In Memoriam: Joe Ruby and Ken Spears

I’m going to list these two together, even though Mr. Ruby passed away a few months ago and Mr. Spears died just last week. The two men are inextricably linked, and while it’s sad that they’ve left us, it’s appropriate that they both made their exits from the mortal stage so close together. It’s sorta like a married couple who’ve been together for years and years who die within days, sometimes even hours, of one another. One goes with the other so much it’s awkward to have just one of them around.

You know who Ruby and Spears are, right? Chances are you owe a big debt of gratitude to these guys for your childhood. Ruby and Spears were the creators of Scooby-Doo, along with serving as producers for JABBERJAW, DYNOMUTT, FANGFACE, THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN, SATURDAY SUPERCADE, THE PLASTIC MAN COMEDY-ADVENTURE HOUR, and the MR. T and ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS cartoons. Man, just typing out that list has got me in all the feels! Nostalgia!

Thank you, Joe and Ken, for making the Saturday mornings of my childhood magical.

Pictured are the werewolf from the season one episode “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Werewolf” of SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? and Fangface.

By The Evil Cheezman

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS (www.evilcheezproductions.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/evilcheezproductions), specializing in theatrical performances and haunted attractions. He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. His first novel, THE CONFESSIONS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER: WEREWOLF, is available for purchase at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/734763 MORTUI VELOCES SUNT!

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