Of Moose and Men: The Rocky & Bullwinkle Story

Behind the scenes of the greatest animated cartoon series ever created. Though reflecting the innocence of the country during the early sixties, Rocky & Bullwinkle nevertheless had an edge, with numerous lines that weren't meant for children. The references in many of the shows only would be understood by adults since they encompassed political & social satire/commentary and were drawn from literature, history, popular culture, etc. That makes them fresh even today. For those adults who remember the series from their childhood, there's more than just nostalgia to hold our attention. The Bullwinkle Show did not treat kids as mentally inferior or talk down to them; it expected them to understand- if not at that time, then eventually.
Unfortunately, the first minute is missing.

[@garywaggoner3926]

Many years ago, I got a chance to take June Foray to lunch. What a treat! She is a wonderful lady. She's about 4'11 and drove a jaguar. I swear she had blocks on the pedals and the drivers seat was so close I would have had to sit in the back seat. I brought my own car tho. June made appearances at the Chuck Jones Gallery. She had worked with Chuck many times and was delightful during those appearances. I wish I could have spent more time with her.

[@kukocs13]

Humor, sarcasm, political world views, puns, edge, political commentary. It had it all. A masterpiece of comedy and sarcasm that still holds up with anything ever made. And the people doing voice overs, legends.

[@aca9874]

When you listen to Rocky and Bullwinkle with just the audio it sounds like a Radio Show

[@racheln8563]

At the risk of being accused of generational bias, the new version of Rocky and Bullwinkle will never measure up to the original. And this documentary is proof positive.

[@PeachesCourage]

I remember these we used to watch it in the 50's after school. We loved it. Even though a lot of the time we didn't realize what they were relating to in a grownup world. We both knew they were funny .

[@Quasimodo1957]

I grew up on these guys. What memories!

[@mikecarter8880]

I loved this show as a kid. As I got older I appreciated the fast and intelligent humor, it was very adult oriented, in the sense of humor.

[@TheKingofWands]

All blessings on my good friend June Foray. May she fly to the heavens now without need of her goggles. RIP.

[@chuggachuggawoowoo]

This is one of the best shows ever made.

[@ROCKNROLLFAN]

yes, it definitely was....this cartoon just became my favorite cartoon of all time. I am just wondering why they didn't show more when I was a little boy back in 1984/ 1985....they showed he man and richie rick but this cartoon is better than both of those shows put together.....

[@chuggachuggawoowoo]

ROCKNROLLFAN I was a little boy when this was new. It was a great time.

[@Mrcharles.]

I don’t know if I would say it’s the best cartoon since Tom and Jerry plus the looney tunes had higher ratings then Rocky and Bullwinkle.

[@welchit]

@@ROCKNROLLFAN i watched it those 80s years every morning at 6am before catching the bus to school. A great way to start the day!

[@alcoholic2412]

I have ths Fractured fairy tales hardcover book. Not many were printed.

[@EllotusFreeholy]

"Peabody here, and this is my boy Sherman", I just now got the point, instead of a boy having a dog, the dog has a boy.

[@jonmeyer3076]

+Ellotus Freeholy I love that line you said. I love the 2014 Mr. Peabody and Sherman movie and it's even better then the old cartoons on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.

[@EJJohnston]

June Foray, one of the greatest voice over artists of all time she's an legend :) rocky and Bullwinkle is still an awesome show

[@rend7267]

R.I.P. beautiful June

[@rogerluthierrogelio6054]

THANKS PILGRIM... THIS IS A REAL GEM AND ONLY YOU HAVE PRESERVED IT ON KZbin FOR US... FOR THIS 50 Y.O. GEEZER MANY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED!

[@laura7marian5]

Hurrah! I remember this airing on PBS around 1990, and I've looked for a copy for ages.

[@blackphoenix77]

I haven't seen this since it first aired on PBS back in 1991!

[@525Lines]

Thanks for posting this. I remember seeing it when it originally aired. Jay Ward was on a local radio show and said he made more money doing the Cap'n Crunch commercials than he ever did with Bullwinkle.

[@144wychwood]

IMO, one of the best written comedy TV series ever. Live action or animated.

[@golga14]

R.I.P. June Foray

[@MrKmanthie]

InternetPilgrim: I totally agree with you. When, over the course of this show, the narrator (Bill Conrad, still?) made mention of the fact that Jay Ward's previous (or, at least, his first) cartoon endeavor (he'd been in real estate up to that point-according to the show) was Crusader Rabbit, which was the "first cartoon made for TV"-and when you stop & think about it -all the other cartoons from way back to the 30s, through the 40s & into the 50s, all those WB Looney Tunes, the MGM Tom & Jerry and others like those were specifically made as shorts, to be shown at a movie theater, before the feature presentation. So, I guess it would be, even though I'd never heard of it. I really wish they'd bring back all the R&B shows that YT took away. Is there anyone out there who knows of another site on which I can watch all the R&B episodes I want?? Thanks.

