a long time. I could remember it but couldn't find anyone else who remembered it. thank you so much!!!!
dekennybatb 7 months ago
Is this considered Islamophobic today?
drlobomalo 8 months ago 3
MY BROTHER CRUSADER RABBIT !
CRUSADERPIGGYBOY 8 months ago
These cartoons were also seen on"Kartoon Klub"/"Shari & Her Friends"With Ventriloquist/Entertainer:Shari Lewis and her puppet pals:"Taffy Twinkle"&
"Randy Rocket"monday-saturday evenings on WPIX TV Ch.11 in NYC and on
"The Merry Mailman"with Ray Heatherton,Milt Moss and Chic Darrow weekday
evenings on WOR TV Ch.9 in NYC.
TheStanbabe 8 months ago
Bin Laden is watching this now.
rentslave 8 months ago
My late father, Paul Kincade had an opportunity to be a part of this great cartoon.
He had two small children at the time, and decided it was too much of a risk so he remained with his job at the time. Oh....how I wish he would have taken a chance with his characters and have been associated with this great pioneer in the early days of television cartoons. His main character was a cowboy called String Bean. He had others and I have the renderings, but I do not recall their names.
slomikek3 9 months ago
I'm a rabbit, I'm a rabbit, I'm a rrraaaaaaaabbbit till I die. But I'd raaaather be a raaaaabbit, then a cheeerry from SI.
Jchav650 9 months ago
????? sorry, i wish to understanded and probably like this, but i really don't speak english.
TheMGuia 10 months ago
Uggh the animation is awful.They move as about as much as an anime cartoon.
DarthAzmul 10 months ago
Thanks so much. I watched this while in kindergarten of Sheriff John. The first episode was before school, but I hated having to go to school and miss the second episode.
katsmeowcom 11 months ago
God this takes me back Do more exist?
knotryder 11 months ago
Eat your heart out, Seth McFarlene.
dAMike2468 11 months ago
Hahaha! My childhood fav... I hate to tell, but I watched Captain Kangaroo too. And a dime would buy 2 full size candy bars.
WizardOfChicamunga 1 year ago
Oh, boy! I remember Crusader Rabbit, Ragland T. Tiger, and other guests, like the two-headed fire breathing dragon, Arson & Sterno!
wlipman 1 year ago
I look at this when I was in my crib now Iam 61 wow.
runawaychild66 1 year ago
VINTAGEE :)
chinwese 1 year ago
Amazing! When I found this I could hear the music at the start in my mind! Thanks for this. I never thought I would find it.
avalleygirl 1 year ago
As a kid, I'd watch this cartoon while eating a bowl of Trix.
Happy times
TheBlizzardcat 1 year ago 2
This is pritty damn awsome :-)!
thatguy5557123 1 year ago
The animation may be bad and not really animation at all, but this is a legend that inspires all cartoonist and try don't even know it.
Milkman26789Z 1 year ago
Too bad the poster of the video doesn't give credit to Alexander Anderson Jr., the creative brains behind Crusader Rabbit.
nory3344 1 year ago
Too bad the poster of the video doesn't give credit to Alexander Anderson Jr., the creative brains behind Crusader Rabbit.
nory3344 1 year ago
wow, this sucks. it looks like a slideshow
PhuckHue2 1 year ago
@PhuckHue2 - Well, "sucking" is in the eye of the beholder. I grew up with Crusader Rabbit, and we didn't let the animation get in the way of enjoy the storylines or the dialogue. Besides, it led to "Rocky and Bullwinkle," another Limited animation cartoon that is a classic.
WSenator1 1 year ago
Alexander Anderson Jr. is recognized as the creator of Crusader Rabbit, Dudley Do Right, Rocky the Flying Squirrel, and Bullwinkle the Moose. He died at age 90 on 22-Oct-2010. Jay Ward was his childhood friend and business partner. Anderson was the creative one, Ward ran the business side.
tjcrebs 1 year ago
'Durrr, this has been a transcribed program.' LOLOLOL
HisEmptyHouse 1 year ago
Great find...But it looks like a animatic.
