During the studio session I spoke of yesterday, I had a nagging sensation about that odd little garden with pink grass taking shape in the white box. When my daughter added a quirky bunny creature (made from a stamp-a-face rubber stamp set) the feeling of familiarity grew stronger. Then it hit me, with a big "Hello and how are you!" I can't say those words without breaking into song ala Paula and Carol, two of my girlhood favorites from the 70's/80's children's show: The Magic Garden. My daughter asked if it was a real song, and I realized that I could probably share the original version with her! I often forget how clicking a few keys can now transport my nostalgic soul back in time. I hadn't thought I'd ever see these "friends" again... and there they were just as bright and shiny (and pony-tailed) as I remembered in this video. Here's a peek for you:
How exciting to share them with my children! The Magic Garden was NYC based show, so you might not have the same reunion-feeling I had upon viewing it, but maybe there's a favorite song or show from your own childhood? Please share. Have you done a search? Oh, do!
Note: this post is especially for my aunt who lovingly reads each blog entry... the same way that she lovingly watched every episode of The Magic Garden with me during our summers.
Wow....that took me right back to my cozy living room in the little red house I grew up in. Remembering sitting next to my sister singing the songs from this show and waiting for the part with the "giggle patch" of flowers that held jokes inside them! Thanks for the reminder Maya...that was fun :)
My husband and I looked that show up on Youtube last year. We both agreed it was great, but that none of our friends had heard of it. (I got it on a NYC cable channel here in upstate NY). Nice to know someone else liked them too.
Never saw that one. We had a local show called Boomtown which was cowboys and horses which I never missed and Bozo the clown, also Boston based, another one I loved. These were very local to Boston so I don't think they ever showed anywhere else. And of course Captain Kangaroo.....fun to look back at those early influences. xox Corrine
Wow! I never thought I would see this show again. When I was a little girl, I wanted to be Carole so desperately. The only time I got to see this was when I stayed home sick from school. To this day, I go around singing, "I'm fine, me too, we're fine, and how are you?" to my toddler!
i love the magic garden, it's quintessentially 70's. my favorite episode featured them finding a kiddie pool filled with puppies! my girlfriend got to meet carole and paula in the 90's, and they were still groovy!
Santa brought my 9yo a collection of Looney Tunes cartoons, and when we put the first DVD in and the tune started playing, my husband and I both had the same goofy grin on. My boys think the cartoons are hysterical--I mean, trouble breathing, they're laughing so hard--and it's great to be able to share these cultural references with them.
Wow.. what a flashback! I lived in Pennsylvania as a child and I remember this show! I used to love the story box the most & I always wanted a swing in my room! Thanks for the happy memories!!
I don't think we got that show out west, but I fondly remember: Captain Kangaroo, Mister Roger's Neighborhood, Sesame Street, Electric Co. and Zoom. The songs from them are stuck in my brain seemingly for eternity! But my favorite collection of songs back then was on a record by Marlo Thomas called "Free To Be, You And Me". I think I wore it out!
Outside of Philadelphia, we had Captain Noah. I just looked it up, and found out that it had been a religious show, though I only remembered it for the Bugs and Porky cartoons, and the theme song "I Can Sing a Rainbow" (sung by Andy Williams!).
Ha ha! Although I never saw that one it did give a great nostalgic feeling since I did grow up in the 70's! My mom sewed me outfits with matching bell bottoms and vests.
I absolutely LOVED that show! Being from NJ, my husband and I watched it growing up. We moved out west and no one here knew what we were talking about. Years later, an east coast friend sent us the entire collection on DVD and our girls now watch and love that show too! It is such a lovely feeling to share that with them.
Julie (5) and Louis (3) now love the episodes of Pipi Longstocking, a 70's Swedish series that they now reboradcast on Belgian television (yes, you have Belgian fans :-)). Even though the Dutch dubbing of the show is rather horrible, that's how I saw it over thirty years ago so there's even some nostalgia in that.
You should google it, the design in the series is wonderful as are the costumes, the village where it is shot is simply lovely. And the character, of course, has no competition. Pipi's the best!
Astrid Lindgren, the author of Pipi and many other childrn's books, made my childhood magical, and your barn somewhat reminds me of the settings I imagined for "Madieke of the red house" , also by Astrid Lindgren, and one of my favourites.
If they are available near you in English (and they really should be, I would really advise these books.
"The stories are here, they're all in here. From crafty fox to Goldilocks. The Story Box." Yes, I was a devoted fan of Magic Garden, and I sing the theme song to my girls. I even got Paula and Carol's autographs when they came to a Bloomingdales near my home in Queens circa 1985 or something. And Sherlock the pink squirrel, too. Got to be wary of those pink city squirrels. A friend of mine in NYC has the episodes on VHS that she purchased about 5 or 6 years ago for her children.