[@erikaturner409]

They forgot to mention all the amazing vocabulary words we learned from Rocky and Bullwinkle. My favorite episode included the phrase "hoist in his own petard." And later, when Rocky asks Bullwinkle, "What shall we do?" Bullwinkle answers, "Get a dictionary!"

[@missnumberthirteen]

Thank you so very much for posting this :-). THANKS

[@Gohot229]

It was like having an older brother or sister that was these interviewers ....great memories this...

[@GrizzledGeezer]

One wonders whether "The Simpsons" and "South Park" would have existed if it weren't for "Rocky & Bullwinkle".One of the best things about R&B is that we hear a lot of Paul Frees voices not heard elsewhere.

[@Gravydog316]

Paul Frees rocks omg i love him on old radio shows

[@jimforgrave6365]

omg...the Irish Stew caught me off guard, Hilarious!! lol 20:07

[@APRIL2862]

My humor basically comes from the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show and Jonathan Winters!

[@Gravydog316]

cool

[@tdsims1963]

An absolute work of genius...And now I finally get some of the jokes!

[@CarrieDunne2011]

My family watched these shows - even as children my brothers and I actually got it, mostly because our parents talked to us about politics, current events and history. We had the best cartoons; unlike today.

[@irishhandyman2009]

So glad you posted this. Have loved R&B for years. SO much better than the crappy "cartoons" we have now.

[@picklesthewise]

I'm so lucky that I grew up with this show. It's so smart and genuinely funny, and unlike most cartoons today it doesn't "stoop down" or talk down to children but lifts them up to understand the material.

[@jmen4ever257]

Rip, June Foray. She almost made it to 100.

[@richieify]

my childhood how great is this thank you

[@rmfwwatson9204]

OMG! thank you for this video!

[@sweetoneloves6811]

I was a very itty bitty girl when I first watched the Rocky and Bullwinkle show. Now I am in my 60s and I can't stop watching this cartoon. Even though from Peabody and Aesop tales I have seen over and over. Its just like I never seen it. These were good times, thank you utube for posting all of bullwinkle and rocky show.

[@kaptainkanada4363]

I STILL love the Rocky and Bullwinkel Show all these years later!

[@raizelm1578]

I remember watching these cartoons! Crusader Rabbit and Rags the Tiger. LOL

[@Tre404]

"Bacon, you'll fry for this!" ...lol!

[@Gravydog316]

haha

[@docthemetalfreak]

I never realized Bullwinkle n Rocky had the same middle initial

[@SecretAgentPaul]

docthemetalfreak As does Bart and Homer J Simpson for the same reason.

[@davidchavers5881]

How could they leave out Aesop and Son???

[@hazonku]

When you think about it, the golden age of all ages cartoons (the 90's) makes perfect sense. It was the fruition of the first generation corrupted & inspired by Rocky & Bullwinkle. The first kids to grown up on the show & then go back as adults & get all the jokes they missed as kids. It's no wonder practically every good cartoon of the 90's didn't have a "target" audience. Animaniacs, Rocko's Modern Life, Cow & Chicken, all of those shows borrowed from Rocky & Bullwinkle's clever writing style.

[@slimkickens]

hazonku and now those kids from the 90's, like myself, are turning that back around into the modern animation awakening

[@kendallrivers1119]

Certainly Pink and The Brain was inspired by Rocky and Bullwinkle too. The 90's was the last time animated children cartoons appealed to all ages and was written sharply. Sadly if you watch the cartoons aimed at kids\families now they're just so inferior compared to the 60's-90's cartoons.

[@deekaye25]

Returning to these cartoons fifty years later is even funnier. You finally get some of the gags seen as a child!

[@InternetPilgrim]

I taped it off the tv @ 1990. It never occurred to me at the time that I'd be keeping some of these things 25+ years & still want to view them, so I didn't tape in the fastest speed for the best picture or concern myself w/ getting clean beginnings/endings. I have a number of these quirky programs since I obsessively jammed in a tape whenever something interesting came on. One's already been dumped for copyright claims. My computer operating system's crashed; I'll post more when I get a new one.

[@laminage]

Oh here's a fun fact. They did a Parody of Dudley Do Right on Guiding Light where Amanda Spaulding in a Nell Like Character fantasizes that her Ex-Lover Ross Marler as Dudley Do Right will rescue her. Dudley was smart though, he never kicked it with Nell because if he did and things didn't work out, he'd be fired.

