The Golden Age of Chicago Children's Television

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Summary: A wonderful trip through memory lane
Review: The Golden Age Of Chicago Children's Television tells the true story of children's television produced or aired in Chicago from the 1940's to the 1970's. Even though these shows often operated under strict budget limits, the imagination that fueled them was boundless. Classic productions such as "Fran & Ollie", "Garfield Goose", "Bozo's Circus", and more, truly captivated the imagination of generations. Black-and-white photographs illustrate The Golden Age Of Chicago Children's Television, which delves deeply into the amazing history and trivia behind popular and beloved shows, from the lives of stars and hosts to what gave television executives sudden fits and much more. A wonderful trip through memory lane and fascinating repository of little-known facts.


Rating:
Summary: Inside Look at Kiddie TV in the Windy City
Review: This lively and detailed history of locally produced children's television programming in Chicago, from the forties to the seventies, benefits from the writing and research skills of prolific film historian Okuda, and the experiences of co-author Mulqueen, who was THERE as a kid-TV personality & producer for three decades. The book gives equal and welcome emphasis to programs, personalities, and invariaby interesting behind-the-scenes stories of production, budgets, and technical challenges, as well as ratings and the myriad other business factors that allowed local kids' TV to flourish but which finally decreed that it must die. This is an attractively packaged volume, with smart, pleasing art direction and a generous selection of photographs. The book will be embraced by grown-up Chicagoans, of course, but also will fascinate people like me, who grew up elsewhere, but who have an interest in the art and business of television.