Bailey's Comets: A 70's animated series with skating competitions and bizarre adventures
Bailey's Comets is an animated series that aired on CBS in the 70s. Produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and created by David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng in collaboration with Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, the series first aired in 1973 and continued with reruns through the second season.
What the series is about?
The series revolves around a thrilling worldwide roller-skating race, with several teams competing to find clues that will lead them to a million-dollar prize. In addition to having to face their opponents, the participants also had to deal with various outside interferences and unexpected obstacles that slowed down their search.
The main characters
The main team is that of the Bailey's Comets, a group of teenagers who stand out as the favorites for the final victory. The team includes:
- Barnaby Bailey (voiced by Carl Esser): The young and charming leader of the group, who makes the major decisions and often faces the greatest risks.
- Candy (voiced by Karen Smith): The pretty blonde girl, presumably Barnaby's girlfriend, who pushes him to take risks when necessary.
- Sarge (voiced by Kathy Gori): The team's motivator, with a thick Brooklyn accent.
- wheelie (voiced by Jim Begg): The group's mechanic, capable of creating strange inventions based on roller skates.
- Bunny (voiced by Sarah Kennedy): The sweet, but very ditzy, girl of the team.
- Pudge (voiced by Frank Welker): Good-natured but prone to trouble, Pudge is a bit chubby but keeps up with the others. He has an obsession with bananas.
The Rival Teams
Le Bailey's Comets are not alone in the competition. Several rival teams, each with their own unique characteristics, try to hinder the protagonists:
- Texas Black Hats: outlaw cowboys riding horses on roller skates.
- Jekyll Hydes: English doctors who transform into monstrous green creatures.
- Ramblin' Rivets: a group of robots and a professor, with mechanical devices that help the team.
- Duster Busters: a gang of bikers on roller skates.
- Roller Coasters: a traveling circus on skates, with strong men, clowns and even a lion.
- Stone Rollers: cavemen and a dinosaur skating together.
- Cosmic Rays: aliens skating in a spaceship.
- Gargantuan Giants: a team of football giants, so big that only their skates are visible on the screen.
Commentators and Voice Actors
Commenting on the extravagant adventures of the teams are Gabby (voiced by Frank Welker, imitating Howard Cosell) and Dooter Roo (voiced by Daws Butler), who observe the race from a helicopter.
The series' voice cast included great talents such as:
- Jim Begg as Wheelie
- Daws Butler like Dooter Roo and many other characters
- Carl Esser as Barnaby Bailey
- Frank Welker, known for his ability to create versatile and comedic voices, has voiced several characters including Pudge and Gabby.
Conclusion
Bailey's Comets was a series that combined adventure, humor, and sports competition with a touch of fantasy. Its unique teams and whimsical atmosphere made it a memorable cartoon of the 70s, remaining in the hearts of those who had the opportunity to follow it back then.
Bailey's Comets Episodes
Episode synopsis of Bailey's Comets
1. “Skateroo to the Carlsbad Clue”
Air Date: September 8, 1973
The skating teams race to Carlsbad Caverns. Auntie Hag of the Broomer Girls delivers a love potion to a country girl, making any male skater she catches fall in love with her. The first clue is spotted by all the teams.
2. “To Win or Toulouse”
Air Date: September 15, 1973
The teams travel to Paris, France. There, the Bailey's Comets get entangled with a smuggler, Pierre, who has hidden a diamond in one of Pudge's bananas. The Ramblin' Rivets, Duster Busters, and Yo Ho-Ho try to take advantage of the situation. Eventually, the Bailey's Comets find the clue.
3. “Raja and Out”
Air Date: September 22, 1973
The teams travel to the palace of the Raja of Punjab, India, where the Raja holds the next clue. To get it, the skaters must compete to save the Raja's daughter from an evil fakir. The Broomer Girls manage to find the clue.
4. “Ghost of a Clue”
Air Date: September 29, 1973
The teams head to Nottingham Castle in London. The Bailey's Comets, however, end up in another castle, where they encounter the ghost of Sir Tremblelot, whose family crest has been stolen. The hunt for the clue intensifies, and it is eventually found by the Bailey's Comets.
5. “Heading Home”
Air Date: October 6, 1973
Episode not available with specific details.
6. “Roman Race Run”
Air Date: October 13, 1973
Episode not available with specific details.
7. “Transylvania Mad Transit”
Air Date: October 20, 1973
The teams head to Frankenstein's Castle in Transylvania. Auntie Hag of the Broomer Girls casts a thunderstorm spell that confuses the Bailey's Comets and the Jekyll-Hydes, leading them to the castle of Dr. Dracula, who plans to make the teams act like each other. The Bailey's Comets find the clue.
