While in a hat store the other day, I saw a collection of Hanna-Barbera caps with several different characters on them -- Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw and Magilla Gorilla. I asked the clerk if they were selling and she said, "Not really. Just to older people."
I presume that meant people -- like myself -- that spend their childhood watching classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons in the late sixties and seventies. It got me to thinking about the beloved characters of Hanna-Barbera so I did a simple Google search to see how many search results each character returned. It might peel back a layer or two as to which of these amazing character have lost their appeal.
The list is not complete, by any means, but does reflect the major character.
Scooby Do = 73,500,000
I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that Scooby Do is at the top of the list. This character is beloved by all kids and grown ups alike. Even the peripheral characters have appeal.
Space Ghost = 20,400,000
Arguably, this high return number has something to do with the fact that Space Ghost enjoyed a resurgence in the 90's on the Cartoon Network with a kind of cartoon talk show. I don't think he is as popular in the classic sense as this might suggest.
The Flintstones = 16,000,000
At 16 million, this is nothing to sneeze at, but doesn't it seem like they should have ranked higher?
The Jetsons = 9,800,000
This show seems adequately placed here. The show was popular and had movie adaptations and cartoon spin-offs, but never reached the kind of popularity of Scooby Do.
Frankenstein Jr. = 7,650,000
I feel like this obscure cult favorite should be much lower in search returns and was probably helped along by having the name Frankenstein in the title.
Yogi Bear recently got a bad live action movie adaptation that showed moviegoers that they knew or cared little about the Yogi Bear mythology. He should be higher up in the ranking in my honest opinion. Yogi even led an ensemble show with many different H-B characters.
Now we're getting to the more unadulterated numbers. Here is where the nostalgia takes over.
Hong Kong Phooey = 1,030,000
A favorite, cult character of 60's cartoons. This character should be revived and given another chance.
A model of southern hospitality, Huckleberry Hound is a good natured hound that patrols the streets.
It does seem as though Jonny Quest should have placed higher. It's kind of sad he is so off the radar.
Top Cat = 495,000
Top Cat was the hip con man cat that knew how to move and shake.
Quick Draw McGraw = 434,000
Quick draw. How is it no one cares about you?
Magilla Gorilla = 347,000
The beloved, hat wearing ape was a personal favorite of mine has all but vanished.
The Herculoids = 224,000
This was H-B's answer to the Fantastic Four and feature two gelatinous blobs named Gleep and Gloop.
Shazzan = 189,000
This was a definite favorite because it featured a flying camel named Kaboobie.
Snagglepuss = 115,000
Does it make you as sad as it does me to see Snagglepuss at the bottom of the list? Why can't this effeminate pink lion catch a break. "Exit stage left!"
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