From what I've gathered, this series came on Saturday mornings when I was three years old and too young to be watching TV at that time. It wasn't until the summer of 1982 when I first discovered this series. I was in Panama City Beach Florida on vacation with my parents and I turned on the TV at our summer cottage where we were staying and I came across the USA Network and a show called the Cartoon Express. They were playing old Hanna Barbera cartoons and I discovered Devlin.
Amazing to find out this show was inspired by Eval Keneval, but I guess it doesn't surprise me with the stunt suit that Ernie Devlin wore. Ernie Devlin, a very handsome and easy going guy is the star of the show and is voiced over by renowned voice actor, Michael Bell. He and his brother and sister are on their own since their parents were deceased. They travel with a circus and in their own RV. Ernie, the eldest brother,is the one in charge of the three and he is the big star of Hank's circus. Todd, Ernie's brother is the top mechanic who keeps Ernie's Bike going. He was voiced over by Monkees star Mickey Dolenz, who also did a voice on a cartoon called Butch Cassidy and the Sundnace Kids, a very forgettable cartoon in comparison to Devlin. And finally, Sandy is the kid sister. I don't know who did her voice. Finally, Hank, the Ringmaster and the boss, was voiced over by Norman Alden, the camera man from Ed Wood, the Diner owner from Back to the Future and best of all, the original voice of Aquaman on the SuperFriends!!! Alden apparently did this show in between the two SuperFriends series he did in 1973 and in 1977. Devlin was 1974. Oddly enough, Hank looked dead on like the late Jim Davis in his Jock Ewing role on Dallas, who oddly enough, Norman Alden acted in a scene with Davis in that series 3rd episode in 1978.
The episode that sticks out in my mind the most is the one I first saw in Florida. The one where Todd feels unappreciated for his work as mechanic and gets no credit and is considering leaving, but his mechanic skills help out when a tornado hits the town they are in. I know there is one where Ernie wrecks and his confidence as a stunt rider is weakened. And I recall one where Sandy goes to live with an aunt and uncle, but misses the fun she had with her big brothers.
I wish Hanna Barbera would release this series on DVD or I wish somebody could have recorded these shows and put them on youtube.com where I did at least find the intro.
Amazing to find out this show was inspired by Eval Keneval, but I guess it doesn't surprise me with the stunt suit that Ernie Devlin wore. Ernie Devlin, a very handsome and easy going guy is the star of the show and is voiced over by renowned voice actor, Michael Bell. He and his brother and sister are on their own since their parents were deceased. They travel with a circus and in their own RV. Ernie, the eldest brother,is the one in charge of the three and he is the big star of Hank's circus. Todd, Ernie's brother is the top mechanic who keeps Ernie's Bike going. He was voiced over by Monkees star Mickey Dolenz, who also did a voice on a cartoon called Butch Cassidy and the Sundnace Kids, a very forgettable cartoon in comparison to Devlin. And finally, Sandy is the kid sister. I don't know who did her voice. Finally, Hank, the Ringmaster and the boss, was voiced over by Norman Alden, the camera man from Ed Wood, the Diner owner from Back to the Future and best of all, the original voice of Aquaman on the SuperFriends!!! Alden apparently did this show in between the two SuperFriends series he did in 1973 and in 1977. Devlin was 1974. Oddly enough, Hank looked dead on like the late Jim Davis in his Jock Ewing role on Dallas, who oddly enough, Norman Alden acted in a scene with Davis in that series 3rd episode in 1978.
The episode that sticks out in my mind the most is the one I first saw in Florida. The one where Todd feels unappreciated for his work as mechanic and gets no credit and is considering leaving, but his mechanic skills help out when a tornado hits the town they are in. I know there is one where Ernie wrecks and his confidence as a stunt rider is weakened. And I recall one where Sandy goes to live with an aunt and uncle, but misses the fun she had with her big brothers.
I wish Hanna Barbera would release this series on DVD or I wish somebody could have recorded these shows and put them on youtube.com where I did at least find the intro.
