Barkleys, The

1 9 7 2 – 1 9 7 3 (USA)
13 x 30 minute episodes

Archie and Edith Bunker, mainstays of the highly successful primetime situation comedy All In The Family, were the models for this NBC Saturday morning cartoon series from DePatie-Freleng.

Arnie, the opinionated and bumbling head of the Barkley household, drove a bus and rarely attempted to comprehend anything beyond his own bigoted vision, though “his bark was worse than his bite”.

The rest of the family comprised his sweet and devoted but dim wife, Agnes; teenage daughter Terry; eldest son Roger; and youngest son, Chester.

Plots usually revolved around Arnie’s hair-brained schemes to get rich quick, or his misunderstanding of his kids, who had little patience for the intransigence of their elders.

Arnie was voiced by Henry Corden and so sounded a lot like Fred Flintstone.

Arnie Barkley, he’s the head of the Barkley house
Agnes Barkley is his devoted and loving spouse
They’ve got kids . . .
Terry, Roger and Chester, too
And all of them are Bark-a-leys through and through
‘Cause they’re the Barkleys and they’re okay
And Arnie Barkley with a very open mind
Is always first to let you know his own opinionated ways
But even though he may grumble and get uptight
Just remember Arnie Barkleys bark is worse than his bite 

Arnie Barkley
Henry Corden
Agnes Barkley
Joan Gerber
Terry Barkley
Julie McWhirter
Roger Barkley
Gene Andrusco
Chester Barkley
Steve Lewis

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