# Who can turn a tap into a tape? Or my '70s early childhood. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734 "2007-12-12T13:05:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/21 "2007-12-12T19:29:28Z")
[QUOTE=pravnik] Does anybody remember: Big Jim and Dr. Steel [/QUOTE] Not only do I remember it, I had a Big Jim and the truck. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/22 "2007-12-12T19:32:35Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Dear god, for a moment I read this to mean that Fritz had appeared on The Electric Company. [/QUOTE] They weren’t THAT far ahead of their time! Skip was the actor who played “Boy” in “For Love of Chair”, and also played the nerdy blond guy. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/23 "2007-12-12T19:35:51Z")
[QUOTE=Bricker] I remember watching George and Jane Jetson dropping off daughter Judy at Orbit High school every morning… and “Jane! Stop this crazy thing!” at the end of every show… Magilla Gorilla, Wally Gator, Buzz Conroy & Franky were favorites, as were Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snork - the Banana Splits! And the Scooby-Doo clones “The Funky Phantom.” Ah, those were the days. [/QUOTE] Lesse if what I can remember. . . Picking up a mess of fun! Picking up a mess of fun! Lotsa fun for everyone! Tra la la la la la la. We’ve got a gorilla for sale Magilla Gorilla for sale Won’t you buy him Take him home and try him Gorilla for sale. He’s real, he’s a deal and he’s awfully cute He’s an everliving doll in a monkey suit. Wasn’t Breezely and Sneezely from Magilla Gorilla? Or Mushmouth and Pumpkin Puss. How about El Kabong and the guy with the Hhhhiipo Hhhhuricane Hhhooller!? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/24 "2007-12-12T20:49:49Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] We’ve got a gorilla for sale Magilla Gorilla for sale Won’t you buy him Take him home and try him Gorilla for sale. He’s real, he’s a deal and he’s awfully cute He’s an everliving doll in a monkey suit. [/QUOTE] [little girl voice]How much is that gorilla in the window?[/lgv] ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/25 "2007-12-12T22:18:32Z")
_Take our advice, at any price, a gorilla like Magilla is mighty nice!_ ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/26 "2007-12-12T22:20:43Z")
Two from ~1960: Tom Terrific (and Manfred, the Wonder Dog) Mighty Mouse ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/27 "2007-12-12T22:31:34Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Two from ~1960: Tom Terrific (and Manfred, the Wonder Dog) [/quote] Crabby Appleton! > [@](#): > > Mighty Mouse Here I come to save the day! That means that Mighty Mouse is on the way! ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/28 "2007-12-13T00:02:53Z")
I don’t remember Baby Thataway, but I remember Rita Moreno shouting “HEY YOU GUYS!” on The Electric Company on PBS. That was on TV, though - was there a radio show too? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/29 "2007-12-13T00:12:44Z")
[QUOTE=Stuffy] Not only do I remember it, I had a Big Jim and the truck. [/QUOTE] The truck was the coolest! That heavy-duty winch on the front saved Big Jim and Dr. Steel from many a close call on Mount Stairs. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/30 "2007-12-13T00:15:38Z")
I remember Top Cat and Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse, but not Baby Thataway. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/31 "2007-12-13T20:28:23Z")
I remember Baby Thataway. Maybe this will stir a memory on the Kids From C.A.P.E.R. - their jazzy theme song: [We’re the Kids, we’re the Kids, we’re the Kids from C.A.P.E.R.!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI0jjGZOAMc) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/32 "2007-12-13T20:31:04Z")
Wouldn’t the '70s answer to that question be Richard Nixon? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/33 "2007-12-13T20:33:56Z")
[QUOTE=Biffy the Elephant Shrew] Wouldn’t the '70s answer to that question be Richard Nixon? [/QUOTE] Ooo, nice one. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/34 "2007-12-13T22:12:18Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] Lesse if what I can remember. . . Picking up a mess of fun! Picking up a mess of fun! Lotsa fun for everyone! Tra la la la la la la. We’ve got a gorilla for sale Magilla Gorilla for sale Won’t you buy him Take him home and try him Gorilla for sale. He’s real, he’s a deal and he’s awfully cute He’s an everliving doll in a monkey suit. Wasn’t Breezely and Sneezely from Magilla Gorilla? Or Mushmouth and Pumpkin Puss. How about El Kabong and the guy with the Hhhhiipo Hhhhuricane Hhhooller!? [/QUOTE] This thread has motivated me to post the following YouTube links. –[Promo for NBC’s 1968-69 Saturday morning line-up](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J35ST896Ekw) which includes the debut of “The Banana Splits”. –[Promo for ABC’s 1971-72 Saturday morning line-up](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3zr0h6vv7w&feature=related) (And Bricker is right about “The Funky Phantom”. It was H-B shamelessly copying “Scooby Doo” down to the nth degree except it had a cowardly ghost rather than a cowardly dog.) [Promo for CBS’s superhero-heavy 1966-67 Saturday morning line-up.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM9Sf_jfrc0&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/35 "2007-12-14T00:12:58Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Other Important Tidbit – the guy who wrote “Silent E” for Sesame Street was the immortal **Tom Lehrer** , whose CDs you can find the song on (Along with “-LY”, which he also wrote for Sesame Street) [/QUOTE] Yes, Silent E and “I got it from Agnes” appearing on the same CD! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/36 "2007-12-14T00:16:12Z")
Oh, my god, **NDP**! The ABC promo has Curiosity Shop! I’ve almost believed I completely made that show up in my head for the last 30 years! ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/37 "2007-12-14T00:54:21Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Oh, my god, **NDP**! The ABC promo has Curiosity Shop! I’ve almost believed I completely made that show up in my head for the last 30 years! [/QUOTE] I only know of _Curiousity Shop_ because of its role in helping create another ABC cartoon favorite: Chuck Jones and Michael Eisner were auditioning segments for the show, and one of them ended up becoming _Schoolhouse Rock_. ---
**Author:** ![Southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southpaw)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/38 "2007-12-14T01:18:55Z")
I remember seeing a cartoon short on “Garfield Goose” (local Chicago kids show) in the early 1970’s. It involved a bunch of kids who had a clubhouse which they entered through a tunnel. For some reason a couple of (adult!) Native Americans hung out with the kids. At some point in the cartoon, there would be a live action sequence of some sort. IIRC one of the kids was named Violet and whenever she got embarrassed or shy would literally shrink. Someone please tell me I’m not dreaming this! I know it wasn’t a drug induced hallucination, unless my Quisp cereal was laced with LSD. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/39 "2007-12-14T01:23:42Z")
Even though it’s before my time, I know that Shrinking Violet and friends were [The Funny Company](http://www.toontracker.com/funnyco/funnyco.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734/40 "2007-12-14T01:26:59Z")
\ Paul Benedict: [Gonna paint a seven.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeT0VKR2eno) …Where’s my seven? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-turn-a-tap-into-a-tape-or-my-70s-early-childhood/429734.md?page=1)