Famous Classic Tales is a series that airs cartoons from production companies such as Filmation, Rankin-Bass, Ruby-Spears, Air Programs International, Hanna-Barbera, Hanna Barbera Australia, and Southern Star Group. Famous Classic Tales was shown on CBS, and distributed by Kids Klassics Home Video and Storybook World. It had cartoons from API's Family Classic Tales. Featured cartoons included adaptions of classic literature such as Gulliver's Travels, Treasure Island, Black Beauty, Moby-Dick, and many others. The creation of a series of animated features based on classic children's stories was conceived by Jack Thinnes, Media Director at Sive Advertising in Cincinnati, Ohio. The series was created for a Sive client, Kenner Products, and each program was fully sponsored by Kenner on CBS Television Network on Sunday, late afternoon or early evening, during the prime toy selling season before Christmas. The idea to use classic children's books sprang from Thinnes' viewing of a two minute demo of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, which was produced by Walter Hucker's studio, API, of Sydney, Australia. API was purchased later by Hanna-Barbera Studios after Thinnes introduced the owners of the studios to one another. After the series ran on CBS for nearly ten years, it was moved into local syndication by Sive's syndication department. However, their adaptation of A Christmas Carol was such a favorite that it continued to run on the network for fifteen years.
Tales Of Washington Irving
Nov 1, 1970
Based on "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving
A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court
Nov 29, 1970
This animated version updates this classic story to a modern day Connecticut factory worker who is transported back in time to the year 528 and the days of the court of King Arthur.
A Christmas Carol
Dec 13, 1970
An old bitter miser is given a chance for redemption when spirits visit him on Christmas Eve.
The Legend Of Robin Hood
Nov 14, 1971
No description available.
Treasure Island
Nov 28, 1971
No description available.
Travels of Marco Polo
Jan 2, 1972
No description available.
Robinson Crusoe
Nov 19, 1972
Based on the original novel by Daniel Defoe.
The Prince and the Pauper
Nov 26, 1972
Based on the original story by Mark Twain.
The Count Of Monte Cristo
Sep 23, 1973
No description available.
Kidnapped
Oct 21, 1973
No description available.
The Swiss Family Robinson
Oct 28, 1973
No description available.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea
Nov 22, 1973
Based on the novel by Jules Verne and produced by Hanna-Barbera Australia.
The Three Musketeers
Nov 23, 1973
No description available.
The Black Arrow
Dec 2, 1973
No description available.
The Gentlemen Of Titipu
Jan 13, 1974
No description available.
Moby Dick
Jan 1, 1975
No description available.
The Mysterious Island
Nov 15, 1975
No description available.
The Last Of The Mohicians
Nov 27, 1975
No description available.
Ivanhoe
Nov 27, 1975
No description available.
From The Earth To The Moon
Jan 1, 1976
No description available.
Off On A Comet
Jan 1, 1976
Based on the original novel by Jules Verne.
Master Of The World
Oct 23, 1976
No description available.
Davy Crockett On The Mississippi
Nov 20, 1976
No description available.
A Journey To The Center Of The Earth
Nov 13, 1977
No description available.
Five Weeks In A Balloon
Nov 24, 1977
No description available.
Black Beauty
Oct 28, 1978
No description available.
Gulliver's Travels
Nov 18, 1979
No description available.
The Adventures Of Sinbad
Nov 23, 1979
No description available.
Daniel Boone
Nov 27, 1981
No description available.
The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn
Nov 24, 1983
No description available.
Beauty And The Beast
Nov 25, 1983
No description available.
