The Golden Age of Chicago Children's Television

What a collection of childhood memories all in one book! My favorite - chapter 14, An Arctic Blast from the Past Hardrock, Coco, and Joe was one of several Chicago Children Christmas shorts. I was able to purchase the DVD from the Museum of Broadcasting in Chicago which had the all four shorts digitally remastered. It included Suzy Snowflake, Frosty the Snowman, and Peter Cotton Tail. This book goes well with it along with the other book I purchased Chicago TV Horror Movie shows. I love how these books and DVD all compliment each other and bring such warm memories of my childhood... AWESOME

What a wonderful collection of memories for Chicago Baby Boomers. Reading through this book brought them all back. From the shows I had never really forgotten, "Garfield Goose & Friends" (I still can sing "Jingle Bells" in Latin thanks to Frazier Thomas) to those I had, like "The Blue Fairy". The authors explain the who, how and why of most of these shows with plenty of anecdotes on the behind the scenes highjinks and problems.While coverage is uneven, some shows get their own chapters while others get perhaps a paragraph or two, one feels that all the information still available was researched and presented. More photos would have been nice, particularly of the shorter lived shows. Sadly, the tapes of the vast majority of episodes are lost forever, as they were taped over in short order, the stations never dreaming of the future gold mine they were destroying. Sad also is confirmation of the passing away of so many of these wonderful hosts and performers. They weren't just grainy b&w images in a box, somehow they became our friends. Rest in peace, gentlemen and ladies.So, if you're a Chicago kid who grew up in the '50s or '60s pick up this book and bring back the memories.

Been so long since Elmer the Elephant and Garfield Goose have been gone that one forgets the names. Not to mention Family Classics Theater. And how about Romper Room and Lunchtime Little Theater (the precursor) to Bozo's Circus. Lots of good insight into the shows that blotted early TV in Chicago. Who knew that all the sky writing and incredible build up lead to Ray Rayner's "Dick Tracy Show" ? Too often the ad libs between Bozo, Sandy, Wizzo, Cookie and Oliver O. Oliver went over the kids' heads, to the delight of adults who happened to be watching. Read about it here.

I would not presume to write an actual review here. I just wanted to say that this book does meet my expectations. I expected to want even more and I was right. I enjoyed reading this loving memory of the authors and everyone they interviewed. There were many things of which I was, not surprisingly, unaware that went on in Chicago television, particularly behind the scenes and behind the camera. Thank you to everyone involved.

Lots of great childhood memories here. WGN TV in particular, was a staple of my childhood experience. This book is a charming remembrance of a simpler, more innocent time. It saddens me that there are generations who will never be able to enjoy experiencing these treasured children's television creations - TV today is so different.

I liked the coverage of the sixties and seventies

Not perfect but a stroll down early tv memory lane.Some folks were left out and others maybe given more prominence than needed - but it was written by a Chicagoan!

This book covers more than Bozo, Gar, and Ray. It covers all of the great kiddie programs we loved while growing up in ChicagoLand in the 50's and 60's. Boomers and their parents will just love this book! I sure do!