mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
I grew up in an era when parents didn’t hesitate to use the television set as a babysitter. Back then, TV didn’t rot our brains, it simply “kept us out of Mom’s hair” for a few hours. How many of these shows kept you company as a child?
1. Sesame Street: The Surprising Rocker Behind the Numbers
Sesame Street was sort of the MTV of children’s programming when it premiered in 1969. There were a few adult “regulars” in the neighborhood, but the true stars were the Muppets – Ernie, Bert, Big Bird, Oscar, et al – and the various animated shorts and comedy skits. I already knew my alphabet and numbers, so I was a bit older than the target demographic of Sesame Street, but I still watched it regularly because the A.D.D.-soothing, rapid-fire graphics were mesmerizing. Plus, the songs were catchy. One of my favorite recurring bits was the “Jazzy Spies,” which featured a frenetic musical background while a singer repeatedly intoned the particular numeral being highlighted. The vocalist was none other than Grace Slick (of Jefferson Airplane/Starship), whose then-husband, Jerry Slick, actually produced those segments.
2. Zoom!: The show Michael Jackson was weaned on
If you break into song after hearing the Boston ZIP code 02134, you’re obviously a fan of Zoom! The show ran on PBS from 1972 to 1978 and was hosted by a cast of “regular kids” that changed every season. The Zoom-ers also encouraged viewer mail with suggestions for plays, games and experiments for them to attempt on the air. (And you thought Mythbusters was original…) The cast members introduced themselves at the beginning of the show by first name only, accompanied by a brief video clip that “described” them. (Anyone remember Bernadette and her “arm thing”?) Leon Mobley’s intro showcased his ability to play the drums, and years later, his skills were in high demand as a session drummer on various recordings. In the early 1980s, he was recording with musician Ben Harper in Los Angeles when he received word that an artist recording in the adjacent studio would be thrilled if he could meet “Leon from Zoom.” That artist was none other than Michael Jackson.
3. How Spiderman got Caught in The Electric Company’s web
The Electric Company made its debut in 1971, intended for an audience an age group above Sesame Street. The program focused on phonics and grammar, and the cast included a “Who’s Who” of future award-winning entertainers: Bill Cosby (who eventually used his tenure on the show as research for his doctoral thesis), Morgan Freeman, Irene Cara, Gene Wilder, and Rita Moreno (who bellowed “Hey, you guys!” at the beginning of each episode). Another recurring character on the show was Spider-Man, who was featured in a continuing series of skits called “Spidey Super Stories.” Marvel Comics allowed the Children’s Television Workshop to use their popular copyrighted hero free of charge. While the gesture seems altruistic, keep in mind that Marvel reserved the right to use The Electric Company logo and storylines in special editions of their Spiderman comics, a co-branding partnership that translated into huge comic book sales.
4. The Friendly Giant and the song that warms Canadian hearts
Millions of Canadian kids, as well as youngsters who grew up in border towns, remember looking up – waaaaay up – to watch The Friendly Giant. The story-telling tall guy was played by Wisconsin native Bob Homme, who was so low-key that he made Mr. Rogers look like a caffeine addict. “Friendly” always opened and closed his show by arranging the furniture in front of his fireplace to allow viewers to settle in – a rocking chair for those who liked to rock, and a large armchair for two to curl up in. The show’s theme song, “Early One Morning,” was voted the second-most recognized TV theme song in Canada, after “Hockey Night in Canada.”
5. Romper Room: The Golden Arches of Children’s Programming
Let’s face it…with a name like Kara, you knew the odds were pretty slim that Miss Sally would ever see you through her “magic mirror.” But I still watched Romper Room daily, just in case. Romper Room was sort of the McDonald’s of children’s shows; Bert and Nancy Claster came up with the original concept of the show, in which a teacher read stories and directed games for a group of preschoolers. The first Romper Room aired locally in Baltimore, but the program became so popular that the Clasters sold “franchises” to various local TV markets across the country. By paying a fee and sending a host/teacher go through a training course, a TV station in any city could broadcast its own Romper Room and give it a local “feel.”
Comments (16)
Comment
What? No mention of Kukla, Fran and Ollie?
posted by Todd S. on 3-28-2008 at 3:47 pm
Canadian Kid here and I must say Friendly Rocks! He is so soothing. I suffer from evil insomnia on a fairly regular basis and once I was watching TV going on 4 days no sleep, on the verge of hysterics I was so tired and Friendly’s music started. This otherworldly calm decended upon me as I listened to him arrange his chairs and I was asleep before Rusty was out of the bag.
posted by Lisa H on 3-28-2008 at 3:49 pm
My favorite kids’ show was “3,2,1 Contact.” The Bloodhound Gang was my favorite.
