'Tom, Jerry, Benny & Ernie'

Thinking back to my earliest memories of Christmas in the 70's is impossible to do without remembering the hi-jinks of the cartoon characters that were constantly on television then. 'Wacky Races', 'Stop The Pigeon', 'Pepe Le Phew', Daffy Duck', Top Cat', 'Dangermouse', 'Buggs Bunny', 'Ivor The Engine', Michael Bentine's Potty Time', 'Foghorn Cleghorn', 'Trumpton', 'Camberwick Green', 'The Magic Roundabout' and so many others all bring an instant smile to my face!

The one cartoon that always used to make you laugh though was 'Tom & Jerry'. They were almost like the cartoon version of the bit at the end of every Benny Hill show where he perpetually got chased by all and sundry. However many times you'd seen the same joke and same slapstick stunts it was impossible not to laugh your head off! 

While there was an element of violence in the Tom & Jerry cartoons a lot of it was balanced out with a healthy amount of humour and the way little Jerry pulls faces and blow raspberries at Tom whenever he gets away is still incredibly funny today. So many of todays kids television is full of combat, weapons, fighting and big explosions the humourous side of things seems to have fallen by the wayside. I think thats a real shame and in spite of what the 'so called experts' say, I still don't think it is healthy viewing for young people to grow up watching violent cartoons that appear to make violence acceptable.

Take a look at this Christmas Tom & Jerry cartoon  and you will see what I mean...

Oh, and while we are on the subject of dear old Benny Hill (GOD knows how he would have coped in todays PC world!) he had the Christmas No 1 in 1971 with this hilarious little ditty...

Poor old Ernie! They won't forget him!