[@mademoisellerhapsody815]

The 50's were not so idyllic and innocent for everyone in the baby boom generation. It depended on what you were born into for the most part, same as any time in history. The Rocky and Bullwinkle show attracts because of the jokes within the jokes. It's slapstick with a slap of '50's era politics particularly the cold war tensions with the USSR and the mccarthy communism witchhunt ordeal.

[@x.y.8581]

A must see on college campuses? I remember Bullwinkle looking down into a pit of snakes and his line: "Eat your heart out, Olivia!" - too phunny!

[@dianemoran9282]

Great stuff, remember it well. No wonder I grew up and never missed a Rowan & Martin Laugh-In episode.

[@rr7firefly]

The coolest most versatile voice actor was Daws Butler. He is the voice of the Prince in "Sleeping Beauty" (33:23) where he sounds a bit like Snagglepuss, another character he voiced. Surprisingly Dom Deluise sometimes did a voice that sounded like Butler's. Amazingly Butler was also the voice of Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Cap'n Crunch, Quick Draw McGraw and Jinxie the Cat (from Pixie and Dixie). Whew!

[@bakajon]

The original Captain Crunch voice was done by Bill Scott. Butler took over after Scott passed away.

[@umachan9286]

Daws Butler is definitely one of the greats when it came to doing voices. But the most versatile had to be Mel Blanc. He was, as advertised, the "Man of 1000 voices".

[@wytzox1187]

Best Fractured Fairy Tale ever was Goldilocks and the big dumb "I'm not sleepy!" Baby Bear. ☺

[@vincentfranklin17]

WytZox1 My favorite Fractured Fairy Tale was Pinocchio. Bill Scott made Gepetto sound like a cranky Chico Marx! Lol!

[@altfactor]

The series began as a late-afternoon (I think it was two or three times a week) series on ABC in 1959 as "Rocky And His Friends". In 1961, the show moved to NBC and became a half-hour once-a-week prime-time series as "The Bullwinkle Show". Reruns of the ABC daytime version were syndicated as "The Rocky Show". The producers of "Rocky and Bullwinkle" went on to produce another cult-classic cartoon series, "George Of The Jungle", which also featured lots of in-jokes, but not to the extent of "Rocky and Bullwinkle", perhaps because "George" was a Saturday-morning cartoon series, whereas much of the run of "Rocky and Bullwinkle" was in prime-time. The Dudley Do-Right" segment was eventually spun-off as it's own series that ran for a couple of seasons in the middle or late 1960's.

[@ayanarachel7975]

There was also a cartoon show created by jay ward called "Hoppity Hooper" in 1964.

[@nellgwenn]

We sank the Hokey Smoke.

[@laminage]

RIP June Foray. (Nell Fenwick, Natasha Fataly, & Rocket J. Squirrel).

[@bullwinklecanada]

From my understanding, this seemed to have aired around the same time The Program Exchange redistributed the re-mastered copies of The Bullwinkle Show to air in a new syndicated package. I noticed the footage looks similar to these syndicated copies that first aired around that time as well as some of the masters that aired during The Rocky Show.

[@bigbadbear8964]

I don't know where that guy got the idea that this show wasn't popular in Canada, when I was a boy everybody watched the show and loved Dudley do Right. He should do some fact checking before commenting like that. It makes Canada look bad somehow.

[@domainofthesun4400]

We ate it up in Montreal. Dudley Do Right was perfectly in line with the absurdly upright Mountie stereotype we were so familiar with

[@elijahjames8837]

I think he is talking about dealing with the Canadian government and CBC. Remember in the 60s when after a hockey they would program some cultural event like a opera or a rivetting debate about how much wheat the Canadian government needs to export from Saskatchewan. You don't want to interrupt such cultural development with irreverent humour. I am from Alberta and I used to love this show and it is the only cartoon from my childhood that has gotten better as I aged and understand the humour. Can't say that about Bugs Bunny which is the same bit over and over.

[@donaldsmith3926]

@@elijahjames8837 I was surprisingly gratified to find later in life there was a Boris Godunov, and to find just now that the same guy did "Crusader Rabbit". Even as a child I knew this was great, and the only cartoon I liked. Canada's always been a little strange; no "High Times" for you. After they did a not-all flattering article about Islam this fella waited for the fallout, expecting prohibitions from the Middle East. First ban from importation, Canada; there was a slight bit of a female nipple on a collage cover, might lead to who knows what.