But that was the start of art for Aniamtion at that time for TV.
photomitch 1 year ago
wow even the first cartoon in history has good animation
skipper107731 1 year ago
Nostalgia!!!!! I love it. Someone mentioned Captian Midnight. Do they still make Ovaltine?
turkthagoras 1 year ago
@turkthagoras Yes, you'll find it in the "Boomer" section at your local grocery store.
rotcafarg 1 year ago
Probably the best motion comic I've seen, were they calling them that back then?
Ryoku75 1 year ago
I used to watch this as a kid monday to friday, never missed an episode.
grunterxxx 1 year ago
It isn't often I get to say I'm too young to remember an old TV cartoon, but this one was just a little before my time. I'd heard of it, but this is the first chance I've had to actually see any of the original episodes. Now I'm a Crusader Rabbit fan for life! Thanks very much for posting this classic.
BillFugate 1 year ago
This is the earliest cartoon show I can remember. I grew up outside of Baltimore. Thank you for having this available for some of us "Boomers" who had vague memories of TV programs; I could remember names of characters but not specifics! I'm so glad I had TV as my friend in the 1950s since there were no other kids in my neighborhood. I had books, my imagination, and TV, & I lived my adventures through TV & books. I was excruciatingly shy; still am in some ways......Lyneeeenostalgia
boppahutchens 1 year ago
The Democrats took Crusader Rabbit's idea to heart in 2008 by nominating Santa Claus.
rentslave 1 year ago
Is there anyone out there that worked on the production of CR? Think my dad said that he did some illustration work on CR and he'd love to hear from some of the others.
eksocorg 1 year ago
This was TV animation ,not the really good movie theater animation . Just imagine how shocked we kids were to see this after watching Bugs bunny or Popeye super animated cartoons. And i do remember as a little kid , thinking, how cheap can you get !
1952kid 1 year ago
God damn this is freaking hilarious xDDD
AcidHead27 1 year ago
God damn .. I'd almost forgotten all about this marvellous cartoon show. But there was just a speck of good memory there .. in the recesses of this ole brain-box of mine. And you've brought it right back to complete life for me again. Many thanks !!
colindominy 1 year ago
Again, 'rmadara', Jay Ward and his partner Alex Anderson produced this, in 1949, on a VERY TINY BUDGET. They couldn't afford "full animation", so they used a mixture of "still drawings" and some "limited" animation (even if they had to move the camera to make it appear as though something was moving)- and very clever scripts. On the other hand, Vallee Video's "THE TELECOMICS", syndicated during that same period, WERE basically "still drawings".
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
I was 5 when I watched this....thanks for the memories.
sunnybelle444 1 year ago
WOW! I can't believe it. I've always remembered this series but haven't seen it for about 40 to 45 years? Thankyou.
frazelmale 1 year ago
Crusader Rabbit, Beany and Cecil, Casper, Engineer Bill, and if you lived in the Los Angeles area... anyone remember Chucko the Birthday Clown? "I'm Chucko, I'm Chucko, I'm Chucko the birthday clown!" I got to go on his show. Dating myself here I know... I'll be 56 in November, and those were the days of my childhood growing up in the San Fernando Valley!!! I live in Central FL now, and would never go back, but So. CA in the 50's and 60's was a GREAT place to be!!!
Bugaleena 1 year ago
@Bugaleena Hey, I'm from the Valley too (Chatsworth) and do you also remember Hobo Kelly and Sherriff John? I also live in Central Florida (Tampa) I hope to find more classics on youtube.
billc756 1 year ago
I have not seen this since I was a wee lad. COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Though I still like Family Guy, and cannot stand South Park. Gag me with a dead cat. Byron.
Kinghercules 1 year ago
Ha I found out about this by reading the Resurrection Of Doom Graphic Novel! :D
In it Doom Says "Sylvia get me that other Rabbit! You know the one with that tiger for a buddy!"
At first I thought it might've been a reference to Rabbit and Tigger from winnie the pooh and Judge Doom merely misinterpreted Tigger as a Tiger. Glad I checked what he was referencing because he was in fact refering to Crusader Rabbit; this is a great cartoon :D
Damocles178 1 year ago
The reason why I did not understand the reference was because its a very old cartoon.
Damocles178 1 year ago
Holy Shmoley! This brings back memories. I used to watch CR on Channel 4 New York back in the 60's. Cool!
