The Unsung Pioneers of Early Children's TV

[orion59]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 10:18am

Some of you are too young to recall any of these early cartoon characters who shaped the way young minds looked at other cultures. These are the pioneers.



Pepito, the Mexican side kick of Bucky, the blond all American cowboy kid. We never got to see Pepito's face. The theory was that all Mexicans look alike so, if you've seen one, you've seen them all. Pepito rose above this adversity and started the new wave of Mexican charcters on tv such as Bab-Looey and Pedro, all of whom wore oversized sombreros.



Pow Wow the Indian boy paving the way for Native Americans and their culture as later seen on shows such as F-Troop.



So-Hi was a great actor from China who taught us that Asians cannot pronounce the letter R. So-Hi was also the spokesman for an early cereal called Rice Crinkles, a precurser to Rice Crispies which was pitched by the very first tv elves. Yet another ground breaking moment for minorities.



Dodo the boy from outer space made us see that extraterrestrials could be fun and wacky. He made great strides in television and may be the perosn singularly responsible for the career of Robing Williams, having made wacky aliens acceptable.



Hercules, the first gay crush for many, even if we didn't know yet that it was sexual desire. Hercules was the first closeted gay cartoon charcter on tv. He never quite got together with the female elad, Helena. He preferred the company of gladiators in short togas.



Dancing Bear, one of the most talented dancers in history and a real trail blazer in equality on tv. Here he is dancing with Chita Rivera, an act that created a controversy not seen since Shirley Temple tap danced with a black man.

Feel free to add any that have been overlooked.

Updated On: 3/16/05 at 10:18 AM

[mominator]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 10:22am

Was Dancing Bear on Captain Kangaroo? I loved that show. To this day I can not say the words ping-pong balls without giggling.

Updated On: 3/16/05 at 10:22 AM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 10:34am

Oh my God, rice crinkles........it's funny how many of these cartoons would not be considered PC today....

[orion59]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 10:39am

Yes, Dancing Bear was on Captain Kangaroo's show along with Mr Moose and his ping pong balls and Grandfather Clock who taught us that senior citizens are senile and fall asleep in the middle of a sentence.

[Nina]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 11:34am

Dancing Bear was so sweet and cuddly looking and boy, could he do a great jazz split.
Updated On: 3/16/05 at 11:34 AM

[mominator]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 11:57am

Tee hee ping-pong balls (still funny!) I loved bunny rabbit and his never ending search for all the carrots!

[Jon]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 12:18pm

In the Hercules cartoons I remember, he prefered the company of two young boys - well, half-boys, half beasts - a minataur and a centaur.

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 3/16/05 at 12:43pm

Oh God, I loved Bunny Rabbit! I once told my mother that when I grew up I wanted to marry Bunny Rabbit. Talk about early-onset confused sexuality. I later decided to marry Tom Terrific.

Posted: 3/16/05 at 12:52pm

Didn't Mr. GeenJeans end up in prison for trying the "Reach in my pocket, little boy, there's magic surprise in there!" trick one too many times?