New Zoo Revue

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New Zoo Revue
GenreComedy
Family
Musical
Created byDoug Momary
StarringDoug Momary

Sharon Baird

Larri Thomas
Chuck Woolery
Fran Ryan
Voices ofBob Holt
Bill Callaway
Joni Robbins
Hazel Shermet
Country of originUnited States
Production
Production locationsBurbank, California
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesFunco Corporation
Stone/Bradshaw Productions
Release
Original networkSyndication
Picture formatColor
Audio formatMono
Original releaseJanuary 24, 1972 (1972-01-24) –
1977 (1977)

New Zoo Revue is an American half-hour children's television show that ran in first-run syndication from 1972 to 1977.[1]

Concept[]

The 196-episode musical comedy-format show conveyed the concepts of cooperation and guidance for living in contemporary society. Each episode dealt with a topic such as moving away, courtesy, bragging, or patience.

Though hosted by humans Doug and Emmy Jo (married in real-life Doug Momary and Emily Peden), the show featured costumed full-bodied puppet characters, primarily Freddie the Frog, Henrietta Hippo, and Charlie the Owl.

The show received awards and recommendations from the National Education Association and the National School Board Association.[citation needed]

While the show all but faded away by the early 1980s, repeats of New Zoo Revue became in demand once again in the late 1990s.

New Zoo Revue was acquired from O Atlas Entertainment and the show's original co-creator, Barbara Atlas; the property is now owned by Frank A. O'Donnell, who is based in Las Vegas. The library continues to be licensed and broadcast by various networks across the US. Episodes can be viewed, and merchandise and DVDs of the original episodes can be purchased on the internet.

Characters[]

  • Doug (played by Doug Momary) - a human who is friends with Freddie, Charlie, and Henrietta.
  • Emmy Jo (played by ) - Doug's helper.
  • Freddie the Frog (performed by , voiced by Joni Robbins) - a fun-loving frog who is a bit naïve. While the same size as the other adult-sized characters, Freddie is characterized (at least in some episodes) as a school-aged child.
  • Charlie the Owl (performed by Larri Thomas, voiced by Bob Holt and later Bill Callaway) - a serious, know-it-all owl who lives in a tall tree equipped with an elevator. Working as a scientist and an inventor, Charlie is known to give out "One-Bell Prizes" awards on occasion (subtly making a pun on the "No-bel" Prize).
  • Henrietta Hippo (performed by Sharon Baird, voiced by Hazel Shermet) - a tutu-wearing, genteel hippopotamus with a Southern Belle personality who is a bit shy.
  • Mr. Dingle (played by Chuck Woolery) - a friendly elderly postman who is also a shopkeeper and a Jack-of-All-Trades.
  • Mrs. Goodbody (played by Fran Ryan) - a nosy neighbor who occasionally visits. She served as an advice columnist for The All-New Zoo Gazette.

Guest stars[]

Post-New Zoo Revue[]

The original creator of the series, Doug Momary, runs a company named Laguna Productions, which produces commercials, public service announcements and training films. He lives in Texas with his wife, Emily Peden. In 2001, Peden became the vice president of Finance with Laguna Productions, which was developing a new children's show for PBS, The New Crusaders, that same year.[2][3]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Woolery, George W. (1985). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series. The Scarecrow Press. pp. 371–373. ISBN 0-8108-1651-2.
  2. ^ Mimi Brickmeyer (8 October 2001). "WHERE ARE THEY NOW? NEW ZOO REVUE STARS' 30 YEARS OF WEDDED BLISS!". Hollywood Investigator. Hollywood Investigator. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  3. ^ Staff (May 2012). "Home". Laguna Productions. Laguna Productions. Retrieved 23 May 2012.

External links[]

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