Gerry50ify 1 year ago
@Gerry50ify I'm 55 and had fond memories of this until I saw it again on youtube. Does this even qualify as an animated cartoon? I believe the operative word is "animated". This is just a slide show. For cryin' out loud...at least Clutch Cargo's lips moved.
rmadara 1 year ago
@Gerry50ify I'm 55 and had fond memories of this until I saw it again on youtube. Does this even qualify as an animated cartoon? I believe the operative word is "animated". This is just a slide show. For cryin' out loud...at least Clutch Cargo's lips moved.
rmadara 1 year ago
This is what we had! TV was such a magic thing we used to sit transfixed watching the test pattern! (Yes, I know, what's a test pattern?) Beanie & Cecil, Red Rider, Lone Ranger and most of what allendames mentioned were our fare. No color, no HD, snowy pictures when an airplane flew by, ghosts on the screen and more. Vertical and horizonral controls. Brightness and volume. Glowing tubes inside monsterous cabinets with a 5" picture tube. Magic.
bvwatcher 1 year ago
Yeah slim - and I wouldn't trade those memories for the world!
We had a '48 Hoffman and it had an 8" screen.
vawlkee 1 year ago
That is REALLY limited animation! That would be television in the 40's/50's for ya.
ESLinstructor1 1 year ago
Crusader Rabbit & Raggs, Wild Bill Hickock, Andy's Gang (Andy Devine) Captain Midnight (Secret Squadron), The Sandy Becker Show, Wonderama (Sonny Fox), The Cisco Kid...all Saturday morning fare for me in NYC.
Bye-the-way, I believe that Rocky J Squirrel & Bullwinkle were the follow-on to Crusader Rabbit???
allendames 1 year ago
Of course they were!
Jay Ward created both!
vawlkee 1 year ago
This is from August 1,1950...
beatlejim64 2 years ago
Unbelievable! I wasn´t even born yet...
Demimorph 2 years ago
I used to watch this around 1954, I think. I don't remember what show it was associated with, but I know that Crusader Rabbit wasn't such a wus. He was the straight man to Raggs, who always was a good-hearted coward.
sonora77 2 years ago
the first cartoon on tv?
MrStrangeify 2 years ago
@MrStrangeify - the first cartoon series made specificly for television.
mattybock 2 years ago
Incredible! I grew up with these! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Family Guy - go to hell!
vawlkee 2 years ago 28
@vawlkee Hell? What hell?
Misterioso 6 months ago
Not the crusader Rabbit I remember.
CrimsonNineTail 2 years ago
Anyone know what the deal is with Texas???
sebastian122 2 years ago
Hello, I am doing a presentation about this cartoon because it was the first on TV, right? Well, in my visual presentation y want to show a video, but I can't access to Internet at school, so, I want to download it, does someone knows where, or even if I can download it here?
NithaRockz 2 years ago
UNBELIEVABLE!!!
SLWalkerful 2 years ago
Always nice to see a fellow Crusader
CrusadertheCat 2 years ago
So even back then, the opening sequences for cartoons looked 20x better than the actual cartoon.
DonZabu 2 years ago 13
You mean like Thundercats?
EHH246 1 year ago
Exactly like Thundercats.
DonZabu 1 year ago
@DonZabu your right!
SomeFluffer64 1 year ago
@DonZabu Yeah they just do the opening scene once and forever reuse that and they want it to look appealing, with an episode its a one time scene then they move on to the next so they don't care so much about the quality.
andresjr89 1 year ago
Thanks for posting, I read where this was the first made for TV cartoon, it's interesting to see such stuff, thanks!
verbusen 2 years ago
Here in the uk, we did not get a lot of usa cartoons, i dont think we got crusader rabbit, watching it now, is really good, i am a huge fan of tv cartoons.
squirm13 2 years ago
They just don't make-um like that anymore. One of my childhood favorites. Saw it on "Cartoon Club". The show opened with a black and white static picture of a circus clown carrying a bass drum on which was written "Cartoon Club".
Carsonetric 2 years ago
The later 1957-'58 color edition, Steve, was produced by Shull Bonsall, when he acquired the rights to the series following a dragged-out lawsuit between Anderson & Ward, Jerry Fairbanks [who declared bankruptcy in 1953, indirectly causing the lawsuit by auctioning the series to another distributor, without Ward's knowledge] and NBC over WHO owned it. Bonsall gave Ward a "take it or leave it" offer, and Jay had to accept, as he didn't have the money to challenge Bonsall's claim of ownership.
