Fearless Fosdick

1 9 5 2 (USA)
13 x 30 minute episodes

Straight from Al Capp’s comic strip, Li’l Abner came this filmed summer series using puppets and animation. The puppetry was provided by The Mary Chase Marionettes.

Fosdick – a parody of Dick Tracy – was Li’l Abner’s favourite detective and, according to him, the world’s greatest.

The bumbling lantern-jawed Fosdick meant well and tried his best to be effective, but was frequently subject to abuse from his boss on the police force and made barely enough money to live on.

The Magnanimous detective valiantly fought on against crime and evil, aided by his loyal assistant, Schmoozer.

Fosdick took even more abuse from those he tried to put behind bars than he did from his fellow detectives. He was frequently used for target practice by hoodlums who pumped him full of bullets. The lead passed right through him and he appeared to be impervious to pain.

Fearless Fosdick premiered on 15 June 1952 on Sunday afternoons but moved into a primetime evening slot within a month

Fearless Fosdick
John Griggs
The Chief
Gilbert Mack
Sen-Sen O’Toole
Jean Carson