Gerald McBoing Boing Show, The

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1 9 5 8 (USA)

The popular US cartoon series The Gerald McBoing Boing Show was first seen as a Sunday afternoon children’s programme, and for a short time in 1958, as an early evening offering on the CBS network.

The series featured a curly-headed little character named Gerald McBoing-Boing, who could not speak, but communicated by using gestures and various noises (most of which sounded like “boing boing”).

Announcer/moderator Bill Goodwin was always on hand to translate what Gerald was trying to say when it became difficult to understand him.

The show was very successful with young viewers – and even many adults – for the entire time it was aired.

The character of Gerald McBoing Boing originated in a story by Doctor Seuss, author of children’s classics like Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat.

Gerald was introduced to the public in 1950 in a movie cartoon that won an Academy Award. United Productions of America (UPA) subsequently produced a series of theatrical films featuring the character, distributed by Columbia Pictures.

After the success of his theatrical shorts, McBoing-Boing moved to the small screen. The TV series comprised UPA theatrical material and freshly conceived scripts.

In addition to Gerald, who served as host, the show also included the animated adventures of ‘The Twirlinger Twins’ (two identical girls who sang in unison but acted in disharmony) and ‘Dusty of the Circus’ (about a boy’s adventures under the big top).

Educational segments included ‘Meet The Artist’, ‘Meet The Inventor’ and ‘Legends of Americans in the World’.

Much was made of the musical elements and most of the songs and instrumental pieces were written especially for the show.

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