This Web page is devoted to Filmation's Ghost Busters live-action TV show, and the follow-up Ghostbusters animated series. I decided to build this Web page because not only I'm a fan of Filmation's Ghost Busters, but there are very few websites on the internet devoted in-depth to Filmation's Ghost Busters/Ghostbusters and I thought it would be neat to start one and have an in-depth review about the OGB's and follow-up animated series. It may not be the most fancy website that can be made, but it's all I can do. Something is better than nothing! So, let's go, Ghostbusters!

The beginning of "Ghost Busters" in 1975

Pictured from left to right: Spenser, Kong, and Tracy the Gorilla. The Hollywood idea of "ghost-busting" started way back in 1975 and Filmation produced a live-action children's comedy show titled "The Ghost Busters" starring Larry Storch, Forrest Tucker, and Bob Burns. The original Ghost Busters were named Spenser, Tracy, and Kong. Each episode would basically start with the Ghost Busters in their office and after some comedic moments, Kong would send Spenser and Tracy out in the old Ghost Buggy car to a store so they could be informed of their ghost-busting assignment. The funny part about all this is Tracy was the driver of the car! When they arrived at the store, Tracy would go inside and come back outside with an item that played a message from the myserious "Zero" and after the message was played, it would self-destruct usually in 5 seconds and blow up in Tracy's hands and face! Although Tracy always got stuck with the message blowing up in his face, years later he became more intelligent and inventive in the follow-up animated series. When the Ghost Busters would finally track down the culprit, they usually used a ghost-busting device called the "dematerializer" to get rid of the paranormal pest. Although the Columbia Ghostbusters movie was well-done, according to the internet, despite well box-office reviews, many still felt the Columbia Ghostbusters movie did not capture the same fun as the original Filmation TV series. This live-action TV series was a comedy classic, but was very short-lived. There was only a total of 15 episodes made and some of the acts in the episodes were repetitive, and some episodes were better than others, but this classic comedy did indeed start it all! I salute it.

The original Ghost Busters theme song lyrics: For those of you who own the live-action shows of The Ghost Busters on VHS or DVD and would like to sing along with the OGB's, here are the lyrics below. For an added bonus, I included a link to download the OGB live-action theme music below the lyrics if you wish! We're the Ghost Busters I'm Spenser... He's Tracy, I'm Kong! We're the Ghost Busters, We're clever, courageous, and strong! Your sleep has been haunted with whispers and rattlings, Your blood has been curdled, we know what to do, Your skin has the creepies, you wonder what's happening, You're safe in our hands, we will take care of you! We're the Ghost Busters, Spirits and Demons beware! The Ghost Busters, Wherever you're hiding out there! We know what you're up to, we're ready for anything, We're bold and we're fearless, and never complain, We're always prepared, we're right there with everything, With us on the job, Troubles will fade, The Ghost Busters do it againnnnnnnn! Note: The above lyrics are used for research and educational purposes only! The theme song is by Diane Hildebrand and Jackie Mills.

Note: Thanks go to YouTube.com for providing the above video link on the internet. This link is for research and educational purposes only!

The Ghost Busters TV series episode list: 1. The Maltese Monkey * 2. Dr. What's His Name? * 3. The Canterville Ghost 4. Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf * 5. The Flying Dutchman 6. The Dummy's Revenge 7. The Worthless Gauze * 8. Which Witch is Which 9. They went Thataway 10. Vampire's Apprentice * 11. Hyde and Go Seek 12. Only Ghosts Have Wings * 13. The Vikings Have Landed 14. Merlin The Magician * 15. The Abominable Snowman * You may print this episode list or above lyrics out for your personal use. Note: The episodes with an asterisk (*) after them refer to my favorite epidodes.

After the Filmation GB TV series - what happened?

