Clutch Cargo was an animated television series produced by Cambria Productions and syndicated beginning in March 1959. Because of budgetary limitations and the pressure to create television animation within a tight time frame, the show was the first to use the "Syncro-Vox" optical printing system. Syncro-Vox was invented by television cameraman Edwin Gillette (d. September 30, 2003 at age 94) as a means of superimposing real human mouths on the faces of animals for the popular "talking animal" commercials of the 1950's.
In "Clutch Cargo," live-action human lips were superimposed over limited-motion animation or even motionless animation cels. To further cut costs, action was simulated not by animation but in the real-time movement of either the camera or the cel itself. Other live-action shots were superimposed as a means of adding a certain degree of realism and to keep production costs down. For example, footage of real smoke was used for explosions and that of a latex toy balloon was pressed into sevice as a bubble gum bubble.
The rather well-written and fondly remembered stories centered around Clutch Cargo (voiced by Richard Cotting ), described as "a writer and pilot with a muscular build, white hair and rugged good looks." As was typical of adventure serials, Clutch Cargo was sent around the world on dangerous assignments. With him on the assignments were his young ward "Spinner" and his pet dachshund, "Paddlefoot." Actress Margaret Kerry, who provided the look, style and movement of Tinker Bell in the 1953 Walt Disney Studios production of Peter Pan, provided both the voices and lips of Spinner and Paddlefoot. Live-action footage of an airplane was used as well, specifically that of a rare 1929 Bellanca C-27 Airbus. Only twenty C-27's were produced.
Hal Smith, who portrayed "Otis Campbell" on The Andy Griffith Show was the voice of Clutch's grizzled, pith-helmeted friend "Swampy."
In all, fifty-two Clutch Cargo adventures were produced and then serialized in five five-minute chapters each for a total of twenty-six half-hour shows. The first four chapters naturally ended in cliffhangers with the fifth chapter concluding the adventure.
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