Created by Fred Frieberger (producer of Star Trek Season 3 and Space: 1999 Year 2), the show was a rare foray into live-action by Hanna-Barbara and starred Jim Malinda as Korg.
A plaintive hunting horn, heard over a ruddy sunrise, signaled the start of something different on Saturday mornings in the mid-seventies. Clan Korg had arrived to take kids and kids at heart on a series of live-action anthropological adventures across the dangerous terrain of prehistory. Aided by consultants from both New York's American Museum of Natural History and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Korg ditched battling dinos and discovering fire for a more mature focus on the dawn of cooperation and compassion amongst our Neanderthal brethren as personified by it's pre-nuclear family. Korg is the patriarch of the clan, which includes Mara, his mate; Bok, Korg's younger brother; and Korg's three offspring: Tana, 15; Ree, 12; and Tar, 11. Together, they brave opposing tribes, cave bears and fire while discovering the roots of art, diplomacy and commerce in the world of 70,000 BC. Burgess Meredith narrates.
I'm not quite sure how I missed it, as I usually try to stay on top of releases from Warner Archive, but I guess they released the complete series of Korg earlier in December as a 2-disc Manufactured-On-Demand DVD set containing all 16 episodes.
I can't say I remember the show well; I rarely watched it, preferring the more fantastic primeval thrills of the Land of The Lost. But I do know that it had its fans among the era's Star Kids.
The discs can be ordered directly from Warner Archive or through Amazon: Korg: 70,000 B.C.
Thanks for the heads up on this. I will be ordering this dvd. I loved the series and haven't seen it in ages. The comics from Charlton were outstanding!
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Loved this show as a really little kid and had all but forgotten it... UNTIL NOW! Thanks to you and your post! Now I'm gonna order it and share it with my kids and friends :)
ReplyDeleteMy memory fails me here. I watched this show without fail but I remember it under the name the "The Neanderthals". There were a couple of the typical movies made out of episodes. These were reasonably accurate renditions reflecting the state of knowledge at the time. In fact- I thought it was superior to "Quest for Fire" although obviously not as slick. My favorite was the one where they have to found a new home after a devastating wildfire. As you said -not strictly speaking SF but nevertheless fondly remembered by this Star Kid.
ReplyDeleteAt last! Thanks for the news on this release. One of my favorites as a kid.
ReplyDeletewow. don't really remember this one but sure is great to get the tip!
ReplyDeletei love the odd, 'slightly out of touch' non-animation ventures made by Hanna-Barbera such as this and their Hanna-Barbera Records label folk and rock releases.
it's amazing how much lost, buried and forgotten stuff is out there and your blog is a Rosetta Stone!
forgot to mention....love the Toluca Lake accents and the polyester fur!
ReplyDeleteAnother must-have! Thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteI had the lunch box!
ReplyDeleteNever knew this was a movie but I had some of the comic books.
ReplyDeleteIt was a Saturday morning kids show.
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