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
"CRUSADER RABBIT" was not a part of "CAPTAIN KANGAROO", 'michael'; their limited animation series, produced in 1957-'58, was [CBS] Terrytoons' "THE ADVENTURES OF TOM TERRIFIC" (with a brief follow-up series, "THE ADVENTURES OF LARIAT SAM"). "CRUSADER" was designed to be seen as a daily five-minute series, but most often, it was seen as a segment of various live local children's shows from the '50s through the '70s {including "SHERIFF JOHN' in Los Angeles and "CHILDREN'S THEATER" in New York}.
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
In Chicago, we saw it on Garfield Goose. ;>)
toilettduckk 2 years ago
In Minneapolis, he was a part of the Skipper Daryl/ T N Tatters show. If memory serves...
Polyphemus47 2 years ago
Thanks for posting this. I remember Crusader and his friend Ragland T. Tiger. They were the predecessors to Rocky and Bullwinkle, but had no connection the the sappy Capt. Kangaroo.
CarlDuke 2 years ago
All I know is I have very fond memories although they are not specific, I had to have seen the show sometime between around 1957 and sixty something. Was'nt it part of Captain Kangaroo?
michaelsapple 2 years ago
The art work is OK, the plot is OK, but the animation is way too limited. As a small kid inthe 60's I couldn't get into it because of the limited animation, and I watch cartonss quite a bit. I used to watch Coronel Bleep which had a little more movement.
asorls1 2 years ago
This is from 1949
KrazyKartoonKid 2 years ago
Yeah! Texas sucks!
Appropriator 2 years ago
When "Rocky and Bullwinkle" made their debut on TV, I kept wondering, "Where had I seen this before?" And then it came to me: Crusader Rabbit! And it wasn't until later on that I found out that Jay Ward had created them both!
WSenator1 2 years ago
He [Crusader Rabbit] didn't stop the train? We're all agreed that Crusader Rabbit did not stop the speeding train? Okay then - its game over! Crusader Rabbit became not exactly "road kill", but more exactly "train kill".
Richardhedditch261 2 years ago
I could never understand the popularity of this show.
hailbrainiac 2 years ago
The reason Crusader Rabbit was so popular was because of the novelty of having made-for-television cartoons back in the late 40's-early 50's. Before this, all cartoons that aired were just reruns of cartoons that had been show in theaters already.
This video shows the start of what has now become the most common form of animation.
veemonjosh 2 years ago 2
me neither
JazzJaRa 2 years ago
Really cool!!! More definitly. thanx for posting!
loveco13 2 years ago
Comparing Superman to the Christian Soldiers that Killed Arabs? In the form of a Rabbit?... I support the idea of getting rid of TEXANS.... they want to Secede though right?
Corporations8MyBaby 2 years ago
Crusader Rabbit is a highlight from my long ago youth. More please.
Artyint123 2 years ago
This is the 1949 original...when were you young? In 1957 there was another, the one I saw in the 1960s on "Sherriff John". Jay Ward, Jerry Fairbanks,. and Al Alexander produced this and Jay and Al got in fight over the rights to this [Jerry wasn't involved in the suit..] Kinda like Clampett and his crew over beany Boy,.
SteveCarras 2 years ago
OMG, I loved Crusader Rabbit. I still knew the opening music by heart. Wanted to be able to show my daughter what the world of TV cartoons was like in the beginning. Now if I can also find Gerald McBoingBoing...
Lindax 2 years ago
wipe out the whole state of texas... such a wonderful idea!
inputmodule 2 years ago
Thank you for letting me see my favorite childhood cartoon of all time. This really brought back so many nice memories for me.
reyregidormd 2 years ago
el primer dibujo animado de la historia !!!!
CM3006 2 years ago
Thanks for bringing back a great memory from my childhood. I never missed Crusader Rabbit.
rwwelch 2 years ago
The first first cartoon ever made specifically for TV. Man, this wasn't animation, this was an illustrated radio play. Seriously.
Hotshotter3000 2 years ago
'ekso', your father was a part of TV history by working with Alex Anderson & Jay Ward in Berkeley. I remember reading that sometimes, Jay Ward didn't have enough money to meet the "payroll" in the early days (1949), and often "rotated" payment of salaries among key members of the staff.
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
First animation show made for TV.
shooterboss 2 years ago 3
Thanks, I used to watch this on Captain Mac broadcast from St. Petersburg FL in 1950! I was 6!!! Would I recognize one of the episodes? Now, that's a scarey idea!
mycenaexena 3 years ago
Talk about a stab from the past! I haven't seen this for 50 years and it's still just as weird as I remember. I'd sit on the floor in front of our black-and-white RCA tv with the round picture tube totally enrapt with these characters. Thanks for the memories.
erebus99 3 years ago
Just curious... how did you get all these episodes of CR? You are obviously too young to have worked on this project, right? My dad worked on this back in 1949, in Berkeley as an "ink and paint" guy,and was wondering if their were CR "junkies" out there in 2009?
eksocorg 3 years ago
"Down from the United States"?
Crusader?
Weird.
friendlier 3 years ago
Anti Texan message- he hee! I loved CR, but I was only about five or six at the time- I didn't know any better. I love Rocky and Bullwinkle
pataphysician66 3 years ago
Oh dear god, that is so fucking funny. Thank you I was so weak
krad1313 3 years ago
Wow. Could you imagine the uproar if a cartoon like that were aired on TV today?
leambambam 3 years ago 3
Funny you say that.....I put this on and my seven year old raced in and was fascinated, especially with Crusader Rabbits ''scary eyes''. He asks for this cartoon all the time now ...
fjbutch 3 years ago
I was born in 1939 so I had to be about 10 or so when this was on...thanks youtube!
grabthars 3 years ago
get those texans!!!
gokibuti 3 years ago 2
Crusade 2 should be completed by the end of this month. Hoping others find some episodes to post as well - maybe one day we'll have all of them available for viewing.
candolex 3 years ago 2
Crusader 2? Are you serious?
One of my Voice Over coaches is Lucille Bliss and she was the voice of CR back in the 50's. She still working as a voice over artist, and she is even better than ever.
Thanks for this tip, I'm stoked.
Chicago Sugano
chicagoSUGANO 3 years ago
well for my young head it makes me nigthmares. but for the times it was awesome :D
Bekey7734 3 years ago 2
Hey! Just did a search for Crusader Rabbit. Didn't really think it would be here. Used to watch this in college half a century ago. It was considered very cool.
Thanks for posting.
rockgor 3 years ago
I can identify with that. I'm 60 years old and I remember Crusader Rabbit as the first TV show I ever saw. I am surprised to even see it now - I did a video search and yes = BEHOLD! Thanks Youtube.
patric1127 3 years ago
I'm 61 and I used to go home from school at lunch time. Cusader Rabbit came on around 12:45 p.m. and I'd watch it quick and run back to school to be there at 1:00 p.m. I really loved that rabbit. Howdy Doody would have to be my first children's TV show. It was a blast also!
jimmyratz 3 years ago
Whenever there was mention of a rabbit, my dad would always exclaim "Do you mean Crusader Rabbit?" I always thought he was making it up, but one day out of curiousity I looked it up, and behold, he's not as crazy as I thought he was! This is a really cute cartoon, and when I showed him my findings he was really excited and said he remembered watching this very episode as a kid.
mezzomarie 3 years ago
Me too, these really haunted my memory and I am so glad to see them here. I think Sheriff John also was showing a lot of Farmer Alfalfa aka Farmer Al Falfa aka Farmer Gray.
Since I watched Sheriff John live that makes me pretty old, and admit I have only been really into YouTube fairly recently. I used to check it out for the occasional hilarious vid, but now it has a massive databank of INCREDIBLY interesting media over a good part of a/v media history. It's as good as ANY museum in its way.
gnikcohs 3 years ago
Wow! This is the first time seeing this show I'd only read about in animation history books.
It's cute! The all-too-limited animation unwittingly disguises a whimsical plot.
From the posts here, I assume most of you know when this first aired - back then, I believe, they were still feeling their oats about the feasibilty of TV animation.
I was born in '77, and can see why a kid would enjoy this.
Chasmodon 3 years ago
Kidding, dibshits.
hpwithouthands 3 years ago
Gosh, I have vague memories of this (I'm 49 and 1/2) Wasn't his sidekick a zebra?
Thanks for the memories.
macawlady49 3 years ago
Stripes, yes: Rags the tiger. (Ragland T Tiger)
rocketlonscher 3 years ago
Ahh, thank you rocketlonscher....my brain was foggy on that one. If I'd only watched the video BEFORE commenting, I would have seen the tiger! Thanks.
macawlady49 3 years ago
He's awesome!
CheesyPanda1 3 years ago
Thank you, than you, thank you! This cartoon was on the furthest fringes of my memory, and I'm glad you helped restore it here.
hoskeebo 3 years ago
Watched it every morning, Dill Weed!
ranran19701 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Brings back memories? Bullshit. I don't think people who use Youtube, ahem, a computer, were around for black and white television.
hpwithouthands 3 years ago
Think again kid!
bryantjazz 3 years ago
Yeah, right. Because after all, no one over the age of 20 is capable of using a computer or finding their way to YouTube, right? Idiot.
galan98 3 years ago
Who do you think invented computers? Us old farts who got tired of black and white tv. Unfortunately we let the content get taken over by a bunch if ignorant no talent children. You are right, you "don't think".
rocketlonscher 3 years ago
Wow, i had the VHS containing the first few series of this... Such great memories lol
Anargam 3 years ago
Brings back memories.
PaTudie 3 years ago
The opening is permanently etched into my brain. The first few notes stop me in my tacks. Manchurian Candidate effect? You betchem Red Ryder!
rocketlonscher 3 years ago
The limited animation (Drawn for b/w tv)Was actually a plus on our 10" low def tv. Recption was sometimes iffy--you had to learn to adjust the "rabbit ears" antenna!
rocketlonscher 3 years ago
1952 San Francisco daily late afternoon. Their dialog was more descriptive and radio-like. Well enunciated. Made up for the limited animation. You listened to the story. Great to see them again.
rocketlonscher 3 years ago
I remember watching Crusader and Rags early morning before school on Channel 7 here in Sydney and can remember entering a competition where you had to correctly name Ragland T Tiger...I couldn't believe it when I didn't win! LOL
48krash 4 years ago
"Down in Texas they're still talking about the little rabbit who came down to wipe out the whole state of Texas. And obviously, that rabbit must have been Crusader Rabbit, because who else would have thought of such a wonderful idea?" XD use the first lines in the first of that series and the whole Bush problem would have been resolved all those years ago! *sigh*
rabbitpi 4 years ago 2
I live in Corpus Christi, and we really do still talk about the Lagomorphic Crusade.
GolumTR 4 years ago 3
Cliff: Please post the rest of this series!
marneydog 4 years ago
Did i get that right, is he trying to wipe out texas, damn my hero.
grandpoobarr 4 years ago
Gampa is right. The only thing saturday mornings are good for nowadays is sleeping in.
koozy1972 4 years ago
now this was what saterday morning looked like,to bad they cann't big it back. the would would be a better place!
gampahaybigboy 4 years ago
I remember Crusader with fondness. I was around 6 and was a faithful viewer. Years later, when folks were all agog about Rocky and Bullwinkle, I reminded them who was first. Many years later, I worked as a reporter for the San Jose Mercury News and one of our staff had written a story about an activist rabbi who was retiring. An editor wrote the best-ever headline, about "Crusader Rabbi."
Beachguise 4 years ago
I'm in tears. For years I've found only a few who even remembered Crusader Rabbit, and they instantly became friends because we had a precious moment in time in common. Bless you for bringing CR back into my life. I KNEW it would take me to a place I needed to go, and at 63, searching for the childhood inspiration that guided my life's course, it feels I just came home, and truly understand why I am such a crusader for critter's rights. Bless you!!!
doedreams 4 years ago
how great is youtube i also grew up with crudader rabbit, beanie and cecil etc
remember dr ross dog food it was doggone good
mrkeno4578 4 years ago
yup, and "Pamper,Pamper new shampoo, gentle as a lamb, so right for you ..."; not to forget Tony the Tiger, "Frosted Flakes are GR-R-R-EAT." Can't seem to get away from those inspiring animal references.
doedreams 4 years ago
Sheriff John showed several episodes of Crusader Rabbit every day here in Los Angeles in the 1950's. That opening theme is so evocative.
Beany and Cecil in the fifties was a witty & endearing puppet show called "Time for Beany."
As for dog food: "In the yellow can with letters red, always ask for Thorough-Fed."
