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Jonny Quest

Plot

The fourth of Hanna-Barbera's prime time network series, Jonny Quest was also the company's most expensive and ambitious project to date. Eschewing the cartoony comedy of their earlier Flintstones, Top Cat, and Jetsons, Hanna-Barbera served up a blood-and-thunder adventure yarn reminiscent of the best pulp-fiction and Saturday-serial offerings of yore. Jonny Quest was the young, tousel-haired son of widowed research scientist Dr. Benton Quest, whose work required him to journey all over the world. Accompanying Quest on these expeditions were son Jonny; the boy's muscular tutor-bodyguard, Roger "Race" Bannon; his mystical East Indian friend, Hadji; and his pet bulldog, Bandit. Designed and developed by comic artist Doug Wildey, the series offered an exhausting array of perils and antagonists: mutated giant lizards, hideous sea monsters, powerful death rays, atomic-powered volcanoes, slavering ex-Nazis, and master criminals bearing names like "Dr. Zin". Though the animation left much to be desired, the characters, background design, and musical accompaniment (by Hoyt Curtin) was all first-rate throughout. Fourteen-year-old Tim Mathieson (who as Tim Matheson enjoyed a lengthy adult career on such TV series as The West Wing) provided the voice of Jonny, while the other cast members included Mike Road as Race, John Stephenson as Dr. Quest, Danny Bravo as Hadji, and Don Messick as Bandit (Messick took over from Stephenson as Dr. Quest after the first eight episodes). After its inital ABC prime time run, which began September 18, 1964, and ended September 9, 1965, Jonny Quest was rerun on Saturday-morning television -- over all three major networks -- from 1970 through 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Cast

Tim Mathieson - Jonny Quest
Don Messick - Bandit
John Stephenson - Dr. Benton Quest
Mike Road - Race Bannon
Danny Bravo - Hadji

Credit

Charles A. Nichols - Animation Director, Joseph Barbera - Director, William Hanna - Director, Charles A. Nichols - Director, Hoyt Curtin - Musical Direction/Supervision, Joseph Barbera - Producer, William Hanna - Producer, Joseph Barbera - Screenwriter, William Hanna - Screenwriter, Doug Wildey - Screenwriter

