Siren Entertainment, an Australian company, has released eight volumes
of THE MILTON THE MONSTER SHOW, available in both VHS PAL and NTSC
formats. In the fall of 1964, THE MUNSTERS and THE ADDAMS FAMILY,
sitcoms about families of monsters, appeared on US TV. Attempting to
cash in on their subsequent success, Hal Seeger Productions produced THE
MILTON THE MONSTER SHOW for ABC's 1965-1966 season. Milton is a giant
Frankenstein monster-type created by Professor Weirdo and Count Kook.
His creators meant Milton to be scary, but he turns out to be a
good-hearted monster who attempts to make friends with everyone he
meets. His voice sounds a bit like Gomer Pyle, a character played by Jim
Nabors on the US sitcom, GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C. (1964-70), and his
companions have names such as Heebee and Geebee, and Abercrombie the
Zombie. (Did Tim Burton name the dog, Abercrombie, in his short film,
VINCENT, in homage to Milton?) If you like Rankin/Bass' MAD MONSTER
PARTY, you will probably like MILTON. The animation is limited, but the
bizarre character designs are memorable. Each half hour show also
includes two other cartoons starring various characters. Unfortunately,
these characters are not as interesting as Milton. Fearless Fly is a
superhero fly whose power comes from his eyeglasses; Stuffy Durma is a
hobo who inherits ten million dollars, hires an advisor to handle his
affairs, and opens his mansion to his hobo friends. Other supporting
series are Penny Penguin, Muggy-Doo, and Flukey Luke, a cowboy with a
lucky streak who lives in a city. Each tape includes three half hour
shows. Siren Entertainment also distributes two volumes of Ralph
Bakshi's SPICY CITY (PAL only), as well as several other animation
titles. For more information contact Siren Entertainment, 23 Wangaratta
St., Richmond, Victoria, Australia 3121. TEL. (03) 9429 9555; FAX (03)
9429 9333; or e-mail: alley@sirenent.com.au; or visit
www.sirenent.com.au.