A while ago, someone posted a survey here and one of the questions asked what our favorite children's TV show was when we were growing up. I thought that was a great question and thought it might be fun to elaborate on that.
If I remember correctly, a lot of people said that "Captain Kangaroo" was their favorite show. I liked some things on that show -- I think they had the cartoon "I know my name is Simon, and the things I draw come true." I remember Mr. Moose, Bunny, and the clock, and Picture Pages. Sometimes my brothers and I like to make obscure TV references, and recently one of us brought up the Toothbrush Family. We started laughing..."oh yeah! I remember that!"
I probably watched "Sesame Street" and "Electric Company" the most. I particularly liked "Electric Company" because of my fascination with words. I remember some of the skits/cartoons and songs they had on there, like "Letterman" and "Silent e": "Turn a 'can' into a 'cane,'" etc. As a kid, I remember wanting to learn how to read and being interested in how words are spelled. Now as an adult, I'm an editor and I work with words every day.
P.S. Oh yeah, a couple years ago, I bought a DVD of all the "Schoolhouse Rock" cartoons. Of course, being an editor, I love the "Grammar Rock" songs the best: "Conjunction Junction, what's your function?" and "Lolly, lolly lolly, get your adverbs here."
Posted by: smartin Date posted: Wed Jul 16 9:27:28 2008
Message: Thank you for your responses, everyone! This trip down memory lane has been fun!
Posted by: Zach Date posted: Wed Jul 16 3:20:43 2008
Message: YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON TELEVSION
Posted by: rushlan Date posted: Tue Jul 15 21:24:58 2008
Message: While Reading Rainbow was not on when I was a child I used to watch it with my nephew and I always thought it was a terrific show. LeVar Burton is just wonderful as the host. I am really surprised not to see this anywhere else in the responses.
Posted by: Mz Chris Date posted: Tue Jul 15 19:54:38 2008
Message:
I bought the Shoolhouse Rocks cd too lol. My favorite two are ''Conjunction junction'' and the one how a bill becomes a law 'but today I am still just a bill...'
Posted by: Pronoun Date posted: Tue Jul 15 19:21:27 2008
Message: It's HOWDY DOODY TIME! Then there was one with Maggie Muggins that I always watched. My friend Flicka, I was so jealous. I wanted to ride Flicka and be on TV. I used to put a pillow on the bannister and ride my imaginary horse, lol. And of course in Canada every kid watched the Friendly Giant and Mr. Dressup.
Posted by: Peridot Date posted: Tue Jul 15 18:39:44 2008
Message: When I was a real little girl Captain Kangaroo was my favorite show. I loved Mr. Green Jeans and all his animals, Bunny and Mr. Moose, Dancing Bear, and most of all, the classical music they played along with their sketches. Back then I didn't know what it was, I just wanted to tune in to hear those beautiful sounds. Other shows I liked were The Lone Ranger and The Mickey Mouse Club. My cousin and I liked the fact that two of the girls had the same names we did.
Posted by: faysie Date posted: Tue Jul 15 18:15:12 2008
Message: Anybody remember 'Razzle Dazzle'?? (I'm not sure if I'm spelling that correctly). This was a show that came on in the early-mid '60s. The main host was Al Hamel (Suzanne Sommers husband). For some reason I thought this show - and Al - were great! I was about 12 at the time.
Posted by: Kathy from Maryland Date posted: Tue Jul 15 17:55:34 2008
Message: For me, the (original) Mickey Mouse Club was #1. I loved the series they had on the show, Corky and White Shadow, The Hardy Boys, Spin and Marty, to name a few. I loved Fridays when they had Talent Round-Up day and loved how the Mouseketeers were dressed. A few years ago, I bought a DVD of the show, with the different openings from the 5 weekdays. Wouldn't you know it....Friday's Talent Round-Up opening was replaced with a different day's opening. I was so bummed out! I also liked Captain Kangaroo and the Tom Terrific cartoons.
There wasn't a Sesame Street or Electric Company until I was babysitting age. I remember very clearly watching Captain Kangaroo. I loved it when all those ping pong balls fell on the bunny! I also remember Romper Room. Remember when the lady used to look into her magic mirror and she'd say..."I see Billy and Bobby and Susie..." I used to get so mad cuz she never saw GAIL! LOL
And those Do Bees and Don't Bees. Also, does anyone remember a show called Wonderama? We lived in NJ in the late 60s, early 70s (dad was in the Army). This show aired from NY I think. The host was Bob McCallister. My brother and I make references to that show all the time. If you've seen it then you will remember the "Finglehiemer" song. And "Does anybody here have an aardvark".
A few others that I remember and really loved were
Land of the Giants
Lost in Space
Here Come the Brides (with Bobby Sherman...anybody else remember that one??)
And those Do Bees and Don't Bees. Also, does anyone remember a show called Wonderama? We lived in NJ in the late 60s, early 70s (dad was in the Army). This show aired from NY I think. The host was Bob McCallister. My brother and I make references to that show all the time. If you've seen it then you will remember the "Finglehiemer" song. And "Does anybody here have an aardvark".