Episodes

Jonny Quest: Calcutta Adventure (1964)
Jonny accompanies his dad, Dr. Quest, to the mountains India, where several sheepherders have succumbed to a mysterious illness. The bad guys responsible for this epidemic -- caused by a deadly nerve gas -- subsequently target the Quests for extinction, leading to a pulse-pounding climax wherein Dr. Quest's new Ultra High Frequency Sonic Amplifier is deployed to save the day. As an added bonus, the story of how Hadji became part of the Quest team is told by way of flashbacks. Written by future movie-of-the-week stalwart Jo Anna Lee, "Calcutta Adventure" was originally scheduled to air on October 16, 1964, but was moved forward to October 30. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Robot Spy (1964)
Master villain Dr. Zin makes his first Jonny Quest appearance in "The Robot Spy" (it would have been his second appearance, had the episode titled "Riddle of the Gold" not been held back from release until later in the season). The titular creation is used by Zin to extract information about the new para-power ray gun developed by Jonny's father, Dr. Benton Quest. Naturally, once this information is obtained, the Quest party is expendable -- but the heroes aren't about to be knocked off that easily. "Robot Spy" was first seen on November 6, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Double Danger (1964)
Dr. Benton Quest's perennial nemesis, Dr. Zin, wants to get his slimy hands on a powerful tranquilizing pill that can paralyze entire cities. Both Quest and Zin are given a run for their money by the estimable Jezebel Jade, a fortune-hunting temptress who is sweet on Jonny Quest's bodyguard, Race Bannon. The episode's title refers to the fact that Race Bannon is briefly replaced by a sinister lookalike named Korchek. Reportedly the first Jonny Quest episode produced, though not the first one to be shown, "Double Danger" originally aired on November 13, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Shadow of the Condor (1964)
This time, the Quest team is forced to make an emergency landing high in the Andes mountains of South America. Here, our heroes find themselves at the mercy of Baron Heinrich Von Froelich, a former German fighter pilot. The Baron intends to kill everyone, but not before engaging Jonny Quest's bodyguard, Race Bannon, in a duel-to-the-death aerial dogfight. Originally telecast on November 20, 1964, "Shadow of the Condor" boasts some excellent background art, and better-than-average animation in the climactic air battle -- where the thrill quotient is intensified by the timely arrival of the titular condor. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Skull and Double Crossbones (1964)
While scuba diving, Jonny Quest finds a valuable 17th century coin. Before he quite knows what is happened, Jonny and his friends are targetted for elimination by a band of greedy modern-day pirates. The "swim to the rescue" by Johnny's trusty dog, Bandit, and the climactic sea battle are two of many highlights in this breathtaking episode. "Skull and Double Crossbones" originally aired on November 27, 1964, by which time Don Messick had taken over from John Stephenson as the voice of Dr. Quest. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: The Dreadful Doll (1964)
A young girl named Denise Lor is targeted for terror when she falls under a deadly voodoo spell. The cause of it all is a seemingly harmless doll, which the villains need to complete their diabolical ceremonies. The Quest team comes a-riding to the rescue, though before long they may need rescuing themselves from a gang of blowgun-wielding baddies. Henry Corden, future voice of Fred Flintstone, is heard as Philipe Lor, the father of the unfortunate heroine. "The Dreadful Doll" made its network broadcast debut on December 4, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: A Small Matter of Pygmies (1964)
Deep in the jungles of Africa, the Quest team is kindapped by a tribe of pygmies. Though small, these hostile natives are extremely dangerous. Fortunately for our heroes, the pygmies are also extremely superstitious, especially in matters concerning such modern technology as helicopters Danny Bravo. The voice of Jonny Quest's Indian chum, Hadji, pulls double duty in the role of Eka. Capped by an ironic closing gag, "A Small Matter of Pygmies" first aired on December 11, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Dragons of Ashida (1964)
Zoologist Dr. Ashida, an old friend and colleague of Dr. Benton Quest, has been conducting experiments on the lizards of a remote island. Alas, Ashida has gone a bit off his trolley, and has developed a herd of deadly dragons. The final scenes, in which the Quest team squares off against the slithery monsters, boasts some of Hanna-Barbera's finest animation and detail work of the 1960s. "Dragons of Ashida" was originally telecast on December 18, 1964, holding its own even opposite a rebroadcast of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: The Fraudulent Volcano (1964)