Wow....that took me right back to my cozy living room in the little red house I grew up in. Remembering sitting next to my sister singing the songs from this show and waiting for the part with the "giggle patch" of flowers that held jokes inside them! Thanks for the reminder Maya...that was fun :)
ReplyDeleteYAY! Loved the giggle patch! So excited that you had fun watching it, too.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I looked that show up on Youtube last year. We both agreed it was great, but that none of our friends had heard of it. (I got it on a NYC cable channel here in upstate NY). Nice to know someone else liked them too.
ReplyDeleteNever saw that one. We had a local show called Boomtown which was cowboys and horses which I never missed and Bozo the clown, also Boston based, another one I loved. These were very local to Boston so I don't think they ever showed anywhere else. And of course
ReplyDeleteCaptain Kangaroo.....fun to look back at those early influences. xox Corrine
Wow! I never thought I would see this show again. When I was a little girl, I wanted to be Carole so desperately. The only time I got to see this was when I stayed home sick from school. To this day, I go around singing, "I'm fine, me too, we're fine, and how are you?" to my toddler!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the flashback.
i love the magic garden, it's quintessentially 70's. my favorite episode featured them finding a kiddie pool filled with puppies! my girlfriend got to meet carole and paula in the 90's, and they were still groovy!
ReplyDeleteI always love looking up The Smothers Brothers shows.
ReplyDeleteJody
Santa brought my 9yo a collection of Looney Tunes cartoons, and when we put the first DVD in and the tune started playing, my husband and I both had the same goofy grin on. My boys think the cartoons are hysterical--I mean, trouble breathing, they're laughing so hard--and it's great to be able to share these cultural references with them.
ReplyDeleteWow.. what a flashback! I lived in Pennsylvania as a child and I remember this show! I used to love the story box the most & I always wanted a swing in my room! Thanks for the happy memories!!
ReplyDeleteI don't think we got that show out west, but I fondly remember: Captain Kangaroo, Mister Roger's Neighborhood, Sesame Street, Electric Co. and Zoom. The songs from them are stuck in my brain seemingly for eternity! But my favorite collection of songs back then was on a record by Marlo Thomas called "Free To Be, You And Me". I think I wore it out!
ReplyDeleteOutside of Philadelphia, we had Captain Noah. I just looked it up, and found out that it had been a religious show, though I only remembered it for the Bugs and Porky cartoons, and the theme song "I Can Sing a Rainbow" (sung by Andy Williams!).
ReplyDeleteHa ha! Although I never saw that one it did give a great nostalgic feeling since I did grow up in the 70's! My mom sewed me outfits with matching bell bottoms and vests.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVED that show! Being from NJ, my husband and I watched it growing up. We moved out west and no one here knew what we were talking about.
ReplyDeleteYears later, an east coast friend sent us the entire collection on DVD and our girls now watch and love that show too!
It is such a lovely feeling to share that with them.
~Michelle
www.falafelandthebee.com
The magic garden is very enjoyable.I like it so much.
ReplyDeletei loved this show growing up, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJulie (5) and Louis (3) now love the episodes of Pipi Longstocking, a 70's Swedish series that they now reboradcast on Belgian television (yes, you have Belgian fans :-)). Even though the Dutch dubbing of the show is rather horrible, that's how I saw it over thirty years ago so there's even some nostalgia in that.
ReplyDeleteYou should google it, the design in the series is wonderful as are the costumes, the village where it is shot is simply lovely. And the character, of course, has no competition. Pipi's the best!
Astrid Lindgren, the author of Pipi and many other childrn's books, made my childhood magical, and your barn somewhat reminds me of the settings I imagined for "Madieke of the red house" , also by Astrid Lindgren, and one of my favourites.
If they are available near you in English (and they really should be, I would really advise these books.
Best regards from Brussels,
Laurence
there are no locks on story box....
ReplyDeleteI can't believe anyone grew up in the 70s without knowing The Magic Garden. It seems a shame that it didn't make it out west.
"The stories are here, they're all in here. From crafty fox to Goldilocks. The Story Box."
ReplyDeleteYes, I was a devoted fan of Magic Garden, and I sing the theme song to my girls. I even got Paula and Carol's autographs when they came to a Bloomingdales near my home in Queens circa 1985 or something. And Sherlock the pink squirrel, too. Got to be wary of those pink city squirrels.
A friend of mine in NYC has the episodes on VHS that she purchased about 5 or 6 years ago for her children.