[@laminage]

In the "early" days of Bullwinkle Dudley Do Right wasn't allowed to be broadcasted in Canada because they didn't want Americans to think that Canadian Mounties were that stupid like Dudley Do Right but in later years it was and folks found it hilarious. It was the only Cartoon from America that paid homage to Canada.

[@arrowguy173]

I had this as well around that time! Loved this show. Currently doing an interactive Flash project for school themed to a classic cartoon which, you guessed it, features moose & squirrel. Getting to incorporate animation, audio clips and video (using the newer Fractured Fairy Tale "Phox Box & the Lox" I was fortunate to be an animator on). A lot of fun revisiting this show, thanks for posting this.

[@johnmitchelljr]

Thank you for letting me know how lucky I was growing up then.

[@marygambino1389]

We're camping-out in the living room, eating cookies!

[@chiledoug]

I laughed for the first time in a long while..

[@InternetPilgrim]

It was worth posting, if only for your response. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@chiledoug]

found the complete series on amazon for $54.36

[@ROCKNROLLFAN]

I'm glad that I waited until sale day at the goodwill cuz I also picked up the complete series for $5 bucks. I'm missing volume 6 though!

[@jonmeyer3076]

+CHILEDOUG KIZERIAN 20:49 I'd be happy to be Bullwinkle!

[@lizziesangi1602]

+ROCKNROLLFAN mAJOR DRAG!!! I feel you and feel for you, in all honesty!!!

[@lopezbiglos]

In the early 90's I remember scanning through the local cable..(Basic Cable.....channels like 1-13? or somethin like that. I remember watching this show because it was an old cartoon show it was just interesting back then.

[@allanegleston13]

there goes my childhood and young adult hood . :) rolfi major pun alarm "sir francis baco, youll fry for this."

[@ricardocantoral7672]

If anyone cares to read a detailed history of Rocky and Bullwinkle, and in addition to that various other Jay Ward productions, look no further than THE MOOSE THAT ROARED written by Keith Scott.

[@Ozzy_2014]

at local library 5/5 stars.

[@cartoonjoe]

Actually, the author's name is Keith Scott, who occasionally voices Bullwinkle in newer cartoons.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

+Joe Griffin You are right ! Sorry about that. I'll correct my post.

[@cartoonjoe]

👌

[@vincentfranklin17]

I bought the book in 2008. Absolutely wonderful!

[@cliffordshafran9250]

RIP, June Foray!

[@jerryblizzard9363]

There is no better news than is found by watching cartoons.

[@APRIL2862]

And don't forget the Bullwinkle's restaurant! I use to go to one in California!

[@KendrickHarrisKenfinity]

"Hey Rocky!" It's great to find out so much about our unstoppable and hilarious duo.

[@joecrumpler]

By golly, I've got to get another hat!

[@zapkvr]

Jay Ward made Fractured flickers as well. it was hysterically funny. Right up there with the very best of Bugs bunny. I mean the Ruby yacht of Omar Kayam. That went way over the heada of the kids watching the show

[@vincentfranklin6297]

Read The Moose That Roared, by Keith Scott. It's a great book about Rocky and Bullwinkle,and the other great Jay Ward creations!

[@TheChsmith]

I maybe a HS drop out, but I have a Decree from WhatsaMatta U class of 1968

[@MonicaVennell]

I remember watching Dudly as a child in Canada. I'm not sure why they said it wasn't allowed.

[@80MWH]

"Veronica Lake." ...I get it now!!

[@anthonyclark1579]

80MWH mi

[@ginapoledna]

Love it

[@maxiepattie85]

Wow........ I'm finding SO MUCH good stuff right now!!! The moose is me!

[@nellgwenn]

I want Bruce Campbell and Patrick Warburton to do a bio-pic of Jay Ward and Bill Scott. We've sunk the Hokey Smoke.

[@aewhatever]

The credits starting at the beginning apposed to being at the end, took me back.

[@aoxoltlii]

RiP June Foray, the First Lady of Cartoons.

[@yosefdemby8792]

What about Mae Questel?

[@aoxoltlii]

Mae is great though not as prolific as June.

[@yosefdemby8792]

@@aoxoltlii But she was first

[@yosefdemby8792]

Oh, you meant First Lady like President.

[@1markandjake]

there is no mention of Edward Evert Horton, the narrator of fractured fairy tales.

[@dfowler8136]

I don't think they mentioned that the main narrator was William Conrad, who played Cannon and the Fat Man of Jake and the Fat Man. He was the original Matt Dillon when Gunsmoke started on radio.

[@barbarakirk3064]

I thought Edward Everett Horton was also the voice of Mr. Peabody at first.

[@hoborock007]

I saw his name on the book tho... when the fairy turns the pages

[@kevinbutler1955NYC]

Sad but true..Mark..Poor Edward was ignored in this tv tribute to "Rocky & Bullwinkle".

[@ricardocantoral7672]

@@dfowler8136 He narrated this TV special so there's no need to mention him.

[@merriemelodiesfan7425]

June Foray is awesome. I love her :)

[@brucewalks]

r.i.p june foray

[@chriszampa2633]

I loved the show and learned piles of info from it.

[@domainofthesun4400]

I just tried something i never thought of as a kid: ignore the visuals and listen to the audio. It turns into the most demented (old time) radio program ever. Bizarre in the best way.

[@EllotusFreeholy]

"There they embowel our chicken liver", 'Mom, what does embowel mean? I love it.

[@mcatuara1]

And so is the last.

[@NickB1967]

With the late William Conrad as narrator and the late June Foray (just passed away July 2017) as Rocky Squirrel and many other voices, how could Rocky and Bullwinkle miss?

[@ronaldronca7547]

Cali Curmudgeon , William Conrad ??? It was the great Edward E. Norton....

[@TheChsmith]

William Conrad narrated R&B show, Edward E Norton narrated Fractured Fairy Tales a part of R&B show

[@davidchavers5881]

Conrad also narrated Dudley Do-right.

[@domainofthesun4400]

@@ronaldronca7547 It was both. Edward Everett Horton's voice is unmistakable but so is William Conrad's

[@rainstarflowerdroplets9624]

That’s wonderful I love it when they made everyone laugh 36:27 11:53

[@Raretelevisiondvds]

If you want rare bullwinkle dvd's,I have the following: 1.Bullwinkle's New Years Eve Special 12-31-1987 with original commercials-2hrs 2.Dances with Squirrel:The Secret Files of Rocky&Bullwinkle late 80's tv documentary-105 min. 3.Of Moose And Men 1990 PBS Email for info.

[@umachan9286]

They don't make cartoons like this anymore. Sure it was done on the cheap but the voices, and the writing, were the best.

[@rmfwwatson9204]

best cartoon so far

[@paulhoover5427]

Thanks Pilgrim, I needed that...

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

Rocket J(onathan) Squirrel and Bullwinkle J(erome) Moose

[@Gravydog316]

no way

[@murraycohen4496]

moosyyvania has always been one of mt favorite places

[@shaunwilliams4231]

great show!

[@markreynolds9153]

Very high brow compared to later shows. Compare Rocky and Bullwinkle to family guy. Am I wrong?

[@sdushdiu]

mark reynolds Family Guy is simply obnoxious to be obnoxious

[@zapkvr]

sdushdiu darn right. FG was garbage compared to Rocky and Bullwinkle

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Oh please. Family Guy is vacuous. Jay Ward and his writers knew satire. They didn't merely name drop and make simplistic references.

[@GrizzledGeezer]

FG is vulgar for the sake of being vulgar. It seems to think that trivial references are equivalent to insightful satire.

[@marygambino1389]

Rocky & Bullwinkle do not belong in ADULT SWIM. Cartoon like R&B can be seen via all G-rated shows.

[@larryrogers361]

Absolutely the funniest cartoon ....ever

[@jameskearney4100]

This was meant for adults as well as kids.

[@vincentfranklin6297]

Jay Ward... Bill Scott... Comedy Geniuses!

[@CD-zz4li]

dame that's good tv

[@ksteiger]

Is this William Conrad?

[@caseyjoanz]

ZEPPELIN RIPPED OFF BORIS BADUNOV! Listen to Robert Plant's vocal riff on "D'yer Maker"! ( "whoa oh oh oh-Oh oh!"), and tell me it's not Boris singing to the robot moon mice! (42:27-42:56 min. into clip) Jay Ward? Is royalties comink, no doubt!! Is time for callink attorneys, no?

[@barbarakirk3064]

Not the first time Led Zeppelin were accused of ripping others off!

[@TJGornik61]

And all this time I thought Plant was ripping off Curly from the 3 Stooges

[@captaincartoonia9536]

Holy bats, Rocky

[@thema1998]

Yesterday was the *7* year anniversary of when you uploaded this documentary. 🤓 EDIT- 1:48 P.M.: *finishes video 1 hour and 17 minutes later* I just gained more of an interest in Rocky and Bullwinkle.

[@BuddyNovinski]

Send me to Wilkes-Barre? I spent most of early years there! I was born there at the peak of the baby boom.

[@thomshere]

Wow, I loved this show. Do you think there might be a little less violence in America if kids watched shows like this instead mega-violent video games?