On December 31, 1964, Jonny Quest moved to the Thursday-evening timeslot previous occupied by another Hanna-Barbera prime time cartoon series, The Flintstones, which itself took over Jonny Quest's Friday-night berth. The occasion was marked by the episode titled "The Fraudulent Volcano," in which the Quest team was again menaced by the insidious Dr. Zin. This time, the villain has reactivated a long-dormant volcano, intending to destroy everything in his path unless his demands are met. Want to bet that the good guys disrupt the eruptions in record time? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Turu the Terrible (1964)
The title character in this Jonny Quest episode is a huge, voracious bird. While in the midst of a jungle expedition in search of a rare alloy called trinauxite, the Quest team is forced to do battle against the monstrous Turu. Veteran character actor Everett Sloane is heard as the villainous Deen, who is using Turu for his own sinister purposes. "Turu the Terrible" originally aired on December 25, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: The Quetong Missile Mystery (1964)
Dr. Benton Quest is summoned to the Southeast Asian country of Quetong by the local police commissioner. It seems that four of the commissioner's best men have disappeared without a trace while investigating the mysterious deaths of thousands of fish. In their own efforts to get to the bottom of things, the Quests stumble upon a secret missile base, hidden in a treacherous swamp. The last of the "original" Jonny Quest episodes to be produced -- though not the last one shown in prime time on ABC -- "The Quetong Missile Mystery" was originally broadcast on February 11, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Monsters in the Monastery (1964)
The tiny Himalayan village of Khumjug is being terrorized by what seems to be a race of Abominable Snowmen. Investigating the phenomenon, the Quest team discovers that there is a lot more to the story than meets the eye. Henry Corden, later the voice of Fred Flintstone, growls his way through the role of the fearsome "yeti." "Monster in the Monastery" was originally telecast on March 4, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: The Mystery of the Lizard Men (1964)
Originally telecast September 18, 1964, "The Mystery of the Lizard Men" was the third episode of Jonny Quest to be filmed, but the first one to be shown. Dr. Benton Quest is called in to investigate when five fishing boats are blown out of the Sargasso Sea. According to survivors, the ships have been destroyed by a mysterious light beam. Naturally, Quest's son, Jonny, finds himself in the thick of things when the laser-wielding villains -- frogmen dressed in lizard suits -- rear their ugly heads. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Antarctic Splashdown (1964)
Protected by a high-tech aerial umbrella, Jonny Quest accompanies his father, Benton, to Antarctica, where the elder Quest intends to look into another baffling mystery. This time, a missile has gone off course for no discernable rhyme or reason. Things get hot in the snowy wastes for Jonny, Benton, Race Bannon, and Hadji when a gang of enemy spies try to put the heroes "off course" as well -- permanently. "Antarctic Splashdown" was originally telecast on September 25, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: The Curse of the Anubis (1964)
Dr. Quest is invited to Egypt by a duplicitous would-be dictator named Ahmed, who claims to have unearthed the legendary lost city of Ghiva. What starts out as a standard seek-and-verify mission becomes a horrifying experience for Quest's son, Jonny, when a sacred mummy statue apparently comes to life. The musical score by Hoyt Curtin is especially impressive this time out. "The Curse of the Anubis" made its first network appearance on October 2, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Pursuit of the Po-Ho (1964)
Jonny Quest accompanies his father to the jungle, where Emil Harman, a friend of Dr. Quest's, has disappeared. It turns out that Harman is in the clutches of the infamous Po-Ho tribe. Not unexpectedly, Dr. Quest is also captured and slated to be "guest of honor" at a human sacrifice. It is up to Jonny, Race Bannon, and Hadji to come to the rescue. "Pursuit of the Po-Ho" originally aired on October 9, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Treasure of the Temple (1964)
There's a rumor afoot that a fabulous treasure is hidden in the lost Mayan city of Malatan. The Quest team -- Dr. Benton Quest, son Jonny, Race Bannon, and Hadji -- are asked to investigate. Their lives are promptly endangered by greedy treasure hunter Perkins and his murderous henchman, Montoya. A chase through an underground cave and pack of hungry alligators brings this adventure to a rousing conclusion. Henry Corden, the future voice of Fred Flintstone, is heard as Montoya. "Treasure of the Temple" was first broadcast on October 23, 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Pirates from Below (1965)
Manning his new experimental submarine, Dr. Quest embarks upon an underwater expedition. Back on the surface, Jonny Quest and Race are kidnapped by pirate chieftain Svedri and his not-so-merry crew. The two good guys are held for ransom, with the high-tech submarine as the "payoff." Making good use of the familiar Hanna-Barbera underwater "blur" effect, "Pirates from Below" was initially broadcast on January 14, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Werewolf of the Timberland (1965)
