Yesterday my friend Erica and I were talking about television programs that we watched as children in the 80s. There are the obvious ones: Smurfs, Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, He-Man and She-Ra, etc.
But Erica brought this one up — do you all remember The Letter People? To be fair, it was a 70s show, but those Letter People taught us our ABCs and long/short-vowel sounds well into the 1980s in our elementary school classrooms.
That show got me thinking about some others that I remember from my childhood, that are sort of “forgotten” these days. Strangely enough, it appears most of them were produced in Canada for TVOntario. (Apparently I had a love for Canadians even back then, without knowing it…)
Hariet’s Magic Hats (1980-1986)
This used to come on our local PBS station (WQLN in Erie, PA) at some strange hour of the day because I remember I rarely managed to catch it, but I loved it. I was a super-imaginative child and the idea that a trunk full of old hats could take you all different places … heck ya, sign me up! I remember the puppet-parrot on the show very distinctly too.
The Polka Dot Door (1971-1993)
I don’t remember too much about this show except that I really, really liked it. (Um, WHY, I don’t know. Because it seems kind of lame now…)
Today’s Special (1982-1987)
I loved-loved-LOVED this show. I distinctly remember one episode where they were going to tear down the department store but Muffy (the little puppet-mouse) found a block in one of the walls that showed the date the building was erected, and it was declared a historical landmark so they couldn’t tear it down. (Strange the things that you remember…)
Sharon, Lois & Bram’s Elephant Show (1984-1988)
Again, I adored this show. I remember that Sharon, Lois and Bram would always go out on tours with a stage version of “The Elephant Show” and I always wanted to go to it. Never did though. Hmph. But dude, I can still do the “Skinnamarink-a-dinky-dink, skinnamarink-a-doo, I love YOU!” song (complete with hand gestures). But I’ll refrain.
So… what obscure (or not-so-obscure) shows do you recall fondly from your childhood?? Comment-away!
I swear, I think I remember that! Don’t forgot Jem and the Rockers! Haha :) Stopping by from SITS and hope you have a great weekend!
.-= Jessica’s last blog … Love Is…. =-.
Twitter: @mandi
Oh, Jem! Good one! I wanted to BE Jem. (Or Barbie from Barbie and The Rockers, if I couldn’t be Jem…)
Twitter: @shellthings
I LOVED the letter people. My son’s preschool actually had the letter people puppets this year and he LOVES them, too. We had to move and send him to a new preschool. Whenever we were visiting the different schools, his only question was “Do you have the letter people here?” and when they answered no, he said, “Okay, I’m not going to school here.”
.-= Shell’s last blog … Letters of Intent: They’re not going to be quiet =-.
Twitter: @salt_says
I LOVED Today’s Special!! It was my FAVORITE SHOW EVER.
I was also a fan of Romper Room and Captain Kangaroo.
This is such a great post! I’m waxing all nostalgic now. :)
.-= Salt’s last blog … The answer is: Chimpanzee on crack. =-.
I’ve actually never seen any of them. I remember Fraggle Rock, and Sesame Street, and Teddy Ruxpin. When I was a bit older, I really liked Ghost Writer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostwriter_(TV_series)
.-= Alexandra’s last blog … 12.21.09 =-.
Twitter: @isuck_atthis
I loved the Polka Dot Door and LOVED LOVED Today’s Special. I remember thinking Sam the Security Guard’s hair looked like french fries.
I loved the show Kid Video, where the kids from a band got stuck in an animated world.
I loved Zoobilee Zoo. Pretty strange show…atleast when I think of it now.
Twitter: @mandi
OH my gosh GOOD ONE. I totally forgot about Zoobilee Zoo!! I loved the theme song for it.
What a great post! Polka Dot Door, Sharon, Lois and Bram, TODAY’S SPECIAL?? Thanks for bringing me back hehe!
Kids today are so getting ripped off… you should see the weirdo shows my boys watch!
Twitter: @esterology
I don’t remember any of those, but I do remember Eureka’s Castle! And Dinosaurs, which was only on for one season – “NOT THE MAMA, NOT THE MAMA!”. I watched a TON of Sesame Street and Barney, I have to admit, but only because I have 2 siblings that are significantly younger than me. lol
.-= Ester’s last blog … In which you’ll need an open mind. =-.
Hey about Teddy Ruxpin as well as the ABC Weekend Special when it was hosted by O.G. Readmore?
Bring back Todays Special!!!! I would definitley rather watch that with my 3 year old than Imagination Movers!