The Hillbilly Bears
A hillbilly bear family feuds from their rocking chairs.
From October 1965 to September 1967, the animated segment The Hillbilly Bears was part of The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show. Hanna-Barbera Productions created the series, with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera as its creators.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Comedy
- Director
- William Hanna; Joseph Barbera
- Voices
- Henry Corden
- Jean Vander Pyl
- Don Messick
- Paul Frees
- Theme music
- Hoyt Curtin
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 2
- Episodes
- 26
Facts from the source article.
Overview
The Hillbilly Bears leaned into the hillbilly stereotype, centering on Paw Rugg, a gun-toting father who mumbled his lines (voiced by Henry Corden). His main activity was a sluggish feud with the Hoppers, where both sides lazily shot the same bullet back and forth from rocking chairs. Paw’s speech was mostly a low mumble with only a few clear words, especially in early episodes, though it became more understandable later. His wife Maw (voiced by Jean Vander Pyl) handled the home and came across as the more sensible parent. Their daughter Floral, also voiced by Vander Pyl, stood out with lemon-colored fur, unlike the darker fur of Maw, Paw, and Shag; she was the family’s sophisticated Southern belle. The youngest, Shag (voiced by Don Messick), was a small troublemaker who admired his father. Floral and Shag’s voices and personalities closely matched Judy Jetson and Elroy from The Jetsons.
Other appearances
The Rugg Family appeared in Yogi's Ark Lark and its spin-off series Yogi's Gang. They all appeared in Jellystone!, with Paw Rugg voiced by Jim Conroy, Ma Rugg by Angelique Perrin, Floral Rugg by Georgie Kidder, and Shag Rugg by Ron Funches; in that series, the family runs a cafe. The Hillbilly Bears had their own section in the Kings Island attraction The Enchanted Voyage, which operated from 1972 to 1983, and Paw Rugg was referenced in the ride's theme song "Cartoon Friends."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which network aired The Hillbilly Bears?
The Hillbilly Bears aired on NBC.
How many episodes of The Hillbilly Bears are there?
The Hillbilly Bears has 26 episodes across 2 seasons.
When did The Hillbilly Bears first air?
The Hillbilly Bears first aired on 2 October 1965.
When did The Hillbilly Bears end?
The Hillbilly Bears last aired on 7 September 1967.
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