Some of you may already think you know the answer to this complex question, but I decided to include this section so you can review it and understand more clearly what happened between Filmation and Columbia. There are various sources on the internet explaining what supposedly happened with Filmation and Columbia over the "Ghostbusters" title issue, and the follow-up RGB cartoon. However, the most accurate one to me, is an online interview according to Lou Scheimer who was CEO, President, and founder of Filmation Associates. According to Lou, what happened was when he read in the trades that Columbia wanted to do a film using the "Ghostbusters" title, Filmation got in contact with Columbia, and when they met, Columbia thought that "The Ghost Busters" back in 1975 was just an animated show and not live-action...and then there was a problem. However, Filmation made a deal with Columbia to give them the rights (non-exclusive license) to use the title "Ghostbusters" in the Columbia movie legally - for a fee of course. Unfortunately, Filmation only made 1% profit from the films! Years later, Columbia wanted to have a follow-up animated series based upon their GB movie, and at the time, a man in charge of Columbia was a former agent who worked with Lou in the past. Lou suggested to him that they should do something together for the animated series because they both had the rights, but the main problem was a parent company of Filmation named "Westinghouse" who explained that they didn't need Columbia. Lou thought that this was a bad idea because Columbia would have an animated GB series, and Filmation would have an animated GB series, and it would create public confusion and nobody would know what's going on?! According to Lou, that is essentially what happened. The article regarding all of this is linked below: The Trades - Interview: Lou Scheimer: A Candid Conversation with Filmation's Founder http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=5561 So, thanks to Lou Scheimer answering the questions in the article linked above, we now know what REALLY happened with Filmation and Columbia over the "Ghostbusters" title and the two GB cartoons. Thanks Lou for the clarification. Personal note: I myself respect Filmation because they came up with the Hollywood idea of "ghost-busting" first, and the name. Whether the name "Ghost Busters" is spaced or not, it's still pronounced the same. Although "The Real Ghostbusters" animated series was well-written and done, I think that Filmation's "Ghostbusters" animated series concept of a follow-up after the original TV series was brilliant. Filmation's Ghostbusters may be "cheesy" to some, but to others including myself, it's a "classic" cartoon. Okay, now that I tried explaining that little complex matter, let's move on to what happened next....the follow-up animated series based upon Filmation's live-action TV series!

The animated series of "Ghostbusters" in 1986

What was unique about this follow-up animated series is the original Ghost Busters Spenser and Kong, were in the first pilot episode training their sons named Jake (Kong's Son) and Eddie (Spenser's Son) and the OGB's were seen occasionally throughout the series! A screencap of the animated Kong and Spenser is shown below:

Pictured from left to right: Kong and Spenser! The OGB's! Their sons Jake and Eddie now worked with Tracy going ghost-busting in all-new adventures! Their catchy motto was "Let's go Ghostbusters!" and that motto was used in the song, and I must admit, that song is infectious and well-done. Their arch-enemy was an evil entity sorcerer by the name of "Prime Evil" who had a variety of spiritual servants that tried to stop the Ghostbusters who included: Scared Stiff, Fangster, Haunter, Misteria, Sir Trance-A-Lot, Apparitia, Captain Long John Scarechrome, Airhead, Floatzart, and Fib Face. Prime Evil had a tattle-tale pet by his side by the name of "Bratarat" as well. A screencap of Prime Evil's spiritual servants is below:

Pictured from left to right: Haunter, Apparitia, Misteria, and Scared Stiff.

The "Dematerializer" carried over into this animated series, and several other new ghost-busting weapons! Although many thought that the Columbia RGB series was far superior over Filmation's Ghostbusters, if you don't take this show too seriously and use your imagination, it's just as enjoyable. Afterall, it was designed to entertain mostly children. Plus, after each episode there was an important message to teach children a valuable lesson. If you're a kid at heart, you should get a kick out of this show!

Note: Thanks go to YouTube.com for providing the above video link on the internet. This link is for research and educational purposes only!

