Hi Guys -
I saw a picture of a parrot-like character on your site, but that isn't Pedro Parrot.
These characters arrived around 1978, I would think. We continued to use them through 1983, overlapping with the Shirt Tales characters. I believe the costumes were sold off - without employees knowledge! - around 1986 or 1987. I think Matt Brand (is that his name?) bought the costumes, but he had no idea how the pieces went together - what heads went with what costumes and feet.
Don't forget PacMan and Ms. PacMan - arrived in 1982 and used through at least 1984, for sure, maybe 1985. PacMan and Ms. couldn't speak, but they had a cassette player in the head that played the theme song. It was hooked up to some kind of battery. I remember at least once the whole thing caught on fire and got really smoky on the head! I never played PacMan or Ms. because I was too tall. You wore tights, and if the head was too high on your shoulders, well, you weren't covered.
Flapperz, the big clown, was allowed to drop his pants revealing his striped long underwear/jumpsuit. Maurice le Rat was an artist and carried an easel and brush. The costume was like a dress, with tights, so very desirable on the hottest days. Prince Ruppert was like wearing a carpet - hot hot hot - but great freedon of movement. Buddy Bear was also a rug. Pedro Parrot was so polluted by the stench of one cast member that no one but he could wear it for the entire season. Wheeler was just like Yosemite Sam in concept - big head and you looked out of the hat. Officer O"Malley and Casey Baseball were like that also. Sir Wilden Woolie was the nicest costume - I think that one may have been added later because it looked newer. He was supposed to be an English Big Game hunter - ha ha - but because of the Safari, he only shot with a camera. HockenSwipette is described as an older uncle who likes to steal kisses - can you imagine that 30 years later! Casey Baseball was a huge baseball.
I rarely had a camera in those days, but I can take a look in the attic.
I hope you included my favorite character in your book. Can you guess who that was? Tom should know.