We're The Banana Splits

One of the greatest things about the music of the 60's is how it accessible it was to just about anyone. The cool kids had the Beatles and the Stones; middle America watched the Monkees; the hippies had the Dead and Jefferson Airplane; even Mom and Dad could swing to a homogenized version of Lennon & McCartney done up by Enoch Light or Tony Bennett. And for the toddlers, there were these weirdos, the Banana Splits.

I was suprised at how good some of the songs on this hard to find LP are (thanks to my friend Gary who let me borrow his copy). I'm not saying the Banana Splits were the next Beatles, but compared to the kind of music they make for kids today (the Barney theme comes to mind) this stuff kicks ass. Let's hear it for Fleagle, Bingo, Drooper and Snork!

It's my guess the opening was filmed at King's Island Theme Park outside of Cincinatti, which I believe was both (1) just opened in 1968, the year the show first apperared on television, and, (2) owned by Hanna-Barbara's (the show's producers) parent company at the time, Taft Media. (08-13-2002)

Captain Dave (captaindave@captaindave.net) says:
Not just the Dickies but the incredible Liz Phair did a cover of the Bananna Splits song...available on the CD and video (hosted by Drew Barrymore) called "Saturday Morning-Cartoon's Greatest Hits". It features other "cartunes" by the likes of: Matthew Sweet, the Butthole Surfers!,Ramones,Helmet,Reverend Horton Heat, the Violent Femmes, Sublime, Collective Soul...etc,etc. I love that one. The Bananna Splits were great! I'd love to see the shows again as well. (08-04-2002)

Eric (librarianeric@yahoo.com) says:
I can't believe that no one mentions the fact that the Dickies, one of the most hilarious punk bands of all time, covered the Banana Splits theme song! If you haven't heard it (it's extra special in concert), get your ass down to the record store and check it out! (08-01-2002)

Mary Ann (mama0372@aol.com) says:
I am the in the US and I loved the Banana Splits...I agree that todays children's shows are violent. Get rid of those pokie jerks and bring back the fun stuff. (08-01-2002)

Rob (uk5150@blueyonder.co.uk) says:
HI all fellow Splits fans! I think it's great that so many people still love this show. I think that the Splits were the very best in kids entertainment and perhaps if today's kids were to see this kind of programming the world would be a much better place! The Splits never did me any harm! By the way anyone who is looking for MPEG clips or songs by the Splits, get in touch - I have some!! Looking forward to hearing from you! (08-01-2002)

Angela C (ldscrazychick1@hotmail.com) says:
I aggree with 60s TV fan from down under. The is terrible that the BANANA SPLITS haven't been on TV for so long. It was the best and still is.
Maybe we should set up a BANANA SPLITS CONVENTION in Australia or start another FAN CLUB.
Anyone interested, please feel free to email me. (07-24-2002)

Yeah says:
KICK ASS!! (07-19-2002)

Werewolf says:
Hey, I liked The Banana Splits when I was a kid! My favorite was the lion character (can't remember his name). I thought his dark glasses were groovey! LOL (07-06-2002)

Dallas says:
I'm an Aussie who would like to see the great sixties & seventies shows re-run on Australian TV. Unfortunately, TV stations here are too pre-occupied with so-called reality tv shows. However, we should point out to them that many sixties tv shows were in fact, a higher level of reality-TV than what is being produced now.

For instance, "Gilligans Island" showed us the reality of being trapped on an island - and unlike the survivor wimps of today they had seven years of it with no million dollars at the end, just maryanne's coconut cream pies, "Get Smart" showed the reality of being in the spy business, "I dream of Jeanie" and "It's about time" showed the reality of being an astronaut during the Apollo missions and "Mr Terrific" showed the reality of the problems faced by a super hero. In the sixties, anyone could become a super hero just by being part of a lab experiment involving radiation that goes wrong. I say, bring back the real reality TV. (07-05-2002)

Richard (rciolino) says:
How do I play the JSP files?? (06-27-2002)

The Sixties TV Fan Downunder says:

The Banana Splits Show hasn't been on Australian TV for 27 years. Why Not?? The Australian Broadcasting Commission should bring it back with other great shows from the 60's & 70's like "It's About Time, It's About Space"; "The Time Tunnel" etc. All you Aussies out there, let's get together and vote for our favourite 60's & 70's TV shows. (06-24-2002)

vincent (OSSARY_FORTUNE@YAHOO.IE) says:
bring it back for my kids!!! (06-20-2002)

Andrew S. (Somewhere in Moogland) says:
Wow...I'm listening to Tra la la. It sounds like Green Day!!!!!!! (06-13-2002)

Steve Dhuey says:
I was a loyal member of the Banana Splits Fan Club. (06-10-2002)

Dan (drnoose@yahoo.com) says:
I finally found a copy of this on 8-Track! Thank YOU Poodlebutt!! (05-26-2002)

Hobbzay (grandma_gertrude2002@yahoo.co.uk) says:
I am from Oxford,UK and I first heard The Tra La La Song at my local football team, Oxford Utd. We play in yellow, so thats where the Banana bit comes in, I think.

All in all, The Tra La La Song is gr8!! (05-09-2002)

Linin' in the 70's Phil (tarakai@hotmail.com) says:
It seems that the splits were trully global !! In Australia there are tons of over 35's that remember this show fondly. Every time I open the letter box I remember "Fleagle check the mail" and his never ending fight for those letters with that creature hiding in the mail box. Damn those twins could play those guitars too, but Chongo was really something else. Danger Island gave us kids a great excuse to play murder in the dark, paint our faces & swing from ropes in the back garden. Being a muso I can still play those themes even though I haven't heard seen any shows since 1975. It's time to get it back onto TV ! (05-09-2002)

Bob Wegotababyitsaboy says:
Did I ever tell you about the time Bill Brasky went hunting?!Anyway.. Brasky decides he's going to hunt down all four of the Banana Splits! He stomps and chews every one of them with a machete. They all begged for their lives.. except.. Fleagle!

(05-02-2002)

Jay A. Macintyier (jamtek@usa.com) says:
I love The Banana Splits!! I wish the would put a lot of the old cartoons back on tv and get rid of the pokiemon crap and the digimon crap. and just make kids laugh with funny stuff not with fighting and distruction.. sorry if any mispelled. 1965 to pres!!! (04-25-2002)

JanU (rjbears@aol.com) says:
Hi, Does anyone know where I might be able to find Banana Splits Dolls? They were from Kellogg's and could be ordered through an offer from a ceral box. If you can help, please respond. (04-18-2002)

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