When I was young, there was a certain block of shows I'd watch every morning. In that block were such famous classics like Sesame Street, Romper Room, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, and Captain Kangaroo. Another staple of my morning shows was one that might not have been as famous, but was just as adored....The New Zoo Revue.
The New Zoo Revue was a syndicated, half hour, children's show that ran from 1972 to 1977 and featured creator "Doug" (Doug Momary) and his "helper" "Emmy Jo" (Emily Peden). The rest of the main cast consisted of three anthropomorphic animals who helped Doug and Emmy Jo demonstrate different life lessons.
There was Henrietta...a demure, southern belle type, hippo who loved to cook and wore a tutu, Charlie....a wise, inventor, owl who was very uptight and yelled a lot, and Freddie....a fun loving, younger, frog who wasn't very bright.
The set was like a little town where each person had their own home. Doug and Emmy Jo lived in separate houses (even though the two were, actually, married in real life), Henrietta also lived in a traditional house. Freddy lived in a grotto under the pond, though I don't think I ever remember them showing where the entrance was and Charlie lived in a big tree house that was accessed by an elevator. I remember thinking how cool that elevator was, when I was a kid, and wanting a tree house just like that.
A very cool casting bit of trivia was that the recurring character of Mr. Dingle, the elderly mailman, was played by a young (at the time) Chuck Woolery.
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| Not a great pic, but trust me....it's him! |
I mainly remember a lot of singing and dancing and Charlie the Owl chastising Freddie the Frog all the time. I also wanted a cool turtleneck sweater with a big "M" on it, too.
Ah, back in the carefree days of youth.
Honorable Mentions: Newhart, Nancy Drew Mysteries, Night Gallery
Tune in tomorrow for a pair of strange fellows........
23 comments:
Nope. Haven't heard of this one. All the others were a big hit at our house. Mr. Roger's always made me feel warm and cozy. Must have been that sweater.
I wish I had seen the New Zoo Revue, it looks like something I would have enjoyed.
I watched that show as a kid. Didn't know that was Chuck Woolery.
wholly-molly... i remember this, thank you it's been in my head forever and never could remember it. now a face to the nightmare of the frog coming to get me. i have something to share with my therapists. awesome.
I loved that show. Freddie the Frog was my favorite.
@Lee: True, I was always a fan of Mr. Rogers :)
@Rachna: It was cute in a non-Barney way :D
@Alex: I never did either, until I read up on it. Amazing where people's careers take them, though.
@Jeremy: Afraid of Freddy the Frog? Come on, man, if anyone you should have been afraid of Doug....he had that 'creeper' look about him :)
@Diane: He was mine, too, but Charlie's tree house made it a close tie :)
Whoa that rings a bell...
I remember Romper Room, but not this one--it looks super fun though!!
I loved that show! But you know, I never knew the name? I was talking to a friend the other day and trying to come up with the name, but all I could remember was that it had a frog and an owl.
I didn't see this one as a kid. Or as an adult. I was probably busy watching Dark Shadows...
I had a HUGE aversion to puppets as a kid. Muppets? I despised them. Sesame street? I put up with it because I had to. Of course, my attitude has changed as I've grown older. I mean, seriously? Muppets are flippin' hilarious! It's funny how our attitudes change with age, eh?
True Heroes from A to Z
I remember that show!
Is tomorrow's a bid odd?
When I was little, Sesame Street was the coolest show, of course the cookie monster was my favorite pal and I still love cookies!
Never saw that show but I did watch some Newhart.
I can still remember the theme song in my head, It's the new zoo review, coming right at YOU! Another one of my favorite shows as a kid! I am feeling very nostalgic over here!
The only one of those I watched was Sesame Street.
Odd that as an Australian I've never heard of Captain Kangaroo. :P
Once again, you have opened a sealed nook in my memory. Freddy's eyes always bothered me. They were just a titch too far apart for my comfort level.
There aren't fun shows like this anymore. (I never saw it, but I did watch a lot of older shows when I was younger and I still like them best, even with all the new ones coming out.) Someday I plan on watching Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood, mostly because I've read a lot about him and he sounds like a remarkable man.
I don't remember seeing this one. I would have put Night Gallery first. Loved that show.
I don't remember the New Zoo Revue, but Romper Room was a mainstay to watch with its magic mirror and Miss What's-Her-Name...
"Romper, bomper, stomper boo. Tell me, tell me, tell me, do. Magic Mirror, tell me today, have all my friends had fun at play?"
Enjoyed the blog btw!
@Cathrina: Hopefully, good memories :)
@Randi: Yeah, since it was syndicated it might not have had the exposure of a Romper Room.
@Elizabeth: Well, now you know....and knowing is half the battle. (G.I. Jooooooe!)
@Robin: Another of my favorites. I never knew, until I got older, that it was supposed to be a soap opera.
@Crystal: Awww...who couldn't like such a cute frog? It is amazing how we can change over the years, though :)
@Andrew: You are right on the money!
@Spacer: Indeed...how could you not like a creature so dedicated to cookies?
@Susan: I liked the Newhart where he was an inn keeper over when he was a psychologist, though.
@jaybird: It's one song that can really stick with you. I guess that's the idea, right?
@Trisha: LOL...that's a bit ironic, yes :)
@Leslie: Haha..yes, he did have sort of "crazy eyes", didn't he? I guess it comes from living in a pond...
@Jack: I'm not sure how Mr. Rogers would hold up, but when I was a kid, it was great. I hope you check it out and enjoy :)
@Julie: Oh yeah, Night Gallery was very cool. It scared me quite a bit when I was a kid, though.
@Helen: Thank you very much for stopping by :)
I really remember an evil frog in one episode and well the man in this show was beyond a weirdo... well looking in my windows kind of weird.
Never saw this one. But loved the Newhart show and Night Gallery!
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