The Encyclopedia of Cult Chidrens TV

by Richard Lewis

Have you ever lain awake at night, wondering whether the Penelope Pittstop was having an affair with Dick Dastardly? Have you ever drunk a bit too much, and started an argument about The Wonder Years or Diff’rent Strokes? Does Oscar the Grouch still haunt your nightmares? Do you find yourself drifting off during boring business meetings, trying to remember the names of the entire Scooby Doo cast? If so, this book is for you. The Encyclopaedia of Cult Children’s TV will take you back to a better age. It will take you on a journey back to Toytown, high above the streets and houses, where it was all so honest and simple. Where it was perfectly ordinary for a camp man in dungarees, a big woolly bear, a fey pink hippo or a laughing, wheezing dog to dance and occasionally burst into song.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

354 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Book to Take you down TV Memory Lane.

[Mick Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

An a to z of children's TV ranging from the well known to the obscure.includes names of those who provided the voices on the cartoons.

[Tobi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whilst comprehensive in the amount of material represented, the author seems overly fond of portraying himself in a mildly acerbic and cynical manner, whilst attempting to convey some sort of pseudo erudite humour. Failure all round sire.
A shame as it had all the makings of a positively interesting read. Instead it came over as rather half-arsed and not really enthusiastic about his subject, more a rote compilation of a volume to pay the rent.

[Lex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Distinct over-use of the word "avuncular". Also quite repetitive in the fact that paragraphs on certain characters were re-used in the description of the programme they starred in.
Some glaring omissions too (in my opinion); a mere four lines on Count Duckula, with no mention of Nanny and Igor ?
However, a well-written and informative read full of nostalgia.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun, a thorough run-through of childrens TV from the 60s through - a real gem for nostalgia-heads such as myself. Highly recommended.

[Alex George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Funny. Full of memories. What's not to like?