This week’s figure(s) comes to us once again from the Louis Marx & Co and it’s Top Cat from their “TV Tinykins” line (a sequel to their popular Disneykins line). All of the TV Tinykins sets were released in late 1961 or early 1962 (they carry a 1961 copyright date). There were five sets - Huckleberry Hound Show, Quick Draw McGraw Show, Yogi Bear Show, The Flintstones and, of course, Top Cat.
A word about Top Cat. The Hanna-Barbera Studio followed up its success with The Flintstones by launching its second prime-time animated sitcom: Top Cat, which debuted on ABC on Sept. 27, 1961. Like its predecessor, the show was based on an earlier, live-action sitcom — in this case, You'll Never Get Rich, in which Sgt. Ernie Bilko (Phil Silvers) operated various scams on a military base, maintaining a love/hate relationship with the local authority figure, Col. Hall. Top Cat operated various scams in a New York alley, maintaining a love/hate relationship with the local authority figure, Officer Dibble. To drive the point home, Top Cat's Benny the Ball, the character that corresponded to Bilko's Pvt. Doberman, was voiced by Maurice Gosfield — the actor who played Doberman.
TV Tinykins pieces were packaged individually, in show sets with added scenery and prop pieces, or in one huge “gift box.” They were made out of hard plastic and hand painted “by artists” (or so the box claimed)… but sometimes not so carefully. For the record, here is who was in each set:
Huckleberry Hound: Huck, Hokey Wolf, Ding-A-Ling, Pixie, Dixie and Mr. Jinks.
Quick Draw: Quick Draw, Baba Looey, Snuffles, Snooper and Blabber, Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy.
Yogi Bear: Yogi, Boo Boo, Ranger Smith, Cindy Bear, Snagglepuss, Yakky Doodle, Fibber Fox and Alfy Gator.
The Flintstones: Fred, Barney, Wilma, Betty, Dino, Baby Puss, Fireman and Policeman.
Top Cat: T.C., Choo-Choo, Spook, Brain, Fancy-Fancy, Benny the Ball and Officer Dibble.