50 years ago, 'The Electric Company' used comedy to boost kids' reading skills

[brooklynite]

NPR

When The Electric Company debuted in October 1971, television hadn't seen anything quite like it. Psychedelic graphics, wildly creative animation, mod outfits, over-the-top characters and sketch comedy all functioned to serve the same goal: teaching kids to read.

Brought to you by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW) — the same producers behind Sesame Street, which debuted in 1969 — The Electric Company won two Emmys, aired on more than 250 public TV stations and became a teaching tool in thousands of classrooms nationwide.

The show's cast included Academy Award winner Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby and a then-unknown Morgan Freeman. Guest stars included Mel Brooks, Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder and Joan Rivers. The teen pop band Short Circus (get it?) included future star Irene Cara. The comedy writers were among the best in the business and later went on to work on hit TV shows, including MASH and Everybody Loves Raymond.

[BlueTsunami2018]

1. Hey you guuuuuuys!!

I always watched TEC when I was a kid.

[Solly Mack]

2. That's when I fell in love with Morgan Freeman.

[a kennedy]

6. Ditto, ditto, ditto ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

[AZSkiffyGeek]

3. Tune in next week when Spidey says...

[Catherine Vincent]

4. 50 years!!

[GusBob]

5. I didnt like that show

I was an advanced reader for my age, I found the show to be dull and repetitive, but they turned the lights off and the TV on and we all sat and stared at the screen slack-jawed. And it wasn't regular lessons, so.

[Ron Green]

7. Hyperactive, hyper-distractive.

“Electric Company” was a perfect offering for kids preparing to grow up in an alienated and toxic world of consumption in the 1970s and 80s.

Healthy relationships with each other and with the planet are carefully nurtured during childhood, and Fred Rogers knew this. It was largely in response, and opposition, to Soupy Sales that he decided to create his show, long awarded and credited with encouraging quiet and thoughtful minds in youngsters.

EC went another way, carrying Soupy’s mantle and closing the gap between public “educational” TV and commercial cereal-box shows.

[IbogaProject]

10. Ah I missed it

I was 'Rationed' an hour of TV per afternoon, I always budgeted Sesame Street, & Mr Rogers, I only caught a little now and then when the TV stayed on after those two.

[Arkansas Granny]

8. My kids loved this show. It kept their attention.

[Earth-shine]

9. I was there for the opening episode and stayed an avid viewer when I was young.

I was seven at the time.

[TlalocW]

11. And it was the first live action appearance of...

SPIDER-MAN!!!

I watched it all the time.

TlalocW

[boston bean]

12. Watched that and zoom when I was a youngster!

[49jim]

13. My first grade classes in 1978-80

watched Electric Company most days after they came in from recess...about 1pm before we began afternoon academics. (usually math). A male teaching first grade at the time was revolutionary in the small community of Cobleskill NY.
I wanted to teach kindergarten but the principal couldn't sell it to the BOE. I went on from there to be an elementary principal and adjunct instructor at the local community college (early childhood education)...finally in 2016 hanging it up. I'm glad I don't have to deal with the crazy parents about masks today, however there were plenty of other issues that were "hot".....the district designed and developed the first special education program (inclusion)....along with the SE Director. It was "the issue" in the early 90's...but pleased to say it evolved and still in effect in the district.

[Wingus Dingus]

14. Watched it as a toddler on up, loved it.