Clutch Cargo Volume 13

A surprise hit of late '50's children's television, the serialized adventure cartoon Clutch Cargo introduced audiences to the patented Syncro-Vox animation system. To keep production costs low, voice actors were filmed as they delivered their dialog, and their moving lips were superimposed over still drawings of the characters' faces. Richard Cotting was the voice of Clutch, while Margaret Kerry (the model for Tinker Bell in Peter Pan) played his pals Spinner and Paddlefoot. Hal Smith, best remembered as Otis on The Andy Griffith Show, provided most of the other voices.

Series creator and head writer, Clark Haas, was a test pilot before he was hired by legendary cartoonist Roy Crane to write and draw the Sunday edition of his popular newspaper adventure strip, Buz Sawyer. Haas brought his love of planes to Clutch Cargo, as evidenced by the care he lavished on the drawings of them used on the program. Acclaimed jazz flutist Paul Horn can be heard perfecting his chops on the show's minimalist flute & bongo soundtrack.

THE BLUNDERBIRD: Prehistoric birds, previously thought extinct, are causing havoc in the Amazon jungle.

THE CASE OF RIPCORD VAN WINKLE: A pilot who has been missing for 30 years suddenly reappears at an air circus.

THE FORTUNE COOKIE CAPER: Clutch receives a message that an old friend is being held captive in a fortune cookie factory.

BIG "X": A giant meteor hurtling through space threatens the lives of everyone on Earth. The last and most famous episode of Clutch Cargo, 'Big 'X"'s high-stakes storyline had Baby Boomer kids on the edge of their seats. "I still see the X!" remains a knowing catchphrase among fans of the show.