Something to watch on your vintage set.
 

Shout Factory had released a DVD box set of 1950's kids shows called Hiya, Kids.

It's got some interesting stuff including Kukla Fran & Ollie, Ding Dong School, Paul Winchell & Jerry Mahony, Roy Rogers & Robot Z-RO

Some of these shows are jaw droppingly cheap looking, particularly Kukla F&O (which has a terrific original RCA promo for the new 45 player included).

12 year olds with camcorders can make shows with higher production values nowadays but it's all fascinating to watch as a look into early TV history.

Public Domain is a wonderful thing. Get-a-show-make-a-copy-and-sell-it.

But Eric is right on the production values. As a long-time tv director, it is fascinating to me to watch these old shows to see how the great directors of the day did things. Some of these guys (and Ida Lupino) went to Hollywood.

The classic 1959 Peter Pan, in color, was done with two cameras and mechanical splicing. Same for Ernie Ford's "Mikado". It was a case of so many shows having to be cranked out that budgets determined studio facilities. Only then you would find the creative director that could work under that load and make good tv with no money, too few cameras, and a lot of rehearsals.

The TCM Sinatra series is a good example. First show...two cameras. Later shows get more cameras and more skill using them creatively. Dwight Hemion and Delbert Mann come to mind. A lost art among the few live directors still working that are not addicted to digital editing.

Dave A

As cheap looking as Clutch Cargo complete with the patented "syncro-vox" technique? ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qUNoCFA7n4

No, not that bad! :drool:

I watched Captain Z-RO last night and have to say it was great!
If I was a kid in the 50's seeing this on TV for the first time I would have been thrilled!

These 50's sci fi things always had some whiz kid involved with the Astronauts or Scientists doing exciting experiments with Robots or space travel, the episode on this DVD set had Roger the Robot, a big tin-can looking Bot with a tube powered brain!

http://www.captain-z-ro.com/

Nothing could be worse than Captain Video fighting the evil Dr. Pauli. How nefarious could someone be communicating in to a vaccum hose stuck in to a derelict RCA 630 chassis...which was new at the time.

Dave A

Gawd, THAT is the absolute, dig deeper than you should be able to, bargain basement, crap.

The worst part is that it's just plain creepy. They look like what they are: a fixed cartoon cell (frame) with a movie of a woman's mouth speaking.

Yikes! Mom, Clutch is wearing lipstick!

I get a kick out of watching stuff like that. Love it!
Dan

Kukla, Fran and Ollie
 

Has anyone bought the three volumes of early KFO episodes? Would love to hear some reviews!

http://kukla.tv/dvd.html

i must say i've seen some Tom Corbett space cadet episodes , its cheaply done but very entertaining , if you see the one with the war games with Frank Sutton there's what i found impressive for live no budget tv , they shoot the space torpedos at the rocket and live as it happens they have them hit the model and blow up and it worked , haven't seen captain video because of fear of what i've heard but will one day.
mister peepers is outstanding , its live with limitations and very entertaining , but there are others like suspense, tales of tomorrow and lights out , all this live stuff is limited but entertaining stories , reminds me of the original avengers with honor blackman and the original doctor who , limited to what can be done but the stories are done well , they are almost live but originally on tape then kine-scoped.
i left out the honeymooners , those what they call the lost are all live with no edits and are funny as the classic 39.