A Zipper For Pee-wee Herman :: essays research papers fc

A Zipper for Pee-Wee Herman     Leaders in childrens television are and always have been bear on aboutwhat programs actually make it on the air. Most early programming for childrenof school age in the 1950s was the western program. Another type was thescience-fiction thriller which tended to be establish on heros from the radio,comics, and films. However, a favorite of the youngest audience was thechildrens equivalent of the variety show. This usually contained circus,puppet, and/or animal segments. "Super Circus", which aired in 1949, consistedof euphony, circus acts, animals, and of course, clowns.     In 1952, yet another type of program came about which r each(prenominal)ed a verysimiliar audience as the circus variety shows. It was called "The dent DongSchool". The Ding Dong School offered the conversation, low-key instruction,commercials, and entertainment of Miss. Frances, a professional teacher.    &nb spWith the help of these types of shows, a new genre was born. Childrenstelevision which was a mixture of songs, education, fun, and a whole lot more.In 1969, the first airing of "Sesame Street" took place. Sesame Street hadprograms which were sponsored by different letters of the alphabet or numberseach day, and relied on very short, animated cartoons with live and puppetsegments which kept the interest of preschool children. The show was aninstant outstanding success, and still broadcasts today.     In 1970, "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" was born. Mr. Fred Rogers usedpuppets and music to teach patience and cooperation, while providing guidanceto help children cope with feelings and frustrations. Mr. Rogers land ofmakebelieves handpuppet characters interacted with humans in the mythicalkingdom of King Friday XIII. There, the puppets and humans would deal withtheir feelings and emotions as they solve typical, everyday problems.    &nb spThis new genre of programming was a sensation. The children loved it,and the parents approved of it. During the following years, many new showscame about which still fit this genre. In the year 1986, yet another show wasborn into childrens television. "Pee-Wees Playhouse". This series, starringhost Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) used animation, puppets, and vintagecartoons to entertain and educate its audience. Between Pee-Wee Herman and hisextraordinary playhouse, children were abandoned the opportunity to let theirimaginations go crazy.     The "playhouse" had no permanent residents, that is, besides thefurnishings. Not ordinary furnishings, you see, Pee-Wees furnishings couldmove, talk, dance, and sing. These "characters" could be seen at theplayhouse on a weak basis. Some of the favorites were Globey, a talkingglobe who would show Pee-Wee the countries that his pen-pals letters camefrom Magic Screen, a toy of Pee-Wees that enabled h im to actually get