Hoyt Stoddard Curtin ( September 9 , 1922 -- December 3 , 2000 ) was an American composer and music producer , the primary musical director for the Hanna-Barbera animation studio from its beginnings with `` The Ruff & Reddy Show '' in 1957 until his retirement in 1986 , except from 1963 -- 1973 , when the primary music director was Ted Nichols .
Hoyt Stoddard Curtin ( September 9 , 1922 -- December 3 , 2000 ) was an American composer and music producer , the primary musical director for the Hanna-Barbera animation studio from its beginnings with `` The Ruff & Reddy Show '' in 1957 until his retirement in 1986 .