Filmation's Ghostbusters animated series episode list: 1. A Son of a Ghostbuster Part 1 * 2. Frights of the Roundtable Part 2 * 3. No Pharoah At All Part 3 * 4. The Secret Of Mastadon Valley Part 4 * 5. The Ones Who Saved The Future Part 5 * 6. Witch's Stew * 7. Mummy Dearest * 8. Wacky Wax Museum 9. Statue of Liberty 10. The Ransom Of Eddie Spenser 11. Eddie Takes Charge 12. Tracy, Come Back 13. A Friend In Need 14. No Mo' Snow * 15. Prime Evil's Good Deed * 15. The Haunting Of Gizmo * 17. The Headless Horseman Caper 18. Banish That Banshee * 19. Rollerghoster * 20. He Went Brataway 21. The Looking-Glass Warrior 22. Laser And Future Rock * 23. Runaway Choo Choo * 24. Dynamite Dinosaurs * 25. Ghostbunglers 26. My Present To The Future * 27. The Beastly Buggy * 28. Belfry Leads The Way * 29. The Battle For Ghost Command 30. Going Ape 31. Cyman's Revenge * 32. Ghostnappers * 33. Inside Out * 34. The Sleeping Dragon 35. The Phantom Of The Big Apple 36. Shades Of Dracula 37. Outlaw In-Laws 38. Our Buddy Fuddy 39. Train To Doom-De-Doom-Doom 40. The Princess And The Troll 41. Second Chance 42. The Great Ghost Gorilla 43. Doggone Werewolf 44. That's No Alien 45. Scareplane 46. The Ghost Of Don Quixote 47. The White Whale 48. Whither Why 49. Knight Of Terror 50. The Girl Who Cried Vampire 51. Little Big Rat 52. Really Roughing It 53. The Bad Old Days 54. The Curse Of The Diamond Of Gloom 55. The Bind That Ties 56. Like Father Like Son 57. The Fourth Ghostbuster 58. Country Goblin 59. Cold Winter's Night 60. Father Knows Beast 61. Back To The Past 62. Pretend Friends 63. The Haunted Painting 64. Maze Caves 65. The Way You Are You may print this episode list out for your personal use.

Futura - Ghostbustress of the Future!

Another thing I loved about this show is Jake, Eddie, and Tracy occasionally teamed up with a girl who had psychic and teleportation powers by the name of "Futura" and she was the ORIGINAL and FIRST Ghostbuster girl created in animated history! She was voiced by the talented voice actress Susan Blu who voiced Jessica Wray. Belfry the Bat, AND Futura! What a talent! Note: I have not seen the complete series, but the episodes with an asterisk (*) after them refer to my favorite episodes. The episodes with a purple asterisk after them (*) refer to the episodes featuring "Futura" because I'm a fan of her. =^*

Thanks go to Paul Rudoff for the use of a couple Filmation GB team images.

Filmation GB Web links:

Thanks go to tooncapone for the 5 great screencaps displayed on this Web page!

Send me an e-mail!

If you are a fan of the GB Filmation live-action TV series, or the GB animated series, I would love to hear from you! I'm open to consider suggestions you would like to see on my OGB Web page as well. E-mail: Ghost_Buster1975@webtv.net Last updated: August 18, 2008 By: Hans S.

Copyright Notice: © 2007. The content on this Web page The Original Ghost Busters Fan Page including original writings is protected by copyright and Copyscape. Please do NOT quote or copy any content of this Web page for any reason without my permission unless otherwise noted. All photos, are used without permission of their creators (who legally hold their respective copyrights), unless otherwise stated. Where known, any article, photos, and audio links include credit information. This Web page is in no way trying to infringe on the respective copyrights or businesses of these entities. The information contained on this Web page is being used for research purposes only, under "fair use" provision of copyright law.

Disclaimer: Ghost Busters copyright © 1975 Filmation Associates. All rights reserved. This Web page is in no way associated with any of the copyright owners and creators by any of Fimation's Ghost Busters TV series and Ghostbusters the animated series.

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