Television - 2/22 - Retroland

In The News

If you grew up watching television on Saturday mornings in the 70s and early 80s, you probably recall the networks doing their best to sneak in a little educational material between the weekly doses of Super Friends and Scooby Doo. Over on ABC, they chose to teach us about grammar and government, thanks to the ever-popular Schoolhouse Rock. But if you happened to tune into CBS, news anchorman Christopher Glen taught you about current events via In The News. Running from 1971 until 1986, In the News enjoyed a respectable fifteen-year run and made us all a little smarter along the way.

F Troop

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Considering the adoration that fans retain for the fine soldiers that made up F-Troop, it seems impossible that the show only ran for a mere two seasons. And yet, in that short amount of time, the show was filled with so many memorable moments of silliness that it was destined to pick up numerous fans in later syndication. Perhaps the first parody ever produced of the Old West, F-Troop was a groundbreaking sitcom, fondly remembered for its wacky characters and “Anything goes” attitude.

The Six Million Dollar Man

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If anyone had any doubts that science fiction could be an enormous success in prime time, those doubts were put to rest with The Six Million Dollar Man. The story of a man who, as a result of a devastating crash in the line of duty, is put back together with advanced technology, then goes on to work as a secret agent, kept viewers (mostly young ones) riveted to their television sets for four years.

Jackson 5ive

Big Blue Marble

Muppet Babies

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Our dear friends, The Muppets, regressed back to infanthood in 1984 for their first foray into the world of animation. Produced by Jim Henson, Muppet Babies was an instant hit and enjoyed a run in various incarnations for six years, proving that this collection of furry friends had the Midas touch no matter where they appeared.

Tournament of Roses Parade

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You've dragged yourself out of bed after staying up late to watch the ball drop in Times Square. Somewhat bleary-eyed, you reach for the television remote to watch yet another time-honored tradition. Across the screen, a steady stream of flower-laden floats pass through thousands of cheering spectators. This isn't just any morning; it's the start of a brand new year! And what better way to kick things off than the annual Tournament of Roses Parade, live from the streets of Pasadena, California?

Clarabell

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What a travesty it would be to have a circus without a clown – something no less odd than a western without a horse. Such was the dilemma on the popular children’s show, Puppet Playhouse, featuring host, Buffalo Bob Smith and a lovable puppet named Howdy Doody. Taking place within a circus big-top setting, the show had everything a kid could ever want – except for a clown. That’s where Clarabell comes in...

Spiderman

Frosty the Snowman

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The folks at Rankin/Bass produced some of the most memorable Christmas specials of all time, featuring their innovative use of stop-motion animation in such hits as Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. But they turned to a more traditional hand-drawn medium to weave their fanciful tale about a snowman who comes to life, thanks to a magic hat, in their 1969 classic, Frosty the Snowman.