New Zoo Revue

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

New Zoo Revue
Created byDoug Momary
StarringDoug Momary
Emily Peden
Sharon Baird
Yanco Inone
Larri Thomas
Chuck Woolery
Fran Ryan
Voices ofBob Holt
Bill Callaway
Joni Robbins
Hazel Shermet
Country of originUnited States
Production
Running time22 minutes
Release
Original networkSyndication
Original releaseJanuary 24, 1972 –
1977

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.

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 Emily Peden) - Emmy Jo is Doug's helper.
  • Freddie the Frog (performed by Yanco Inone, voiced by Joni Robbins) - Freddie is a fun-loving frog who is a bit naive. 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) - Charlie is 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) - Henrietta is 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) - Mrs. Goodbody is the nosy neighbor who occasionally drops by. 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.
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