Who knew that an entire show biz franchise would grow out of what should have been a one-off novelty record?
In the spring of 1958, singer and composer Ross Bagdasarian wrote and recorded a cute little tune called “Witch Doctor.” Bagdasarian released the song using his stage name, David Seville, and also using the gimmick of speeding up his own voice for the record’s infectious chorus: “Ooo-Eee-Ooo-Ah-Ah, Ting-Tang-Walla-Walla-Bing Bang.” The song surprised everyone when it raced up the charts and hit #1.
Bagdasarian’s follow-up, “Bird on My Head,” didn’t do nearly as well. But Ross was undaunted, and for him, the third time would be the charm.
He wrote a pretty catchy little Christmas tune. And this time, instead of just using one sped-up voice, Bagdasarian created three sped-up voices and named them the Chipmunks. “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas, Don’t Be Late)” became an even bigger smash than “Witch Doctor,” also becoming a #1 hit before the end of ’58 and saving struggling Liberty Records from bankruptcy.
With most novelty acts, that would have been the end of the story, but the Chipmunks went on to score two more hits the following year, “Alvin’s Harmonica” and “Ragtime Cowboy Joe.” Obviously, the Chipmunks’ main fan base consisted of Baby Boomer children. So, Bagdasarian recorded several Chipmunk albums of songs kids would like (“She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain,” “Pop Goes the Weasel,” “Home on the Range,” etc.). Those sold well and kept the Chipmunk name prominent through 1960.
It was then, that someone got the bright idea to turn David Seville and the Chipmunks into a Saturday morning cartoon show. Debuting on CBS in the fall of 1961, The Alvin Show revolved around the star Chipmunk and perennial bad boy.. Strange but true, on the show Alvin, Simon, and Theodore were cast almost as sons to the very human David Seville. They all lived in the suburbs in what looked like a typical middle-class neighborhood. The boys had their own recording studio in the house.
The Alvin Show also featured the adventures of inventor Clyde Crashcup and his assistant Leonardo. Crashcup’s specialty was inventing things that had already been invented and breaking down the names of his inventions into syllables (“That’s elec for elec and tricity for tricity… electricity!”). Leonardo could speak, but for some reason would only whisper into Crashcup’s ear.
To round out the half-hour, after each Chipmunk and Crashcup story segment, there would be a musical number performed by the Chipmunks.
Only one season of 26 episodes was produced, but CBS ran those shows over three seasons, an eternity for young Boomers. The show’s popularity in turn spun off even more Chipmunk albums and other memorabilia.
After Bagdasarian passed away unexpectedly in 1972, most thought that would be the end of the Chipmunks, but Bagdasarian’s song, Ross, Jr., stepped in and kept the franchise going.
In all the Chipmunks have released over 50 albums (not bad for a band that doesn’t really exist), notching 4 gold and 3 platinum LPs, countless movies and TV series, 5 Grammy awards, and a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
Currently, there is a disc consisting of 3 episodes of The Alvin Show available on home video.
