A research blog on the history of radio, film, television and classroom media geared towards children and young audiences through most of the 20th century.
It is great that ABC still airs "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" which just turned 45, however a look across broadcast and cable schedules shows that Thanksgiving specials are largely forgotten. MeTV has posted two really great lists of vintage family Thanksgiving specials that have not aired in decades.
One this writer fondly recalls from classroom viewings was "The Mouse on the Mayflower", a Rankin and Bass special that turns 50 this television season.
Birmingham Press, November 23, 1968. Television press for "The Mouse and The Mayflower".
According to some sources it was last released on home media in 1998 on VHS. There has not been a DVD release to date and all YouTube posts are copied from home VHS copies. Maybe next year.
Here are more highlights from the month of November
100 Years Ago Today
José Cuauhtémoc "Bill" Meléndez (November 15, 1916 – September 2, 2008)
Image from Cartoon Research. http://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/animation-anecdotes-182/
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even Valentines Day wouldn't be the same without the wonderful Peanuts Productions by Lee Mendelson and the late Bill Melendez that have aired since 1965.
November 14, 1936
Robinson Crusoe on Clipper Island the fourth serial from the newly formed Republic Pictures is released to theaters.This Saturday matinee serial premiered (or was made available) 80 years ago today. Not necessarily the greatest serial, but fun at times, with spies, old fashioned dirigibles, an athletic hero, an island princess, loyal animals and lots of outdoor adventure. The first Republic Serial was "Darkest Africa" premiered February 15, 1936.
November 23, 1968
Birmingham Press, Saturday, November 23, 1968
From Rankin/Bass came the "Mouse on The Mayflower" which premiered on NBC, by Tennessee Ernie Ford. There many not have been that many Thanksgiving specials to speak of but it would be nice to see this one and others back on television again. There will be more from this blog about Thanksgiving media in the coming week.
