The A-Z of kids shows we watched in the 80's!

[Deleted]

Starting today and (hopefully) lasting for the next 26 weeks is this thread. Each week we can discuss a selection of kids shows that we used to watch in the eighties beginning with a certain letter. In true kids show fashion we will start with the letter
A
Rather than just mentioning various superhero cartoons that we don't mind admitting to we will mention all kinds of kids programmes (well, I will anyway) including the ones some people are not man enough to admit to watching.

To start off I will begin with a dinnertime kids show featuring the seemingly kinky premise of a woman dressed up as a dog and living in a house with two men. Yes, it's Allsorts!

[Deleted]

Now for a cartoon that was probably more remembered than some of the other European cartoons circulating at the time.

[Hero]

I'm wondering about putting Alvin & The Chipmunks in, although I did not watch that show until the early 90's or at least it was'nt screened in the UK til around then.

===KEN

[Bogatan]

Wow Around the Worlds theme was remarkably uncatchy compared to most of shows I remember.

Did Alsorts theme have words? I was listening to it and not quite managing full sentences but filling in the odd word throughout.

Andy

[Hero]

Anyone remember Are You Awake Yet?

===KEN

[karla]

would BABAR count?

[Hero]

I reckon so.

[blueshift]

Whaaat? Around the World's theme was AMAZINGLY catchy!

[Deleted]

I've got a book that I acquired off a website that deals specifically with kids shows and I can look in it to find kids shows from the 80's like this one


and even ones that I can't find on Youtube
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alias_the_jester

[Deleted]

And now for another 80's cartoon based on a toy line that seems to have faded into obscurity: The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin!

[The Doctor]

I loved Teddy Ruxpin!

-Ralph

[Bogatan]

Did Ruxpin have an ongoing story? I always sensed it did but never watched enough to follow it.

Andy

[Deleted]

Some of the episodes had an ongoing story but others were just standalone episodes.

I mentioned in an earlier post of a book that I got off the web. This book is one that lists broadcast dates and episode titles for all kids shows made in the UK and can be purchased here: www.kaleidoscopepublishing.co.uk/books-childrens.html

The website also does a few other books on TV in the same vein which might interest some people here.

[blueshift]

I loved Teddy Ruxpin!

When I was really little, I had a dream that gherkins were made by the green troll wizard villain pooing them into a jar. That stuck with me for years!

[Deleted]

That's enough to put anybody off eating gherkins!

[Bogatan]

I always liked the look of the toy, it seemed very clever and futuristic, but it was one of those things that your not sure if your meant to want as a boy. Like She-ra toys and Care Bears.

Andy

[Deleted]

Piffle! Toys are for anybody. I had a gloworm toy as a kid!

[Bogatan]

So did I, quite a lot now that I think about it. Also had some She-ra, well the horde anyway and Care Bears lots and lots of care bears, mostly the little minatures. Probably Ruxpin was just too expensive in a straight choice between Metroplex and teddy, the TF wins every time.

Andy

[Deleted]

Ken mentioned at the beginning of this thread about Alvin and the Chipmunks. According to Wikipedia the show was made and screened in America throughout the 80's but I'm not sure about its UK broadcast. If anybody can find any info on this on the web please post it here. In the meantime however, here is the Wikipedia entry:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvin_and_the_Chipmunks_(TV_series)

[Kingoji]

I don't remember the year it was aired, probably early 90's tbh, but as a kid I had a huge thing for The Animals Of Farthing Wood.

[blueshift]

Animals of Farthing Wood was ace. The books they were based on were amazing too

[Deleted]

The Animals of Farthing Wood was an awesome cartoon (well, the first two series were anyway). They were all aired in the early nineties with the first one in 1992. I remember clearly them being introduced by Childrens BBC via the Broom Cupboard and they once held a competition to win an actual frame from the cartoon.

[Kingoji]

I used to have all the books as a kid, but I think I only have the ones that made up the first two series now. I remember being stunned that Owl, Weasel, Kestrel and Adder were all male in the books. I remember thinking, well this sucks, cuz now I can't imagine them with the show voices...

[Deleted]

I've never read the books but I hope to at some point. Some of the characters being different sexes does take the fun out of reading them especially after you've seen the cartoons.

[Deleted]

This week we are covering the letter:
B

And we will start off with a show from the very early 80's that was on at dinnertimes for preschool children. Probably not one of Brian Cant's finest moments but then he never really starred in a remarkable programme after the Trumpton trilogy. This is Bric-a-Brac and no Youtube entry exists for this one but a Wikipedia one does
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bric-a-brac_(tv_show)

Another more obscure show comes from the late 80's and I can't find bugger all about it on the net. I know I ain't making it up despite the tongue-in-cheek programme title. This one is called A Bear Behind and stars a backpack shaped like a bear that is worn on the back of human presenter and is actually capable of speech and movement. Surely somebody can remember this one ........ I hope!

Lastly, you can't cover the letter B without this superhero

[blueshift]

Here's one I bet noone else remembers, the Bobobobs. I remember it being on ultra early on channel 4 on Saturdays or Sundays.

It is most notable for having a catchy yet ridiculously long intro. Seriously, it was over 2 minutes, every episode!



Also in the realm of early morning Channel 4 cartoons was The Bluffers. The name of this show bugged me for ages as I couldn't remember, but recently I found it. It was about some woodland animals and their robot friends, and an evil rich man, or something, pretty standard fare. But the theme tune was fantastic.

[karla]

bananaman and animals of farthing FTW!!!

[Deleted]

I used to love watching the Bluffers on TV but so far I've only ever managed to find one episode in English on Youtube. The odd few videos of the series can be picked up off Amazon and Ebay but these only contain about two episodes each and aren't really worth the money.

[Deleted]

Today's contribution from me has to be Bertha

[Kingoji]

Hmm. I'm reaching on this one. How about Bigfoot And The Muscle Machines?