There Goes a...

Real Wheels, previously known as Live Action Video for Kids, also known as There Goes a..., is a collection of children's videos for children ages 3–8 years old that features a specified vehicle and the various jobs that it has along with real people who work the job which requires the vehicle. Episodes like There Goes a Garbage Truck, There Goes the Mail and There Goes a Rescue Vehicle, were released as a part of the series. Each episode focuses on different transportation vehicles, however, one episode is reserved for Santa Claus, and another for roller coasters. Each is live-action, starring Dave Hood, and is sometimes accompanied by Becky Borg. Dave Hood does not appear in There Goes a Farm Truck, Tractor, and Dump Truck where he was substituted by David Sidoni.

Plot

The series of videos revolved around Dave (and sometimes with Becky) in jobs that center around the vehicles being featured. Dave and Becky always reminded kids that they did not have respective jobs, but the real workers had agreed for them to pretend for the day so that the viewers could learn about the vehicles being featured as well as learn a little more about the jobs the vehicles serve. While the most part of the videos focused on showing how the vehicles worked and what they can do, in some episodes predictably Dave would get into trouble (example: accidentally knocking down a building in There Goes a Bulldozer) and deliver his catchphrase, "I shouldn't have done that!".

In these videos, the hosts talked about how the vehicles worked, the history of the vehicle featured and talked to real people who worked in their fields. At the end of each episode, Dave (and sometimes with Becky) would encourage the viewers to visit their local library or visit the place based on the theme's episode to learn more about the vehicles. On other episodes, at the end, Dave and Becky would also remind the viewers about safety (examples include: don't play on the railroad tracks in There Goes a Train and don't play with fire in There Goes a Fire Truck). Other times, the people who worked in the fields of the vehicles would discuss safety to the viewers as well.

Locations

The majority of the episodes take place in California at locations such as Union Station, the USS Kitty Hawk, and Ontario International Airport.

List of episodes

1. There Goes a Fire Truck (1993)

Fireman Dave takes a visit to the Ontario, California Fire Department to see what it takes to be a real firefighter and how fire trucks work. There is also footage of the Ontario International Airport Fire Department where they show how their fire apparatus works. This is the first episode of the series.

2. There Goes a Bulldozer (1994)

Construction Foreman Dave visits a construction site to learn all about construction vehicles.

3. There Goes an Airplane (1994)

Pilot Dave learns all about different types of airplanes and how they work, including taking a hair-raising (and possibly faked) flight in a newly-manufactured Waco PT-14

4. There Goes a Train (1994)

Engineer Dave learns about all different types of trains by visiting places such as Union Station and the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum (aka San Diego Railroad Museum)

5. There Goes a Police Car (1994)

Deputies Dave & Becky learn all about police cars and police work as well as the equipment they use. Most of the footage shows the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department in action.

Note: This is Becky Borg's first appearance in the There Goes a... series

6. There Goes a Truck (1994)

Truck Drivers Dave & Becky learn about all different types of trucks.

7. There Goes a Boat (1994)

Dave and Becky learn about different types of boats and how they work.

Note: Dave Hood returns for this episode.

8. There Goes a Spaceship (1994)

Astronauts Dave & Becky visit the Kennedy Space Center to learn about outer space and different types of space shuttles.

9. There Goes a Race Car (1994)

Race Car Drivers Dave & Becky learn all about different types of race vehicles, from desert racing to top fuel dragsters to NASCAR stock cars.

10. Here Comes a Roller Coaster (1995)

Dave has a dream that he spends a day at Six Flags Magic Mountain and rides on all different types of roller coasters and other thrill rides.

11. There Goes a Monster Truck (1995)

Monster Truck Drivers Dave & Becky learn all about monster trucks.

12. There Goes a Motorcycle (1995)

Bikers Dave & Becky learn all about motorcycles and how they are used when driving for fun and when they are used for racing.

13. There Goes a Helicopter (1995)

Helicopter Pilots Dave & Becky learn all about different types of helicopters.

14. There Goes Santa Claus (1995)

Dave and Becky pretend to be Santa Claus and do the duties that he does. Also, this episode is a flashback episode when Dave and Becky remember what they did in the past.

15. There Goes the Mail (There Goes a Mail Truck) (1996)

Letter Carriers Dave & Becky learn about where the mail goes and how it is transported.

16. There Goes a Rescue Vehicle (1996)

Dave and Becky learn about different types of rescue work and the vehicles they use.

17. There Goes a Garbage Truck (1997)

Dave and Becky learn about garbage trucks and how important it is to keep the Earth clean and not pollute.

Note: This is Becky Borg's final appearance in the There Goes a... series

18. There Goes a Dump Truck (1999)

Dave learns all about dump trucks and other construction vehicles. This episode is somewhat similar to There Goes A Bulldozer.

Note: David Sidoni hosts this episode.

19. There Goes a Tractor (2000)

Farmer Dave learns about tractors.

Note: This episode was hosted by David Sidoni.

20. There Goes a Farm Truck (2000)

Dave learns all about farm trucks and how they work. Sort of similar to There Goes A Tractor. (could be considered a sequel to it as well)

Note: David Sidoni hosts this episode.

21. There Goes a Bus (2002)

Dave learns to be a bus driver and he learns about buses.

Note: Dave Hood returns in this episode.

22. There Goes a Tank (2003)

Tank Driver Dave goes to Camp Pendleton and learns all about tanks and other military vehicles and how they work.

23. There Goes a Rescue Hero (2003)

Rescue Hero Dave learns about rescue work and the vehicles and equipment they use. He also meets a rescue dog named Charlie. This is the final episode of the series.

VHS Releases

The "Real Wheels" series has also released a series of VHS, each usually containing 2 episodes as well as a blooper reel, interactive glossary, and other special features. The VHS are usually titled as "Adventures", with the 2 episodes sharing a theme among their featured vehicles.

Reception

The Real Wheels series had over 8 million dollars in sales and had won numerous awards including the Dove Foundation Award, The National Parenting Association Award, the Parents' Choice Award, and Kid's First Endorsement Award.

Live Tour

From 2001-2004, there was a live tour entitled, "Dave's Big Live Show" (aka Real Wheels Live). It starred Dave Hood that featured him doing magic tricks and had audience participation stunts. Before the show, there were vehicles that the audience would touch and look at.

The production was produced and presented by Dave Hood Entertainment.

References