I can think of no more fascinating 1970s Saturday morning show than Filmation’s 1975 live-action Ghost Busters. Its short run of 15 episodes featured quirky, surprising stars, ingenious props and sets on a shoestring budget, and a sense of creative freedom rarely seen on children’s television.
The Dummy’s Revenge gave Forrest Tucker the opportunity to flex his song and dance skills, a rare treat for fans who mostly knew him from his straight-man roles. Many of the guest stars also had vaudeville and theater backgrounds, and they were given freedom to experiment and escape the stock routines that were expected of them in grownup TV.
Larry Storch liberally used his catalogue of impressions. Several guest stars gave their entire performances while using exaggerated foreign accents, while actor and dialogue coach Robert Easton played a WWI German aircraft mechanic with an incredible southern accent.
The sets and props were low budget, but with craft, artistry, and imagination that more than compensated. Prop pieces and costumes were repurposed between episodes, with the same broken pocket watch used in three episodes. The “hand brake” from one episode was the handle of a medieval weapon in another. Writer/creator Marc Richards penned two separate episodes where the “wooden steak” could be used.
A special note should be made of Bob Burns, who played Tracy the Gorilla. Burns wasn’t just a performer—he was (and remains) one of Hollywood’s most respected collectors of classic movie props and memorabilia. His legendary “Basement” museum, hidden beneath his Burbank home, has housed treasures like the original King Kong armature and the Time Machine from the 1960 George Pal film. Burns is also renowned for his Hollywood-class Halloween events, which became famous in the industry for their elaborate displays and authentic props, often attracting filmmakers, fans, and stars alike. His expertise and passion for movie history brought an extra layer of authenticity and fun to the show, and his gorilla suit was actually his own, saving the production both time and money.
Filmation Studios deserves special mention as the creative force behind the series. Founded in 1962 by Lou Scheimer, Hal Sutherland, and Norm Prescott, Filmation was known for its resourcefulness and innovation in both animation and live-action children’s programming. The studio’s name was coined because, as Scheimer put it, “We were working on film, but doing animation”; so putting them together yielded the portmanteau “Filmation.” Throughout the 1970s, Filmation became a staple of Saturday morning television, producing hits like Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, The Archie Show, and the animated Star Trek.
Lou Scheimer, the studio’s co-founder and a driving creative voice, once described the company’s spirit:
“We never had the biggest budgets, but we made up for it with imagination and a sense of fun. Everybody pitched in, and we always tried to give the audience something special.”
Scheimer also fondly remembered the camaraderie and improvisational energy on the set of Ghost Busters. He recounted how the cast and crew would often invent gags on the spot, sometimes using whatever props were at hand. In one instance, Scheimer recalled:
“We’d finish a script and the next morning, Larry Storch would show up with three new characters and a handful of voices he wanted to try. It kept everyone on their toes and made every episode a little adventure behind the scenes, too.”
Despite its brief run, Ghost Busters is remembered for its inventive spirit, the playful chemistry of its cast, and the behind-the-scenes magic contributed by legends like Bob Burns and the creative team at Filmation.
Crystal ball
Bowling ball
Cityscape outside window
Building dimensions one room
Telescope
Tracy’s hats
Oatmeal in the Flying Dutchman
Brooke Tucker and Shaun Cassidy’s stepdad
Tin Can Alley Building
Kong’s mysterious comings and goings
Zero and the organization
Gronk and Richard Balin