The Quests are dispatched to the forests of Canada, there to search for a rare form of petrified wood. Exploring on their own, Jonny Quest and his friend, Hadji, stumble across the lumber-mill headquarters of a gold-smuggling gang -- which is apparently guarded by huge and surly werewolf. As usual, the background art in this episode is markedly superior to the animation. "Werewolf of the Timberland" was originally networkcast on January 7, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Attack of the Tree People (1965)
A shipboard fire forces Jonny, Dr. Quest, Race, Hadji, and Bandit to accidently maroon themselves on an unchartered island. The heroes are sought out by a duo of gunrunners named Silky and Chopper, who intend to hold Jonny and Hadji for ransom. In true Tarzan fashion, Jonny and company are shielded from harm by a band of friendly, tree-dwelling apes. "Attack of the Tree People" made its first network appearance on January 21, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: The Invisible Monster (1965)
In a typical Jonny Quest plot device, a well-meaning scientist's experiments go horribly awry. This time around, Dr. Isaiah Norman has created an invisible monster made of pure energy. The Quests try to exert a large measure of damage control as the monster goes on a rampage, absorbing everything -- and everyone -- in its path. John Stephenson, the original voice of Dr. Benton Quest, is here heard as the benighted Dr. Norman. "The Invisible Monster" originally aired on January 28, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: The Devil's Tower (1965)
The Quests are in Africa, where Dr. Benton Quest intends to use a state-of-the-art weather balloon for an experimental flight deep into jungle territory. The balloon lands atop an otherwise inaccessible mountain peak, currently the domain of a snarling Nazi war criminal named Von Dueffel. The heroes find their lives in dire jeopardy when they discover that the villain is forcing the local natives to work his diamond mine. "The Devil's Tower" made its ABC network bow on February 4, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: The House of the Seven Gargoyles (1965)
The Quests head to the fjords of Norway, where something very strange is happening at Raklev Castle. According to the locals, the castle's gargoyles have come to life to terrorize the territory. Jonny and his friends soon discover, however, that the "monsters" are actually human spies, who dearly covet a new anti-gravity device being developed by a Norwegian scientist. The background art in this episode has been singled out by many reviewers as some of the finest graphic renderings ever to emerge from the Hanna-Barbera cartoon factory. "The House of the Seven Gargoyles" originally aired on February 18, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Terror Island (1965)
The beautiful fortune hunter Jezebel Jade once again crosses paths with the Quests, this time in Hong Kong. Race Bannon seeks the aid of his erstwhile lady friend, Jezebel, when Dr. Quest is kidnapped by mad scientist Chu Sing Ling, who has created a species of giant animals. This time around, the character design is particulary compelling, ranging from the sexy Jezebel Jade to the hideous monstrosities in the final scenes. "Terror Island" made its network broadcast debut on February 25, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: The Sea Haunt (1965)
In the Java Sea, the Quest team -- Jonny, Dr. Benton, Race, and Hadji -- come across the "Star of Borneo," a disabled freighter carrying a mysterious cargo. Investigating, the party comes to the conclusion that the crew was killed by some sort of sea monster. The truth, however, turns out to be even more frightening. Keye Luke, the inimitable "Number One Son" of the Charlie Chan movies, provides the voice of a Chinese cook -- named Charlie. "The Sea Haunt" originally aired on March 11, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Riddle of the Gold (1965)
The first Jonny Quest series came to an end with the episode titled "Riddle of the Gold," which was originally slated to be shown as episode five. The Quests' perennial adversary, Dr. Zin, is back, this time plying his perfidy in India. Investigating a gold mine that has suddenly become active years after it was tapped out, Dr. Quest and his son, Jonny, discover that Dr. Zin has hatched a scheme to become the wealthiest man in the world by manufacturing synhetic gold. The good guys' task now is to live long enough to notify the authorities. Originally telecast in the middle of "rerun season" on April 15, 1965, "Riddle of the Gold" would be the last first-run Jonny Quest episode to be telecast until the property was revived by Hanna Barbera in 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jonny Quest: Nightmares of Steel (1986)
A middle eastern shiek is being terrorized by a band of outlaws riding robotic horses. Dr. Quest is summoned to put an end to the villains' activities. Only trouble is, the steel nags are completely impervious to weapons -- and they also have the capacity to kill. First broadcast on September 21, 1986, as part of the "Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera" syndicated series, "Nightmare of Steel" was later incorporated in the standard Jonny Quest package, along with the "classic" episodes from 1964-1965. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi