The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show

Production

On September 12, 1965, the series had an hour-long primetime preview on NBC called The World of Secret Squirrel and Atom Ant or The World of Atom Ant and Secret Squirrel. The Hillbilly Bears cartoon segments repeated during the second season of The Banana Splits Adventure Hour. All 52 Atom Ant and Secret Squirrel half-hour episodes were syndicated as part of The Banana Splits and Friends Show, an umbrella title combining episodes of several Hanna-Barbera series.

Segments

This show was a package of six cartoons. One featured a heroic ant named Atom Ant, voiced first by Howard Morris and later by Don Messick, who would shout "Up and at'em, Atom Ant!" whenever he took flight. Another segment, The Hillbilly Bears, was a sitcom about the Rugg family—Paw, Maw, Floral, and Shag—voiced by Henry Corden, Jean Vander Pyl, and Don Messick. Precious Pupp starred a sneaky dog (voiced by Don Messick) who lived with Granny Sweet (Janet Waldo); his wheezy laugh may have inspired the character Muttley.

Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole followed a secret agent squirrel (Mel Blanc) and his assistant (Paul Frees). Squiddly Diddly was about a friendly squid (Paul Frees) chasing fame while dodging Chief Winchley (John Stephenson). Finally, Winsome Witch featured a clumsy witch named Winsome W. Witch (Jean Vander Pyl), whose spell-casting catchphrase was "Ippity - Pippity - Pow!"