Aaaaand, now the 3,2,1 Contact theme song is my default song. For today, anyway.
posted by burgeon on 3-28-2008 at 3:54 pm
I used to love The Electric Company. Guess that’s why I am such a Grammar Nazi today. I’d love to see some posts on Square One TV - I loved that show!
posted by Leigh on 3-28-2008 at 4:11 pm
I missed Zoom! when I was glued to PBS in my youth, but I discovered its revival about six years ago. It’s pretty cool. And for my 2 cents, The Electric Company was the best show ever. I credit it with my sailing through English classes far ahead of other kids, with the great regular features like Letter Man.
Stronger than a silent ‘e’
Able to leap a capital ‘T’ in a single bound!
posted by Johnny Cat on 3-28-2008 at 4:19 pm
Here in SE lower Michigan, we were very lucky to have the coolest show ever in the 70s: Hot Fudge. It was totally 70s–the theme song was like, “Hot Fudge–right on!”. It had puppets and humans and they would sing songs, teach lessons, etc. I saw a retrospect on the show on PBS and those guys are still high. Awesome!
posted by TeacherPatti on 3-28-2008 at 9:52 pm
As a Canadian I must say that the Friendly Giant was an important part of my childhood. That being said the single greatest show for kids in Canada was “Mr. Dressup”! The man’s a freaking legend.
posted by James on 3-29-2008 at 12:27 am
What, no Great Space Coaster? With Speed Reader and Gary Gnu? I loved that show!
In Northeast Ohio, we had Hickory Hideout and a very creepy show called “Barnaby” which was a weird white-haird guy with an invisible parrot (I think?) and a couple of puppets against a blue backdrop. They would show Casper The Friendly Ghost cartoons.
Oh, and I used to hide so Miss Molly (or whatever her name was) couldn’t see me on Romper Room.
posted by Rachel on 3-29-2008 at 8:04 am
Romper Room was in color wasn’t it?
posted by Television Spy on 3-29-2008 at 12:16 pm
What about Captain Kangaroo? Mr. Green Jeans was The Man!
posted by RooFan on 3-29-2008 at 7:40 pm
Huge fan of Zoom and Electric Company. I also loved the Schoolhouse Rock commercials on Saturday mornings and they had some pretty impressive musicians involved as well.
Anybody know the name of the children’s show that had that huge Hippo (Henrietta?) and an owl? They were costumed characters and seems I remember a gazebo and two real people in the show, but I can’t remember the name.
posted by Karen on 3-30-2008 at 9:31 am
The show w/ Henrietta was called the NEW ZOO REVUE. I vaguely remember it.
posted by Dan on 3-30-2008 at 2:56 pm
Yes, Henrietta Hippo was on the New Zoo Revue. The person inside the Charlie the Owl costume was Sharon Baird, who was one of the Mouseketeers on the original Mickey Mouse Club. And the mailman, Mr. Dingle, was portrayed by none other than game show host Chuck Woolery. (And yes, I know way too much about this show…my dad actually used to watch it every day just to see Emmy Jo in her mini-skirts…)
posted by Kara on 3-31-2008 at 12:07 pm
I remember all of these…and Captain Kangaroo, New Zoo Revenue (which was being rerun just a couple of years ago on some cable channel — Emmy and those boots!).
Anyone remember Villa Allegra?
posted by beth on 3-31-2008 at 12:47 pm
I was actually on the New York version of Romper Room in 1978. (yes it was in color) My parents put me on the waiting list the week I was born and got on when I was 5. Kids would do a total of 2 weeks on the show, with half of a new group every week. When you finished you “graduated” and received a dimploma, a “doo-be” ring, and a can of Hawaiian Punch.
I loved it!!
Our “teacher” was Miss Mary-Ann
Romper Stomper domper do.
Do you remember the magic mirror? ” I see johnny, and suzy, and …”
posted by Jon on 3-31-2008 at 3:53 pm
Thanks Beth. Now Villa Allegra is the song stuck in my brain. (Remember the carnival rides at the beginning?)
I loved ALL of those shows!
And it’s no wonder that our generation was ripe for MTV when it first came out!
I also love the fact that a lot of the shows I watch now remind me of segments from old kiddy shows. Like the aforementioned Mythbusters. And Unwrapped? Totally Picture Picture from Mr. Rogers wall.
posted by Shaye on 4-2-2008 at 10:08 am