The episode amusingly portrayed the era’s affection for that crazy new fad known as rock ‘n’ roll music, and also introduced the earworm, “Eep Opp Ork Ah Ah.”
Meet George Jetson… and Jet Screamer
Irate after a typical three-hour daily office grind, and tangling with ‘Sunday astronaut’ drivers on the jammed spaceway, George Jetson (George O’Hanlon), family man of the 21st century, is in need of peace when he homes in on the Sky Pads Apartments in the second episode of “The Jetsons.”
Instead of peace, George is nearly deafened by the blare of teen daughter Judy (Janet Waldo) and her friends doing the “Solar Swivel” (an advanced Twist) on an anti-gravity floor as their singing idol vocalizes on the wall-to-wall TV in “A Date with Jet Screamer.”
When the animated dad later learns that Judy is mailing a lyrics contest entry in hopes of winning a date with the idol, he substitutes a lyric that’s sure to lose.
Two songs, “Solar Swivel” and “Eep Opp Ork Ah Ah,” composed by co-producer William Hanna with Hoyt Curtin, are sung by veteran comedian Howard Morris, the voice of Jet Screamer.
Jetsons noisy song hit material
From “Jingo points up need for more TV creativity,” published in the Post-Crescent (Appleton, Wisconsin), October 2, 1962
“Eep Opp Ork Ah Ah!” Those of us watching The Jetsons Sunday night may have seen history made.
It is hard to believe that the “song” (?) introduced in the Jet Screamer story won’t catch on and become an ever-present annoyance in the currently classic tradition of “Sheila, OOOOH, OOOH.”
Regardless of the outcome of the piece, it did have a certain impact in its introduction. And why shouldn’t it be a hit?
The Jetsons as a program has the same kind of promise. Admittedly, it is an imitation — or adaptation — of the smash Flintstones. But a good deal more imagination and creation seem to be going into the show.
The Screamer bit is a good example of that creativity. It seems unreasonable that cartoon characters should have to be restricted to everyday limitations. Even with the futuristic setting taken into consideration, The Jetsons gleefully jump all the restrictions.
There is one sad note. With all of the technical advances pictured in the cartoon, are we to stand pat on such things as the Screamer? If the Elvis type is here to stay, what can we look forward to?
The Jetsons – Jet Screamer video of “Eep Opp Ork Ah Ah”
Eep Opp Ork Ah Ah lyrics
Eep
Opp
Ork
Ah ah
Get in the capsule, baby
We are blasting off
Eep opp ork ah ah (whooooooo)
Eep opp ork ah ah (whooooooo)
Eep opp ork ah ah
And that means I love you
Well now, I took my baby for a ride in space
(Eep opp ork ah ah)
And met a funny little man with a funny face
(Eep opp ork ah ah)
He taught us both to wail this way
(Eep opp ork ah ah)
And nobody digs a word we say
(Eep opp ork ah ah)
Eep opp ork ah ah (whooooooo)
Eep opp ork ah ah (whooooooo)
Eep opp ork ah ah
And that means I love you
Yeah, I read my baby loud and clear
(Eep opp ork ah ah)
She just said I love you dear
(Eep opp ork ah ah)
Now when I reply the way I do
(Eep opp ork ah ah)
I just said I love you, too
Come fly with me
Up high with me
Come on fly with me
And now eep opp ork means I dig you.
Tou heard the word that crazy word
That word you heard
Eep opp ork means I love you
Hop on baby, I’ll put you in orbit