PismoBeach 3 years ago
It was Sheriff John? Man, I remembered everything but where I had seen this...for some reason, I had Captain Kangaroo stuck in my memory.
witchums 3 years ago
Oh wow.
Haven't seen these in VERY long time.
Thankyou :)
OpalSkies 4 years ago
OH WOW. Just on a whim I typed in Crusader Rabbit and got this. Yeah, some of us remember this cartoon. I was living in Oklahoma as a child when I watched this (I'm 58). Cool. Does anyone also recall a show about a space alien who had a place called Zero Zero Island? Can't recall much except it was rather strange.
Catrancher99 4 years ago
It was Colonel Bleep who had Zero Zero Island. What a blast from the past when I googled then UTube'd that name!!
Goodness gracious, I feel OLD!!!
yomabc 4 years ago
yomabc, thanks so much for the info. I just did a Wikipedia, and there it was. Man, I thought that was lost forever. Cartoons and Three Stooges were a (questionable) link qith the rest of the world when I was a kid - I lived isolated out on the prairie most of the time. I loved it, until the first time I saw the Pacific Ocean LOL. Thanks again.
Catrancher99 4 years ago
Thanks everyone for all your feedback! When I have some time I'll start posting Crusade II!
candolex 4 years ago
i'm 46 years old and i used to get up at 5am on saturday mornings and watch this cartoon in the bridgeport, connecticut area. i remember there was a farm report or something right before it came on. these cartoons show how much more innocent things were. now everything kid's watch is mean spirited it no wonder that things are the way they are. crusader rabbitt is the coolest!!!!!
sunra67 4 years ago
Hey I just found these crusader rabbit clips here, I'm so excited to see them. I am 48 and from NY, and have never met ANYONE my age or younger who can remember these cartoons! C.R. was my favorite when I was very young, 4 or 5, but they were never repeated in reruns so I haven't seen them in over 40 years. Yay YouTube!
qmort21 4 years ago
I am 55 from NY too and I was a big Crusader Rabbit fan. Loved him and Rags.
winstonthefan 4 years ago
ghetto-lishes
greenmonkey88 4 years ago
dis`kartoon`iz`prety`kool`4`bein`da`first`cartoon`in`history
cget 4 years ago
my family was stationed in panama 1962-65,the armed forces tv use to play this
autozonesucks 4 years ago
never saw these before, fantastic
reluctantquarterback 4 years ago
I used to see this in Cleveland in the early 60's at age six...didn't know then that it had been the first "Made for TV" cartoon ever broadcast. Thanks for bringing back
some great memories!
artlongjr 4 years ago
Thanks so much for posting this. I've been telling my British wife about Crusader Rabit for years. She's never heard of it and now I can't wait to show this to her. Thanks again!
rustywrh 4 years ago
My God! I haven't seen this first "CR"TV Cartoon
since WOR TV Ch.9 in NYC on"Super Adventure
Theater"with Claude Kirchner and "Clownie".
Thanks For bringing back this piece of kids
tv history.
143AC 4 years ago
My dad loved it!
politherus 4 years ago
and i thought rocky and bullwinkle was static. But this is appealing, thanks for posting!
stereo123 4 years ago
Thanks SOOOOOOOO much for posting these!!!
hoboella1 4 years ago
I haven't seen this since I was 7 years old! Thanks for bringing it to YouTube. I never knew Jay Ward was co-creator of "Crusader Rabbit." Looking at it now, obviously the humor is very much in the same vein as the later "Rocky and Bullwinkle" and "George of the Jungle" cartoons.
scotpens 4 years ago
This used to be the ONLY THING on TV when I woke up in the morning as a kid in the early sixties. That and The Modern Farmer. And maybe Colonel Bleep if I was REAL lucky. Like wow, man. You're blowing my mind.
capnquirky 5 years ago
It has been a while since I've checked back here on YouTube. Looks like it is about time I posted the rest of the series. Thank you all for your comments. Hoping that someday they offer these again on DVD!
candolex 5 years ago
I loved the bit where he was reading he eye chart. I think they repeated that bit in a later color cartoon. Could be it was repeated at the beginning of every new story arc. BTW, I see only eps 1-8 here --there are more in this one --12 or 15.
EmpressDR 5 years ago
There are 12 episodes in this crusade. Eventually we'll have it completed here.
candolex 4 years ago