In the south, the term “Huckleberry” is slang for someone who is unsophisticated, perhaps even naïve. And that pretty much sums up the disposition of Huckleberry Hound, a good-natured and always-relaxed blue hound dog that was known for his deadpan delivery as he made witty observations about his surroundings -  when he wasn’t singing a somewhat tone-deaf version of “Oh My Darling, Sweet Clementine.”

Huckleberry Hound, which debuted in 1958, was the second cartoon series to be produced by newcomers Hanna-Barbera and the one that put the now-iconic animation team on the map. Legendary voice actor Daws Butler (voice of Yogi Bear, Elroy Jetson and Snagglepuss – to name but a few) gave Huck his familiar Southern drawl. Huckleberry Hound was usually out of work and many of the episodes consisted of him trying to find employment. Sometimes he searched in the modern era but he could also occasionally be found roaming around the past, perhaps during the times of the Roman gladiators or medieval knights. His resume included stints as a policeman, dog catcher and even a rocket scientist.

In the first three seasons, Huck shared his show with the picnic-basket-stealing Yogi Bear and his apprentice buddy, Boo-boo Bear. As his popularity increased, Yogi was given his own cartoon series and was replaces by Hokey Wolf, who, like Yogi, spent the majority of his time trying to outwit folks out of a free meal. Other regulars of the show were Pixie and Dixie; two mice whose favorite pastime was trying to outwit their feline nemesis, Mr. Jinx – a cat that “hated meeces to pieces.” Often the mice emerged victorious but occasionally the kitty won a round or two.

Huckleberry Hound holds the distinction of being the first cartoon series ever to win an Emmy Award (in 1960.) Although the series ran for only four seasons, it certainly wasn’t the last time viewers would see their canine friend. Over the years, Huckleberry popped up on numerous Saturday morning shows such as Yogi’s Gang, Yogi’s Space Race, and Laugh-A-Lympics. In 2005, almost fifty years after they were first broadcast, the first series of 26 Huckleberry Hound episodes were finally released on DVD.