8. “Philippine Flip-Flop”
Air Date: October 27, 1973
In the Philippines, the Bailey's Comets fall into a valley where Pudge accidentally saves a tribe from a giant lizard. The tribe asks Pudge to fight a giant gorilla. The Yo Ho-Ho's, Ramblin' Rivets, and Red Eyes try to trap the Bailey's Comets in the valley. Eventually, the Bailey's Comets find the clue.
9. “Space Race”
Air Date: November 3, 1973
Episode not available with specific details.
10. “Slow 'n' Go to Tokyo”
Air Date: November 10, 1973
Episode not available with specific details.
11. “Loch Ness Mess”
Air Date: November 17, 1973
In Scotland, the clue is hidden in Loch Ness, but it involves the famous monster. The Bailey's Comets must return the monster to the lake within two hours to avoid prison. The other teams, including the Texas Black Hats, the Jekyll-Hydes, and the Ramblin' Rivets, try to stop them from doing so. Although the Bailey's Comets find the clue, the other teams manage to see it as well.
12. “Deep Blue Clue”
Air Date: November 24, 1973
Episode not available with specific details.
13. “South American Slip-Up”
Air Date: December 1, 1973
Episode not available with specific details.
14. “Gold Fever Goof-Up”
Air Date: December 8, 1973
The teams are in Mexico, heading to Mayan ruins. Auntie Hag of the Broomer Girls casts a gold rush spell on Pudge, confusing him with gold miners. Eventually, the Bailey's Comets find the clue.
15. “A Kooky Clue and a Mummy, Too”
Air Date: December 15, 1973
Episode not available with specific details.
16. “Kenya Catch That Clue”
Air Date: December 22, 1973
Episode not available with specific details.
17. “An Abominable Clue”
Air Date: December 29, 1973
Episode not available with specific details.
18. “Madagascar Mix-Up”
Air Date: January 5, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
19. “Bear Blunder Down Under”
Air Date: January 12, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
20. “Trans-Turkey Foul-Up”
Air Date: January 19, 1974
The teams race through Turkey to the Istanbul Museum. The Bailey's Comets meet Ali Booboo, who has bad luck, and try to change his luck. However, his bad luck creates problems not only for the Bailey's Comets, but also for the other teams. The Bailey's Comets find the clue.
21. “Amazon Jungle Bungle”
Air Date: January 26, 1974
The teams are in the Brazilian jungle, heading for Sugarloaf Mountain. Wheelie falls into the Amazon River after the Jekyll-Hydes reduce the bridge, but is saved by Magogo, a jungle woman who won't let him go. Things get worse when Magogo's boyfriend, Brutus, arrives. The clue is found by the Rockin' Rollers.
22. “Swiss Swap Switch”
Air Date: February 2, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
23. “Hawaii Five Uh-Oh”
Air Date: February 9, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
24. “Heidelberg Robot Hang-Up”
Air Date: February 16, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
25. “Netherlands Bubble Trouble”
Air Date: February 23, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
26. “Too Strong for Hong Kong”
Air Date: March 2, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
27. “A Doggone Danish Clue”
Air Date: March 9, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
28. “Hungarian Clue”
Air Date: March 16, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
29. “Gobi Desert Goof-Up”
Air Date: March 23, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
30. “Sargasso Sea You Later”
Air Date: March 30, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
31. “Fast Lap in Lapland”
Air Date: April 6, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
32. “What's Buzzin', Canadian Cousin?”
Air Date: April 13, 1974
Episode not available with specific details.
Technical data of Bailey's Comets
Gender: Comedy, Adventure, Sports
Created by: David H. DePatie, Friz Freleng, Joe Ruby, Ken Spears
Written by: Dalton Sandifer, John W. Dunn, Larz Bourne
Voices of: Jim Begg, Daws Butler, Carl Esser, Kathy Gori, Bob Holt, Sarah Kennedy, Don Messick, Karen Smith, Frank Welker
Composer of the theme song: Doug Goodwin
Opening theme: “Bailey's Comets Theme” performed by Every Thing Under the Sun
Closing theme: “Bailey's Comets Theme” (instrumental)
Composer: Doug Goodwin
Country of origin: United States
Original language: English
Number of seasons: 1
Number of episodes: 32 (16 half hours)
Production
Executive producers: David H. DePatie, Friz Freleng
Manufacturers: Joe Ruby, Ken Spears
Assemblers: Rick Steward (supervising editor), Joe Siracusa, Jim Blodgett, Allan Potter
Production house: DePatie-Freleng Enterprises
First TV
Network: CBS
Date of transmission: September 8, 1973 - April 13, 1974
Related articles:
